Educators, parents, and community members in Cheyenne, Wyoming have been left shocked in response to a recent decision made by the Laramie school board. In an attempt to address facility issues across the county and better allocate funding across the district, the school board has decided to close 8 elementary schools, only 2 of which will be reconstructed. Students and staff in those schools will be relocated to different counties while schools undergo reconstruction. While the importance of safe facilities is an important concern, many parents and community members are upset at the decision and its potential repercussions. Meanwhile, the Cheyenne county school board remains firm in its decision, stating that the eventual benefits outweigh the cost. Oil City News released an article which included the phrase “Our Kids are going to be hurt” in its title details the community backlash of the project. Wyoming News reported on the issue from a different perspective that could lead one to question if it was in fact school closures being discussed. The article “district approves study that will affect 25 schools”. 

According to Wyoming News, a study conducted by the Wyoming State Construction Department focused on identifying the Most Cost Effective Remedy (MCER), which was then proposed to the Laramie County school board. While the report mentions the closure of 8 schools by the year 2033, further details about the relocation of students and staff. The article fails to address the potential consequences of these school closures, hiding behind the frequent and seemingly non-committal use of the phrase “school changes” (Bonner 2024). When asked about by Oil City news about the study, parent and local attorney Lindsay Woznick stated “The study was done by 15 people with,, zero community involvement, zero parental involvement, zero educator involvement and very little actual involvement from the district. … So we’re going to gut our community” (Gendron 2024).

Following the “reluctant” decision of the school board, many educators and parents have been left shocked and concerned. Most of the schools closing are neighborhood schools typically with smaller student population yet an active community presence, Particularly seen in the case of Jessup elementary school which is regarded as a high-quality school. Growing concern for the impact of this decision on local communities was brought to light at a recent school board meeting discussing the impending changes. Many parents agreed that the MCER study failed to incorporate community input (McFarland 2024). 

While the members of the Laramie county school board remain firm in their decision, stating that the long-term financial strategy developed as a result of the MCER study will ensure that the educational needs of the students will be met. However, educators and parents argue that the “human cost” is far greater. They believe that school closures will have a negative impact on student academic and social achievement (Gendron 2024). As schools begin to close, those that remain open will see a dramatic increase in enrollment rates, for example Meadowlark elementary student population will nearly double from 485 to 725 students (McFarland 2024). This not only impacts students, but teachers and school faculty as well. None of the reports mentioned a plan for staff adjustments in schools nor how the schools will be adjusted for the temporary influx of students during the construction of the new schools, leaving the community unsatisfied. 

Works Cited 

McFarland, C. (2024, October 10). Cheyenne School Board votes to close 8 schools, parents want a re-vote. Cowboy State Daily. https://cowboystatedaily.com/2024/10/10/school-board-votes-to-close-8-elementary-schools-parents-want-a-re-vote/ Accessed 11 October 2024

Gendron, J. (2024, October 11). “our kids are going to be hurt”: Study recommends shuttering 8 Cheyenne Elementary Schools. Oil City News. https://oilcity.news/community/wyoming-community-2/2024/10/11/our-kids-are-going-to-be-hurt-study-recommends-shuttering-8-elementary-schools-2/  Accessed 11 October 2024Bonner, A. (2024, October 10). Laramie County School District #1 approves study that will affect 25 elementary schools. Wyoming News Now. https://www.wyomingnewsnow.tv/news/laramie-county-school-district-1-approves-study-that-will-affect-25-elementary-schools/article_d9cf1ed0-8753-11ef-b8ef-ff2ff3747258.html  Accessed 11 October 2024