Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/827301
| wyoea.org 19 Update Wyoming Retirement SystemTown Hall Meetings Watch your email for more details. June 13 Rock Springs TBD June 15 Jackson 5:30 pm Teton County Library, Auditorium Room August 22 Riverton TBD August 24 Lander TBD Upcoming Legislative Meetings Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration AND Joint Revenue Interim Committee: June 12 at 8:00 a.m., Riverton -- http://legisweb. state.wy.us/InterimCommittee/2017/ SSRMTG0612.pdf. WEA members are encouraged to attend as many Recalibration meetings this summer as possible! The future of Wyoming school funding depends on the action of this committee. Select Committee on School Facilities: June 19 at 8:30 a.m., Casper -- http://legisweb.state. wy.us/InterimCommittee/2017/ SSFMTG0619.pdf Joint Education Interim Committee: June 20-21 at 8:30 a.m. each day, Casper -- http://legisweb.state.wy.us/ ESSA Wyoming is in the process of developing its state plan for federal programs provided under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the latest reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. WEA has had direct representation on the committee used to provide input on the development of the portion of the plan pertaining to Title II-A funds, Supporting Effective Instruction. The Wyoming Department of Education has done a great deal of work to write the entire plan, and the State Board of Education has given input on a number of issues, especially around the topic of accountability. The draft ESSA plan was released to the public in April, and regional meetings were held around the state in late April and early May to solicit stakeholder input on the draft. If needed, adjustments will then be made to the plan before it goes back to the State Board of Education for its approval, then to the Governor, and finally, to the U.S. Department of Education for its review. You can read and stay current on the plan in all the stages by going to the Wyoming Department of Education's website: https://edu.wyoming. gov/educators/accountability/ federal-school-accountability/. Kathy Scheurman WEA Professional Issues Director kscheurman@wyoea.org State Boards The Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB) has named its new Executive Director: Nish Goicolea, currently Assistant Professor of Spanish at Western Wyoming Community College and a WEA member. Nish has begun working part-time for PTSB and will go full-time in June. Newcastle principal Tracy Ragland was recently elected to serve as the PTSB Board Chair. The Board has been focusing this year on such topics as possible changes to licensure requirements for coaches, nurses, teachers in dual language immersion programs, and others; potential revisions to the Code of Conduct; and disciplinary actions on licenses. The next PTSB meeting will be held June 12-13 in Laramie. The State Board of Education (SBE) elected Casper administrator Walt Wilcox as its new Chair. The Board also welcomed three new Board members this spring. Due to the large amount of work required of this volunteer board, they have been meeting monthly, for two days each time. They are required by statute to adopt student content and performance standards, numerous rules and regulations, accountability measures, oversee a system of support for schools not meeting Wyoming accountability, approve district accreditation and alternative calendars, review district assessment systems, and much more. In addition to conducting their regular business, the Board takes the opportunity to visit local education programs and schools in the locations of their meetings. Their next regular meetings are scheduled for May 18-19 in Riverton and June 22-23 in Sheridan. SUMMER 2017