Board renews Jay Curtis’ contract as superintendent

Posted 1/14/21

Although it may seem early, January is usually the time of year when school districts begin to renew contracts and look for teachers for the upcoming year to fill job vacancies. Park County School …

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Board renews Jay Curtis’ contract as superintendent

Posted

Although it may seem early, January is usually the time of year when school districts begin to renew contracts and look for teachers for the upcoming year to fill job vacancies. Park County School District 1 is no different and it began the processes at Tuesday’s regular meeting.

The district also took up the contract for Superintendent Jay Curtis. Curtis has been superintendent since 2017 and had experience as Meeteetse superintendent prior to joining the Powell district.

The board met in executive session early in its meeting to discuss personnel matters. When it came to the discussion of extending Curtis’ contract, the motion was short and to the point. Trustee Kim Dillivan made the motion to extend his contract through the end of the 2023 school year with a compensation discussion to be held “later in the spring.” It was quickly seconded and passed unanimously. Curtis is currently paid $164,383 annually.

“I appreciate Mr. Curtis,” Dillivan said after the vote. “He prioritizes what we as a board prioritize, which is student achievement, student health and student safety.”

Curtis attended the meeting via telephone.

“Words are difficult to come by to express how grateful I am to be in this district and this community,” he said. “I very much appreciate the chance to stay in Powell.”

Meanwhile, Zachary Opps has stepped back from his duties teaching one computer class and as instructional facilitator, while remaining as teacher of two other classes until the end of the school year. Shelby Kisgen, a paraeducator at Southside Elementary School, resigned her position effective on the last day of the fall semester in December.

Danielle Christofferson was tapped to replace Kisgen, McKenzie Killinger was selected as a para-educator to fill the spot left by Cassie Arends and Sarah Mumm was temporarily placed at Powell Middle School as a Title 1 para-educator.

Andrea Pham was hired as a special education para-educator to step into the vacancy created when Jarred Oliver passed away earlier in the school year.

In other business, the board agreed to reappoint Dillivan as its representative on the Northwest Wyoming Board of Cooperative Educational Services, or BOCES. The organization is a special care and treatment center at Thermopolis with a goal of helping students transition back to their own district and home.

“I’ll be happy to serve on it again,” Dillivan said. “I’ve been on it two years and I enjoy it. It’s a fantastic program and I’m happy to serve,” he said. The board was happy to reappoint him for a four year term.

Trustees Don Hansen, Laura Riley and Lillian Brazelton were named as representatives on the Powell Valley Community Education board, which helps set community education through local classes and programs in collaboration with Northwest College.

Hansen served on the board previously, but was unable to complete his term and was eager to resume his position. Riley, a newly elected board member, was tapped to replace Kimberly Condie, who she defeated in November’s election. In addition to working for PCSD1, Riley was employed at Northwest College for many years and remains interested in seeing the institution flourish. Lillian Brazelton stepped into the third seat for representation on the board. That post had previously been held by Tracy Morris, but an appointment had to be made during the meeting, which Morris was unable to attend and speak to whether she wished to retain the seat.

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