(a)  A vacancy shall have occurred in the membership of any board of trustees of any school district if any member:

(i)  Dies;

(ii)  Resigns;

(iii)  Becomes a nonresident of the school district; or

(iv)  Becomes a nonresident of the trustee residence area from which elected in those districts subdivided into trustee residence areas.

(a)  The board of trustees in each school district shall:

(i)  Prescribe and enforce rules, regulations and policies for its own government and for the government of the schools under its jurisdiction. Rules and regulations shall be consistent with the laws of the state and rules and regulations of the state board and the state superintendent and shall be open to public inspection;

(ii)  Keep minutes of all meetings at which official action is taken and a record of all official acts including a record of all warrants issued against the monies belonging to the school district. The minutes and records shall be public records. A list of each warrant over five hundred dollars ($500.00) shall be published one (1) time in a legal newspaper of general circulation within the respective county within thirty (30) days of the date of the meeting. Individual yearly gross salary payments need be published only once in March of each year:

(A)  Each individual annual gross salary shall be identified by category and each individual salary shall be published as a gross dollar amount without identification other than by category. Categories shall include superintendent, assistant superintendent, high school principal, assistant high school principal, junior high principal, junior high assistant principals, elementary principals, elementary assistant principals, first grade teachers, second grade teachers, third grade teachers, fourth grade teachers, fifth grade teachers, sixth grade teachers, kindergarten teachers, high school departmental teachers (business, language arts, world languages, science, social studies, mathematics, or other), vocal music, instrumental music, elementary music, secondary art, elementary art, secondary physical education, elementary physical education, career and technical education, secondary guidance counselors, secondary librarians, elementary librarians, driver education, special education teachers, remedial teachers, nurses, teacher's aides, head coaches, assistant coaches, dramatics, secondary secretarial, junior high secretarial, elementary secretarial, business managers, janitorial, bus drivers, and other categories which may be selected so that every individual salary may be categorized. Each category shall show a cumulative subtotal and there shall be a grand total of all categories. At the end of the salary publication there shall be printed the district salary schedule;

(B)  Forms shall be furnished to the school districts by the state department of education for such publications which shall be the same in all unified districts.

(iii)  Elect from its membership at the first regular meeting after December 1 of each year, a chairman, a vice-chairman, a clerk and a treasurer;

(iv)  Fix the time and place of regular meetings; provided, that there shall be at least one (1) meeting per month. Any meeting which is not a regular meeting shall be a special meeting;

(v)  Submit reports concerning finances or any other matter as the state board, state superintendent or state law may require;

(vi)  Estimate the amount of funds required to be raised for public school purposes through a tax levy upon the property lying within the district and in accordance with the Uniform Municipal Fiscal Procedures Act present to the board of county commissioners of each county included in whole or in part within the district a certified copy of the budget as finally adopted with a certified estimate of the tax required to raise the appropriate amount. This tax shall be levied, collected and distributed as prescribed by law;

(vii)  Control and disburse all moneys received from any source to maintain the schools within the district;

(viii)  Obtain competitive bids when any purchase of insurance, supplies or materials other than textbooks costing more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) and less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) is contemplated unless precluded by other regulation or statute. If the amount of the purchase of insurance, supplies or materials other than textbooks is equal to or exceeds fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00), a call for bids shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the district and on the state procurement website, as defined in W.S. 9-2-3001(b)(vii). For any contract for a capital construction project with an estimated value in excess of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00), the board shall publish a call for bids in a newspaper of general circulation in the district at least once each week for two (2) consecutive weeks. All contracts for capital construction projects shall be let in accordance with W.S. 9-2-3004 and 9-2-3006 except as provided in this paragraph. The district shall reserve the right to reject any and all bids and to waive irregularities and informalities in any bid, as defined in W.S. 9-2-3001(b)(v). No contract shall be divided for the purpose of avoiding this paragraph. Items for which bids must be obtained may be described in the published call for bids by stating general requirements and making detailed specifications available to prospective bidders at the district's administrative headquarters. A district shall independently meet the requirements of this paragraph when procuring goods or services that are subject to this paragraph through a board of cooperative educational services;

(ix)  Require the treasurer of the board of trustees and the school district superintendent to give such bond in such penalty and with such sureties as the board may direct, conditioned upon the faithful application of all moneys and property which may come into his hands by virtue of his office. The bond shall not exceed one and one fourth of the amount of all school moneys handled by such officer in any one (1) year. Such bonds after being approved by the board and by an attorney selected by the board as to form and execution shall be filed with the county treasurer and no disbursements shall be made until such bonds shall have been approved and filed as required by this section. In case of breach of conditions of such bonds, suit shall be brought thereon by the board for the benefit of the district;

