[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6220181,"mediaKeyId","3618287-902c3055bc13b1e67e21eccb7346fa6e","parentId",3618287,"title","Teton County superintendent asks committee for immediate funds to meet new single‑stall restroom requirement","audioSeconds",638,"startMs",4071589,"endMs",4710090,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3618287-902c3055bc13b1e67e21eccb7346fa6e&start=4071&end=4710","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3618287-902c3055bc13b1e67e21eccb7346fa6e/thumbnail_4071589.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6220181/Wyoming/Teton-County-superintendent-asks-committee-for-immediate-funds-to-meet-new-singlestall-restroom-requirement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220181-aa9282ae1a1563e1f8b9ac6f5b8f4077/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450876&Signature=Tfrw3TNesW~xHCg5K2Y-3Y8nwCP6q0~oaFOKTCRVFFE9Qx51-i7joCnvXkN7TB~Aqph68oaBnNyrXerp-C3U-9SLhqSO3ElGFHkPK1ww0K-bemUaqRN3arnpo2p064KiQklk2p7Zow5XVhkdIs4~4Yfb0c6MIRqnJbmmmegUsaW-DLfBEnI~s3R6e8Yiu9JT6FuTkr4g7uiz9WHipW2l~QY4PyHMXlAXpnJd-0wdpowd2l8w7P4BnLOMhy4uTrmPwNZIalkDOd3-7-lQfeCi9H1BNW8BdufB4qXoUjUtNGeDiMIgMGsCBdUHGaeitQWxS4RLQIfVnx3njZfZTyrGjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wyoming Legislature","date","2025-05-31T11:35:54Z","article","Teton County School District Superintendent Gillian Chapman urged the Select Committee on School Facilities to help secure immediate funding to bring one school into compliance with Senate File 62 by adding a single‑stall restroom.

“For summer school we are able to use a different facility, to ensure that our visitors and our students have access to an appropriate, reasonable accommodation,” Chapman said, and added that the district had engaged an architect and engineer; the design fee is $12,000 and the district’s preliminary estimate for design and construction was provided in testimony as a not‑to‑exceed figure (final cost not specified). She told the committee the district believes the building’s current multi‑stall restrooms do not permit staff to offer the reasonable accommodation required by SF62.

Committee members asked whether the commission has emergency funds available. Del McColmy, director of the State Construction Department, and other department staff said they are exploring two immediate avenues: the commission’s emergency fund and the governor’s emergency fund, and that they had a meeting scheduled with policy staff to determine the best path. McColmy told the committee the commission’s emergency fund balance is “a little over $4,000,000.”

Committee members urged a quick remedy. Representative Provenza asked whether other districts had raised similar concerns; department staff said Teton County was the only district that had recently raised an immediate request to the department and that the department was determining how many districts might be affected.

Superintendent Chapman asked the committee to consider rapid support because penalties for noncompliance with SF62 are “steep,” and she said the district can proceed with design immediately but needs funding for construction to meet the timetable for summer and fall programming. Department staff said they will pursue options and keep the committee informed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Select Committee on School Facilities, May 30, 2025 - PM","oneSentenceSummary","Teton County School District Superintendent Gillian Chapman asked the committee to help secure funding so the district can meet requirements of Senate File 62, which requires reasonable single‑stall restroom accommodations; the district seeks funding for preliminary design and construction to comply before summer programming and the fall term.","taxTitle","Select Committee on School Facilities, Select Committees & Task Force, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming","taxId",29172,"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},6220185,"Staff and stakeholders debate use of district funds, special reserves and procurement options for school enhancements",1415,4702295,6118090,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3618287-902c3055bc13b1e67e21eccb7346fa6e&start=4702&end=6118","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3618287-902c3055bc13b1e67e21eccb7346fa6e/thumbnail_4702295.jpg","/articles/6220185/Wyoming/Staff-and-stakeholders-debate-use-of-district-funds-special-reserves-and-procurement-options-for-school-enhancements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220185-5818d48480b2555d9660a05d46161876/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450876&Signature=O74mMQSjXttcJO97SbTMaqnjoZq1QzKacxLVUrH3eO53fo2DLgoPeQ9LEtR262Gg-oB867RLkceLekTrujI19EZZCxp8xLbUoHPzNqrFswKJOsKWdpmONE~cSnlSAGylfRIkM46Oh1YKXk7hDDSqUb-HYZPIQ~O3Knj5yOICcUQO4YJBJeX2jLns9t9r7zL0pfINVyIgw4gWiQDKxnYgUUvWzIy3XWVm6YNLBlSPuOL2~at2YEI91yiS4oeCLlYEXSpm-TD9k3hHgV-6GFO~0fj3wRyLepQ0ofFEn8aSmv1rfl5ANqG-SwTgLbpawzvhtrLG69Es9sqvJ3UxgwKAuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Legislative staff and the State Construction Department briefed the Select Committee on School Facilities on what revenue sources school districts may use to enhance or maintain facilities beyond statewide adequacy standards.

