Board hears Title VI grant update; district staff briefed on state appeal process

Board member Roy provided an update on the district’s Title VI Indian Education grant and staff member Ally briefed trustees on the status of a state appeal in pending litigation that affects school funding recalibration.

Roy said the district completed the first phase of the multi-step Title VI application by submitting eligible student counts. "Because our ADM is down, not surprisingly, our student count for eligible Title VI students is down about 19 students," Roy said. He reported the district’s projected allocation for the upcoming school year is $214,539 and noted the figure could fluctuate slightly as counts are finalized. Roy said the next steps include a public hearing the following week and a meeting of the Indian Parent Committee; the application must be approved before submission by May 9.

On the legal update, staff member Ally told the board the state filed a notice of appeal to the Wyoming Supreme Court challenging the district court’s funding order. She summarized the typical appellate timeline described in the filing process: the state’s initial brief is generally due about 45 days after the record is transmitted, the respondents then have about 45 days to file oppositions, and the state usually has a short period to file a reply brief. Ally said, according to the information shared with the board, the Wyoming Supreme Court did not grant a stay of the lower court’s order, which means the district court order remains in effect while the appeal proceeds and the state is beginning recalibration work to comply with the order.

Ally noted that if the Supreme Court ultimately reverses the district court’s order, the state would face the practical challenge of reversing recalibration work already underway. The board did not take further formal action on these reports during the meeting.