Value is more than money

By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer

Sinclair Elementary School dates back to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, giving it significant historical value both locally and nationally, and making it a target for preservation.

The school’s Spanish-colonial architecture and decorative brickwork makes it unique. It was built by craftsmen who spent time on the design, said Mary Humstone, a professor in the American studies department at the University of Wyoming.

In Humstone’s 2005 historical preservation class, students located schools throughout the state that have been standing for 50 years or more. Humstone whittled the list of 130 down to about 50 that fit the bill of a historical building. The rest have additions or renovations that changed them drastically enough to remove them from the list.

Both Sinclair and Elk Mountain elementary schools are on Humstone’s list. Elk Mountain Elementary School, which was likely built in the late 1940s, is not as distinctive, but she considers it well built and attractive. It also has local historical value after serving its community for decades.

Since both schools still stand with few or no additions, Humstone believes they qualify as additions to the National Register of Historic Places, an honor given to a building with historic or architectural significance, or with a connection to a famous person. But in Wyoming, unlike the other 49 states, being listed on the register doesn’t provide protection from demolition.

Humstone is heading up an effort to save the state’s historic schools. Her effort is twofold. According to Humstone, a community must realize its school’s historical significance. Any School Facilities Commission decisions should also take into account a community’s connection with its buildings, she said.

“Generally, people do not get excited about these buildings,” Humstone said. “They don’t really rally to save the schools, but that’s partly due to the fact that they think it’s a done deal. Community members sometimes feel helpless when a small group of board members is making the decisions.” To her, if a community is vocal enough, a decision can be influenced or reversed.


Professor wants rules changed

In Pennsylvania, a building’s historical value must be assessed prior to making plans for demolition or renovation.

That includes schools and is a model Mary Humstone, a professor in the University of Wyoming’s American studies department, is trying to establish in Wyoming.

If School Facilities Commission money is used toward the renovation of historic schools, “people would really be amazed at what could be done,” Humstone said. She said much of early architecture can accommodate new technology.

Ken Daraie, SFC director, acknowledged that technology, electricity and plumbing are not huge problems with older buildings.

“Educational suitability is the buzz word,” he said. Often, a building’s structure limits a classroom’s flexibility.

Daraie and Humstone have been working together to establish a way to preserve schools with historical value by either finding a way to modify them or by transferring the buildings into the hands of organizations that can better use the facility. However, no policies are in place.

District 2 schedules on board agenda

By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer

Carbon County District 2 School Board members plan to vote on school schedules in a 4 p.m. meeting Monday at the Saratoga Middle High School Library.

Before the vote, board members should discuss surveys of students, parents and staff in the district as well as the viewpoints of nearly 30 community members expressed during an open forum at the District 2 central office in Saratoga earlier this week.

“The meeting was scheduled for an hour, but went 45 minutes over,” District 2 Superintendent Bob Gates said. “The place was full. They rotated between liking and not liking the schedule.” He said the viewpoints largely reiterated the findings of last month’s surveys.

Gates said there was much support for Saratoga High School’s four-day schedule and Encampment’s five-day schedule to remain the same. For Saratoga’s elementary school, which is on the four-day schedule, support was split. Few people were present from Hanna, Elk Mountain and Medicine Bow.

“I have no guesses for the outcome of this vote,” Gates said. He expects a lengthy discussion at the Monday meeting.

School eyes four-day week

By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer

Little Snake River Valley School could go to a four-day week, according to an advisory board report presented during Thursday’s Carbon County District 1 School Board meeting.

LSRVS Principal Rick Newton is evaluating support for the schedule change by talking to teachers and possibly issuing a parent survey during parent-teacher conferences. The responses should govern the decision, which should be presented before the School Board for a vote prior to the May 1 deadline.

Board member Kristi Groshart wanted to be sure the whole staff was incorporated in the decision, including bus drivers, food servers and custodians. She pointed out that a four-day week could reduce pay. According to Newton, the bus drivers were the only group who showed significant concern.

Also at the meeting, School Board members:

• Heard reports from the district’s principals about steps being taken to address bullying. Many of the principals have instituted programs to educate students and teachers on how to handle bullying.

• Heard a report from Business Manager Garry Goergen that an anticipated increase in enrollment may require additional modular buildings at Pershing and Highland Hills elementary schools. He is currently working with the School Facilities Commission to find funding for the buildings.

• Discussed alternatives to plastic foam cafeteria trays used by Rawlins Middle School students. Goergen said biodegradable trays cost approximately 300 percent more than plastic foam trays. Superintendent Peggy Sanders pointed out the possibility of continuing to use the plastic foam, while making the effort to recycle them instead of throwing them away. Board member Dave Dingman and Goergen should present a solution at the next board meeting.

• Approved an amendment to the district’s construction agreement with the SFC to adjust funding for the proposed Highland Hills Elementary School complex.

• In executive session, evaluated the expulsion of an unnamed Rawlins High School student as well as the hiring of Melvin Meyer as the high school custodian and Brenda Roberts as the high school cafeteria worker. The board reconvened and approved the expulsion and the two hirings. Also approved were the resignations of six district employees.