EVANSTON — The Uinta County School District No. 1 board heard on Tuesday, April 11, about Davis Middle School’s recent success in a language presentation, Evanston’s health, next year’s budget and the second phase of the Evanston Middle School remodel. 

Davis Middle School students shared their presentation for the University of Wyoming World Languages Day. They won second, only coming behind Evanston Middle School, in the overall competition spanning all age groups. 

A few students took away special honors, including Taylor Petersen, who won overall first place in art; and Allison Sawyer, who took overall first place in Spanish with her performance of the song “De Colores.” 

The students focused their presentation on the Christmas season, which stretches from Dec. 9-Feb. 2 and has several traditions that alternate focus from the Virgin de Guadalupe and the nativity. 

After the students shared their songs, artwork and presentation, Uinta County Public Health nurse manager Kim Proffit quickly shared what the PATCH coalition has been doing. Before diving into her presentation, she commended the teachers for their work leveling the playing field for kids. She said she has been very impressed by the teachers here, especially the ones she has worked with at North Elementary. 

“Schools are where the culture shifts happen, and school is where we learn behaviors for life, and it’s a place of great impact and influence,” Proffit said. 

She also said Uinta County is not doing well among Wyoming’s counties overall, ranking only third in the Health Outcomes Ranking. 

“So we’re ahead of Carbon and Fremont,” Proffit commented wryly. “… Great company to be with. I always thought Carbon was the armpit of Wyoming.” 

In a community-wide survey Uinta County Public Health put out, respondents are most concerned with public health, and the PATCH coalition is also concerned about chronic disease. Because education is such a big part of health, besides income status and social connections, Proffit wanted to include the schools and teachers. She added that school board chair Cassie Torres began the PATCH coalition (albeit not through her position on the school board).

Proffit invited the school board and anyone else who is interested to join the coalition, as it is on the cusp of splitting into task groups to take action. 

“Most of what impacts public health happens outside of a healthcare setting ... For there to be any kind of long-term success, it’s going to be because of the schools and the teachers and the school board is also excited about creating a more healthy environment here,” Proffit said before asking the trustees for help coming up with ideas. 

Trustee David Bennett suggested that increased recesses; Proffit agreed, saying increased fitness has been shown to improve test scores.

She then said that 1996 was the last time Evanston did a community health assessment. 

The Latino parent group was next up. Two of the presenters, parent Lubia Loivas and high school senior Maryann Cazares said they want to put together a Latinos in Action program to empower Latino youth to strengthen their community. 

With help and support from UCSD No. 1, 57 students and many parents will go to the University of Utah this month to learn how to get funding and grants and how to build a functional program not only for Latinos but for all students. 

Torres said she is very impressed by the parents’ enthusiasm for this program, and Cazares said it is empowering parents to have a stronger role in their children’s lives. DMS principal Chris Brown said there has been so much interest that UCSD No. 1 has had to turn away some parents from the U of U trip, even though two buses are going. 

Loivas said parents are willing to do whatever it takes to fund the program as needed. 

During public comments, Heather Stubenvoll invited the board and administrators to the Meet Your Community Leaders night at 7 p.m. on April 20 at Uinta Meadows Elementary. Some leaders present will be Mayor Kent Williams, city council member Wendy Schuler, Evanston Regional Hospital CEO Jeremy Davis, Chamber of Commerce executive director Bret McCoy, police chief Jon Kirby, attorney Geoffrey Phillips, a veteran, a banker and maybe one or two physicians.

School district CFO John Williams then talked about the school district’s budget. Because it is so early, he had to use some of last year’s numbers to guess next year’s budget for several of the entries, but UCSD No. 1 is seeing fewer students as well as major budget cuts. Some of the most directly impacted services include supplies, transportation, instructional facilitators and Bridges. 

To counter some of the cuts without a Reduction in Force (RIF), the school district has offered an early release incentive to some employees who resign. 

Some unknowns are property taxes, which will not be finalized until June, and health insurance. However, car registration income looks to be about the same as last year, and the best news is that the school district looks to be ahead by $16,000. 

Williams said this is the earliest he has ever given a budget estimate. 

“With the decisions we’ve made, we can balance the budget,” Superintendent Ryan Thomas said. 

He said the school district also has a healthy fund balance at about $4.75 million, and the board expects to save $350,000 more this year. However, because the school district plans to buy new math and reading curricula (to the tune of $250,000), Thomas said the board will have to decide whether to buy that out of this year’s budget or next year’s. Because of this year’s savings, however, the board has the freedom to use money from this year’s savings. 

Williams said most departments had a 5 percent cut, but a few had a 10 percent cut. 

The board moved into executive session for personnel and student discipline from 8:15-8:47 p.m., immediately afterward approving contracts for certified teachers (albeit with no salary increases), three resignations (Josh Anderson, Alex Katchuk and Kevin Labresh) and student discipline. Thomas said the three vacated positions will have to be refilled; two new employees replacing the school nurse and elementary music positions are Bailey Jenson and Rachel Haass. 

The board next approved the updated epinephrine policy; the only change from the last meeting is wording providing for training on recognizing anaphylaxis. 

Director of Facilities Patrick Rooney presented the EMS Phase II bid, which encompasses parking, a bus lane, a parent dropoff and landscaping around the building. The lowest bidder of three was MW Construction at $1.387 million. The project will be $75,000 more than planned even with the low bid. 

The school district does not know how much the school’s roof repair will cost, but the school district will ask the Wyoming School Facilities Department for unanticipated funds since the project will cost more than expected. 

During the round table, trustee David Bennett commended DMS for its recent assembly featuring Sen. Mike Enzi. Student representative Kelsey Diaz said Enzi also visited the high school. Enzi emphasized the importance of reading at both schools.