Matt Wilmarth and Catherine Camarotti of the Legislative Service Office summarized district revenue avenues reviewed in a committee memo: major maintenance, special reserve funds established under Wyo. Stat. § 21-13-504 and Wyo. Stat. § 16-4-105, bond proceeds (with a statutory sinking fund requirement), proceeds from sale of district real property, a one-mill recreation levy in certain jurisdictions, private contributions and federal Impact Aid. LSO noted statutory ambiguity about whether districts may maintain multiple special reserve funds under both statutes and flagged the sale-of-real-property statutes as unclear about whether proceeds are local or state remedies.

Camarotti reviewed historical transfers from general funds into capital project and special reserve accounts (fiscal years 2009–2024). The data show millions in transfers but do not identify the specific purposes of those transfers (LSO obtains only account‑level routing data). LSO also summarized 2025 Senate File 156, which proposed restrictions on whether operating funds can be transferred to capital purposes; the bill was postponed indefinitely and staff stressed the law does not currently prohibit some transfers.

Department staff described their role: the State Construction Department calculates, distributes and authorizes major maintenance funding and confirms project eligibility during district planned-work-order review. Project managers verify whether requested work aligns with major maintenance rules and facility plans; districts submit 4,000–5,000 major maintenance requests annually, the department said, and staff are reconciling older planned work orders that were submitted preemptively.

Public commenters pressed several related points: the Sweetwater County facilities director urged allowing major maintenance funds to cover workforce training and updating procurement thresholds (current informal bid limits were said to cause delays); industry and cooperative purchasing representatives asked the committee to clarify procurement statutes to enable greater use of cooperative contracts; several school facility directors described enhancements such as pools, synthetic turf fields and CTE labs that districts may fund locally and said those enhancements expand program access.

Committee members asked whether major maintenance funds could be used to build new enhancements; staff and district witnesses said the statutory intent and practice is not to use major maintenance for new construction and that extensive audit and departmental approvals would catch attempted misuse. The department stated it can withhold next‑year major maintenance funds if a district misapplies funds inappropriately and that project managers track expenditures by building and uniform-account codes.","LSO and the State Construction Department reviewed what revenues districts can use for local facility enhancements, how special reserve funds and capital projects funds have been used historically, and possible statutory ambiguities; cooperative purchasing and procurement thresholds also drew public comment.",{"_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},6220189,"Committee briefed on declining enrollment, capacity triggers and most cost-effective remedy (Mercer) studies",923,2143285,3066740,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3618287-902c3055bc13b1e67e21eccb7346fa6e&start=2143&end=3066","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3618287-902c3055bc13b1e67e21eccb7346fa6e/thumbnail_2143285.jpg","/articles/6220189/Wyoming/Committee-briefed-on-declining-enrollment-capacity-triggers-and-most-cost-effective-remedy-Mercer-studies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220189-3c90a6d891cd3757a52dc417322bea27/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450876&Signature=ZtvPYZmWb61T0aqQnMIbGabD0B50dIabi2EKV6CxgvgkUGyMH7vOlbvG9BUkJoVrD9FLPgUupM3AXQ3pj4Nlx9-UFUr75n~lv~sS8oBgOG2Es4knon9zC~0X71hT~pbBFwrYLCMuqr3eSCdBjh-7AGkkt5KIimSYjeHc-iGSU-9e2RK9dxRXcQLWicJs6fUinQOIJK-HHYwMQRdxn~qDckMurZtBtQUDljtQgnMmLaD3dm3k6W8AViFi2ynWwGYjXQQ~z2a24koSLMNwZNhqIGeSHh7MbBEc0GMrzrW3lZikT6tUiV6GbMy33K2BExwF7ilrjWmWASGhB3UbVBH1Bw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State Construction Department staff told the Select Committee on School Facilities that Wyoming’s statewide enrollment has declined since pre‑COVID 2019 and described how capacity and condition triggers lead to most cost‑effective remedy (Mercer) studies.