(x)  Subject to review by the school facilities commission under W.S. 21-15-117 for any project involving state capital construction assistance, fix the site of each school building and facility considering the needs of the people of each portion of the district. If the district enters into an agreement to lease buildings and facilities owned by the district and the buildings and facilities are included within the statewide database maintained by the state construction department under W.S. 21-15-123(f)(iv), the district shall, except as provided under W.S. 21-15-109(c)(i)(A)(II) and (III) and (B), ensure the lease agreement requires sufficient payment from the lessee to cover expenses necessary to adequately maintain the facility or building in accordance with statewide adequacy standards prescribed by the commission. If the district or a charter school operating within the boundaries of the district enters into an agreement to lease buildings and facilities under which the district or the charter school is the lessee and the building is to be used for the provision of the required educational program within the district, the lease agreement shall require the lessor to adequately maintain the buildings and facilities in accordance with standards prescribed by the commission. The lease agreement shall separately identify the amount to be expended on the major maintenance of the building or facility during the term of the lease. The amount of the total lease agreement to be expended on the major maintenance shall be accounted for and reported separately and shall not be transferred or expended for any purpose other than major maintenance of the leased building or facility. No expenditure shall be made from the funds dedicated for major maintenance of a leased facility without the approval of the district or the charter school. A district or charter school may request review of the amount to be expended on major maintenance for a lease by the school facilities division of the state construction department to determine the reasonableness of the major maintenance expense. The district shall be reimbursed for the lease payment of the district or the charter school if the square footage of the leased facility is not included within the district's total square footage for purposes of major maintenance computations under W.S. 21-15-109, subject to the following:

(A)  If the lease payment is for educational facilities used in the actual operation of a charter school, the state construction department shall pay the district the contract amount approved by the department for the lease payment by the charter school if:

(I)  The charter is approved under W.S. 21-3-301 through 21-3-314;

(II)  Repealed by Laws 2025, ch. 24, § 2.

(III)  Repealed by Laws 2024, ch. 11, § 1.

(IV)  The district pays the charter school the amount of the reimbursement received under this subparagraph.

(B)  Any payment made by the department pursuant to this paragraph for a leased building or facility shall be equal to the lesser of the amount of the total lease agreement or the average cost per square foot to lease buildings or facilities comparable to those appropriate for public K-12 education multiplied by the allowable square feet leased by the district or charter school necessary to deliver the required educational program. The average cost per square foot for comparable buildings or facilities shall:

(I)  Be as determined by the department;

(II)  Be comparable in location and type to the building or facility leased by the district or charter school; and

(III)  Not include any cost for utilities or routine maintenance.

(C)  If the lease payment is for facilities leased to the district or a charter school by a state institution which meets state adequacy standards prescribed by rule and regulation of the commission, the amount of the lease reimbursement paid by the state construction department shall not include the amount received by the institution from the state for major building and facility repair and replacement costs attributable to the facility, as computed by the department.

(xi)  Adopt and use an official seal when required to authenticate official acts;

(xii)  Cause the United States and Wyoming flags to be properly displayed in, upon, or around school buildings within the district;

(xiii)  Consider every petition presented to the board and subscribed by at least five (5) citizens of the school district and take some action on such petition within thirty (30) days after it is received; provided, that no action shall be required if the precise question presented by the petition has been considered and acted upon by the board of trustees at any meeting held within the current fiscal year;

(xiv)  Require an accounting of all receipts and expenditures to be made by each organization, function, or other group sponsored by, or functioning in any way within the schools of the district, such accounting to be made by each such organization, function, or group at least once each year and a copy thereof posted in each school building connected with such organization, function, or group;

(xv)  Provide an educational program within the schools under its jurisdiction in compliance with uniform state standards prescribed under W.S. 21-9-101 and 21-9-102 and by rule and regulation of the state board and on or before November 1 of each school year, report to the department evidence of the alignment of its assessment system with the uniform state standards provided within its schools;

(xvi)(A)  Publish the following notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the school district at least two (2) times each year, once within a week after the first regular meeting in December and once as a part of the statement of revenue and expenditures of the district:

(B)  If the board changes the time and place of its regular meetings, then such notice shall also be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the school district, once before such change shall become effective;

(C)  All meetings of the board are subject to W.S. 16-4-401 through 16-4-408.

(xvii)  Require the performance of each initial contract teacher to be evaluated once a year against the school district's standards for performance, as submitted and approved pursuant to W.S. 21-2-304(b)(xv). The evaluation shall be in writing and an opportunity for feedback to improve performance shall be provided. The teacher shall receive a copy of each evaluation of his performance;

(xviii)  Establish a teacher performance evaluation system and require the performance of each continuing contract teacher to be evaluated against the school district's standards for performance, as submitted and approved pursuant to W.S. 21-2-304(b)(xv), once a year until the teacher has been classified as effective under the performance evaluation system utilized by the school district for two (2) consecutive years. Upon a classification of effective for two (2) consecutive years, evaluation shall occur at minimum once every three (3) years. The teacher shall receive a copy of each evaluation of his performance;

(xix)  Performance evaluations required under paragraphs (a)(xvii) and (xviii) of this section shall serve as a basis for improvement of instruction, enhancement of curriculum program implementation, measurement of both individual teacher performance and professional growth and development and the performance level of all teachers within the school district, and as documentation for unsatisfactory performance that may lead to dismissal, suspension and termination proceedings under W.S. 21-7-110;

(xx)  Establish and maintain kindergartens in connection with the public schools of the district with at least one (1) full-day kindergarten program available within the district;

(xxi)  Report to the state department of education the actual average class size and range of class sizes for grades kindergarten through five (5) and for reading or English and language arts and mathematics classes for grades six (6) through twelve (12). These reports shall be publicly available;

(xxii)  In accordance with guidelines established by the state superintendent under W.S. 21-2-202(a)(xxii), implement standards for the storage and disposal of toxic chemicals and other hazardous substances used by schools within the district for educational programs;

