[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6247505,"mediaKeyId","3212850-c0279d24f13d9accd9bc30220b56c005","parentId",3212850,"title","Superintendent reports enrollment decline; district launches behavior‑matrix review and staff 'stay' interviews","audioSeconds",463,"startMs",7672705,"endMs",8136080,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3212850-c0279d24f13d9accd9bc30220b56c005&start=7672&end=8136","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3212850-c0279d24f13d9accd9bc30220b56c005/thumbnail_7672705.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6247505/Wyoming/Superintendent-reports-enrollment-decline-district-launches-behaviormatrix-review-and-staff-stay-interviews","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6247505-20d759f9ec5f216b2bbf7b4817ced2be/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450746&Signature=OspW66YqpHJzZB0ps3pcdEYnK8JEEMOglyxcXt0B1l9x8-5MWMymAk2AFZ3m8vXecoZnS9~v~QIhMHJPxR1z~S6nh-T9HV4KMraa2eX~Z5tckkr6ocQgEbjtvcm32qdFHQKg1ps0~IX0D7z44b0yTK4z5KagG6u0qbd9sjYDQvhKNksr2abQ7-0tfBltHJtBNag-G1WqVkQBqglobAlLjk05JzMdtX1SVjGgZvMdQDqC7SNcc5XdBrBLaM~OGcM51-PwjARRCUlt~OHDxGtcuJAXvZEqcUPM8DWaiYuOmOsF~0cMaZw77W2yhiUiw3V9wZSKw1LqXEkq93ea3PvCRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Laramie County School District 1","date","2025-05-07T16:35:40.837Z","article","Superintendent Doctor Newton told the board that district enrollment is down from last year and that the district is taking steps to understand the causes and to respond.

Newton reported a current enrollment figure of 12,682 students (a decline of 378 students from the same point last year) and noted the district’s all‑time recent high of 14,239 in September 2019. He said the kindergarten cohort is smaller than the current senior cohort — the superintendent cited roughly 1,212 ninth‑graders versus 966 incoming kindergartners — evidence, he said, that cohort shrinkage is accumulating year over year.

The superintendent said homeschool numbers were up 109 from last year (the district identified 650 homeschooled students at the snapshot), but he cautioned the board that pending state reporting changes may reduce the district’s ability to track homeschool trends in future years. Newton said central office staff have worked to right‑size personnel this spring; the district’s staffing adjustments so far have been relatively small compared with the enrollment shift but the superintendent said more monitoring is required as budget adoption approaches.

On student behavior and staff safety, Newton said the district will update its behavioral matrix to clarify consequences and expectations and will seek principal and administrator input. He said administrators will conduct a needs assessment specifically focused on violent behaviors, that a behavior committee will be reconvened and that an ongoing administrative behavioral council will meet monthly. The district plans expanded professional development on proactive classroom management and de‑escalation techniques and will reconvene the district behavior task force under the new executive director of student support.

To address staff morale, Newton said the human resources office has launched a voluntary “stay interview” process — a proactive interview for employees who remain in the district to surface what keeps them at their jobs and what would improve retention. He said 70 staff members had already signed up for interviews. Newton also noted the district’s annual parent and community survey had been launched and urged stakeholders to participate.

Trustees thanked staff for the updates and asked questions about cohort differences and about whether the district has options to anticipate budget and staffing impacts if lower cohort sizes continue. Newton said staff will continue monitoring enrollment, right‑size where necessary and bring recommendations to the board in the budget cycle.

