School board races features 4 incumbents, 2 challengers
The race for four, four-year terms on the Big Horn County School District No. 3 Board of Trustees features incumbents Bette Rae Jones, Pam Flitner, Todd Dalin and Sandi Menke, and challengers Mark Dewees and Mike Whaley.
The newspaper reached out to all six candidates and asked them about key issues effecting local schools. Five of the six responded; Dalin was the exception.
Why are you running for school board?
Mark Dewees: I am running for school board to be more involved in my community. I have children that attend Greybull Elementary and I want to do my part as a parent to make sure they have the best chance at a great education.
Pam Flitner: Our four children attended Greybull schools and [I] believe they had unique opportunities provided by the district. They had creative and caring teachers, and were able to participate in a wide variety of extra-curricular activities, from sports to the National Honor Society, FFA, Art Club to Skills USA. The education they received and the activities they were able to take part in have definitely helped them as adults. I am running for Big Horn School District #3 because I want other kids to get those same, or better, opportunities. We all want our students to learn, grow [and] to have the ability to make a living and become productive adults. The path to that is not the same for every student. Some will take the academic path while others will find their place going directly into the trades. It is important we have a place for both.
Bette Rae Jones: This is the third election cycle in which I have participated. It is my recollection that I was appointed to the board in the summer of 2016 to fill a vacancy. After an appointment, an appointee must be elected in the next election, which was in November 2016. Born and raised on Emblem Bench, I attended school in Greybull and I am not only interested in the success of our schools, but also our town and our hospital. I hope my part of school board leadership has a positive effect on all these entities and on our students. I have eight years of experience with our school board [and] have learned the role of the board and board members takes time to comprehend. In that time, I have come to better understand the role. The Wyoming School Board Administration recommends Board Governance items that school boards may adopt. From these adopted policies, we learn that administrators have the duty of operating the schools, while board members have a duty to budget, [adopt and enforce] policy and [evaluate] the superintendent. Members of boards collectively hope to provide insight into community culture for the superintendent. Trust is a key factor in how well [the] board members and superintendent will interact [with] and impact the culture of the school. Working as a group, with differing perspectives is a personal growth opportunity – I recommend it! I appreciate my fellow board members and the courage it takes for board members or patrons to share their opinions. To quote one wise parent, “Perspective is an interesting thing.” It is my belief that the best results come when we challenge each other to some extent.
Sandi Menke: We have lived in Greybull for over 40 years. We have wonderful friends and neighbors who represent generations of this family community. We have raised three children who carry warm and positive memories of their education and experiences from the Greybull Public School system. I am so proud for the many students who visit with us often about their achievements and their remembered fondness of their Greybull educational achievements. I would like to continue being a part of the positive success and leadership of Big Horn County School District #3 and our public schools in Wyoming.
Mike Whaley: I am a firm believer that schools are the heart of any community. They touch every life, and shine brightly in both our past and into our future. There is nothing else that creates such a common bond and experience than public schools, and the product that they deliver shapes generations. I think that a properly run school board can provide a curriculum and environment that is reflective of the community while still maintaining competitive standards for the students. For years, I have watched the process, and feel that I am now qualified to take part and move our district in a positive direction.
What differentiates you from the other candidates in this race? Please share some details about your background and how your personal and work experiences would be helpful as a member of a school board.
Mark Dewees: Unfortunately, I am not that knowledgeable when it comes to the other school board candidates. I met a few of them while working as the sergeant with the Greybull Police Department, in a good way. I am sure they are all qualified in their own ways. My background includes over 16 years in law enforcement and a short stint as a member of a city council while living in Kansas. I believe my experience dealing with both children and adults has given me the ability to listen and understand the needs of both children and parents.
Pam Flitner: I believe I bring an important view to the board. I was born and raised in Wyoming and graduated from the University. My degree is in education and I taught and coached before I was married. I now work in both the business and agricultural worlds. I understand the burden of taxes and know that people have the right to expect their money to be used wisely. The complexity of being on a school board has become more challenging. It is important to bring a solid background into the mix. I have attended trainings every year and try to be prepared for the next hurdles we [may] face. It is the job of the Board to help establish the goals and direction the district will take. I have really enjoyed being part of that process. I have been very involved in the many activities and organization in the area. I feel like people are comfortable with approaching me to talk about both concerns or compliments they have about our schools. I always try to be an honest listener.
