Reclassification takes positive turn for small schools

After voicing concerns about the direction of reclassification talks in September, Supt. Mark Fritz said the version that the Wyoming High School Activities Association’s board of directors passed on first reading would have little impact on Greybull.

While there was talk of moving to a five-class system that would be similar to football, the WHSAA opted to place the schools with the 16 largest ADMs in 4A, the next 16 in 3A, the next 18 in 2A and the final 20 in 1A for major sports such as volleyball.  

The new classifications would be in effect for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years.

With an ADM of 139.29, Greybull would be the sixth largest school in 2A behind Moorcroft, Thermopolis, Big Horn, Kemmerer and Wyoming Indian, but ahead of Sundance, Big Piney, Pine Bluffs, Wright, Rocky Mountain, Shoshoni, Wind River, Lingle-Fort Laramie, Sarotaga, Lusk, Fort Washakie and Southeast.

The current 2A team that would be most impacted is Tongue River. With an ADM of 191.34, the school would find itself at the bottom of the 3A ranks.

Activities directors around the state were expected to vote on the proposal at their meetings last week. If approved, the proposal will head to the WHSAA board for a second reading, Fritz said.

“I’m sure it’ll go ... it fixes the issue of the 29 teams,” Fritz told the Greybul school board last week, referring to an earlier proposal that would have significantly expanded 1A classification.

While it lacked the support required to pass, the proposal to move to five classes will likely come up again the future, said Fritz.  “The sticking points are having another state tournament venue; they’re running out of room at the Ford Wyoming Center (in Casper)

“(The WHSAA) would need help from other districts in Casper — and right now, we don’t have that.”

Fritz said another concern is travel costs. In a five class system, there would be fewer schools at every level.  “When I did the numbers, Pine Bluffs, Burns, Big Piney and Glenrock were there with us. Now that’s travel.”

Right now, Greybull’s conference in those sports consists of Rocky Mountain, Thermopolis and Shoshoni.

“We’d have to restructure some things — if you’re going to travel down there, you’d better be playing Burns and Pine Bluffs (on the same weekend),” said Fritz.

On another WHSAA topic, Fritz announced the failure of a proposed Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) policy that would have allowed high school students to benefit financially from their participation in activities.

“There won’t be one in the state of Wyoming,” Fritz said.

Other business

In other tidbits from the Oct. 14 meeting:

• GES Principal Rob Nuttall announced this month’s classified and certified staff members of the month: LeAnn Vigil and Misty Hernandez, respectively.

• The three building principals intend to make presentations about how their students performed on the standardized assessment tests such as the WY-TOPP at the November meeting.

• GHS Principal Robyn Wilkinson credited Ms. Brianna Osborn, a first-year teacher, for her efforts to grow the ag program. Thirty-one students are currently enrolled in ag classes and 20 of them are preparing for Career Development Events (CDEs).

• One hundred students are receiving special services of some kind this year, according to a breakdown provided by Cadance Wipplinger, head of the special education department.   

• The district’s enrollment has grown by three students since the beginning of the year and now stands at 433.

• The monthly donation report listed 13 separate $250 contributions from Big Horn Federal. The beneficiaries include the music and art departments, the Class of 2025, the boys and girls basketball, football, volleyball, wrestling and track programs along with Spanish Club, FBLA, FFA and Skills USA.

• The board voted to approve an out-of-district request to allow a 14-year-old girl to attend Greybull schools.  Two board members, Pam Flitner and Lynette Murray, did not vote in support, citing the need for additional information.  Flitner had earlier moved and Murray seconded to go into an executive session to discuss the request, but other board members opposed. 

• The board approved the hiring of Ira Mickelson as the third coach for the Greybull-Riverside middle and high school wrestling programs.

• The next board work session was set for Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 5 p.m.

• Fritz said the district is exploring the possibility of adding CDL classes. Students would take a course, part of it being online, and would be able to  log hours on a simulator. “It would be a great thing for a boy or girl to leave our establishment with a CDL in their pocket,” he said.  

• Fritz and Business Manager Sara Schlattmann shared an update on talks concerning the recalibration of the state’s funding model, a process that happens once every five years.

Picus Odden & Associates, the firm hired to come up with recommendations, recently made a presentation to school officials and will soon be doing the same with a group of lawmakers in Casper.