School board irked by RHS students

By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer

In last week’s meeting, Carbon County District 1 School Board members complained about the attitudes and behaviors of Rawlins High School students.

Dave Dingman mentioned qualms about post-lunch tardiness as well as cell phone distractions. Juli Miller questioned the level of respect students have for fellow community members.

“It’s a frustrating event for our staff,” Dingman said of the students’ fifth-period lateness.
Dingman and other board members questioned whether students should continue to be permitted to leave campus each day.

Addressing cell phones, Dingman noted that students sometimes threaten each other and use what he called “vile language” in text messages.

“If you look up the word ‘weapon’ in a dictionary,” he said, “you can almost bridge the gap there.”

Despite the school’s “out of sight, out of sound” policy on the phones, board members acknowledged that students are often so quick and quiet, it is hard to catch them in the act. Dingman said that, aside from the threats, text messaging is a general distraction. Board members again questioned the existing district policy.

According to Miller, last week some students came into McDonald’s not long before the school’s lunch period ended. They jumped ahead of the long line to place their order. After repeated requests from Miller, the students waited their turn.

“I’m just amazed at the sense of entitlement and absolute lack of respect of these kids,” Miller said. “They need to be representing themselves and the community well. And I don’t know what to say because it often starts at home and we can’t fix that in school.”

Also at the meeting, board members:

• Appointed a selection and interview committee for the proposed elementary school’s construction manager.

• Awarded the Little Snake River Valley gym resurfacing project to Wyoming Wood Floors for $12,950.

• Approved a $251,310 contract with Hutch’s Hi-Country Plumbing and Heating for the Rawlins High School small gym boiler.

• Heard a recommendation from board member Kristi to re-evaluate the school’s activity budget prior to the upcoming budget session. According to Groshart, there is a bigger budget but fewer participating kids. The evaluation may lead to a cut in funding for less popular activities.