• Continued staffing shortages mean the hospital spends more money to hire contract employees to cover all shifts.
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Board members again raised their eyebrows Tuesday at the amount of money spent to pay contracted employees, hired to fill staffing gaps at Memorial Hospital of Carbon County.
So far this year, contracted labor expenses at the hospital are in the millions of dollars. Whatever the expenses each year, they are not in the budget because hospital Chief Financial Officer Florence Kostic wants the costs to be in the open.
“We are working diligently to hire people,” she said. “Until then, the staff is working overtime. We have the contract staff to ensure patient care.”
An non-itemized, high-dollar expense raises a red flag that is hard to miss. Kostic said she could hide the contracted labor expense, but it would then be too easy to brush it aside without attempting to fix the situation that causes the hospital to hire contract employees. The remedy is in finding more nurses and physicians who agree to stay at the hospital for the long term, she said.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, hospital board members:
• Heard a report that the hospital’s effort to recover unpaid health coverage by patients has turned up about $643,000 of more than $6.9 million of bad debt. The amounts include debts incurred in multiple years.
• Saw a draft of a presentation planned for April 4 before the Carbon County Commission. The presentation outlines financial and equipment requests from hospital department heads.
• Noted that two physicians are in the final stages of paperwork to begin work at the hospital. Two more are in beginning or intermediate stages of evaluation.
• Made no decision on the employee health insurance plan. The board members plan to continue to evaluate staff comments and options of how best to cover the $80,000 increase. One idea is to charge 1 percent or less of each employee’s salary, across the board.
• Evaluated the progress of the Southeastern Wyoming Ambulance Service and the formation of its joint powers board. The ambulance has made 41 runs since December. The hospital stands to break even with expenses amounting to about $50,000.
• Accepted an adult home care policy that does not limit the number of hours hospital staff can provide care unless the hospital is short of employees. The policy arose out of the need to avoid patient claims of care discrimination.
• Agreed to pay $267,250 to URS Construction for stored material and subcontractor work for the energy savings project. Hospital officials are still waiting for design approval from the state in order to create a schedule for the installation of heating and ventilation equipment.
Consultant Joe Jones reported that positive asbestos samples on the third floor of the hospital would require a special type of removal.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Health fair is Saturday
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Saturday’s Health Fair at the Jeffrey Center in Rawlins should prove informative and amusing for adults and children alike.
The fair is an ongoing effort to bring low-cost health screening exams to area residents. Representatives from more than 30 area organizations are to provide information between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. People who had their blood drawn earlier this month can pick up their results and talk to nurses who can explain the information.
The Carbon County Sheriff’s Office plans to fingerprint children, making it into a fun activity while providing parents the security of having information about their child on file in case the child goes missing. Carbon County Child Development plans to hand out toothbrushes for adults and children to promote oral hygiene.
Event participants can get their height, weight and blood pressure checked at the Wagon Circle Family Practice booth. If back problems are an issue, Davidson Chiropractic will be at the fair offering pamphlets on various conditions and handing out samples of the topical cream the office uses.
April is sexual assault awareness month, so Carbon County COVE plans to hand out brochures and information on the subject. Meanwhile, Project Prevention hopes to talk with visitors about healthy behavior as well as pointing folks in the right direction to get help with tobacco or alcohol use.
South Central Rehabilitation will have giveaway items to promote the center. A staff member should be on site to demonstrate various therapeutic techniques and answer any questions. To prepare Rawlins residents for fires, the fire department plans to hand out information on smoke detectors and home escape plans.
Weight Watchers, the Rawlins Family Recreation Center, Wyoming Independent Living and Rawlins Eye Care are a sampling of other organizations who are expected to have booths at the health fair.
Times staff writer
Saturday’s Health Fair at the Jeffrey Center in Rawlins should prove informative and amusing for adults and children alike.
The fair is an ongoing effort to bring low-cost health screening exams to area residents. Representatives from more than 30 area organizations are to provide information between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. People who had their blood drawn earlier this month can pick up their results and talk to nurses who can explain the information.
The Carbon County Sheriff’s Office plans to fingerprint children, making it into a fun activity while providing parents the security of having information about their child on file in case the child goes missing. Carbon County Child Development plans to hand out toothbrushes for adults and children to promote oral hygiene.
Event participants can get their height, weight and blood pressure checked at the Wagon Circle Family Practice booth. If back problems are an issue, Davidson Chiropractic will be at the fair offering pamphlets on various conditions and handing out samples of the topical cream the office uses.
April is sexual assault awareness month, so Carbon County COVE plans to hand out brochures and information on the subject. Meanwhile, Project Prevention hopes to talk with visitors about healthy behavior as well as pointing folks in the right direction to get help with tobacco or alcohol use.
South Central Rehabilitation will have giveaway items to promote the center. A staff member should be on site to demonstrate various therapeutic techniques and answer any questions. To prepare Rawlins residents for fires, the fire department plans to hand out information on smoke detectors and home escape plans.
Weight Watchers, the Rawlins Family Recreation Center, Wyoming Independent Living and Rawlins Eye Care are a sampling of other organizations who are expected to have booths at the health fair.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Goals matter, senator says
Rawlins Daily Times, Jerrett RaffetyBy Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
When U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., asked Rawlins high school students to vote for their preferred presidential candidate, about a third of the teens raised their hands, and it appeared the votes were split equally three ways.
At the senator’s Tuesday afternoon visit to Rawlins High School, students found energy at the end of the day to engage in political discussion.
The cliché, “follow your heart, follow your dreams and never give up, no matter what,” summarizes the senator’s brief motivational speech that kicked off the half-hour question-and-answer session. Barrasso told the students they can achieve their goals if they think about them, practice them and make movements toward their achievement.
“We have so many opportunities in this world, but years go by and we don’t think about it,” Barrasso said. “Right now, we have many who will be experts in TV re-runs and video games. We should be dreaming really big dreams.”
Barrasso outlined two goal-setting techniques. He challenged students to make a list of 100 goals and check them off each year upon completion. The other is to make a goals collage, illustrating aspirations using magazine or newspaper clippings. “The idea is to keep our goals in our thoughts and to make steps each day toward them,” he said.
The discussion turned political when the senator asked who was following the presidential race.
Student Kyle Poplin asked if Barrasso supports Sen. John McCain’s health care policy. Since McCain is from Arizona, a state that has its share of rural health issues, “he gets it,” Barrasso said.