(xxiii)  Implement and administer the reading screening and intervention program for students in kindergarten through grade three (3) as required by W.S. 21-3-401;

(xxiv)  Adopt a student assessment system to measure student performance relative to the uniform student content and performance standards in all content areas for which the state board has promulgated standards pursuant to W.S. 21-2-304(a)(iii). To the extent required by W.S. 21-2-204 and 21-2-304(a)(vi), the district assessment system shall be integrated with the statewide assessment system and the statewide accountability system. Components of the district assessment system required by this paragraph shall be designed and used to determine the various levels of student performance in all content areas of the uniform student content and performance standards relative to the common core of knowledge and skills prescribed under W.S. 21-9-101(b). The district shall report to the state board in accordance with W.S. 21-2-304(a)(iv) on its assessment system adopted under this paragraph;

(xxv)  At minimum and on or before November 1 of each school year, report to the department of education evidence that the district is compliant with high school graduation standards imposed by the state board under W.S. 21-2-304(a)(iii) and the high school certificate of completion requirements imposed by the state board under W.S. 21-2-304(a)(iv);

(xxvi)  Provide access to district records and other information by the department of audit as necessary to conduct audits and studies under W.S. 9-1-513 and otherwise cooperate with the department of audit when conducting audits and studies of the district pursuant to W.S. 9-1-513. The board shall also submit a written response to the department of audit on each audit and report conducted on the district in accordance with W.S. 9-1-513;

(xxvii)  Cooperate with the state construction department in developing facility plans for the district addressing district-wide building and facility needs in accordance with W.S. 21-15-116 and rule and regulation of the school facilities commission;

(xxviii)  Annually report to the state superintendent on district expenditures for career and technical education programs, broken down by school, and submitted in a manner and form required by rule and regulation of the state superintendent;

(xxix)  Beginning in school year 2017-2018, and each school year thereafter, administer a program where all students enrolled in the eleventh and twelfth grades in the district shall be required to take or be provided the opportunity to take, on a date or dates specified by the state superintendent, a standardized college entrance examination or a career readiness examination in accordance with W.S. 21-2-202(a)(xxx). Each school district shall provide the opportunity for all home school and private school students in the eleventh and twelfth grades and residing within the district to take the examinations at no cost to the student on the same date or dates administered to all eleventh and twelfth grade public school students in the state. The results of the examinations may be included in each student's transcript;

(xxx)  Not later than school year 2018-2019 and each school year thereafter, in addition to paragraphs (xvii), (xviii) and (xix), require the performance of each school district leader, including superintendents and principals and other district or school leaders serving in a similar capacity to be evaluated each year in accordance with the professional standards established by the state board of education under W.S. 21-2-304(b)(xvi);

(xxxi)  Not later than December 31, 2011, adopt a policy and training procedures regarding the use of seclusion and restraint in schools. In addition to any requirements provided by rule and regulation of the state superintendent pursuant to W.S. 21-2-202(a)(xxxii), the policy shall require that the parent or legal guardian of the student shall be notified each time that seclusion or restraint is utilized for the student. The policy shall prohibit the use of locked seclusion. The policy shall not be limited to any specified group of students and shall apply any time that seclusion or restraint is used for any student. The district shall submit a copy of the policy to the state superintendent for review as provided in W.S. 21-2-202(a)(xxxii), after the initial adoption of the policy and any time thereafter that the policy is substantially revised. As used in this paragraph:

(A)  "Restraint" means the use of physical force, with or without the use of any physical device or material, to restrict the free movement of all or a portion of a student's body. "Restraint" does not include comforting or calming a student, holding the hand or arm of a student to escort the student if the student is complying, intervening in a fight or using an assistive or protective device prescribed by an appropriately trained professional or professional team;

(B)  "Seclusion" means removing a student from a classroom or other school activity and isolating the student in a separate area. "Seclusion" does not include a student requested break or in-school suspension, detention or other appropriate disciplinary measure.

(xxxii)  Commencing school year 2011-2012, adopt protocols to address risks associated with concussions and other head injuries resulting from athletic injuries. Implementation of this paragraph shall be subject to the immunity provisions of the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act. The protocols shall:

(A)  Include training of coaches and athletic trainers to facilitate the recognition of symptoms of concussions;

(B)  Address restrictions concerning participation in school athletic events after suffering a concussion or head injury;

(C)  Include means for providing to students and parents information on head injuries and concussions and related restrictions on participation in athletic activities.

(xxxiii)  Commencing with school year 2014-2015 and each school year thereafter, with funds made available to the district under the Wyoming education resource block grant model as defined under W.S. 21-13-101(a)(xiv), require each teacher and school administrator within the district to receive at least eight (8) hours of suicide prevention education every four (4) school years using suitable materials reviewed and recommended by the state superintendent under W.S. 21-2-202(a)(xxxv). Any teacher or school administrator shall receive at least two (2) hours of suicide prevention education during the initial school year of employment with the district if the teacher or school administrator has not received suicide prevention training complying with this paragraph prior to employment. Suicide prevention education may consist of self-review of approved suitable materials. The board shall make all suicide prevention education materials and classes available to interested community members;

(xxxiv)  Effective school year 2015-2016, in conjunction with district accreditation, as a component of the statewide education accountability system and in accordance with W.S. 21-2-202(a)(xxxvi), be subject to a review by the department of education once every five (5) years on the alignment of the district's assessment system with the uniform state education standards promulgated by the state board, and the district's adherence to the uniform graduation standards prescribed by the state board under W.S. 21-2-304(a)(iii);

(xxxv)  Effective January 1, 2018, adopt and enforce a policy regarding the collection, access, privacy, security and use of student data in accordance with guidelines established by the state superintendent under W.S. 21-2-202(a)(xxxvii);

(xxxvi)  Participate in programs of the department of workforce services necessary to receive premium discounts for the state worker's compensation program;

(xxxvii)  Procure the professional services of architects, engineers and surveyors in accordance with W.S. 9-23-101 through 9-23-107.

