Tracy Morris

Two term board member Tracy Morris hopes to return to the Park County School District 1 School Board for another term as she campaigns against five other candidates — after eight years there’s still a lot to do, she said.

During her eight years on the board Morris has kept busy as treasurer and as a member of PVCE-BOCES board where she has served as treasurer for six years (the board is made up of PCSD1 and NWC trustees). She has also been in the Wyoming School Board Association for the past two years. As a member of the PCSD1 board she was involved with hiring Superintendent Jay Curtis and navigating schooling amidst Covid, as well as strategic planning for the district and various policies and board trainings.

Her experience is part of what makes her a good candidate, she said — being a trustee takes a lot of time, something she’s willing to volunteer.

“I have a degree in education, and I love this community and kiddos and we give back to it,” Morris said, adding that her husband’s company Point Architects has donated to the school district and the college in the past. 

“I thought I knew it all, and there's still so much to learn and so much to do. I feel like the job isn't finished, and then especially extending myself on to the [Wyoming School Board Association]. I've only been on it two years, and so going from district to state is a whole big step,” Morris said.

She has only just started at the state level, Morris said. She attends legislative sessions as a board member and the WSBA is “highly involved with legislation and different statutes, knowing the different statutes, knowing the Wyoming Constitution — I still have a lot more to do.”

The most important issue in the district right now is maintaining funding and a balanced budget, Morris said. By doing this they can continue a variety of things in the district like making sure students are taken care of under different safety and mental health policies, despite the loss of Covid era funds and maintaining school facilities.

She also mentioned that by keeping a sustainable and balanced budget the district can continue to give steps and lanes pay increases to teachers and encourage longevity. A lot of retiring teachers have been in the district for decades, she said, and taking care of these teachers trickles down to the students.

“It takes money to make sure everybody is safe and secure and happy within the school district. So again, I think it goes back to funding and being involved with those legislators, I welcome them into the schools,” Morris said. “I would love for them to come in and check it out, talk to us, keep in contact with them, because a lot of it comes from them and their support [and] the community.”

Powell has a great school district, Morris said, highlighting Parkside Elementary School’s recent Blue Ribbon win, the district’s test scores and teachers. 

Morris voiced the importance of the community’s involvement with the education of students at the Powell Education Association forum earlier this month, stressing the importance of communication with parents and the community.

“How can the community know what we’re doing, what the schools are doing, what the students are doing? That is something we are always evaluating and looking at and changing,” Morris said.