Barrasso refocused the conversation by asking about the Democratic candidates. Comments throughout the student audience echoed media statements of Barack Obama’s “fresh face and fresh view,” one student said.
On the other hand, Hillary Clinton “can bring a lot to the presidency. She ran Bill’s presidency,” Poplin said.
English teacher Travis Moore asked the senator about preparing young voters to wade through the media spin and make informed decisions. “You have to find out what you’re looking for, and often that’s (a candidate with) beliefs similar to your own,” Barrasso responded.
“The interesting thing about this election is that it will be the first time two senators have run against each other,” Barrasso said. Regardless of the debates or the media framework, both candidates will have a political history. However, he said, often senators’ votes are swayed by a portion of a bill, not its entirety. Additionally, a senator’s responsibility is to his or her state’s interests, as opposed to the president’s responsibility to the nation, he said.
The visit was prompted by Barrasso’s intrigue with two of his aides, Ryan Taylor and Kelsey Campbell, who are Rawlins High School graduates. “Rawlins High School is very instrumental in our staff,” Barrasso said.
District 1 board meets in Baggs
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Members of the Carbon County District 1 School Board travel to Baggs on Thursday for their final March meeting.
At 6 p.m. in the Little Snake River Valley School’s music room, middle school students present their state History Fair projects. One of the presentations is a dramatization of the wild horse herds in the Red Desert.
The meeting is open to the public.
Architect Brad Oberg is scheduled to present his evaluation of the Little Snake River Valley School, in conjunction with the representatives from the community. The presentation should outline the community assessment of the school’s needs. According to LSRV Principal Rick Newton, the parameters of the review are based on a general report from the School Facilities Commission.
Also at the meeting, the School Board is to:
• Hear a presentation from the Valley Community Center committee as members press forward with design plans. According to Superintendent Peggy Sanders, the committee wants to negotiate with the district to build on land near the LSRV track.
• Evaluate the terms of a contract with L.M. Olson Inc. for maintenance projects throughout the school district.
• Discuss an exchange of land and a fence relocation between the district’s administrative office and the Carbon County Fairgrounds.
• Consider awarding a contract to replace the boiler in the small gym at Rawlins High School and to replace the RHS gym floor.
• Discuss the terms of a contract with Pine Cove Consulting for technological support for the design and construction of the Highland Hills Elementary School complex. The board should also evaluate the prospect of hiring a project representative to oversee that construction project.
Times staff writer
Members of the Carbon County District 1 School Board travel to Baggs on Thursday for their final March meeting.
At 6 p.m. in the Little Snake River Valley School’s music room, middle school students present their state History Fair projects. One of the presentations is a dramatization of the wild horse herds in the Red Desert.
The meeting is open to the public.
Architect Brad Oberg is scheduled to present his evaluation of the Little Snake River Valley School, in conjunction with the representatives from the community. The presentation should outline the community assessment of the school’s needs. According to LSRV Principal Rick Newton, the parameters of the review are based on a general report from the School Facilities Commission.
Also at the meeting, the School Board is to:
• Hear a presentation from the Valley Community Center committee as members press forward with design plans. According to Superintendent Peggy Sanders, the committee wants to negotiate with the district to build on land near the LSRV track.
• Evaluate the terms of a contract with L.M. Olson Inc. for maintenance projects throughout the school district.
• Discuss an exchange of land and a fence relocation between the district’s administrative office and the Carbon County Fairgrounds.
• Consider awarding a contract to replace the boiler in the small gym at Rawlins High School and to replace the RHS gym floor.
• Discuss the terms of a contract with Pine Cove Consulting for technological support for the design and construction of the Highland Hills Elementary School complex. The board should also evaluate the prospect of hiring a project representative to oversee that construction project.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Strength training pays off
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Strength training for adults 65 and older, done more than twice a week and combined with physical exercise, can prolong independent living and promote general well-being.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, strength training, generally in the form of lifting weights or doing various other static exercises, can do more than build strength and endurance. Those factors are important for minimizing falls by maintaining the muscles necessary for proper balance.
Working out regularly also increases bone density, making it less likely to break bones or develop osteoporosis. Additionally, it reduces the risk of diabetes by improving the body’s ability to metabolize glucose.
“Lifting weights regularly can help keep a person out of the nursing home or assisted living for up to three years,” Judy Justesen said.
Justesen, a former Rawlins Recreation Center Recreation programmer for senior citizens, lifts weights three times a week, devotes another three days to other strength training and rests on the seventh day. She combines her activities with daily stretching and aerobic exercise.
Strength training “does a lot to enhance the whole person by releasing endorphins,” Justesen said. Endorphins are chemicals released by the body through exercise and other activities that produce a general sense of happiness or well-being. “I recommend doing it in the morning,” she said. “It’s a great way to start the day with energy.”
According to a CDC, 11 percent of adults 65 and older engaged in strength training, with women less likely to do so than men. Justesen said that women should consider exercise and strength training because “it prevents skin from sagging as much as you get older,” she said. “You look better and definitely feel better. The two go hand in hand.”
When done correctly, strength training helps older folks better enjoy life. Justesen, now a grandmother, still plays volleyball. She says her exercise program helps her agility.
But she says the time lifting weights inside is boring. “It’s my least liked activity, and that says a lot,” she said. “If it didn’t do so much good, I wouldn’t be there three times a week.”
Denise Davis, who has Justesen’s old job, plans to establish a physical training program, provided the community shows interest. To get a class started, check in at the front desk of the Rawlins Recreation Center or call Davis at 324-7529.
Times staff writer
Strength training for adults 65 and older, done more than twice a week and combined with physical exercise, can prolong independent living and promote general well-being.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, strength training, generally in the form of lifting weights or doing various other static exercises, can do more than build strength and endurance. Those factors are important for minimizing falls by maintaining the muscles necessary for proper balance.
Working out regularly also increases bone density, making it less likely to break bones or develop osteoporosis. Additionally, it reduces the risk of diabetes by improving the body’s ability to metabolize glucose.
“Lifting weights regularly can help keep a person out of the nursing home or assisted living for up to three years,” Judy Justesen said.
Justesen, a former Rawlins Recreation Center Recreation programmer for senior citizens, lifts weights three times a week, devotes another three days to other strength training and rests on the seventh day. She combines her activities with daily stretching and aerobic exercise.
