EVANSTON — Concerned citizens from around Wyoming gathered at Rock Springs Junior High on Monday, Aug. 14, to discuss Wyoming’s education funding recalibration. Teachers, administrators and parents spoke out to share their feelings about Wyoming’s education funding throughout the evening.

The meeting in Rock Springs was one of four planned throughout the state during the week of Aug. 14, and citizens from multiple Wyoming counties made the drive to participate. Uinta, Lincoln, Sweetwater, Hot Springs, Fremont, Teton, Sublette and Carbon Counties were all represented through speakers at the microphone.

About 200 attendees appeared, and the two-hour event was split into two sessions. One session focused on Wyoming’s education model, or what is commonly referred to as the “basket of goods” — the courses and curriculum provided to all Wyoming school-
children. The second session focused on the funding model used to determine the amount of funds allocated to each school district. Participants were able to switch sessions halfway through the evening.

The meeting was conducted by representatives of Augenblick, Palaich and Associates (APA), the Denver-based consulting firm hired by the legislative select committee on school finance recalibration to conduct research and recommend a new funding model.

The presentation began with a brief overview of the process that APA will use over the next several months to make recommendations to the legislature in January. The process will include comparisons with other states, public meetings, one-on-one interviews and site visits. The consulting firm will also be looking at Wyoming’s Hathaway Scholarship program curriculum.

Representatives emphasized that Wyoming’s education funding is unique in how it is mandated by the state constitution. By law, education in Wyoming must include language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, fine arts, physical education, health and safety, humanities,
vocational education, foreign cultures and languages, applied technology, government and civics, problem-solving, interpersonal communications, computer applications, critical thinking, creativity and life skills, including personal financial management.

Although APA representatives tried to focus on the recalibration process itself and asked for comments related to research methods or possible cost-saving avenues, those in attendance had other plans. Many who spoke made clear that they do not want to see education cuts from the legislature.

Several speakers were teachers who emphasized the importance of their particular subjects in ensuring student success. Evanston High School French teacher Brian Hill spoke out about the value of foreign language courses, while teachers from around Wyoming stressed the arts, music and special education.

District administrators and school board members from throughout the state took turns sharing sentiments that the funding model Wyoming has been using in recent years is not the problem, saying the problem was the legislature’s inability to meet the constitutional obligation to fund public education.

John Malone, school board member for Sweetwater County School District No. 2, pointed out that the state legislature has been sued on numerous occasions over school funding issues and not meeting the requirements of Wyoming’s constitution and has lost every time. Malone said it is not up to educators, administrators or parents to figure out the funding, but it is up to the state legislature to do their job.

“Let them have a bake sale to figure it out,” he said.

Other speakers shared concerns about the quality of education in Wyoming and the effects on luring professionals to the state if that quality is diminished. Several pointed out that comparing Wyoming to other states is problematic because of its rural character and the great distances between communities, which make combining services between districts problematic, if not impossible.

Concerns also included funding for transportation and facilities maintenance. Special education services were discussed numerous times, with speakers pointing out that Wyoming’s constitution requires that all kids be provided with the same basket of goods, not just the general education population.

As the evening progressed, it became readily apparent that a scant few speakers were focusing on the recalibration process or pointing out flaws in the existing funding model. Instead the focus was on what cuts the legislature may recommend during the next session and advocating against any additional cuts to education.

The consulting firm has a survey available to educators and the general public at https://goo.gl/rJ6323 for those wishing to answer questions about the educational program and funding model.

This survey is available until Friday, Aug. 25. The public is also invited to submit comments to the Wyoming Legislature via http://tinyurl.com/yc5hum3m.