(xxxviii)  Establish a process in policy to approve or deny requests made by a pupil's parent or guardian based on the pupil's kindergarten readiness assessment score to assess whether the pupil is sufficiently mature to be admitted to the applicable grade;

(xxxix)  Define "unexcused absence", "habitual truant" and "willful absenteeism" for all students who are attending public schools and establish rules regarding student attendance. For purposes of this paragraph, an absence preapproved by the district or an absence due to an illness, injury or the health care needs of the student or a death or serious illness in the student's family shall not constitute an unexcused absence. Students participating in programming or competitions sponsored by nationally recognized organizations and clubs that promote youth agricultural education, the annual state fair held under W.S. 11-10-101 as an exhibitor or events associated with participation in the annual state fair shall be considered as participating in a district cocurricular activity program and the student's absence shall be defined by the board as an excused absence. Nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit a school district from requesting verification of the reasons for an absence;

(xl)  Upon receipt of the information that the department of workforce services is required to provide under W.S. 9-2-2602(b)(ix) and not later than sixty (60) days after July 1, 2023:

(A)  Establish guidelines to implement student training and employment programs in schools in the district;

(B)  Take all necessary steps to provide appropriate school credit to students who complete student training and employment programs offered in the district and comply with the guidelines established pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph;

(C)  Annually give to each high school student in the district information on apprenticeships, student learner agreements and on-the-job training opportunities;

(D)  Provide information as requested by the department of workforce services to ensure compliance with reports required under W.S. 9-2-2602(e).

(xli)  Review and make a written determination whether a transfer of enrollment shall be granted or denied under W.S. 21-4-302.2. The written determination shall be made within ten (10) business days after receiving a request to transfer a pupil to a particular public school under W.S. 21-4-302.2;

(xlii)  Adopt policies, procedures and rules necessary to implement the provisions of W.S. 21-3-135;

(xliii)  Require communication and disclosure to a parent or guardian regarding their student to ensure the protection of parental rights under W.S. 14-2-206;

(xliv)  Ensure that each school district in the state requires every multiple occupancy restroom, changing room or sleeping quarters be designated for the exclusive use of the male sex or the exclusive use of the female sex.

(b)  Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 84, § 2.

(a)  The board of trustees in each school district within the state may:

(i)  Sue and be sued in the name by which the district is designated;

(ii)  Acquire, hold, convey, lease, rent, and manage property, real and personal, for the benefit of the school district in the name by which the district is designated, either alone or jointly with another public or private agency, institution, person, or corporation. This includes leasing of real property under W.S. 21-15-112;

(iii)  Enter into agreements with any public or private agency, institution, person, or corporation for the performance of acts or furnishing of services or facilities by or for the school district;

(iv)  Employ legal counsel and bear the cost of litigation;

(v)  Accept or reject any federal or other gift, grant, bequest, or devise;

(vi)  Employ and determine the salaries and duties of:

(A)  A superintendent of schools who shall be the chief administrative officer of the district;

(B)  Principals who shall assume the administrative responsibility and instructional leadership of any schools to which they are assigned in accordance with policies adopted by the board of trustees, provided that in the event a superintendent of schools shall request recommendations from a principal concerning the suspension, dismissal, assignment, transfer or termination of any teacher employed in the school to which the principal is assigned, such recommendation shall be given only after periodic evaluation of the teacher's classroom performance;

(C)  Teachers who shall provide the expertise in their areas of instruction;

(D)  Other certified professional employees; and

(E)  Other personnel.

(vii)  Discharge any employee subject to the provisions of any applicable law governing the procedure for terminating the employment of school district employees;

(viii)  Insure against loss of property;

(ix)  Repealed By Laws 1997 Special Session, ch. 3, § 502.

(x)  Become members of county, state, and national school board associations and pay dues to such associations. A board of trustees may at its discretion pay necessary travel expenses and per diem of members and personnel attending meetings of such associations at a rate not to exceed that paid state employees;

(xi)  Provide for the operation of school lunch programs in schools under its jurisdiction;

(xii)  Require any officer or employee whose duty it is to handle funds or property of the district, including activity accounts, to be bonded under a suitable individual or blanket bond indemnifying the district against loss. The board shall determine the amount and type of the bond;

(xiii)  Acquire for the school district, by condemnation, the fee simple title to any real estate situated within the district as a site for any public school buildings or school grounds or for any other necessary or beneficial school purpose, or any lesser interest, including easements and rights-of-way, when necessary in the proper maintenance and operation of the school system;

(xiv)  Subject to W.S. 21-6-217(b), convey, with or without consideration, title to real property which is not being used and will not be used by the district to the state or its political subdivisions for public use;

(xv)  Convey or otherwise divest, with or without consideration, title to personal property which is not being used and will not be used by the district to the extent not prohibited by Article 16, Section 6, Wyoming Constitution;

(xvi)  Repealed by Laws 2021, ch. 163, § 2.