Strength training “does a lot to enhance the whole person by releasing endorphins,” Justesen said. Endorphins are chemicals released by the body through exercise and other activities that produce a general sense of happiness or well-being. “I recommend doing it in the morning,” she said. “It’s a great way to start the day with energy.”
According to a CDC, 11 percent of adults 65 and older engaged in strength training, with women less likely to do so than men. Justesen said that women should consider exercise and strength training because “it prevents skin from sagging as much as you get older,” she said. “You look better and definitely feel better. The two go hand in hand.”
When done correctly, strength training helps older folks better enjoy life. Justesen, now a grandmother, still plays volleyball. She says her exercise program helps her agility.
But she says the time lifting weights inside is boring. “It’s my least liked activity, and that says a lot,” she said. “If it didn’t do so much good, I wouldn’t be there three times a week.”
Denise Davis, who has Justesen’s old job, plans to establish a physical training program, provided the community shows interest. To get a class started, check in at the front desk of the Rawlins Recreation Center or call Davis at 324-7529.
Water exercise has many benefits
For the Health Fair section
• Exercising in water reduces impacts to bones and joints and the water provides natural resistance.
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Jogging that is relocated to the water, called aqua jogging, has been proven to save joints as well as create resistance training that can have more powerful effects than land-based activities.
“If you exert the same energy jogging on land when jogging in the water, you will burn more calories in the water,” water jogging instructor Gail Dahl said. The water resistance is more than that of air, making the running motion more difficult. And jogging in the water eliminates the damaging joint impact of land jogging.
Dahl has men and women, young and old, attend her classes, which begin at 6 p.m. and run for an hour every weeknight at the Rawlins High School pool. The class is particularly popular with individuals with injuries or joint pain, as well as with pregnant women.
Half of the class is devoted purely to jogging laps at a pace specific to each participant. In the second half hour, Dahl leads the joggers in toning exercises including leg work with buoyant “weights” as well as crunches and thigh and arm exercises using an inflated ball.
“As a new person, it’s easy to get involved,” Dahl said. She gives the new jogger a run-down on correct posture, exercise options and recommendations based on a person’s ability and current health. “All you need is a swimsuit,” Dahl said.
She recommends the activity to anyone looking to revamp their exercise program or start a new one. “I always leave (the pool) feeling energized, not exhausted,” she said.
• Exercising in water reduces impacts to bones and joints and the water provides natural resistance.
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Jogging that is relocated to the water, called aqua jogging, has been proven to save joints as well as create resistance training that can have more powerful effects than land-based activities.
“If you exert the same energy jogging on land when jogging in the water, you will burn more calories in the water,” water jogging instructor Gail Dahl said. The water resistance is more than that of air, making the running motion more difficult. And jogging in the water eliminates the damaging joint impact of land jogging.
Dahl has men and women, young and old, attend her classes, which begin at 6 p.m. and run for an hour every weeknight at the Rawlins High School pool. The class is particularly popular with individuals with injuries or joint pain, as well as with pregnant women.
Half of the class is devoted purely to jogging laps at a pace specific to each participant. In the second half hour, Dahl leads the joggers in toning exercises including leg work with buoyant “weights” as well as crunches and thigh and arm exercises using an inflated ball.
“As a new person, it’s easy to get involved,” Dahl said. She gives the new jogger a run-down on correct posture, exercise options and recommendations based on a person’s ability and current health. “All you need is a swimsuit,” Dahl said.
She recommends the activity to anyone looking to revamp their exercise program or start a new one. “I always leave (the pool) feeling energized, not exhausted,” she said.
Snowshoeing adventures abundant in county
Rawlins Daily Times, Janice Kurbjun***************
Looking at the trailhead, nothing was familiar.In summer, there was lush, green foliage scattered with wildflower shades of purple, blue, pink and orange. Now, in late winter, the trail into the Sierra Madres is white, broken by sharp shadows of lodgepole pines reaching into the blue sky.
The well-cleared trail marked with blue diamond signs is off limits to snowmobilers, though the machines can still be heard. The snow is nearly waist deep at the edge of the pavement; the only way to get through is to strap on snowshoes.
Snowshoes create a duck-like effect when the wide, aluminum frames with inside rubber are strapped over boots. Climbing over the snow bank, the only sound is the crunch of crusty snow underfoot.
The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest is a perfect place to hit the snow for a few hours. With snowshoe and cross-country trails in Brush Creek, across the highway from the Medicine Bow Lodge in Ryan Park, and Bottle Creek west of Encampment in the Sierra Madres, there is plenty of terrain to explore.
Mark Rauterkus at the Trading Post at the Encampment-Riverside junction provides the only place to rent snowshoes in Carbon County. For $10 a day, Rauterkus can equip the outdoorsman with shoes, and he provides poles and Forest Service trail maps. “It’s easy to learn,” he said. Just strap them on and go, just like walking.
On the trail, the pristine snow is untouched except for rabbit tracks zigzagging through the forest. Veering from the trail and softly wading through untouched powder, a view of the Sierra Madres comes into focus as the trees open into a clearing. Beyond, the craggy summits of Colorado’s Never Summer mountain range are barely visible.
“It’s the most fun to go off the trail, especially if you see moose tracks or want to go over the ridge,” said Sue Cary, of the Brush Creek-Hayden ranger office in Saratoga. “Often, people just go. You can snowshoe anywhere in the forest if you’re careful.”
The trails Rauterkus points out to visitors start off as an easy hike with a gradual incline, ideal for beginners.
“The trails are very scenic,” he said. “They wind in and out of the trees and as you get higher, they have great views.” Snowshoeing difficulty increases with the trail’s grade, but varies slightly from traditional hiking since it involves snow, deeper means harder going.
— Janice Kurbjun
******************
Tips Offered
For people who plan to strap on a pair snowshoes and take off into the great unknown, officials at Saratoga’s Brush Creek-Hayden ranger station recommend some safety tips:
• Explorers should carry water, a snack, a compass and a whistle.
• Do not go into the forest alone. Leave a note in your vehicle saying where you’ve gone. A vehicle will often be investigated by law enforcement before Forest Service officials recognize that someone has not returned from the trail, especially in winter.
