Though most people in Teton County can show their smiles off just about anywhere at this point, students and teachers have to keep their masks on.
The Wyoming Department of Health announced Thursday that its health orders would remain in place for the rest of the month, one of which mandates face coverings and social distancing in schools.
Several parents lobbied the Teton County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees in recent weeks on both sides of the masks in schools debate, but Chair Keith Gingery told them the board has little control right now over the decision. School districts can apply for exemptions to the mask order, but communities must meet strict guidelines for case counts and positivity rate.
Jackson Hole athletes are getting new turf.
The Teton County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees approved a contract with manufacturer Field Turf to replace the two soccer fields near Jackson Hole High School and the William T. McIntosh Stadium field. The final cost will come in just under $1.5 million.
The district also plans to replace the track in the stadium at the same time, a $250,000 expense it will cover from the major maintenance fund.
The Teton County Recreation District plans to cover the field replacement costs through the tax it levies on Teton County property owners.
According to industry standards, turf fields have a lifespan of about 10 years, but the soccer fields were installed in 2006 and the football field in 2008. Over time, the rubber infill is moved around and the artificial grass blades are degraded, so the fields become more dangerous as they lose their ability to cushion falls.
School board watchers, buckle up, Wednesdayâs meeting is going to be a meaty one.
After several months in which the Teton County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees considered two or three action items at each meeting, the board has eight things to vote on at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Included in that heavy slate are a few thorny issues.
School district administrators have recommended amending the boundaries for Kelly Elementary School to reduce class sizes and crowding at the outlying school. The new boundary, which a staff report says would go into effect for the 2022-23 school year, would be Sagebrush Drive, so anyone living north of the road in either Kelly or Moose would attend school in Kelly, while those south of the road would go to Jackson Elementary School.
Itâs been roughly three weeks since middle and high school students returned from spring break and jumped into four days of in-person school â the third educational model theyâve adapted to in just 12 months.
The decision was made in February when the Teton County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees voted to combine student cohorts and welcome everyone back amid a tidal wave of divergent public comments, polls and petitions.
Citing opposing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and independent studies, students, parents and teachers weighed in to voice both opposition and support for the transition. But ultimately, Superintendent Gillian Chapman told the News&Guide the decision to return to a more normal schedule was primarily based on CDC guidelines.
Money is flowing to Teton County students.
The Fund for Public Education announced Monday that the Teton County Scholarship Program had named the recipients for this year s spate of awards. In all, 125 students applied for 219 scholarships administered through the partnership between the nonprofit, the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole and Teton County School District No. 1, with a grand total of $704,300.
âThanks to the generosity of our community, students can take the next steps knowing that we are all supporting them each step of the way, Superintendent Gillian Chapman said in a press release. These scholarships make a difference for our students being able to dream big and go far.