No formal board action took place; the superintendent’s remarks were provided as district updates and led to requests for continued monitoring and planned committee work.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","LCSD1 School Board of Trustees Work Session & Meeting - May 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The superintendent reported enrollment is down year‑over‑year and described district steps to review student behavior protocols and to canvas employee views on workplace conditions.","taxTitle","Laramie County School District #1, School Districts, Wyoming","taxId",13150,"location","Wyoming","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6247510,"Board votes to post proposed concealed‑carry rule for 45‑day public comment; debate centers on training, waivers and federal preemption",2309,8429930,10739535,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3212850-c0279d24f13d9accd9bc30220b56c005&start=8429&end=10739","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3212850-c0279d24f13d9accd9bc30220b56c005/thumbnail_8429930.jpg","/articles/6247510/Wyoming/Board-votes-to-post-proposed-concealedcarry-rule-for-45day-public-comment-debate-centers-on-training-waivers-and-federal-preemption","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6247510-03e37bf555825dd54cf6b70f307ee6a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450746&Signature=mTJemTbawN7S46AbIJbLy4WseSh-H9680-kG9gcjZeLX7xvnNH~aki0fd4sFyyvrZbuo9lrGtWYCyagYJwWBh7k32CiCXU0iyyiV9mKNhmIgMcHh1G1F1KAEZrKReYZu0XyhcnmQTfbZtF2neHWlLQ1JUwlB~07PAZ3Vm3dkN8dPJMCvIZk~hK5BYTThqBmbKdVG5w~Q~jSZmENGrWCG0sxmDYZmltnBatBc9-WGJEerh0-zKQtW5jHgc1vjmdmcS1KcypDZnA7103cp3X5roaeWIfhzMuMiiGsg~Q0JystbYRi96~yVHe82WUXZTLT2RY7aP1Mz4Ensk26TL2HoZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Laramie County School District #1 board of trustees voted to place a proposed rule on concealed carry by employees and volunteers on school property out for a 45‑day public review and comment period.

Staff said the proposed rule implements the Wyoming law that repealed the state’s gun‑free school‑zone restrictions and that the legislature left specific rulemaking on employee and volunteer training and methods of carrying to local boards. The draft rule requires that employees and volunteers who choose to carry a firearm on district property hold a Wyoming concealed carry permit, maintain the firearm on their person or in a concealed biometric container, and meet training requirements set out in the draft. The rule as posted will be available for public review from May 6 through June 20 on the district website and in the administration building.

Miss Pauley (district legal staff) told trustees the draft follows statutory minimums and that the district consulted both the Cheyenne Police Department and the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office. The rule calls for: 16 hours of live‑fire handgun training, 8 hours of scenario‑based training and 12 hours of annual recurrent training (the 16/8/12 numbers reflect the statutory floor in the board’s draft). The draft also includes instructor qualifications, topics the curriculum must cover and a process to consult local law enforcement in course design.

Trustees debated raising those hour requirements. A motion to increase live‑fire training from 16 to 24 hours and scenario training from 8 to 16 hours failed on a 4‑3 vote. Trustees also considered language changes; the board removed a brief clause in the preamble (“to achieve this goal”) by unanimous vote before approving the rule for public comment.

Staff said the draft provides criteria for the board to consider waivers for “isolated rural schools” (the presentation identified Willitson, Gilchrist and Clawson as qualifying examples) where response times and local circumstances differ. Miss Pauley noted the board is not required to grant a waiver and that each request would be considered individually.

The draft addresses property owned by the federal government: Freedom Elementary School (on Department of the Air Force property) is subject to federal law and Department of Defense rules, the presenter said, meaning the district’s draft rule would not authorize carriage on that campus if federal rules prohibit it. Miss Pauley also told trustees that because the legislature did not appropriate a large training fund, the draft assumes training and equipment costs will be borne by the employee or volunteer unless the board chooses otherwise. Staff noted a small state appropriation exists but that it is allocated among districts by application and is insufficient to underwrite broad training costs.

Trustees were told that if the rule is posted for 45 days starting May 6, and the public comment period ends June 20, the board has options before the statute’s July 1 effective date: adopt on an emergency basis to bridge July 1 until the board’s next meeting or call a special meeting after June 20 to adopt a final rule.