• Remember the acronym WOW: Where am I? Is everything OK in terms of gear and myself? What is the weather like? Forest Service personnel recommend being consistently aware of your surroundings, especially when off a marked trail.
• The weather changes quickly in the mountains; explorers should pay attention to the clouds.
Emergency service undergoing review
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Emergency medical services have long been heralded as the first line of defense in emergencies, with their role growing increasingly important in rural communities.
As such, the Wyoming Healthcare Commission, in its search for rural health care solutions with Carbon County as the guinea pig, has contracted with New Jersey-based SafeTech Solutions to evaluate the county’s EMS system.
Gary Wingrove and John Becknell of SafeTech recently visited Carbon County. They talked with a medical professionals and city and county officials about the system and the community’s perceptions.
“We’re not the fixers,” Wingrove said. “Our role here is to assess and then to prescribe the best practices from other communities according to what might fit into this one.”
They defined EMS as all services provided in an emergency prior to arrival at the hospital. That includes anything from answering a 911 call to giving telephone instructions for patient care to taking patients to a care facility.
The SafeTech representatives said they often make recommendations to communities that require the involvement of more than one entity. To them, the responsibility for emergency medicine rests on the shoulders of the community as a whole.
According to the consultants, hospital officials should think about shortages in ambulance workers while organizations and individuals should be aware of how an the emergency service’s functionality affects them. City officials should think about the importance of a fully-funded service and public education can be accomplished through newspapers.
Becknell said they discovered that Carbon County is served by a hodgepodge of volunteer workers and full-time, paid staff, mostly in Rawlins, who also serve at the hospital.
“This is the two-headed monster of EMS,” Becknell said. “It is difficult to recruit and retain volunteers anywhere, across the country. It goes hand in hand with the issue of how to fund EMS if staff must be hired.”
Times staff writer
Emergency medical services have long been heralded as the first line of defense in emergencies, with their role growing increasingly important in rural communities.
As such, the Wyoming Healthcare Commission, in its search for rural health care solutions with Carbon County as the guinea pig, has contracted with New Jersey-based SafeTech Solutions to evaluate the county’s EMS system.
Gary Wingrove and John Becknell of SafeTech recently visited Carbon County. They talked with a medical professionals and city and county officials about the system and the community’s perceptions.
“We’re not the fixers,” Wingrove said. “Our role here is to assess and then to prescribe the best practices from other communities according to what might fit into this one.”
They defined EMS as all services provided in an emergency prior to arrival at the hospital. That includes anything from answering a 911 call to giving telephone instructions for patient care to taking patients to a care facility.
The SafeTech representatives said they often make recommendations to communities that require the involvement of more than one entity. To them, the responsibility for emergency medicine rests on the shoulders of the community as a whole.
According to the consultants, hospital officials should think about shortages in ambulance workers while organizations and individuals should be aware of how an the emergency service’s functionality affects them. City officials should think about the importance of a fully-funded service and public education can be accomplished through newspapers.
Becknell said they discovered that Carbon County is served by a hodgepodge of volunteer workers and full-time, paid staff, mostly in Rawlins, who also serve at the hospital.
“This is the two-headed monster of EMS,” Becknell said. “It is difficult to recruit and retain volunteers anywhere, across the country. It goes hand in hand with the issue of how to fund EMS if staff must be hired.”
Schools need modular units
Times staff report
Carbon County School District 1 plans to lease two modular buildings for next school year.
Pershing and Highland Hills elementary schools each need a two-room modular unit. District 1 already leases some modular buildings.
The additional space should meet anticipated enrollment growth for the next two years, district officials say. The growth is based on patterns in monthly enrollment reports. The district’s initial enrollment has been increasing since 2004. Last August saw the smallest increase — 47 students — as compared to the year before with 52. In August 2005, enrollment increased by 89 students.
In two years, the new Highland Hills school complex should be nearly complete. However, the lease of modular buildings may trickle into the 2010-11 school year.
“We may need to make unusual arrangements in the third year to accommodate (the anticipated number of students),” District 1 Superintendent Peggy Sanders said. “But we do not want to bring in more modulars.”
Carbon County School District 1 plans to lease two modular buildings for next school year.
Pershing and Highland Hills elementary schools each need a two-room modular unit. District 1 already leases some modular buildings.
The additional space should meet anticipated enrollment growth for the next two years, district officials say. The growth is based on patterns in monthly enrollment reports. The district’s initial enrollment has been increasing since 2004. Last August saw the smallest increase — 47 students — as compared to the year before with 52. In August 2005, enrollment increased by 89 students.
In two years, the new Highland Hills school complex should be nearly complete. However, the lease of modular buildings may trickle into the 2010-11 school year.
“We may need to make unusual arrangements in the third year to accommodate (the anticipated number of students),” District 1 Superintendent Peggy Sanders said. “But we do not want to bring in more modulars.”
Friday, March 21, 2008
Arapaho language alive and well
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Through the story of the fox and the wood tick, children of the Arapaho tribe learn how to be clever.
“I can beat you!” said Merle Haas, a Northern Arapaho from the Wind River Reservation. Her exclamation imitated a voice characteristic of a tiny insect, the wood tick, which challenged the fox to a race. Haas’ laugh then mimicked the fox, which claimed the wood tick would have no chance.
Cleverly giving the vain, furry beast a head start, the wood tick jumped onto the fox’s tail just as he took off. At the end of the race, the bewildered fox found that the wood tick crawled from tail to nose, hopping off as they arrived at the finish line. “I beat you!” Haas chirped in the wood tick’s taunting voice.
Haas wears many hats, the most prominent of which is that of a storyteller. She is also a co-founder of the Wind River Tribal College and an educator. Her brother-in-law, Alonso Moss, is also a Northern Arapaho and native of the Wind River Indian Reservation. His mission is to keep the language of his people alive. The two spoke as part of the “Power of Place: Legacies of Carbon County” lecture series earlier this week.
“Stories are considered sacred because they contain the old way of life, passed from generation to generation,” Haas said.
There are parable-like stories that have a moral lesson as well as what Haas called “how it came to be” stories that illustrate such questions as “why does the raccoon have black eyes?” The Arapahos also have ceremonial stories, often based around religion. “We also have trickster stories,” Haas said.
Haas plans to lead an effort to create a map of Wyoming which lists the Arapaho names for places.
Haas told her stories in English, but Moss insisted that the stories are only pure if told in Arapaho.
