12 I The Lovell Chronicle I April 21, 2011
www.LovellChronicle.com
BOB RODRIGUEZ
Superintendent Shon
Hocker of Big Horn Coun-
ty School District One said
Monday, April 18, that he
has signed a three-year, no-
cost contract for the district
to host the Wyoming Con-
nections Academy -- an on-
line educational program
-- to "enhance course offer-
ings," increase enrollment,
especially for youth now be-
ing home-schooled, and pro-
vide a "no-risk" technique
to gain revenue through im-
proved daily attendance fig-
ures.
District trustees voted
6-0 approval during their
meeting Wednesday af-
ternoon, April 13, in the
Rocky Mountain Elemen-
tary School library in Cow-
ley. Hocker spoke at length
regarding the program, say-
ing, "I see no risk to us to
just try it." He assured the
board several times regard-
ing the "no-risk" aspect.
Trustee Brett Crosby was
absent. On Monday, in re-
sponse to whether there
will be any cost to the dis-
trict, the superintendent
stated, "None."
The district will begin
its participation beginning
July 1, the start of the 2011-
2012 school year. Hocker
said after the meeting that
he and staffhave been eval-
uating the program during
the past two years.
Connections Academy,
in operation for 10 years, is
described as "a leading, fully
accredited provider of high-
quality, highly account-
able virtual K-12 schooling"
that has launched its 2011-
12 enrollment season for
home-based public educa-
tion. The program delivers
"top-quality, personalized
education for students that
combines certified teachers,
a proven curriculum, tech-
nology tools, and commu-
nity experiences to create
a supportive and successful
school environment." The
academy is accredited by
AdvancED.
Although Hocker did
BY KARLA POMEROY
The Town of Byron
came to the commissioners
April 5 seeking assistance
to replace the Byron Bridge
and the request fell on gen-
erous ears.
Mayor Bret George
wrote a letter outlining the
problem with the bridge
that connects the town to
a county road. The county
road begins just south of
the bridge. Commissioner
Keith Grant said former
Mayor Mary Jensen had
requested the bridge to be
deeded over to the town.
In his letter, George
wrote, "During the past
mayor's term, it was discov-
ered that there was some
substantial eroding dam-
age to the decking of the
said Monday, that the post two executive (closed to
would be filled by the cur- the public and news me-
rent job holder ..... dia) sessions in connection
Strong confidence in the with the April 13 meeting.
program and its value to One, on personnel, lasted
the district were expressed 25 minutes. A second one,
by Hocker, trustee Koleenregarding a student mat-
Sponsel, curriculum direc-
tor Patrice Riley and Wes
Townsend, special ed direc-
tor, They recently took a
one-day trip to Mapleton to
examine the Colorado Con-
nections Academy. Partici,
pation will put the district
"ahead of the curve" in the
ter, took eight minutes.
With the regular meeting
and the private gatherings,
three hours were needed to
handle all the business.
In regular session the
board voted 6-0 approval
for an "expulsion waiver
for student A." And there
was 6-0 approval for one-
year employment contracts
for 89 certified staff mem-
bers at Burlington School,
field of education, Hocker
said .......
He continued that there
are provisions for ending
the program if enrollment Rocky Mountain Elementa-
is insufficient. But he noted ry School, Rocky Mountain
thatbeeauseofafairlylarge Middle/High School and
number of home-schooled the Special Ed Dept., plus
students in the county, he Richard Parker as business
sees more gains than loss- manager, Mick Esquivel as
es. He foresees 300 to 400 technology director and Mi-
new students through on- chael Simmons as facilities
line education when the director. And Julie Davison
partnership comes to frui-
tion through the three-year
contract. Stringent and
BoB RoDmawz thorough screening pro-
Big Horn County School District No. 1 Supt. Shon Hocker (left) reviews district cedures involving parents
partnerships with Pat Laystrom and Donna Hutchinson of Connections and students will weed out
Academy during a meeting last Wednesday. any student who thinks
ited provider of high-qual-
ity, highly accountable vir-
tual schooling for students
in grades K thrOugh 12.
Through tuition-free public
schools, and full-time and
part-time private school
programs, Connections
Academy delivers superior,
personalized education for
students, with the freedom
and flexibility to experience
our online learning commu-
nity from anywhere.
"The combination of
certified teachers, a prov-
en curriculum, technology
tools, and community expe-
riences creates a supportive
and successful online learn-
ing opportunity for families
and children who want an
individualized approach to
education. In the 2011-12
school year, Connections
Academy will serve stu-
dents in 22' states via 23
virtual public schools."