(xvii)  Establish a school bus driver training program in accordance with W.S. 21-3-131(a);

(xviii)  Establish and maintain a program of adult education;

(xix)  Develop policies and pest control methods including emergency policies, to minimize risk to students and employees, school property and the environment;

(xx)  Enter into school building construction and renovation project agreements with the state construction department as authorized under W.S. 21-15-123(f)(v);

(xxi)  Request the fingerprints of any employee initially hired by a school district on or after July 1, 1996, who may have access to minors in the course of the employee's employment, as provided by W.S. 7-19-106(a)(xxvi) and 7-19-201(a)(iii). The school district shall pay for the costs associated with the request;

(xxii)  Enter into or authorize the district superintendent to enter into student learner agreements as defined by W.S. 27-14-102(a)(xxxiv) with any employer pursuant to W.S. 27-14-110;

(xxiii)  Confer a Wyoming seal of biliteracy or an advanced distinction Wyoming seal of biliteracy upon a graduating high school student in accordance with W.S. 21-2-202(a)(xl). Not later than October 15 of each year, each school district shall report to the state superintendent the number of seals of biliteracy issued during the prior school year, the languages the students learned and the type of seal conferred.

(b)  Not later than January 1, 1998, the board of trustees of each school district that has established trustee residence areas before that date shall:

(i)  Establish by resolution that all trustees shall be elected at-large from the entire district; or

(ii)  Establish by resolution a structure for electing members to the board through trustee residence areas with not less than two (2) members of the board elected at-large from the entire district. If the board establishes trustee residence areas under this paragraph, one (1) or more members shall be elected from each area. The boundaries of the trustee residence areas shall be established so that the total deviation in the population between the areas with the greatest and least population shall not, to the extent practicable, exceed ten percent (10%). Data from the last federal census shall be used in determining population within an area for the purpose of implementing this paragraph. The resolution shall include a process for implementing this change so that all elected trustees may serve their full term but that any vacancy shall be filled so as to implement the change as soon as practicable.

(c)  Not later than January 1 of any year in which a general election will be held, the board of trustees of any school district may elect to adopt a resolution under paragraph (b)(i) of this section to have all trustees elected at-large. A board of trustees for a district in which all members are elected at-large may adopt a resolution to establish trustee residence areas under paragraph (b)(ii) of this section only as of January 1 of the first year which follows a decennial federal census and in which a general election will be held.

(a)  All warrants or other orders to pay money drawn on the school district treasury, and all checks on a depository, shall bear the signature of the clerk or treasurer and the chairman of the board of trustees. The signatures may be reproduced as provided in W.S. 16-2-101 through 16-2-103.

(b)  All warrants or other orders to pay money drawn on activity or special funds shall be signed and administered in the manner provided in subsection (a) above, and in accordance with the written policy of the board of trustees. Activity or special funds shall be subject to supervision and examination by the director of the state department of audit.

(a)  The clerk of each school district within the state shall:

(i)  Within thirty (30) working days after the close of each fiscal year, submit all fiscal reports to the state superintendent of public instruction for the past fiscal year. The reports shall contain information required by the state superintendent. A copy of the reports shall also be filed with the county clerk of each county in which the school district is located;

(ii)  Cause to be filed copies of all reports made to the state superintendent and all papers transmitted to him by school officers or other persons pertaining to the business of the district. After two (2) years have elapsed from the date of filing, microfilm copies may be treated as originals;

(iii)  Cause a certificate to be endorsed upon every bond or evidence of debt, issued pursuant to law, that the same is within the lawful debt limit of such school district and is issued according to law;

(iv)  Record all proceedings of the board in books to be kept for that purpose.

(a)  The treasurer of each school district within the state shall:

(i)  Have custody of all moneys belonging to the district and pay out the same on order of the clerk, countersigned by the chairman;

(ii)  Cause an account to be kept of the receipts and expenditures of the district;

(iii)  Render a statement of the finances of the district at any time when required by the district board of trustees; and cause a detailed report showing the sources of revenue and the purposes for which moneys were expended to be published at the close of each fiscal year in some newspaper of general circulation within the school district.

(a)  The clerk of the board of trustees of each school district shall cause notice of each special or emergency meeting of the board of trustees to be given in accordance with W.S. 16-4-404.

(b)  The notice shall contain the purpose, time and place of the meeting, and a statement that the official minutes of such meeting will be available for inspection by any citizen at the office of the clerk of said district.

(a)  The board of trustees of each school district within the state may procure a policy or policies of comprehensive liability insurance as provided in W.S. 1-39-118(b), self-insure as provided in W.S. 1-39-118(c)(i) or join with other school districts as provided in W.S. 1-39-118(c)(ii).

(b)  Repealed By Laws 2008, Ch. 50, § 2.

(c)  Repealed By Laws 2008, Ch. 50, § 2.

(d)  The board of trustees of each school district within the state shall procure a policy or policies for property insurance covering all education, administrative and transportation facilities owned or maintained by the school district in an amount adequate to cover against loss or damage to those facilities, and against loss consequential upon that loss or damage, other than noncontractual legal liability for that loss or damage. The board of trustees of a school district may elect not to provide property insurance coverage for any facility valued at fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) or less upon a per facility determination that the cost of insurance for the facility is disproportionately high when compared to the value of the facility to the school district. Coverage provided by a school district joint powers board pursuant to W.S. 1-39-118(c)(ii) and subsection (a) of this section shall satisfy the requirement of this subsection.

