GUERNSEY – Platte County School District No. 2 board of trustees held their regular meeting on Sept. 9. This report covers the major items of business at this meeting, plus a list of topics which will come up for discussion or action at future board meetings.
The fall Wyoming School Board Association (WSBA) roundtable share-out was attended by the trustees. Board member Shawna Reichert stated it was nice to visit with other board members in other districts that have similar issues as PCSD No. 2. One way to resolve some of those issues is for board members need to be honest with each other. Board member Kevin Gross said he thought there were really good conversations held at the roundtable. Board member Blaine Ayers agreed it was nice to be with other districts that are having similar issues and being able to discuss those issues. Board member Sarah Seyfang said it was good to collaborate with other district’s boards. She noted that she was told that Lusk had out sourced their climate survey, and WSBA had excellent information on this. She said this would be a good opportunity to grow as a board. Board chairman Gary Anderson said that he found it interesting to visit with other boards and realizing “we are all going through similar situations.”
WSBA regional director Staci Hill was present and presented Gross and Ayers the Certified Board Member for Time Spent Award.
Viking Pride Awards were presented to elementary and secondary students and staff. Elementary student of the month was awarded to Payton Seyfang. Elementary staff recipient was Jeff Keiser. Secondary student of the month recipient was awarded to Alex McCoy and the secondary staff member was awarded to Everett Main.
During public comments, Melissa Howe introduced herself and stated her children are enrolled in the district’s school system. She asked why the board meetings are no longer being made available for people to join through Zoom. She also asked why there was a shift of having volunteers within the school system required to have a background checks and be fingerprinted. How also asked why the House System ended, and how are points now earned and how can they be used. Jon Malcom referred to the conceal and carry policy and strongly suggested that the board does not infringe on people’s liberties when making policy.
Mindy Kelley had students Leni Dimas and Nathan VanNatter speak to their experiences at Nationals in Orlando, Florida this past summer for Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). She noted there are over 16,000 students competing during this conference.
Troy Reichert thanked the board for their support with Skills USA. He also had Leni Dimas and Nathan VanNatter speak to their experiences at Nationals in Atlanta, Georgia. Both of the students thanked the board for their support.
Karen Wambach informed the board that she has four high school students and several middle school students that plan to be involved in E-Sports, which will be an after school program. Pre-season will begin before Christmas Break and the season will begin in January. There will be a parent informational meeting before the preseason in December.
She explained, in E-sports, there are a total of seven games. The students will play, compete, and go to state competition as a team. Wambach also informed the trustees that Lego League has begun and that the Teton School of Science will be held October 20-23. This year Mrs. Wambach will be taking eighth grade students.
In district reports, Jeff Keiser gave an update on district facilities. Electricians have been working on the weight room, the door has been installed in the bus barn, and the tractor garage has been insulated. The plumbing has been competed in the building and the bathrooms will get their permanent stalls installed and then walls touch up painted. There also will be changing tables, new mirrors and lights installed in the bathrooms. The roof top units are ready to be installed; when this happens the building will be without air conditioning and heat for approximately five days.

Athletic director Jolyn Hillen said weight room equipment has arrived and installed. The doors and the electrical work will soon be complete. She has been in contact with Brian Tinker and he will be back in district to demonstrate the equipment. Ms. Hillen shared, one of our seniors (Isaac Cdebaca) is golfing the fall season for Wheatland and their team is doing very well (see the article in this week’s Gazette for more on this team).
Hillen also said PCSD No. 2 had their first sportsmanship of the game awards this past weekend. Recipients were as follows. High school JV volleyball vs Hanna-Elk Mountain – Alyssa Nyquist; varsity volleyball vs Hanna-Elk Mountain – Jordan Atwood; high school football versus Wyoming Indian – Kaiser Edwards. The fan sportsmanship award for the volleyball game were Claire Sisson and Ivory Ashmore.
Assistant principal Jeremy Dietchman thanked Sgt. Lance Cattin from the National Guard who did a presentation at the Hug in a Mug on Friday, Sept 6th. Mr. Dietchman informed the trustees that he is finishing up the Purple Star School application and thanked all staff who jumped in to help with whatever needed to be done.
Mr. Dietchman stated that school is better when the kids are here. He added, the FASTBridge testing is complete, and fourth grade students will be going to the James C. Hageman Research Center outside of Lingle to participate in the Tators for Tots on Sept.19. They will also be going to Fort Laramie to visit the Fort on Sept. 30. The sixth grade had a field trip to the Guernsey Lake for a “Paddle in the Park” on Aug. 30.
Principal Liesl Sisson reported Homecoming went well last week, and there was a good turnout for the dance on Saturday night. Mrs. Sisson explained a little about the Critter Coin and how it works for both elementary and secondary students. She explained that this is being done in place of the House option that has been done over the past few years. The details are still being worked out and will be out in the near future to the students and parents on how this will work.
On September 11 TAC-One held another training for new staff, and Sisson said it was nice to have Christina Mangan, the district’s school resource officer, back in the building.
Superintendent Lisa Weigel said the previous week was very busy with homecoming activities. She thanked Sara VanNatter, student council leads, the entire staff, families, and community for a week of coming together for traditions and competition. Mrs. Weigel said it has been a great start to the school year and thanked the staff teams who “do such an amazing job supporting others.”
Mrs. Weigel reported she attended Joint Education Committee (JEC) in Casper at the end of August, and added it was disappointing the committee did not move further in support for the Wyoming Early Childhood learning. This was a bill in support of the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. PCSD No. 2 launched this last year, which gives free books monthly for our early learners. Misty Thomas was the lead of the program.
Mrs. Weigel said there was a push to streamline CTE grants as opposed to numerous individual program grants and perhaps additional funding for our small rural schools in the CTE arena. Mental Health Committees have done a lot of community listening sessions. Representative Larsen is leading this work statewide. Wyoming Department of Education will be releasing funding in the near future based on ADM to support mental health work in districts.
The Joint Judiciary Committee will be held in Cheyenne Sept.19 and 20.
PCSD No. 2 will be hosting the Southeast Superintendent’s Regional Meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 25 for all Southeast Superintendents.
Attendance is down at Guernsey-Sunrise about 20 students from the same time as last year. However, there has been an increase in students eating breakfast and lunch this year, with a notable increase at the secondary level.
The district is getting prepared for the District’s Accreditation process, and the onsite visit is scheduled for October 1 - 2. There will also be auditors in the building in the near future.
Board actions
The Board of Trustees took the following actions at their meeting: approved the Minutes of the Aug. 12, 2024 regular meeting; approved the financials and paying of the bills as presented; approved home school packets for five families; approved the Tiny Eye Contract for Occupational Therapy Services; approved Laura Burfeind’s placement to the Tri-County Parks & Recreation Board; approved the hiring of Scott Parker for the Music/Band Position; accepted resignation from Reilley London as the Assistant Track Coach.
Board Comments
Reichert had no comment. Gross noted that he is excited about all the good things happening in the district. He thanked staff for all they do. Ayers shared he is excited for the new weight room and thanked Ms. Hillen for all she did to help make this happen. He noted how good the school looked and thanked Mr. Keiser and his staff for all they did to help make this happen. He thanked Reilley London for all she does and for the great connection she has with the students. Board member Seyfang thanked all staff for all they do. She thanked Sarah VanNatter for her hard work and commitment in helping homecoming be a success. She also thanked the student council and class sponsors for their hard work. She also thanked the elementary staff, the secretaries, the nurse and all of the administration for all they do.
The next board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Oct. 12.