Bette Rae Jones: My work experience in crop insurance — interacting with farmers from many different states challenges me to be objective when the stakes are high. Other work experiences within the Big Horn Basin have taught me to have high regard for customers and recognize [that] while the customer may not always be right, the customer is the customer: someone whose respect I hope to gain. Students, patrons and staff are all important to the school district and I consider them my customers.
Sandi Menke: My husband and I both have an extensive work history in the Greybull Public Schools. He was a high school teacher and I was the district business manager for many years. We shared in our children’s education and involvement in academics, athletics, plays, music, art, speech, science, history and county fairs; and the many social and educational events our schools provide for the families of Greybull and Shell. My years as a parent and grandparent provides some insight to the hopes and motivations of children. I am currently completing part of one term on the board of trustees. I feel confident that my many years of responsibility for successful preparation and implementation of the financial and budget areas of the district gives me an understanding of the administrative side of this educational entity. I am enthusiastically and genuinely dedicated to the success of the Greybull Public School system.
Mike Whaley: I am a local businessman, a single father of two students in the district and a conservative. I know firsthand how a budget works, how challenging staffing can be and the commitment it takes to support our children daily in their academic and extracurricular activities. I have the education (BAS in Organizational Leadership through the University of Wyoming), the experience (I own one business in town and manage another) and the drive (I am a trainer at the gym, that’s where I spend my spare time). Most importantly, however, is that I know how to listen, and that I value other’s opinions and experiences. If I know one thing for certain, it is that school districts should be run at the grassroots level. Parents, staff and administrators’ concerns need to be weighed very carefully before a trustee acts in any manner on behalf of the board.
What are the most significant challenges facing the school district at this time and what can you and the school board do to address them?
Mark Dewees: I believe the most significant challenge facing not just our school district, but all school districts, is the availability of new designer drugs aimed at enticing children. Without proper guidance and education, these drugs will get embedded deeper into our school system and community. I believe it would be our job as a school board to make sure our educators are given the tools and education to fight for our children and keep them safe and well-educated.
Pam Flitner: There are such a wide variety of challenges facing schools at the moment, but four of the most important include funding, loss of local control, technology and teacher shortages. Funding is always a challenge. There is no school without funding. Today, because of the changes in Energy Revenue, the stability of our funding has changed. It is difficult to set a budget if the numbers are a moving target. I believe the conservative nature of our board and the good people in our administration have helped us to avoid pitfalls when it comes to deciding our spending. The loss of local control is very disconcerting. The people closest to the situation should be the ones making decisions. I believe that parents know best. The federal government needs to let parents and their elected school boards decide what is best for their students. Some of the new government mandates are absolutely disconcerting and do not align with our community’s values. One of the biggest changes is technology. It is both a blessing and a curse. It allows our students to find answers in a matter of minutes when it once took hours. But with the onslaught of AI, I worry that they will become too heavily dependent of artificial intelligence and not develop their own. I believe we should set some standards now about how it will be used in our schools. We have seen the damage that an unchecked cyber world can do to young minds. We can’t let it get ahead of us. Another thing that is concerning right now is the lack of teachers. It is a problem we are all facing in Wyoming. Like any business, we need to hire good people to keep the standards high. Greybull is a great place to live and work, we just have to find the people who enjoy all we have to offer.
Bette Rae Jones: Teacher shortages affecting all schools in all states comes to mind. I am told, and I have noticed, fewer students are inclined to become teachers, resulting in a true shortage of teachers, both locally and nationally. While teaching was considered to be a noble pursuit in past decades, the challenges of disrespect, discipline and documentation are all deterrents when students consider the pros and cons of entering education as teachers and coaches. As a board member, I would strive to recognize teachers as professionals. The board has made some recent progress in professionalizing salaries in our district. As patrons and students recognize the value our teachers bring to our community, it is possible that more of our local students will aspire to become teachers. Another issue school boards are facing is student cell phone use. In today’s digital world, both life and education are challenged by quick bites of entertainment that turn into distractions. Recently, Gov. Mark Gordon and the Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction, Megan Degenfelder sent a letter to all Wyoming school districts, asking that we consider the effects of student phone access during school hours. Student and staff safety are also a concern. When considering safety, we often think first about physical safety. Recent research around social media and student access to it shows that mental and emotional well-being are also affected by the constant barrage of distractions from digital access. We all know what happens in personal interactions when the silent ‘ring’ occurs in our pocket.
