School Board Reviews Policies

The Cheyenne County School District No. 1 started the process of reviewing and updating policies in the Monday, Aug. 12 meeting.

The board reviewed the 2002 Organization of the Board policy. The policy states the board is comprised of six members, each elected at-large. Officers are elected in the January meeting. Officers include the board secretary who does not have to be a member of the board. The updated policy says board officers may be elected by secret ballot. The total number of votes for each candidate is recorded in the meeting minutes. No officer appointment will take more than 10 votes. In the event of a tie, each board member will serve six months. The initial six months will be determined by coin flip. If the board is split between two members, the officer will be determined by coin flip.

The board also reviewed and approved the 2006 Complaint Policy. The complaint policy outlines the procedure for addressing conflict, with the first step of the complainant meeting directly with the person in conflict. The procedure outlines how a complaint goes through the chain of authority, and to the school board if necessary. The updated policy identifies who would meet with the complainant and that an appeal would be submitted in writing. An appeal would have to be submitted within 10 business days after the district superintendent issued his or her decision.

In the updated 2014 Relationship with District Legal Counsel policy, the board president or superintendent has the authority to seek advice from the District's legal counsel when deemed necessary. The superintendent will then keep the board informed of matters the District's counsel is involved, to the extent permitted by law.

When is a student manipulating the absentee and truancy policy and when is he or she just having a difficult year? That is a question the board hopes to tighten with the updated policy on attendance and excessive absenteeism. Superintendent Jay Ehler said there are instances of students who may be absent nine times during a semester. Then when a new semester starts, the count starts new. The concern is that some students may be “working the system,” and collecting excessive absences. Under the new policy, “when a student receives 10 absences or the hourly equivalent,” the attendance officer will follow the procedure to compel the student to attend class. Ehler said if research of the student results in legitimate absences, no more will be done.

In other business, the board accepted the resignation of Ashley Snyder.

The resignation resulted in a discussion of how many resignations resulted in broken contracts. The board noted the numbers are related to changes at Cabela's and spouses of staff moving to new jobs.