Superintendent Matt Erickson with Lincoln County School District #2 stepped into the SVI Radio studio on Tuesday, Sept. 23 with his monthly report. Superintendent Erickson discussed high test scores from the recent WYTOP testing, the upcoming accreditation process and the current discussion regarding future school calendars in Star Valley.

(0:00) Heading into this hour’s guest interview segment, joining me live in studio (0:03) right now for his monthly report from Lincoln County School District, (0:06) number two is Superintendent Matt Erickson. (0:09) Superintendent, as always, good morning. How are you? (0:11) Good morning, Duke.

Doing well. Thank you. (0:13) Hey, thank you very much.

(0:15) A lot to talk about on what’s happening inside LCSD, too. (0:18) I think we start with test scores and some some good results (0:21) coming from within the district. (0:23) Yeah, so we’re we’re we have a lot of reason to celebrate.

(0:26) And we’re so appreciative of our teachers and staff. (0:29) It takes a village to accomplish this. (0:31) Obviously, parents play a big role and and we very much appreciate (0:35) our students working hard.

(0:37) But when it comes to student achievement on Y-TOP, which is the state test, (0:41) obviously, in English language arts, our students third through tenth grade, (0:47) which are the grades that are tested in ELA and math, (0:51) we scored first in the state. (0:53) So that’s that’s cause to celebrate and applaud the great work (0:58) that’s taking place on a daily basis. (1:01) And then in math, we were second in the state.

(1:03) And then in science, science is tested at three of the grade levels (1:07) between third and tenth grade, which is fourth, eighth and tenth. (1:11) And we scored third. (1:13) So again, first in ELA, English language arts, (1:16) second in math and third in science.

(1:18) So we’re just so appreciative and so blessed in our community. (1:24) I think you need a banner, don’t you? (1:26) I mean, isn’t that cause for a banner? (1:30) So the middle school has got some banners (1:32) to recognize the greatest accomplishments there. (1:35) But we’re actually going to be putting up an electronic banner (1:39) in our to celebrate state championships, so to speak, (1:43) if you will, in the boardroom.

(1:44) So, yeah, we do need a banner. Absolutely. (1:47) That’s very cool.

(1:48) And like you said, it speaks to the great families (1:51) inside the school district, the great staff and teachers. (1:54) I mean, it really did. (1:54) It takes everybody to accomplish something like that.

(1:56) It does. Yes, absolutely. (1:58) Superintendent Matt Erickson in studio this morning.

(2:01) Lincoln County School District number two here on the weekday. (2:03) Wake up kind of along those lines. Accreditation.

(2:06) We’ve talked about this before. (2:07) Remind us what that is and what the process looks like. (2:09) OK, so Duke, we’re accredited every year and obviously go through a big process.

(2:14) And Mr. (2:15) Jason Horsley is in charge of it, and we very much appreciate his work (2:18) and making sure that we’re accredited. (2:21) Obviously, we need to be accredited in order to give credit out and diplomas (2:29) every fifth year, which we’re in this year. (2:33) We’ll have an on-site peer review and that on-site peer review will take place.

(2:39) So there’s a chair and then a team that will come from across the state (2:42) comprised of administrators and whatnot, teacher leaders. (2:47) And that’s through the Wyoming Department of Ed. (2:49) And that’ll be October 28th and 29th.

(2:52) So we’re in the final phases of getting the board prepared. (2:57) They have a big part with the first two elements or standards. (3:02) There’s 14 of them.

(3:03) And then we’re preparing teacher leaders and and obviously students to (3:07) to participate in that review process as well. (3:10) So they’ll be here for two days. (3:12) First day will be mainly at the district office (3:15) and we’ll be presenting and they’ll be asking questions.

(3:19) Looking for artifacts. (3:21) They’re big into systems and the processes that we have in place, (3:25) which we feel, you know, obviously we have room for for growth, (3:28) but we’re we’re very strong in those things. (3:31) And then the second day on October 29th, (3:34) they’ll be out watching the magic happen in the classrooms and (3:39) obviously looking for what students are doing and what they’re learning (3:43) and seeing the process is actually at the grassroots level in the classroom.

(3:47) So, again, that’s October 28th and 29th. (3:50) Well, no pressure, right? (3:51) No pressure, no pressure at all. (3:54) And well, as you mentioned, the the the results are showing.