Sandi Menke: The biggest challenge for our schools, our students and our community is change. Technology and society are rapidly evolving, and education for our children must remain current and, at the same time protect, the way of life we value. Almost every serious issue we must confront — from computers to the explosion of knowledge to the new dangers we face regularly — we must learn to understand and cope with new realities. But we [also] must not lose our desire to be active and involved citizens, good neighbors, friends and parents.
Mike Whaley: As with any organization, a person can come up with a laundry list of challenges, needs and desires for the school district. Some we have local control over and some are mandated, usually with a carrot and stick approach, from on high. What I would like to address is quality staffing and how we retain the strong core that we have now. I think we may take for granted the many hats that our staff wear ensuring that our students have equity in opportunity and experiences. We don’t have a large district and the school day is but one part of the interaction our teachers and para’s share with our children. We shouldn’t take for granted the effort put into enrichment — whether it be athletics, speech, FFA, theater, speakers or a trip — that don’t necessarily fit into curriculum, but may have impact far greater than academics. Our staff give of themselves beyond contractual obligations on a daily basis. I think it would behoove us to make sure that we take care of them as well as they take care of our students. Good people truly are hard to find.
Big Horn County School District No. 3 is the only school district in the county without a School Resource Officer. It’s come up in the past and the current board recently discussed it with the police chief in a work session. Where do you stand on this issue and the issue of school security in general? Should the board look to hire an SRO? There’s even been some talk in the legislature about allowing teachers to carry. If it was left to school boards to decide, how would you feel about that? What’s the best approach?
Mark Dewees: Related to the last question, I believe it is vital to implement a School Resource Officer in our local school district. Being the only school in Big Horn County without a School Resource Officer has always been a concern for myself and other parents alike. With a background in law enforcement, I have worked in areas similar to Greybull and it is usually the majority thinking that “nothing happens in a small town.” Well, I can tell you from experience things do happen in small towns and it is usually by someone you least expect. Our society is changing and those things that didn’t use to happen in small towns are now happening. Maybe not tomorrow or next year, but as long as we have the ability for bad things to happen, the opportunities will eventually arise. As for teachers being able to carry firearms in school, I feel that is a difficult question to answer. There would need to be extensive training and someone to monitor every action of every teacher who does choose to carry a firearm. Rules and regulations would have to be studied and implemented to protect everyone involved. As a law enforcement officer, I have been told numerous times that every fight we go to has a gun. If you arm teachers, that same issue would be there. Law Enforcement Officers train and practice handgun retention to keep someone from taking our firearms in a fight. Anyone who carries on school grounds would need to go through the same type of training and practice, practice, practice. With all that being said, I feel the safety of our children requires implementation of a School Resource Officer program, either through the local police department or the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office. I believe a good School Resource Officer has a huge impact on school-aged youth. They build strong bonds with the students and the students feel comfortable telling them things that are happening in school, possibly preventing a future incident.
Pam Flitner: I try not to make a decision as a board member until I have all the information. School safety is very important and it is not to be taken lightly. We currently have several security measures in place in each of our buildings and have ALICE training planned for the district. I believe we still have work to do on the question of the Resource Officer, among other things, funding and oversight.
Bette Rae Jones: I recognize school security as a high priority. Thoughtful, deliberate consideration of building access and monitoring should be, and is, routinely examined. I would encourage cooperation among school leadership, and the police and fire departments. The Greybull Police Department is visible to incoming traffic at the beginning and ending of each school day [and] I appreciate that visibility. The board recently met with the new police chief to discuss the idea of adopting a School Resource Officer model for the school. There are many details to consider prior to recruiting a School Resource Officer; input from students, parents and staff is needed. Wyoming legislators have considered passage of a bill that would allow staff to carry a concealed weapon if they are licensed to do so and if the local school board adopts policy to make that allowance. I believe this issue also requires careful thought and public input prior to consideration of adopting any local policy.