The board motion to post the draft for public review passed; the board also approved the minor preamble edit and declined the larger hours increase. Staff will publish the proposal and a statement of reasons, accept public comment through June 20 and return recommended changes or a final draft to the board for consideration.","The Laramie County School District #1 board voted to publish a proposed concealed‑carry rule for 45 days of public review after staff said the draft follows the statutory training floor and outlines carrying, training and waiver processes.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6247515,"District finance staff outlines reserve structure, warns of statutory limits and rising pressures",2143,6960,2150579,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3212850-c0279d24f13d9accd9bc30220b56c005&start=6&end=2150","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3212850-c0279d24f13d9accd9bc30220b56c005/thumbnail_6960.jpg","/articles/6247515/Wyoming/District-finance-staff-outlines-reserve-structure-warns-of-statutory-limits-and-rising-pressures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6247515-c073b082284da834b648b4fa2ee35f6e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450746&Signature=kHs8XkVj~c7aKRXd0VLivDROtk3~BLzSMK39I706ItGAKXyQV~92V1SMgqLaurswvRiZEY6~BQe0xmdoz36yGAKkobuwpwkN3-S9to3XbsNF2owX6FGlorJ8YTPGdgybrMfHo2TSdZ3fixW9E4Ykglmwgfq3h6iN-SDd3H7AeAalQbYHJjZk16xVj924T5JdnJlXddOkHKtSh9l6fHPllhcEgLQzev6EibARUOWvErefPkrlXABssxbYdppp-VeAbN0bxr25LuCeJelWpiPbOQojItdyjFLIMQ4fhIllVWg21dtWli9W9YQFyvyVI6hSIPjpTo4vwcp83G6LMkPiCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District finance staff told the Laramie County School District #1 board of trustees that the district’s reserves are designed to smooth cash flow, cover reimbursement delays and pay for large capital and emergency costs, and that the district must carefully manage those funds because state law limits how much can remain in the general fund.

The presenter said the district receives $16 million to $20 million a year in federally funded reimbursements that are drawn on a reimbursement basis and can create a two‑week float between paying vendors or payroll and receiving reimbursement. That timing, combined with years where the district pays large capital construction costs up front and later seeks state reimbursement, makes the reserves important for cash flow.

The staff member walked trustees through two broad reserve categories: the general fund operating balance (cash reserve) and a special reserve or depreciation reserve used to save for specific purchases. Under state law the general fund operating balance is capped (commonly referenced as a 15% limit), and the presenter noted a temporary legislative increase to 30% that was adopted during the COVID period but is not permanent. The district’s calculation as of June 30, fiscal year 2024, produced a statutory fund balance calculation of 14.4%, and the staff member said that figure is “by design.”

Staff cited Government Finance Officers Association guidance saying a minimum of about two months of reserves (roughly 17%) is a common best practice; ranges used by the GFOA were read to trustees (17–25% low–moderate risk; 26–35% moderate–high; 35%+ high risk). The presenter said the district’s circumstances — revenue volatility and changing tax collections — put it between low–moderate and moderate–high risk, and that the statutory cap constrains how much the district can hold in the general fund even when administrators believe more cash would be prudent.

The presenter described the composition of the district’s fund balance under governmental accounting standards: nonspendable items (inventories, prepaid items), restricted, committed (board-designated), assigned (management-designated) and unassigned funds. He said some encumbrances (~$6.4 million) appear as assigned rather than committed because purchase orders may be canceled or adjusted. As of the most recent annual snapshot he cited an unassigned balance of about $28.4 million and said the general fund represented roughly 6.6 weeks of operating reserves at June 30.

Special reserve (often called the “special building fund” in the district) was described as a collection of earmarked accounts used for discrete needs: a music reserve (board cap $300,000) for instruments and uniforms, an equipment reserve used heavily for buses and for desks/chairs and FF&E at new schools, a career and technical education (CTE) reserve (cap $125,000) used for trade vehicles, a technology reserve used for device replacement (staff said the district drew about $5 million from that fund in the last replacement cycle) and an insurance contingency fund that has seen increased claims pressure (staff said the district has spent roughly $500,000 on insurance claims this year to date).

Staff traced the original special building fund seed money to proceeds from sale of district property (the Churchill and Corlette sites) and to excess tax collections after bonded debt roll‑off in the 1990s. Those funds have been used for capital outlay, district enhancements (for items not funded by the state construction program such as the Ag Farm project and CCRD arrangements), and to cover deductibles and emergency repairs after hail/wind events.

