Dear Superintendents,
The legislative session kicked off last week. Here is a link to Governor Gordon’s State of the State Address:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKUrbgfoEYI#action=share
Since this is a 20-day budget session, bills need two-thirds vote to be introduced and the work moves swiftly. In addition to the budget bill, there are a handful of education bills–some of which have been introduced. Here are a few:
HB40 – Select Committee on Recalibration- By law, Wyoming re-examines education funding every five years. We rightfully invest a lot into our K-12 system and we also need to take the time to ensure that the system we are investing in provides our students with the best probability of success in school and beyond. With our funding situation and the realization that we haven’t made any substantial changes to the core content of our basket of goods, other than computer science, since the mid-1990s, it is time to rethink what we ask of school districts in law. I am advocating for a recalibration of costs and an examination of the basket of goods.
HB119 – Medicaid claims in schools. We are the only state in the country that ignores this revenue stream and it is the only proposed cost-saving measure that would not cut services for students. Over the past year, the WDE and Dept. of Health have studied the best way to implement Medicaid reimbursement for school-based services with minimal administrative burden on school districts. This bill is in line with those recommendations.
SF79 – Student safety and school security. In 2019 I supported a school safety and security bill that did not make it over the finish line. SF79 helps Wyoming accomplish the goal of every school and district having a threat assessment protocol in place. The bill has been pared down to allow enough flexibility for districts and has been vetted by a stakeholder group of superintendents from small, medium, and large school districts.
SJ1 – Firearm and hunter education elective in high schools. This is an issue near and dear to my heart as an avid hunter who learned hunter safety in PE class.
FCCLA members Gracelyn Troxell and Sophia DeMatteo from East High in Cheyenne, along with advisers Maureen Eldridge and Jessica Gerwig, came to the WDE to help give teammates a better understanding of the national Career and Technical Student Organization. FCCLA offers intra-curricular resources and opportunities for students to pursue careers that support families.
Wyoming’s Teacher of the Year, Dane Weaver, is on the Google Campus attending induction with other teachers of the year.
Memos to be released on Tuesday, February 18:
- 2020-021: March 2020 WDE684 Data Collection Window and Training
- 2020-022: CTE Construction Trades Sector Connector March 25
- 2020-023: 2020-21 Virtual Education Program Information
- 2020-024: WAPSD Public Meeting Set For March 17
