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Senate committee backs resolution affirming support for rural schools and asking recalibration consultants to consider them
Summary
The Senate Education Committee passed House Joint Resolution 3, a nonbinding resolution expressing legislative support for maintaining rural schools; the measure asks that the state's 2025 school finance recalibration consultants and relevant committees consider rural schools when advising policy.
Representative Trey Sherwood introduced House Joint Resolution 3 as a resolution to affirm support for rural schools and to signal legislative intent to maintain access to public elementary education in remote communities.
"Rural schools are more than a place of learning. They really are the heartbeat of their communities," Anne Anderson, a Garrett resident who spoke with Representative Sherwood, told the committee in public testimony. The sponsor said the resolution was brought by constituents and emphasized historic local commitments to keep rural schools open.
The resolution notes that Wyoming currently has 15 small schools (three rooms or fewer) educating more than 100 students and says the state constitution guarantees access to a high-quality education regardless of geography. Supporters framed the resolution as nonbinding policy guidance to preserve rural schooling options and to encourage fair process when districts propose consolidations or reconfigurations.
The Department of Education told the committee it supports the resolution but asked for clarity on what "equal access to an elementary school" means in practice, particularly with the state’s upcoming school finance recalibration. Dickie Schaner, speaking for the superintendent, noted the department had recently approved a reconfiguration that allowed a small school to open and recommended the committee focus on the language in section 1 and distance-related expectations.
The Professional Teaching Standards Board said it is developing rule proposals that would give local districts flexibility to staff remote-teacher positions and that its proposed rules align with the resolution’s goals. Other witnesses including Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and local advocates testified in support.
Committee members amended the resolution to direct that the consultants selected for the 2025 school finance recalibration receive a copy of the resolution; they also removed the word "ranch" to broaden the language and changed "equal" to "equitable" in a clause about access. The committee then passed the resolution as amended on a recorded vote (5 ayes). The committee asked that copies be circulated to relevant legislators and recalibration consultants.
Ending: The resolution passed the committee as amended and will be transmitted according to legislative procedure; it is nonbinding but signals legislative intent to consider rural schools in upcoming finance and policy work.