Trustees asked whether legislative proposals discussed in the recent session would have constrained the district’s use of those special reserves; staff said testimony was given at the Capitol and that a bill that would have frozen the fund’s use would have constrained the district’s ability to pay insurance deductibles, technology refreshes and items needed to open new buildings. Staff said they expect continued discussion at the state level and noted the district had been conservative in transfers into special reserves — transferring well under the 10% maximum allowed under the special reserve statute since the early 2000s.

On a policy point, the presenter told the board he will recommend suspending transfers into the CTE reserve for at least the upcoming year as the district awaits clarification from state regulators about how recent legislation may affect allowable CTE funding and transfers. He closed by offering to provide more detail and answering trustee questions.

What the board received was an informational, technical briefing rather than an action item; no formal change to reserve policy was adopted during the presentation.","District finance staff told the board that statutory limits and reimbursement timing mean reserve accounts play a critical cash‑flow and capital role for Laramie County School District #1.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6247500,"Board approves ParentSquare contract to replace district messaging; staff promise training and transition support",105,11193395,11299080,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3212850-c0279d24f13d9accd9bc30220b56c005&start=11193&end=11299","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3212850-c0279d24f13d9accd9bc30220b56c005/thumbnail_11193395.jpg","/articles/6247500/Wyoming/Board-approves-ParentSquare-contract-to-replace-district-messaging-staff-promise-training-and-transition-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6247500-dce4eeaec93ca142d48081ba3868aa62/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450746&Signature=TIkJVL3DxwAbphwriDqDogCKIjrDqC76LJtPaw03vE8QtDSWS-1u76iHsVZyDEZNTp~EhNq513GbgOkr4o3le7vRTYpw-KKEPuwkEn8uP7YYaCacD1KkLLbfQa8JuhVGACiTFCa6s78g2i7n3eLF2pPnotZ-3k8eTZA-rVdBEKW~x~TFGTnbOB66DgwA62ReX9NiF~jg93CqlbHPoKgdaM8eURagfZ3WFPjWTjXupYXLuo0wKGapbUPAV-attevkhwkYchMyDrLF0OmGrEeLu1o4bgRUEXdMJEUtpnoUr3wTv0it6aaT~Xb0fM80A-1ufV0IlGx90WJr0N4wp1mw4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Laramie County School District #1 board approved a contract to purchase a district‑wide communications platform from ParentSquare for an amount not to exceed $131,725.

District administration said the vendor acquired Remind and provides a consolidated platform for teacher‑to‑family messaging, district alerts (attendance calls, weather closures), event posts and signups, parent‑teacher conference scheduling and volunteer signups. Staff emphasized features parents have requested: optional daily summaries, immediate SMS delivery for urgent messages, a feed‑style interface for school posts and integrated attendance/notification functionality that replaces Infinite Campus messenger for calls and texts.

The district said ParentSquare supports web access (no app required) and standard SMS for users without smartphones; staff added that ParentSquare will work with the district to provide training for school staff and families and that the vendor’s familiarity with Remind should smooth the transition. Trustees and staff discussed the need for clear rollout plans and extensive training for teachers and parents; staff said training for principals and TSS staff is already planned and that a broader parent and community rollout will follow.

The motion authorizing contracting for the platform passed on a voice vote. Implementation and training plans will be coordinated by the district technology and communications teams.","Trustees approved a contract with ParentSquare (parent communications platform) not to exceed $131,725, to consolidate messaging, attendance calls and conference scheduling. Staff said ParentSquare will support training for teachers, administrators and families and can deliver immediate SMS notices plus daily summaries and a feed‑style interface.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Superintendent reports enrollment decline; district launches behavior‑matrix review and staff 'stay' interviews

Board votes to post proposed concealed‑carry rule for 45‑day public comment; debate centers on training, waivers and federal preemption

District finance staff outlines reserve structure, warns of statutory limits and rising pressures

Board approves ParentSquare contract to replace district messaging; staff promise training and transition support