Administrator Carlson and facility planners explained that the capacity schedule uses October 1 enrollment and a cohort survival model and projects eight years forward; when a building’s projected capacity reaches the department’s threshold within that period, staff initiate a Mercer study to evaluate options. On condition, the facility condition index (FCI) is calculated using five years of projected deficiencies divided by a facility replacement value; an FCI above 0.30 signals a review for a most‑cost‑effective remedy.

Staff presented charts showing district and charter school enrollment trends. The department said statewide brick‑and‑mortar enrollment is below pre‑COVID 2019 levels in 39 districts, down three from last year, and that charter students have grown in aggregate. Statewide, the department reported a loss of about 1,130 brick‑and‑mortar students from one year to the next.

Mercer studies, staff said, can recommend a range of options based on condition, capacity or adequacy concerns: do nothing, component‑level repairs, additions, renovation or replacement. The department described the Mercer workflow: draft study, coordination with the district, a formal recommendation, district board of trustees review, informal review period if the district disagrees, director decision on informal review, and final commission review. If the commission and district disagree, the district may pursue an appeal under the Wyoming Administrative Procedures Act.

Committee members asked how the department accounts for short‑term enrollment surges when planning design capacity; staff said they generally use the highest recent value (looking back five years and forward) and open new facilities to approximately 90% of design capacity so space is available for short‑term growth. Committee members also raised classroom‑size standards and how those interact with funding models and capacity calculations.","State staff outlined capacity schedules, enrollment projections showing statewide declines since 2019, how capacity triggers a Mercer (most cost‑effective remedy) study, and the range of remedies that can result (do nothing, component repairs, additions, renovations, replacement).",{"_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},6220195,"Committee hears how component funding and major maintenance are prioritized for Wyoming schools",522,1424590,1946685,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3618287-902c3055bc13b1e67e21eccb7346fa6e&start=1424&end=1946","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3618287-902c3055bc13b1e67e21eccb7346fa6e/thumbnail_1424590.jpg","/articles/6220195/Wyoming/Committee-hears-how-component-funding-and-major-maintenance-are-prioritized-for-Wyoming-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220195-dc467ea8f179be01f6e70a0d9cd00c23/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450876&Signature=NmosO5FyRelTSANXszLwbp8FCm9plS1YV5V0DtA3~7uw6n9uMKmnsqFHhMLVZk~iDSiAZhSmdA1OqF60lUD8dxW1efLEhg5g1qPxR4LYqp3RD~ZYgrCQqQxWCVxKpnUE668YpwiC6R310IVGFfY6nG4Y~aAWbO4y8W-hlTT-X4EPnLqdMbofPiyBbJldawjotzuZUT1M2rSa-YYbbqkBWuUOShi~YLf2CpJrzGQa7AiIp13ZvXcKJLpvocOKK853hQxHHNddSI98SOvc3IUDZk2s9kjqciyxSVcKQjVk4LQwQGTvSlNhFfyHuoKm7okco1y047Nztcdwdj602h66OQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State Construction Department staff told the Select Committee on School Facilities that component funding exists to help school districts pay for high-cost building components that exceed what district major maintenance balances can cover.