Moss is notorious on the reservation for speaking only his native language when only about 8 percent of the tribal members speak the native tongue. His Arapaho name is “Ridge Walker.” “They told me I’m going to walk right along the ridge. No one is going to pull me this way or that. I’m going to be myself, they said. It’s true. I’m doing what I want.” By speaking the native tongue to everyone he encounters, he hopes to educate them through immersion and set the example for parents and grandparents to do the same.
Moss delivered a crash course in the Arapaho language at the lecture, teaching the audience how to pronounce the letters and how to translate a few words. Often, non-natives who visit the reservation can speak the language better than the natives. “If they can learn it, then why not the Arapahos?” Moss asked.
“People today like to blame the missionaries or the teachers,” he said. “But that didn’t stop the old people like me. I got beat up, but I kept talking, because I was crazy. I told people not to excuse themselves. Right now, the opportunity is there to learn it. We’re through with excuses.”
Times staff writer
Through the story of the fox and the wood tick, children of the Arapaho tribe learn how to be clever.
“I can beat you!” said Merle Haas, a Northern Arapaho from the Wind River Reservation. Her exclamation imitated a voice characteristic of a tiny insect, the wood tick, which challenged the fox to a race. Haas’ laugh then mimicked the fox, which claimed the wood tick would have no chance.
Cleverly giving the vain, furry beast a head start, the wood tick jumped onto the fox’s tail just as he took off. At the end of the race, the bewildered fox found that the wood tick crawled from tail to nose, hopping off as they arrived at the finish line. “I beat you!” Haas chirped in the wood tick’s taunting voice.
Haas wears many hats, the most prominent of which is that of a storyteller. She is also a co-founder of the Wind River Tribal College and an educator. Her brother-in-law, Alonso Moss, is also a Northern Arapaho and native of the Wind River Indian Reservation. His mission is to keep the language of his people alive. The two spoke as part of the “Power of Place: Legacies of Carbon County” lecture series earlier this week.
“Stories are considered sacred because they contain the old way of life, passed from generation to generation,” Haas said.
There are parable-like stories that have a moral lesson as well as what Haas called “how it came to be” stories that illustrate such questions as “why does the raccoon have black eyes?” The Arapahos also have ceremonial stories, often based around religion. “We also have trickster stories,” Haas said.
Haas plans to lead an effort to create a map of Wyoming which lists the Arapaho names for places.
Haas told her stories in English, but Moss insisted that the stories are only pure if told in Arapaho.
Moss is notorious on the reservation for speaking only his native language when only about 8 percent of the tribal members speak the native tongue. His Arapaho name is “Ridge Walker.” “They told me I’m going to walk right along the ridge. No one is going to pull me this way or that. I’m going to be myself, they said. It’s true. I’m doing what I want.” By speaking the native tongue to everyone he encounters, he hopes to educate them through immersion and set the example for parents and grandparents to do the same.
Moss delivered a crash course in the Arapaho language at the lecture, teaching the audience how to pronounce the letters and how to translate a few words. Often, non-natives who visit the reservation can speak the language better than the natives. “If they can learn it, then why not the Arapahos?” Moss asked.
“People today like to blame the missionaries or the teachers,” he said. “But that didn’t stop the old people like me. I got beat up, but I kept talking, because I was crazy. I told people not to excuse themselves. Right now, the opportunity is there to learn it. We’re through with excuses.”
County may benefit from bill
• Physician recruiting bill could help local hospital, doctors’ offices.
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
With $400,000 set aside for the next two years, Wyoming health care officials are better equipped to attempt to reel in much-needed physicians.
Legislation passed earlier this year by the Wyoming Legislature, and signed by the governor, distributes money to high-need hospitals and physician practices around Wyoming. The bill allows for a hefty incentive package to attract new physicians to the state.
Dan Perdue of the American Hospital Association predicted Carbon County would be in a good position to secure some of the state funds. Perdue said Wyoming Department of Health officials are expected to establish the process for distributing the funds.
“We’ll have to wait until the rules and regulations get issued before we’ll know if it affects us,” said Patsy Carter, Memorial Hospital of Carbon County’s chief executive officer.
Originally introduced with an allowance of $800,000 per year, the bill was passed by the House of Representatives but killed in the Senate. As a compromise, it was revised with half as much funding.
“It doesn’t go a long way, but if we can show that there’s a demonstrated need for this type of legislation, we may be able to go back into the next session and ask for more money,” Perdue said. “The legislature is under the gun to make sure they’re funding all the programs that are worthwhile. We’ll have to see what our track record is.”
The bill incorporates the two elements of recruiting physicians — initial effort and incentives. Up to 10 percent of the funds are allotted for grant advertisement. Hospitals or doctor’s offices can be reimbursed up to $10,000 for successful recruitment efforts.
Another $90,000 from the state’s general fund has been allocated to pay for a grant administrator for the program.
Physicians recruited under the bill must agree to work in the respective community for at least two years, or repay the state and pay interest. The incentive package offers up to $20,000 for relocation, up to $10,000 a year in malpractice insurance and a maximum signing bonus of $30,000. Additionally, recruited physicians can be fully reimbursed for outstanding educational loans up to $30,000 per year.
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
With $400,000 set aside for the next two years, Wyoming health care officials are better equipped to attempt to reel in much-needed physicians.
Legislation passed earlier this year by the Wyoming Legislature, and signed by the governor, distributes money to high-need hospitals and physician practices around Wyoming. The bill allows for a hefty incentive package to attract new physicians to the state.
Dan Perdue of the American Hospital Association predicted Carbon County would be in a good position to secure some of the state funds. Perdue said Wyoming Department of Health officials are expected to establish the process for distributing the funds.
“We’ll have to wait until the rules and regulations get issued before we’ll know if it affects us,” said Patsy Carter, Memorial Hospital of Carbon County’s chief executive officer.
Originally introduced with an allowance of $800,000 per year, the bill was passed by the House of Representatives but killed in the Senate. As a compromise, it was revised with half as much funding.
“It doesn’t go a long way, but if we can show that there’s a demonstrated need for this type of legislation, we may be able to go back into the next session and ask for more money,” Perdue said. “The legislature is under the gun to make sure they’re funding all the programs that are worthwhile. We’ll have to see what our track record is.”