(e)  Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 186, § 2.

(a)  Each district shall establish and maintain minimum standards for persons involved in the operation of school buses, including:

(i)  Developing a written plan for the selection, training and supervision of persons whose duties involve the transporting of pupils;

(ii)  Requiring each applicant for a position which duties involve the transporting of pupils to complete and submit an application form that includes a personal and occupational history;

(iii)  Completing a check of the successful applicant's driving record;

(iv)  Ensuring the successful applicant has on file with the district a copy of the medical examiner's certificate required by the United States department of transportation, federal motor carrier safety regulations, 49 C.F.R. Part 391.41;

(v)  Requiring annual training consisting of not less than six (6) hours for persons whose duties involve the operation of school buses.

(b)  Each district shall establish and maintain minimum standards for the operation of school buses, including:

(i)  All school buses shall undergo a safety inspection not less than two (2) times each school year, with one (1) inspection conducted by a person not employed by the school district. A copy of the inspection reports shall be filed with the local school district;

(ii)  School bus operators shall perform a daily pre-trip inspection of their vehicles and report promptly any defect or deficiency discovered that may affect the safety of the vehicle's operation or result in its mechanical breakdown. Documentation of the inspections shall be submitted weekly and retained on file with the school district for a period of one (1) year;

(iii)  Operators of school buses equipped with lap belts shall wear a properly secured lap belt at all times the vehicle is in motion;

(iv)  Passengers in type A school buses equipped with factory installed lap belts shall wear a properly secured lap belt at all times the vehicle is in motion;

(v)  At least twice during each school year the driver of each school bus shall hold an emergency evacuation drill. Proper documentation for each drill shall be maintained on file with the school district;

(vi)  School bus routing and seating plans shall be coordinated to eliminate standing passengers or exceeding the manufacturer's rating capacity for the school bus;

(vii)  School buses shall operate with lighted headlamps at all times the vehicle is in motion;

(viii)  The service door of the school bus shall remain closed at all times the vehicle is in motion;

(ix)  Any accident involving a school bus which is required to be reported under W.S. 31-5-1106 shall also be reported to the state department of education on forms approved by the department;

(x)  Effective school year 2016-2017, and each school year thereafter, all school buses transporting students to and from school and to and from student activities, as defined under W.S. 21-13-320(b)(i) and (ii), shall be equipped with an external video system and may be equipped with an internal video system. Equipment specifications shall be prescribed by rule and regulation of the department. Recordings or images from a video system installed under this paragraph shall not be a public record under the Wyoming Public Records Act, W.S. 16-4-201 through 16-4-205. Recordings or images may be entered into evidence for a violation of W.S. 31-5-507(a) as provided in W.S. 31-5-507(e) and may be discoverable for other criminal actions. Recordings or images made from a video system under this paragraph shall be destroyed within one (1) year of the date the recording was made.

(c)  Evidence of a person's failure to wear a lap or seat belt on a school bus if required under state or federal law or the failure of a school bus driver to require a passenger to wear a lap or seat belt as required under W.S. 31-5-1402(a), shall not be admissible in any civil action or for the purposes of W.S. 31-5-1402(a).

(a)  A school district that has not already taken similar action is authorized to take the following actions relating to child sexual abuse education, prevention and response:

(i)  Provide parents with information on the warning signs of child sexual abuse and any available resources for education, prevention and response;

(ii)  Provide training to teachers and other school district employees, including:

(A)  Instructional methods relating to the provisions of W.S. 21-9-104;

(B)  Child abuse or neglect reporting requirements specified in W.S. 14-3-205;

(C)  Methods to respond to a student's disclosure of sexual abuse in a supportive and appropriate manner.

(iii)  Consult with federal, state and local entities and community based organizations, including the child welfare information gateway internet website maintained by the United States department of health and human services, to identify evidence based tools and programs to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse;

(iv)  Develop community based strategies to promote education, collaboration and accountability among persons and entities who are responsible for child sexual abuse education, prevention and response, including parents and guardians, law enforcement, judicial officers, health care providers and other members of the community;

(v)  Coordinate with the local child protection team in accordance with W.S. 14-3-212(b)(ii);

(vi)  Accept funds from private and public sources for programs relating to this section.

(a)  As used in this section, "military connected student" means a student who is a dependent of a current or former member of the uniformed services of the United States including members of the national guard and reserve or who was a dependent of a member of the uniformed services of the United States, including a member of the national guard or reserve, who was killed in the line of duty.

(b)  The department shall designate a school as a purple star school if the school applies to the department and qualifies as a purple star school under this section.

(c)  To qualify as a purple star school under this section the school shall:

(i)  Have a staff member designated as a military liaison who shall:

(A)  Identify military connected students enrolled at the school;

(B)  Serve as the point of contact between the school and military connected students and their families or guardians;

(C)  Assist in developing and coordinating appropriate services and programs relevant to military connected students.

(ii)  Maintain on the school website an easily accessible web page that includes resources for military connected students and their families or guardians, including information regarding:

(A)  Relocation to, enrollment at, registration at and transferring records to and from the school;

(B)  Academic planning, course sequences and advanced classes available at the school;

(C)  Counseling and other support services available for military connected students enrolled at the campus; and

(D)  The name and contact information of the military liaison designated by the school under paragraph (i) of this subsection and the liaison's duties.