Sandi Menke: Safety concerns within the district and the policies that our schools face as the USA and the world face new dangers suggest there are no easy answers, and past solutions may not fit the future needs for protecting our students and schools. I want our schools to be safe and secure, while remaining warm and inviting places in which our children can learn, grow and gain confidence. I believe we should look to, and listen to, our students, our parents and our educators through surveys and small group discussions before we make any decisive adjustments in the wisdom and trust we have always had in our community. I would support proactive programs such as [a] school psychologist’s recommendations, in addition to secure rooms and zones; more time and training for all personnel to be wary, watchful and prepared. I would welcome community wide input to any safety concerns.
Mike Whaley: I wanted to better understand the thought process behind a School Resource Officer, so I called Chief Davis and we had a discussion. I appreciate that the program is mentorship driven and not punitively focused. I can’t see a real issue with having positive law enforcement interaction in our schools. I also feel that if there were a tragedy, a shortened response time and intimate familiarity with the building, grounds, staff and students would be valuable beyond words. Full disclosure, I own a gun shop in town. I am an advocate of constitutional carry and feel that an armed society is much safer than one that is not. I fully support having an armed staff in our district. I’m sure that any implementation would be nuanced, but I fully support the idea and would push to see our students protected to the best of our abilities.
What are your thoughts about the future of Buff Ranch? It’s long been viewed as a positive for the district, but there’s been some difference of opinion about how much of a ranch it should be from an animal standpoint? The district is currently operating with an ag advisor and will be looking to hire a new one in the coming months. Everyone should be on the same page going into that. In your mind, what does that page look like?
Mark Dewees: I am not very familiar with Buff Ranch. What I have heard, it is a great thing for our local youth and I am all for keeping it running. Living in a rural farm community, I feel the more education we can provide our youth in farm and ranch, the better for our future leaders of this community.
Bette Rae Jones: I think the Buff Ranch is a unique and special opportunity for students. In recent years, the board has funded the ranch to build a barn and corrals for ag students that might not have ag opportunities otherwise. Volunteers built fences and waterlines. For the first time in 2024, a partnership with USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service helped to achieve success in growing garden produce that was distributed to the community and also utilized in the school lunchroom. I think we should approach development and use of the ranch as evolving according to the needs of our students and the skills and talents of our staff. I don’t think we should give up on it!
Sandi Menke: I believe the Buff Ranch is an invaluable asset for our schools as the projects and products of the last few years have portrayed. I think we should be grateful for the work of [our] administration, community, volunteers, educators and the many different groups of students who have labored to build the foundation of this outdoor educational resource. We should, perhaps, not only be willing to be on the same page, but realize that the Buff Ranch has evolved beyond a single use, or a specific population, and will continue to grow as a unique resource for our schools at all levels (including adult education).
Mike Whaley: I am a longtime supporter of the Buff ranch. We are an agricultural and mining community and providing our students with opportunities that directly relate to our culture are important. Leaders are built through programs like Skills USA, FFA, FBLA and even yearbook. We need to provide the tools to make these programs relevant and sustainable. I talked with the current ag advisor, and although she is just filling the position temporarily, the enthusiasm is contagious. I would like to harness that drive in the next advisor and start using the ranch to its fullest potential. The ranch should encompass livestock, horticulture and agronomy. Also, any number of the school groups listed above could be utilized for maintenance, marketing and other real-world collaborations. Schools take great pride when they can provide learning labs and they often take a very forward approach to marketing the opportunities these spaces provide. We have the lab. Let’s find the people and re-invigorate the vision and possibilities.
Pam Flitner: The Buff Ranch is a unique place for the growth of our students as well as a great place for community and school collaboration. This last summer they did a great job of showing some of its potential. In the past, it has been utilized by a variety of classes, not merely the Ag students. It has the framework to be an excellent livestock facility. The Buff Ranch is a place that can offer many hands-on, real-life learning opportunities.
Is there anything else that you would like to convey to our readers?
Mark Dewees: I believe it is the responsibility of the school board to work closely with educators and parents to give our children the opportunity to exceed all of our expectations, and become valuable assets to our local community and society as a whole.
Sandi Menke: I believe the current Big Horn County School District #3 Board of Education is a thoughtful, responsible, student-oriented group of respected and respectful community members. It has been an honor and pleasure to serve with them and I very much would appreciate the community’s trust and vote to allow me to continue as a member. I promise to faithfully and enthusiastically help guide, protect and inspire students.
Mike Whaley: I made the statement that I believe in a grassroots approach. I am willing to discuss my opinions and believe that if you have a strong opinion or concern it should be heard. Feel free to contact me, 307-217-2813.