The bill incorporates the two elements of recruiting physicians — initial effort and incentives. Up to 10 percent of the funds are allotted for grant advertisement. Hospitals or doctor’s offices can be reimbursed up to $10,000 for successful recruitment efforts.
Another $90,000 from the state’s general fund has been allocated to pay for a grant administrator for the program.
Physicians recruited under the bill must agree to work in the respective community for at least two years, or repay the state and pay interest. The incentive package offers up to $20,000 for relocation, up to $10,000 a year in malpractice insurance and a maximum signing bonus of $30,000. Additionally, recruited physicians can be fully reimbursed for outstanding educational loans up to $30,000 per year.
Hospital budget work continues
Times staff report
Work continues on the proposed budget for Memorial Hospital of Carbon County.
Earlier this month, members of the hospital’s finance committee met to coordinate requests from the hospital department managers. The committee plans to present its budget recommendations to the hospital board at its 5:15 p.m. meeting Tuesday, March 25 in the hospital board room.
The meeting is open to the public.
The committee has also prepared a presentation for the Carbon County commissioners, designed to draw attention to its budget needs and request funding from the county.
The budget should be approved by late May.
Also at the meeting, hospital board members are expected to:
• Hear an update from the Carbon County Council of Governments concerning the proposed specific purpose tax.
• Discuss progress on the rural health care improvements pilot project. Last week, officials met with representatives from SafeTech Solutions, a company contracted to evaluate emergency medical services in the county.
• Make a decision on the employee health insurance plan, after considering the possibilities and hospital staff feedback.
• Hear an update on the southeastern Wyoming ambulance service.
• Form a committee to address surgical care in the hospital according to a nine-part evaluation system instituted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
Work continues on the proposed budget for Memorial Hospital of Carbon County.
Earlier this month, members of the hospital’s finance committee met to coordinate requests from the hospital department managers. The committee plans to present its budget recommendations to the hospital board at its 5:15 p.m. meeting Tuesday, March 25 in the hospital board room.
The meeting is open to the public.
The committee has also prepared a presentation for the Carbon County commissioners, designed to draw attention to its budget needs and request funding from the county.
The budget should be approved by late May.
Also at the meeting, hospital board members are expected to:
• Hear an update from the Carbon County Council of Governments concerning the proposed specific purpose tax.
• Discuss progress on the rural health care improvements pilot project. Last week, officials met with representatives from SafeTech Solutions, a company contracted to evaluate emergency medical services in the county.
• Make a decision on the employee health insurance plan, after considering the possibilities and hospital staff feedback.
• Hear an update on the southeastern Wyoming ambulance service.
• Form a committee to address surgical care in the hospital according to a nine-part evaluation system instituted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
Schools partner for grant
Front pager...
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
A $215,000 grant is expected to help enhance the math program in schools in Carbon County School District 2.
Prior to applying for the Math and Science Partnership grant, District 2 Superintendent Bob Gates appealed to University of Wyoming’s science and math learning center for help with staff training to improve student math scores. The collaboration resulted in the federal grant and the inclusion of Carbon County School District 1 in the program. The proposed plan is designed to improve long-term student performance in math for students in every grade.
The program targets high-need school districts where at least 40 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced lunches or where the school didn’t make adequate yearly progress in math in 2007.
At Monday’s District 2 School Board meeting, board members heard from Robert Mayes, director of the UW science and math learning center. He plans to serve as a resource for the secondary education portion of the project, along with colleagues Michelle and Scott Chamberlin and Linda Hutchison.
“We’ve been diagnosing areas in District 2 where students are challenged and we’ve been identifying areas of need from the PAWS data and teacher data,” Mayes said. “Then we’ll develop units to teach in the classroom through collaborative partnership.”
UW’s work with District 1 officials should start this summer, following the same format.
The goal is to get teachers to think about how they teach the areas that are problematic.
In a truly collaborative effort, the two county districts will also partner with Math Recovery, an Australia-based teacher education program, to develop the elementary education staff. Representatives from the Math Recovery council plan to do on-site teacher training.
The program could mean changes to the schools’ curriculums, “depending on what the teachers find,” grant writer Cathy McAtee said. Otherwise, teachers may simply modify their delivery.
“Hopefully, the students will continue to grow in their love of math and begin applying it to real-world situations,” she said.
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
A $215,000 grant is expected to help enhance the math program in schools in Carbon County School District 2.
Prior to applying for the Math and Science Partnership grant, District 2 Superintendent Bob Gates appealed to University of Wyoming’s science and math learning center for help with staff training to improve student math scores. The collaboration resulted in the federal grant and the inclusion of Carbon County School District 1 in the program. The proposed plan is designed to improve long-term student performance in math for students in every grade.
The program targets high-need school districts where at least 40 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced lunches or where the school didn’t make adequate yearly progress in math in 2007.
At Monday’s District 2 School Board meeting, board members heard from Robert Mayes, director of the UW science and math learning center. He plans to serve as a resource for the secondary education portion of the project, along with colleagues Michelle and Scott Chamberlin and Linda Hutchison.
“We’ve been diagnosing areas in District 2 where students are challenged and we’ve been identifying areas of need from the PAWS data and teacher data,” Mayes said. “Then we’ll develop units to teach in the classroom through collaborative partnership.”
UW’s work with District 1 officials should start this summer, following the same format.
The goal is to get teachers to think about how they teach the areas that are problematic.
In a truly collaborative effort, the two county districts will also partner with Math Recovery, an Australia-based teacher education program, to develop the elementary education staff. Representatives from the Math Recovery council plan to do on-site teacher training.
The program could mean changes to the schools’ curriculums, “depending on what the teachers find,” grant writer Cathy McAtee said. Otherwise, teachers may simply modify their delivery.
“Hopefully, the students will continue to grow in their love of math and begin applying it to real-world situations,” she said.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
RMS renovations complete
Times staff report
With the Rawlins Middle School renovation project complete as of Oct. 29, Carbon County School District 1 officials are now wrapping up the project in the books.
District 1 Business Manager Garry Goergen is working with the School Facilities Commission to finalize project costs and reimbursement values.
At last week’s District 1 School Board meeting, Goergen presented an amendment to the district’s contract with the School Facilities Commission. The amendment adjusts the final project value according to changes made to the original design that are valued at more than $100,000. The price change flowed over a 5 percent contract allowance by $32,411. In its entirety, the Rawlins Middle School renovations project cost more than $1,621,637.