(iii)  Maintain a transition program, which may be led by students if appropriate, that assists military connected students in transitioning into the school;

(iv)  Offer professional development for staff members on issues related to military connected students;

(v)  Do at least one (1) of the following:

(A)  Have a resolution adopted by the board of trustees of the school district of the school showing support for military connected students and their families;

(B)  Provide recognition of the month of the military child or military family month with relevant events hosted by the school;

(C)  Partner with a local military installation that provides opportunities for active duty military members to volunteer at the school, speak at a school assembly or host a field trip.

(d)  A school may partner with the school district as necessary to comply with the requirements of this section including providing for a web page on the school district website if the school does not have a website, providing for professional development and the adoption of a resolution as provided in subparagraph (c)(v)(A) of this section.

(e)  The department shall adopt rules necessary to administer this section.

(a)  Each school district shall:

(i)  Notify a student's parent or guardian as soon as practicable if there is a change in the student's educational, physical, mental or emotional health or well-being. Procedures adopted under this paragraph shall reinforce the fundamental right of parents and guardians to make decisions regarding the care and control of their children by requiring school district personnel to encourage a student to discuss issues relating to his well-being with his parent or guardian or to facilitate discussion with the parent or guardian;

(ii)  Not prohibit parents or guardians from accessing any of their student's records created, maintained or used by the school district. Parents or guardians shall be provided access to their student's education, behavior, health and other records within a reasonable time;

(iii)  Not adopt or implement any formal or informal rules, policies, practices or procedures that prohibit school district personnel from notifying a student's parent or guardian about the student's educational, physical, mental or emotional health or well-being or a change in the student's related services as authorized under paragraphs (a)(i) and (ii) of this section;

(iv)  Not adopt or implement any formal or informal rule, policies, practices or procedures that direct or, encourage or have the effect of encouraging a student to withhold from a parent or guardian information about the student's educational, physical, mental or emotional health or well-being;

(v)  Obtain written or electronic permission from each student's parent or legal guardian not less than one (1) day prior to the student participating or receiving instruction in any trainings, courses or classes that address sexual orientation or gender identity.

(b)  Effective school year 2024-2025 and each school year thereafter, at the beginning of each school year, each school district shall make available to parents and guardians any routine health care services offered or provided at the student's school and provide the option for the parent or guardian to withhold consent or decline any routine specific health care services. Parental or guardian consent to a routine health care service shall not waive the parent's or guardian's right to access the student's educational or health care records or to be notified of a change in the student's educational, physical, mental or emotional health or well-being. Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing school district personnel from rendering first aid to a student or summoning emergency responders in case of sudden need.

(c)  Before administering a well-being questionnaire or health screening tool to a student or a group of students, each school district shall make available the questionnaire or information on the health screening tool to the parent or guardian and obtain written or verbal consent from the parent or guardian to administer the well-being questionnaire or health screening tool to the student. For purposes of this subsection, "health screening tool" means any diagnostic assessment that detects pre-clinical mental or physiological illness or diseases. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit school district personnel from conducting audiology, vision, scoliosis or body mass index assessments required by federal law unless a parent withholds consent for that assessment in writing.

(d)  Each school district shall adopt necessary rules, policies, practices and procedures for a parent or guardian to file a complaint with the school district regarding a school district's non-compliance with this section, in accordance with the following:

(i)  Notwithstanding W.S. 21-2-101, to the extent that any provision of this subsection conflicts with the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act, this subsection and any rules promulgated thereunder shall control;

(ii)  To initiate proceedings under this subsection, a parent or guardian shall file a complaint with the school district superintendent or his designee;

(iii)  The school district superintendent or his designee shall acknowledge in writing receipt of a complaint submitted under this subsection within seven (7) business days from the date of receipt of the complaint, as evidenced by the postmark;

(iv)  The school district superintendent shall issue a decision in response to a complaint under this subsection not more than thirty (30) calendar days after the written acknowledgment required under paragraph (iii) of this subsection;

(v)  Any parent or guardian aggrieved by a decision made by a school district superintendent under paragraph (iv) of this subsection may request a hearing before the school district's board of trustees, who shall determine facts relating to the dispute over the school district superintendent's compliance with this section, consider any information provided by the school district superintendent and render a decision within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving the request for a hearing;

(vi)  Any parent or guardian aggrieved or adversely affected in fact by a final decision of a board of trustees under paragraph (v) of this subsection, may seek judicial review pursuant to W.S. 16-3-114, within thirty (30) calendar days of the decision by the board of trustees, as evidenced by the postmark;

(vii)  Each school district shall adopt necessary rules, policies and procedures to notify parents and guardians of the rights and procedures available under this subsection;

(viii)  Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to abridge any other rights or remedies under law available to parents and guardians.

(e)  This section shall be implemented by each school district in accordance with W.S. 14-2-206.

(f)  Nothing in this section shall prohibit school districts from complying with mandatory reporting of abuse or neglect pursuant to W.S. 14-3-205. For purposes of this section, "abuse" means as defined by W.S. 14-3-202(a)(ii) and "neglect" means as defined by W.S. 14-3-202(a)(vii).

