EVANSTON — The Uinta County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees convened on Tuesday, Dec. 10, starting the meeting with elections and nominations for key leadership roles. David Peterson was re-elected as chair, Jenny Welling as vice chair, Caleb Guild as treasurer and Dan Wheeler as clerk.

The board opted to retain existing committee assignments for the BOCES, C-V, and Recreation board positions.

The meeting highlighted the board’s focus on honoring service, welcoming new members, and fostering strong educational practices. Superintendent Ryan Thomas recognized outgoing board members Joel Wiedrich and Christa Weaver for their years of service, praising their commitment to the community. The board also welcomed new members Jessica Arch and John DuBois.

School presentations showcased academic and community goals, with Clark Elementary Principal Kimber Fessler presenting on her school’s mission to ensure “high levels of learning for all students all the time.” Highlighting their Professional Learning Community (PLC) model, Fessler emphasized data-driven strategies for student success.

“We don’t check a kid into a group and have them stay there. They move based on the data we are collecting. Those groups are moved based on student need,” she said, underscoring the school’s collaborative culture and hunger for data.

Fessler also shared a heartwarming example of community spirit, describing the school’s efforts to welcome fifth graders back from Teton Science Camp.

“We missed them when they were gone, and were happy to have them back,” she said.

Her presentation concluded with gratitude for her team’s dedication.

“I barely gave you the iceberg version. There is so much happening every day in the service of our students,” she said.

Evanston Middle School Principal Patrick Fackrell followed, with a showcase of his school’s academic goals and cultural initiatives. Fackrell played a video of choir teacher Kennedy Despain’s class practicing for their Christmas concert and highlighted student efforts in setting high academic goals.

“They set their goals high, and I appreciate them doing that,” Fackrell said, adding that students are encouraged to be role models and celebrate their achievements.

Fackrell also detailed initiatives to boost attendance, reward good behavior, and foster kindness through programs like the EMS kindness initiative.

“Super important to me is the culture and mental health and happiness of our staff,” he said.

Board member Brian Woodward praised Fackrell’s leadership.

“It looks like you have created an environment where the staff and the students are excelling and working together,” Woodward said.

Continuing discussions on collaboration, newly-elected board members Jessica Arch and Dan Wheeler shared insights from the Wyoming School Board Association (WSBA) annual conference. Arch highlighted the importance of community collaboration and hands-on learning experiences and Wheeler said the outbreak sessions were very helpful. 

During public comments, Evanston resident Tina Johnson announced the formation of a Uinta County chapter of Moms for Liberty, aimed at increasing parent involvement in schools.

“We want to bridge the gap. We want to protect children and make parents aware of issues that are going on,” Johnson said.

She said there are misconceptions about the group’s stance on book banning, emphasizing their support for age-appropriate materials and “opt-in” policies to give parents more control over their children’s exposure to content.

With administrative updates, district chief financial officer John Williams presented recommendations for school bus financing. The board approved the plan to lease two buses, with financing reimbursed by the state of Wyoming over five years, starting in June 2025. The board also approved a liability insurance renewal covering recreation domes, vehicles and other assets.

During roundtable comments, Arch expressed enthusiasm about her new role and the opportunity to collaborate with teachers, parents and students to identify areas for improvement. She said she was excited to be a part of discussions to find ways to continue to improve the district.