(Photo from Sheridan Media files)
Over 30 candidates have applied for the position of superintendent of Sheridan County School District 2, which maintains the schools in Sheridan and Story Elementary.
The new superintendent will replace Craig Dougherty, who is retiring effective June 30.
At the recent meeting of District 2 trustees, Board Chair Sue Wilson said the release of finalists for the position will be coordinated Monday.
Dougherty said community participation in the process will begin the week of Jan. 25.
Dougherty said each of the candidates will have an opportunity to interview with school principals and teachers as well as central office staff. He said he will give the candidates a tour of a couple of schools.
A report on the land purchase was presented at this week’s meeting of the district trustees.
District 2 Superintendent Craig Dougherty said the purchase will be made using a $1.4 million donation from Homer “Scotty” and Janet Scott.
Dougherty said the district isn’t in a hurry and won’t rush through the process, but he and others do want to start identifying and prioritizing the greatest needs of the district’s students. He said the goal is to create a plan that addresses the greatest number of needs possible for the students and the community.
He said the district’s capital construction committee and the board of trustees will be involved as well as other stakeholders.
School closures have negative impact on student learning. (Photo from Sheridan Media files)
A recently released national study indicates that school closures because of the COVID-19 pandemic have negatively affected student learning across the country.
In fact, according to Craig Dougherty, the effect of school closures on students has been devastating.
Dougherty is superintendent of Sheridan County School District 2, which is generally ranked as one of the top public school systems in Wyoming in terms of academics. Yet even District 2, Dougherty said, saw a regression in students over the summer after statewide closures forced students and teachers to virtual learning where classes were conducted via computer.
GSG Architecture, formerly Malone Belton Abel PC, will design the project to repair the Highland Park Elementary School wall and roof repair.
The firm was approved for the project in a meeting earlier this month. Craig Dougherty, who’s superintendent of Sheridan County School District 2, which owns the school, said the roof is 15 years old and has problems.
Dougherty said the wall repair will be minimal. He said the major problem is the roof and that, in fact, is what’s causing some of the damage to the wall.
Cost for design is around $120,000, but a memo presented to district trustees noted that the exact amount of the contract will be defined at a later date, after the full scope of the project is determined.