Board hears reading of court ruling that finds Wyoming public school funding unconstitutional

A district staff member read a press release at the Uinta County School District No. 1 board meeting announcing that on Feb. 26 a state district court ruled Wyoming’s public-school funding model unconstitutional.

The release, read aloud to Chairman Peterson and the board, said the court agreed with six claims made by the educators’ lawsuit: the state has not funded the actual cost of providing education; has not properly adjusted the funding model for inflation; has failed to provide adequate salaries to recruit and retain staff; has underfunded mental-health counselors, school resource officers, nutrition programs and technology; has not adequately assessed facilities; and has allowed unequal facilities to persist. The court ordered the state to modify its funding model and said it will retain jurisdiction until that change occurs.

Board members were told Uinta County School District #1 was one of eight districts named in the lawsuit and that recalibration of the school finance model will begin in April. The presenter said state Sen. Tara Nethercott is on the recalibration committee and that the district’s documents and testimony — and specific work by a district employee, identified in the meeting as Mr. Williams — were persuasive to the court.

Why it matters: The court ruling could change how the state allocates education funds and affect long-term budgets for staffing, facilities and services across Wyoming. The presenter cautioned the ruling is only the start of a process; recalibration and any appeals could change the timing or scope of relief.

Details from the release and the board meeting: - The press release quoted a superintendent from another district saying the ruling would “prevent students from attending unequal and inadequate school facilities” and ensure access to mental-health support, nutrition and technology; the presenter read that quote as part of the release. - The court found for plaintiffs on all six arguments listed in the release, and ordered the state to remedy the constitutional violations. - Recalibration will begin in April; the presenter said the committee includes at least one legislator sympathetic to the districts’ position. - The presenter identified Kelly Pearson of the law firm Parker, Poe, Adams & Bernstein as counsel for the eight districts.

The board did not take any formal action on the ruling at the meeting; the item was presented for information. The presenter said the district will continue to monitor recalibration and possible appeals and will participate in the process.

For follow-up: board members asked for updates as recalibration proceeds; the presenter noted there had been no final decision yet about appealing the district-court ruling to the state Supreme Court.