Dozens of parents, students, teachers and local officials urged the Natrona County School District #1 board on Oct. 27 to reverse or delay a staff recommendation that the board consider closing Woods Learning Center and Barnum (Bar None) Elementary beginning in the 2026–27 school year.

The public-comment period lasted more than two hours and included former students, current staff, PTA leaders and two young students who described the schools as "family"; many speakers said small class sizes, multi-age pods, project-based learning and on-site supports are essential for students with learning differences. The board did not vote on closures; trustees said the infrastructure planning committee’s recommendation will be considered at the board’s Nov. 10 meeting.

Why this matters: district staff told trustees the district is facing a rapid enrollment decline and related revenue losses. At the meeting, staff reported the 30-day enrollment count was down about 428 students from this time last year and average daily membership down about 460, figures trustees said are driving an examination of excess elementary capacity and long-term budgets.

Speakers who testified described how the two schools serve students who, they said, would likely struggle in larger settings. Nicholas Grooms, a Woods parent, told trustees closing Woods would be "voting to kill a program" he said has served students since 1991 and provides "project-based learning, pod classrooms, teacher-empowered leadership and student-driven experiential learning." Alfie Baker, a Woods teacher, said the proposed move threatens students’ "safe spaces" and long-tenured staff.

Multiple speakers at Barnum/Bar None noted recent community investments and argued the school is a neighborhood anchor. Peter Boyer, identified as the mayor of Bar None, told the board his town is pursuing grants and loans to spur growth after a major employer left, and he asked the board to consider that community efforts might change enrollment forecasts.

Several parents and staff said enrollment figures do not reflect demand because the district capped assignments to Barnum in recent open-enrollment rounds, and others said consultants’ reports were not shared publicly before recommendations were issued. Madison Trumbull, a parent, said a work-session memo estimated annual savings of about $1 million from a Barnum closure; another presenter cited a $700,000 annual savings figure referenced in a memo about Woods. Speakers asked the board to make those calculations public and to provide more community engagement before a final decision.

Board and staff context: trustees’ committee reports reviewed a space/grade-configuration study, major-maintenance requests and the fiscal-year planning calendar. Trustees emphasized the difficulty of the decision and acknowledged the emotional testimony. Chair Christopherson and other trustees said they had visited schools and would continue analyzing enrollment trends, facility condition, program distribution and estimated savings before acting.

What’s next: the board scheduled further consideration of the staff recommendation for its Nov. 10 meeting. No final action on the closures occurred at the Oct. 27 session.

Ending note: speakers repeatedly asked the board to pursue alternatives and to involve local communities and staff in any transition planning if closures proceed.