Hocker formerly worked
with Hutchinson in Idaho
for a year prior to his com-
ing to Wyoming. She then
was CEO of Idaho Digital
Learning Academy, and
Hocker served as her board
chairman.
Some reservations and
concerns about operational
procedures and the value
and strengths of the pro-
gram were voiced by trust-
ees and principals in the
audience, and their queries
were addressed by Hock-
er, Hutchinson and Lay-
strom, thereby gaining im-
plied conditional support,
as long as the "no-risk"
scenario stands. Hocker
said that should the pro-
gram take flight in the dis-
trict, there is a possibility
of hiring a principal. The
position would be paid by
Connections Academy, he
stated, and it appears, he
that it would be a lark to
undergo education online,
he said.
Hocker also said he
feels that for students who
don't do well in a regular
classroom setting, Connec-
tions Academy could be a
feasible alternative,
On an overall basis,
Hocker noted, "They're out
there (home-schooled stu-
dents) and we can take ad-
vantage" of that situation.
The superintendent
said that District One is
taking the opportunity not
only to expand its educa-
tional horizons through the
online program, but "to re-
place Jackson Hole as the
host." Although not specifi-
cally stated as to why that
district is leaving the pro-
gram, it was indicated by
Hocker that it is neither a
negative nor disputatious
situation.
Trustees also held
was hired as Burlington
summer groundskeeper.
Also with 6-0 votes the
board accepted the resigna-
tions of Peter Davidson as
a football and basketball
coach and Bob LaFollette
as custodian/bus driver in
Burlington.
In other matters the
board:
*Heard a report from
Parker that district financ-
es are in good shape.
*Watched as Hocker
presented Chairman Dave
Monk a certificate from the
Wyoming School Boards
Association in recognition
of his advocacy in connec-
tion with the most recent
session of the Legislature.
*Authorized Hocker
to pursue granting a quit-
claim deed to the Town of
Deaver for the former wood
shop and its classroom on
the Deaver campus. The
town, he said, will utilize it
and let Deaver firefighters
take over the current site
used by the town. Hocker
said Monday that sometime
after July 1, the remainder
of the campus buildings
will be demolished.
not specifically state the
following, his comments to
promote the virtual educa-
tion program parallels the
following outline from Con-
nections Academy repre-
sentatives Donna Hutchin-
son and Pat Laystrom, who
spoke to the board. The gist
of their comments: "The
nontraditional school envi-
ronment can be a great fit
for all types of students in-
cluding those who are sig-
nificantly ahead or behind
in the classroom, those
who need a flexible sched-
ule or learn at a different
pace from their peers, and
those who need more indi-
vidualized attention or live
in isolated rural settings.
Homebound and previously
home-schooled students can
also thrive in Connections
Academy's program.
"Connections Academy
is a leading, fully accred-
bridge ... When we were
made aware of the damage
and went down to assess
it, it was bad enough that
the bridge needed to be
shut down until such time
that a temporary patch
was installed (by the town
crew)."
He told the commis-
sioners they then sought
a grant from the Wyoming
Department of Transpor-
tation for the estimated
$486,000 project. The town
is responsible to match 10
percent of the construction,
$48,600. George asked the
commissioners if the county
could help with the match
portion of the project.
George said the proj-
ect includes a 7.5-inch con-
crete deck with railing and
posts. He said the structur-
al foundation of the bridge
is sound.
Engineer Willie Bridg-
es said the bridge, which
connects to County Road
6, is key to the county road
system.
Byron Town Clerk Vicki
Gibson said the bridge is a
critical part of the town.
Commissioner Scot-
ty Hinman said he is not
against trying to help out,
noting small towns like By-
ron don't have a lot of funds
for capital projects.
Bridges cautioned the
commissioners that if they
help Byron, other commu-
nities with bridges may
come seeking help, as well.
"We'll cross those bridg-
es when we come to them,"
Hinman said.
The commissioners also
suggested the town put
the project on their list for
the consensus block grant:
George said they could con:
sider that but they have
other projects like the
school building.
The commissioners
then approved a motion to
support the match at 50
percent, or $24,300. Bridg-
es said he would check to
see if county road funds
could be used for that type
of project.
Funding will be includ-
ed in the 2012 fiscal year
budget. George said bids
would not be let until June
1 so any funding wouldn't
be needed until after July
1.
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