(a)  There is created the firearms on school property account. The account shall include all legislative appropriations and all monies received from grants, gifts, transfers, bequests and donations to the account. The account is authorized to accept grants, gifts, transfers, bequests and donations. All monies received shall be deposited into the account. Notwithstanding W.S. 9-2-1008, 9-2-1012(e) or 9-4-207, unobligated and unexpended funds in the account shall not lapse or revert and shall remain in the account and available for distribution as provided in this section.

(b)  Monies deposited into the firearms on school property account shall be continuously appropriated to and expended by the department of education to reimburse school districts only for costs related to possession of firearms on school property by school district employees in accordance with the law. School districts shall apply to the department of education for reimbursement of the costs identified under this subsection on a form provided by the department within one (1) year of the expenses being incurred. As part of the application required under this subsection, school districts shall submit final receipts and certificates of completion for each employee's training completed in accordance with the law or documents evidencing the expenses incurred by the rules adopted by the school district. Reimbursement shall be limited to costs for which funding is not already provided by law. If there are insufficient funds to reimburse all school districts that apply for reimbursement under this section, the department of education shall prorate reimbursement among all approved school district applications in proportion to the amount of costs approved for reimbursement.

(c)  Funds in the firearms on school property account shall be invested by the state treasurer pursuant to law and the investment earnings shall be credited to the account.

(a)  As used in this section:

(i)  "Coach" means a person, including but not limited to coaches, assistant coaches or athletic trainers, employed by or contracted with a public school who is involved in the teaching, coaching or training of students participating in a school-sponsored activity;

(ii)  "Female" means a person who has, had, will have or would have had, but for a congenital anomaly or intentional or unintentional disruption, the reproductive system that at some point produces, transports and utilizes eggs for fertilization;

(iii)  "Male" means a person who has, had, will have or would have had, but for a congenital anomaly or intentional or unintentional disruption, the reproductive system that at some point produces, transports and utilizes sperm for fertilization;

(iv)  "Restroom" or "changing room" means a room in a public school building designed or designated to be used by one (1) or more persons, where persons may be in various stages of undress in the presence of other persons. The term includes but is not limited to a school restroom, locker room, changing room or shower room;

(v)  "School-sponsored activity" means an event that is supported and affiliated with the school;

(vi)  "Sex" means a person's biological sex, either male or female;

(vii)  "Sleeping quarters" means an area with at least one (1) bed or cot in which at least one (1) person is housed overnight on or off public school property when attending a school-sponsored activity.

(b)  To ensure privacy and safety, each public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade in this state shall require every multiple occupancy restroom, changing room or sleeping quarters to be designated as follows:

(i)  For the exclusive use of the male sex; or

(ii)  For the exclusive use of the female sex.

(c)  Each public school district shall provide a reasonable accommodation to any person who does not wish to use a multiple occupancy restroom, changing room or sleeping quarters in accordance with the designation required under subsection (b) of this section. For purposes of this subsection, a reasonable accommodation shall include a single-occupancy restroom, changing room or sleeping quarters. A reasonable accommodation granted under this subsection shall not include access to a restroom, changing area or sleeping quarters that is designated for use by members of the opposite sex while persons of the opposite sex are present or could be present.

(d)  This section shall not apply to persons entering a multiple occupancy restroom, changing room or sleeping quarters designated for use by the opposite sex when entering for at least one (1) of the following reasons:

(i)  For custodial, maintenance, repair or inspection purposes;

(ii)  To render emergency medical assistance;

(iii)  If a suitable meeting room or area is not available, a coach may enter a locker room before, during or after a school-sponsored activity, provided:

(A)  All students present are fully clothed;

(B)  The coach shall be accompanied by not less than one (1) additional adult at all times;

(C)  If the coach is the opposite sex of the students present, the coach shall be accompanied by at least one (1) adult of the same sex as the students present; and

(D)  The adults present shall not be current high school students.

(iv)  For an adult to render assistance to any student or person requiring assistance because of disability or age;

(v)  If a suitable meeting room or area is not available and the coach is the coach of a school-sponsored activity with members of both the male and female sexes on the team or in the activity, the coach may enter a locker room before, during or after the school-sponsored activity if all students are fully clothed. The coach shall be accompanied by not less than one (1) additional adult at all times but an additional adult shall not be required if members of the activity of both sexes are present in the locker room. The adults present shall not be current high school students;

(vi)  To render caregiving assistance;

(vii)  To receive assistance if the person is accompanied by a family member, legal guardian or the person's designee who is a member of the designated sex for the single-sex restroom, changing area or sleeping quarters;

(viii)  When necessary to prevent a serious threat to public health or student safety during an ongoing natural disaster or emergency;

(ix)  When a school official or employee enters a restroom, changing area or sleeping quarters while in the performance of the official's or employee's official duties and who takes reasonable steps to ensure that no person in the room is in a state of undress;

(x)  When a restroom, changing area or sleeping quarters has been temporarily designated for use by the opposite sex.

(e)  Each school district board of trustees shall adopt policies to provide for disciplinary action for persons who refuse to comply with this section.

(f)  No school district board of trustees shall adopt a policy contrary to the provisions of this section.

(g)  A parent or legal guardian of a student enrolled in and physically attending a public school district shall have a cause of action, including for declaratory and injunctive relief, against the public school for noncompliance with the provisions of subsection (b), (c) or (d) of this section.