School board approves stipend

Sweetwater County School District No. 2 will reward teachers who notify the district of their intent to resign or retire with a stipend.

The stipend, approved last week by the Sweetwater County School District No. 2 Board of Trustees, would pay $1,000 to teachers who notify the human resources office by Feb. 28 if they decide to vacate their position at the end of the school year. According to Jason Fuss, the district’s human resources director, the stipend was set to encourage people to inform the district as early as possible so it can begin searching for replacements and plan staffing and budgetary needs. Fuss told the board they would increase the stipend for a second year, doubling it from the original $500 the district offered.

“We need to hold firm with the date of Feb. 28 as the teacher shortage continues to grow and we anticipate some hard-to-fill positions ,” Fuss said.

The stipend was approved unanimously by the school board.

Speech coach resigns from district

Longtime Green River High School speech and debate coach Carina White will leave the school district for a position in Florida.

White’s letter of resignation was approved last week at the school board meeting. According to her resignation letter, her last day will be Feb. 21. In her resignation letter, she notes she would have batter access to doctors and a better climate for a medical condition she has. Beyond being the speech and debate coach, White teaches English at Expedition Academy.

“I have enjoyed working at Expedition Academy and appreciate the support that fellow staff, as well as students provided me during my tenure with the district,” she wrote. “I wish everyone that I leave behind at EAHS the absolute best.”

White has been a GRHS speech and debate coach for the last 13 years and received the 2019 Wyoming High School Forensics Association Hall of Fame award. During that time, she has helped coach the team to eight state titles and helped qualify numerous students for national competition.

In a hall of fame nomination letter, assistant coach Dan Parson said White’s work and dedication has made the GRHS program the most successful in Wyoming history.

“I hope Carina gets to feeling better,” Board chairman Steve Core said. “I know she’s gone through some real difficult health issues and hope this helps her.”