Changes included alterations to the roof design as well as additional electrical work that was originally part of the project’s second stage. After a revision to the SFC funding evaluation method last year, District 1 lost funding and was forced to adjust the project’s scope. The revised phase two is now “delayed indefinitely,” District 1 Superintendent Peggy Sanders said.
The intended exterior work included a new approach to the middle school from Harshman Street as well as work on the bus drop off and parking areas. They should be addressed at a later date. “We will know where we fall on the (priority) list when the SFC adds a final element to its assessment: the suitability score,” Sanders said. “At that point, every building will be ranked according to condition, suitability and capacity.”
With the Rawlins Middle School renovation project complete as of Oct. 29, Carbon County School District 1 officials are now wrapping up the project in the books.
District 1 Business Manager Garry Goergen is working with the School Facilities Commission to finalize project costs and reimbursement values.
At last week’s District 1 School Board meeting, Goergen presented an amendment to the district’s contract with the School Facilities Commission. The amendment adjusts the final project value according to changes made to the original design that are valued at more than $100,000. The price change flowed over a 5 percent contract allowance by $32,411. In its entirety, the Rawlins Middle School renovations project cost more than $1,621,637.
Changes included alterations to the roof design as well as additional electrical work that was originally part of the project’s second stage. After a revision to the SFC funding evaluation method last year, District 1 lost funding and was forced to adjust the project’s scope. The revised phase two is now “delayed indefinitely,” District 1 Superintendent Peggy Sanders said.
The intended exterior work included a new approach to the middle school from Harshman Street as well as work on the bus drop off and parking areas. They should be addressed at a later date. “We will know where we fall on the (priority) list when the SFC adds a final element to its assessment: the suitability score,” Sanders said. “At that point, every building will be ranked according to condition, suitability and capacity.”
County Easter events abound
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
On Saturday, area children should be on a sugar high after a host of egg hunts scattered across the county take place.
In Rawlins, the Eagles and the Veterans of Foreign Wars co-host a Saturday hunt at 10 a.m. in Washington Park. They are prepared for up to 400 egg hunters. Participants up to 14 years old can look for prize-winning, specially-marked eggs. There are also 100 smaller prizes, marked by a certificate inside the egg, for things like sodas, coloring books, footballs and bracelets.
In Saratoga, the Xi Alpha Kappa Beta Sigma Phi sorority hosts a hunt at the Saratoga Inn on Saturday at 11 a.m. Three prize baskets should be available to the finders of several lucky eggs. Kindergarten-aged kids or younger from any community may participate. An Easter bunny should make an appearance.
Encampment, Medicine Bow and Hanna have community Easter events on Saturday as well. The Encampment-Riverside Volunteer Fire Department holds their hunt for kids from pre-school to sixth grade at 10 a.m. in the Riverside Town Park. In Medicine Bow, the Lion’s Club hides eggs for kids ages 12 and younger in the field recreation area on the north side of town at 11 a.m. Hanna’s Girl Scouts sponsor another 10 a.m. egg hunt at the Hanna Recreation Center. Unlike the others, Hanna’s hunt should be held indoors. There is no age limit for participants, but the hunts are staggered by age so parents can watch.
Elks Lodge members plans to hide 5,439 eggs throughout the Carbon County Fairgrounds in Rawlins on Sunday. Stuffed with candy, money and gift certificates for cinnamon sticks at Domino’s Pizza, the eggs should be available for hunting at 1 p.m. for children up to age 14. “If it starts at 1 p.m., be there at 10 (minutes) till,” Rawlins Main Street Director Pam Thayer said. “It’s over at 1:03.”
For each egg hunt, kids should bring a basket or sack to stash their eggs.
Times staff writer
On Saturday, area children should be on a sugar high after a host of egg hunts scattered across the county take place.
In Rawlins, the Eagles and the Veterans of Foreign Wars co-host a Saturday hunt at 10 a.m. in Washington Park. They are prepared for up to 400 egg hunters. Participants up to 14 years old can look for prize-winning, specially-marked eggs. There are also 100 smaller prizes, marked by a certificate inside the egg, for things like sodas, coloring books, footballs and bracelets.
In Saratoga, the Xi Alpha Kappa Beta Sigma Phi sorority hosts a hunt at the Saratoga Inn on Saturday at 11 a.m. Three prize baskets should be available to the finders of several lucky eggs. Kindergarten-aged kids or younger from any community may participate. An Easter bunny should make an appearance.
Encampment, Medicine Bow and Hanna have community Easter events on Saturday as well. The Encampment-Riverside Volunteer Fire Department holds their hunt for kids from pre-school to sixth grade at 10 a.m. in the Riverside Town Park. In Medicine Bow, the Lion’s Club hides eggs for kids ages 12 and younger in the field recreation area on the north side of town at 11 a.m. Hanna’s Girl Scouts sponsor another 10 a.m. egg hunt at the Hanna Recreation Center. Unlike the others, Hanna’s hunt should be held indoors. There is no age limit for participants, but the hunts are staggered by age so parents can watch.
Elks Lodge members plans to hide 5,439 eggs throughout the Carbon County Fairgrounds in Rawlins on Sunday. Stuffed with candy, money and gift certificates for cinnamon sticks at Domino’s Pizza, the eggs should be available for hunting at 1 p.m. for children up to age 14. “If it starts at 1 p.m., be there at 10 (minutes) till,” Rawlins Main Street Director Pam Thayer said. “It’s over at 1:03.”
For each egg hunt, kids should bring a basket or sack to stash their eggs.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Valedictorian policy changes
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
The new policy for choosing valedictorians and salutatorians at Rawlins High School is poised for final approval at the next Carbon County District 1 School Board meeting in late March.
The item received little discussion from School Board members during its first reading. The second and final reading is set for the School Board’s meeting near the end of March.
Previously, Rawlins High School’s policy matched that of Little Snake River Valley School, where the student with the highest grade point average was named valedictorian, with no limit as to the number of students who could earn the honor. Likewise, the student, or students, with the second highest GPA were named salutatorian.
Pending approval, next year’s policy will be revised to incorporate ACT scores. Students should be chosen initially by their GPA. In the event of a tie, the student with the best ACT scores would be named valedictorian. The student with the second-highest ACT score becomes salutatorian. If there is still a tie, multiple students receive each honor.
