Natrona trustees vote to close two elementary sites as district warns of $15 million shortfall

The Natrona County School District #1 board of trustees voted to vacate Barnard Elementary and Woods Learning Center, decisions trustees said were driven by falling enrollment and looming state funding changes that could increase the district's required budget cuts to about $15 million.

Chair Kristofferson moved to approve the infrastructure committee's recommendation to "vacate and mothball" Barnard Elementary beginning with the 2026'27 school year. Trustee [speaker 17] seconded the motion; the board voted 6'to'3 to approve it. Later, the board approved vacating Woods Learning Center after discussion and a second; the meeting record notes the motion passed but does not record a roll-call tally for that vote.

Board members and public speakers framed the decisions as painful but necessary steps to align operations…