(3:58) Right. And so Superintendent Matt Erickson in studio this morning (4:01) on the weekday wake up, something the school board’s been discussing recently (4:04) and taking some public comment on right now is the future of the school calendar. (4:08) Looking at a couple of proposals, maybe summarize (4:12) what the discussion has been and what the school board is looking for here.

(4:15) OK, so Duke, you know, several years ago, (4:20) Star Valley High through a study and because of the high use Fridays (4:25) due to activities and the number of students that were out and or teachers (4:28) that were out in a coaching capacity (4:32) and having a true desire to have certified teachers (4:35) in front of our student athletes more (4:39) than Star Valley High went to a hybrid, which is a four or five calendar. (4:44) Then a few years later, in 2016, (4:48) there was a bunch of surveys and things completed. (4:51) And and there was a true desire by by the community of Star Valley (4:55) to go to a unified calendar because the other schools had been (5:00) on a different calendar.

(5:02) And so we unified on a calendar and we’ve been on that same calendar (5:06) for five hybrid student instructional days around (5:10) one hundred and sixty two to one hundred and sixty three days per year. (5:15) And since 2016 and. (5:20) It’s not perfect.

(5:22) There’s a lot of good things, obviously, we’re meeting the vision (5:25) and mission of the district, which is success at the next level. (5:29) And we envision high learning, academic learning (5:32) as is the main reason of the district. (5:36) So we’re getting the achievement results, but there’s still a desire to see (5:40) if there’s a better calendar or or if what we’re doing is is meeting (5:44) the needs of all.

(5:46) And so, as you mentioned, the school board is taking comments (5:49) and questions and and suggestions, concerns, feedback. (5:55) They’re going to have a work session a week from tomorrow, (5:57) which is October 1st, between six and eight, (6:00) just exploring all all things when it comes to the calendar. (6:05) The state does have minimum (6:08) expectations when it comes to instructional hours (6:11) at the elementary level.

(6:12) That’s nine hundred hours over the course of the year. (6:16) At the middle level, it’s nine fifty. (6:19) And at high school, it’s a thousand hours.

(6:22) And there’s a little bit of confusion based around those hours. (6:25) But here’s really the nuts and bolts of the definition (6:29) if it’s a certified teacher in front of kids. (6:33) So passing periods, passing times, recess, lunch, (6:37) those types of things don’t count as instructional hours.

(6:40) So there you have it. (6:42) All right. Again, school board at LCSD2.org. (6:46) If somebody anybody out there would like to offer some feedback (6:51) or input on the calendar.

(6:53) I think it’s worth reiterating here as well that there are, yes, (6:57) multiple proposals being discussed and ideas being floated around. (7:00) No big final decision was discussed or even partially leaned towards at all. (7:06) Right.

At this point, this is the very early stages (7:08) and just looking at all kinds of different potential options. (7:11) You’re exactly right, Duke. (7:12) And they’re not even proposed at this point.

(7:14) They’re conceptual ideas. (7:16) You know, everything from a true four day week to a going back (7:22) to one hundred and seventy five instructional days, true five day week (7:26) to a couple of variations of a hybrid, which we’re currently on. (7:31) So.

So I guess I say that because if you see something you don’t like, (7:34) don’t let your feathers get too ruffled. (7:36) Just just express your concerns in an email. (7:39) And and you mentioned the work sessions coming up and all those types of details.

(7:42) So, yeah, yeah. (7:43) And the board’s got a lot to sort through and and we’re gathering. (7:47) They have a lot of questions and they’re being very deliberate in this process.

(7:51) And and I have complete trust and faith and confidence in our board right now. (7:56) And they’re going to make the very best decision (7:59) with students first and foremost in mind. (8:02) And then after students, it’ll be staff.

(8:05) And then obviously how best we can support families. (8:09) So, yeah, I’m very optimistic. (8:13) And and it’s not going to be 100 percent right for every family in their situation, (8:18) but it’s going to be best for the masses.

(8:21) For the twenty eight hundred kids that attend school in Star Valley. (8:25) LCSD to Superintendent Matt Erickson in studio. (8:27) Superintendent, as always, appreciate your time.

(8:29) Anything we missed? (8:31) Just again, appreciate you having me on and and selling next week, right? (8:36) Yeah, it’s homecoming next week, both at Star Valley and Cokeville. (8:41) So, yeah, it’ll be a be a fun week with a lot of different activities (8:45) going on, both schools serving as Superintendent Matt Erickson this morning (8:49) on the weekday wake up SVI radio.