“There are pros and cons to both policies,” District 1 Superintendent Peggy Sanders said. “A pro to the old system is that many students get recognized. The other point of view is that if you have up to nine valedictorians, it doesn’t really distinguish to the highest honor of who should be recognized.”
Times staff writer
The new policy for choosing valedictorians and salutatorians at Rawlins High School is poised for final approval at the next Carbon County District 1 School Board meeting in late March.
The item received little discussion from School Board members during its first reading. The second and final reading is set for the School Board’s meeting near the end of March.
Previously, Rawlins High School’s policy matched that of Little Snake River Valley School, where the student with the highest grade point average was named valedictorian, with no limit as to the number of students who could earn the honor. Likewise, the student, or students, with the second highest GPA were named salutatorian.
Pending approval, next year’s policy will be revised to incorporate ACT scores. Students should be chosen initially by their GPA. In the event of a tie, the student with the best ACT scores would be named valedictorian. The student with the second-highest ACT score becomes salutatorian. If there is still a tie, multiple students receive each honor.
“There are pros and cons to both policies,” District 1 Superintendent Peggy Sanders said. “A pro to the old system is that many students get recognized. The other point of view is that if you have up to nine valedictorians, it doesn’t really distinguish to the highest honor of who should be recognized.”
Budding chefs take third place
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
Encampment High School’s pro start cooking team finished third in February’s state competition in Jackson.
As part of it’s presentation to the Carbon County District 2 School Board on Monday night, the team had School Board members taste part of their winning menu.
In hard taco-like shells the size of silver dollars was a relish made of corn and cilantro. The budding chefs called it “cowboy caviar.”
Encampment competed against many 3A and 4A teams. “Often, our 1A team is competing against the bigger schools simply because those schools can support that type of program,” said Bob Gates, District 2 superintendent.
According to a report from the Wyoming Lodge and Restaurant Association, the judges sincerely sought to hire the winning students to work in professional restaurants.
Encampment finished behind Cheyenne East and Cheyenne Central. They competed among 160 students from 17 schools.
Also at the meeting, School Board members:
• Decided to keep the current District 2 schedules for another year, giving schools another chance to fine tune the schedules and try to address any lingering issues.
• Heard updates on ongoing construction projects in Medicine Bow and Elk Mountain. Gates reported that the design and budget for both projects are nearly complete and are about halfway through the stages of approval from the School Facilities Commission. Construction should begin this summer.
• Agreed to collaborate with the town of Encampment on an emergency management and disaster mitigation plan. Encampment officials drafted the plan to include the use of district busses and facilities in the event that a natural disaster left its population homeless or in need of help.
Times staff writer
Encampment High School’s pro start cooking team finished third in February’s state competition in Jackson.
As part of it’s presentation to the Carbon County District 2 School Board on Monday night, the team had School Board members taste part of their winning menu.
In hard taco-like shells the size of silver dollars was a relish made of corn and cilantro. The budding chefs called it “cowboy caviar.”
Encampment competed against many 3A and 4A teams. “Often, our 1A team is competing against the bigger schools simply because those schools can support that type of program,” said Bob Gates, District 2 superintendent.
According to a report from the Wyoming Lodge and Restaurant Association, the judges sincerely sought to hire the winning students to work in professional restaurants.
Encampment finished behind Cheyenne East and Cheyenne Central. They competed among 160 students from 17 schools.
Also at the meeting, School Board members:
• Decided to keep the current District 2 schedules for another year, giving schools another chance to fine tune the schedules and try to address any lingering issues.
• Heard updates on ongoing construction projects in Medicine Bow and Elk Mountain. Gates reported that the design and budget for both projects are nearly complete and are about halfway through the stages of approval from the School Facilities Commission. Construction should begin this summer.
• Agreed to collaborate with the town of Encampment on an emergency management and disaster mitigation plan. Encampment officials drafted the plan to include the use of district busses and facilities in the event that a natural disaster left its population homeless or in need of help.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Survey creates more questions
By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer
A survey of Carbon County School District 1 teachers turned up as many questions as it did answers at the district’s School Board meeting last week.
The district’s second survey of instructors asked questions that allowed Duane DeWald to gauge teachers’ perceptions of the quality of their life, but requires further research to better determine its accuracy.
When DeWald pointed out that 80 percent of teachers believe they have adequate communication with student’s parents, Associate Superintendent Neil Terhune asked, “Is it possible that they think they do and they don’t?”
The issue of perception versus reality was evident in questions about feeling overworked, underpaid and well trained. According to DeWald’s presentation, the majority of the district’s teachers felt less overworked than the national average, but felt underpaid and less equipped through training than the rest of the nation.
Some results were clear. District teachers felt that support from and communication with their colleagues was lacking.
However, teachers overwhelmingly said communication with parents and principals was good and that the principals provide adequate direction, are accessible, ask for suggestions and treat the teachers with respect.
“Our goal is to see the whole picture,” DeWald said as he flipped through his Power Point presentation. It showed pictures within pictures, illustrating his goal to expand the data collection. “The data these teachers gave us should help our students be more successful each and every day,” he said.
Times staff writer
A survey of Carbon County School District 1 teachers turned up as many questions as it did answers at the district’s School Board meeting last week.
The district’s second survey of instructors asked questions that allowed Duane DeWald to gauge teachers’ perceptions of the quality of their life, but requires further research to better determine its accuracy.
When DeWald pointed out that 80 percent of teachers believe they have adequate communication with student’s parents, Associate Superintendent Neil Terhune asked, “Is it possible that they think they do and they don’t?”
The issue of perception versus reality was evident in questions about feeling overworked, underpaid and well trained. According to DeWald’s presentation, the majority of the district’s teachers felt less overworked than the national average, but felt underpaid and less equipped through training than the rest of the nation.
Some results were clear. District teachers felt that support from and communication with their colleagues was lacking.
However, teachers overwhelmingly said communication with parents and principals was good and that the principals provide adequate direction, are accessible, ask for suggestions and treat the teachers with respect.
“Our goal is to see the whole picture,” DeWald said as he flipped through his Power Point presentation. It showed pictures within pictures, illustrating his goal to expand the data collection. “The data these teachers gave us should help our students be more successful each and every day,” he said.
Friday, March 14, 2008
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.
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.
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.
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