John Rexes, facility planner/manager, said component projects are identified using district facility plans and the statewide facility condition assessment. He explained the department calculates a “deficiency funding index” for prioritization by combining current deficiencies and three years of projected deficiencies and dividing by existing and projected major maintenance balances, using RSMeans cost guidance for regional unit costs.

Rexes told the committee that before the 2023 Bureau Veritas assessment the state used a regional scoring committee to rank projects; the 2023 data drop occurred late in the year and the department shifted to an agency-driven prioritization method that used assessment data and major maintenance balances. He said the department intends to restore more collaborative prioritization with facility managers and districts for future requests.

Del McColmy, director, noted component funding was expanded after departments saw districts unable to fund million‑dollar system replacements with accumulated major maintenance dollars. He gave Saratoga High School as an example where a deteriorated HVAC system would not have been replaceable by district savings alone.

Committee members and district facility directors who spoke in public comment emphasized the importance of component funds for smaller districts and urged continued collaboration. Sheridan County’s facilities director, Troy Decker, said component funding “allows us then to deal with a lot of other things that actually, impact the building, but also have additional educational impact on students.”

Officials said component-level expenditures must meet statutory major maintenance eligibility (statute cited in committee materials) and that exceptions have occurred in limited circumstances. The department said it will work to verify assessment data with districts and reopen a more inclusive prioritization process involving facility managers.","State Construction Department officials described the component project process used to supplement district maintenance dollars for high-cost systems (roofs, HVAC), the deficiency funding index, and plans to re‑engage districts in prioritization following the 2023 assessment methodology change.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6220198,"State staff outlines school facilities planning, condition assessment and annual budget process",942,59489,1002420,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3618287-902c3055bc13b1e67e21eccb7346fa6e&start=59&end=1002","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3618287-902c3055bc13b1e67e21eccb7346fa6e/thumbnail_59489.jpg","/articles/6220198/Wyoming/State-staff-outlines-school-facilities-planning-condition-assessment-and-annual-budget-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220198-e31d5f17cf55a2a0ab2ad37edb74bd8e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450876&Signature=NzKs~n08Bbm8LDOYtleeFz-TVD1nz0Gv92ooxWgZS7823LVALJSkfzMsaVG0KRHMDCoF7o8Ql-Qxtj5rD2w-WHNv3IcdR0zpeoi2g3YAL9ZS-ENrsSu-1FFOgsUMvIA1rg~QAqD9sxbp8LDzOw9777hgDbDHboWSV6d04PvsMhRl6afCSa1wfUDXhwpBvdcgsb8BcMxrrHXUBR7U27BN6kY1kQixNVXDLI8LSCxwNBQv0vHid11umj1Tc6WmN16~dkgSfGoRQCiYXw8J0tNl7r6xeA8dFQeYGQLK~m60BOgj24RuHMTHTzpQdR4NE5CH7pvfGH0SdYB9B3COwpu1Ng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Legislative analysts and State Construction Department officials told the Select Committee on School Facilities that the state’s facility planning and budget process relies on recurring condition and capacity reviews and a coordinated budget request from the School Facilities Commission.

Matt Wilmarth, LSO senior school finance analyst, said the interim priority is “developing knowledge and expertise among members pertaining to school facilities,” and described the process by which the commission and State Construction Department work with school districts to develop facility plans and an annual budget that moves to the Joint Appropriations Committee and the governor for final consideration. He said those plans must comply with statewide adequacy standards and the School Facilities Commission must approve plans at least every two years.

The State Construction Department’s facility condition assessment for K–12 buildings was updated in 2023 by Bureau Veritas. John Rexes of the department told the committee that the Bureau Veritas assessment is “forward looking,” capturing roughly 48,000 individual assets and systems, some 50,000 photographs and “over 3,800,000 data points” across 617 buildings, and that the new methodology added site-related items previously not considered. Rexes said the assessment yields component life-cycle cost estimates and a dynamic facility condition index (FCI) that is updated annually to better represent building condition.

Officials described the typical workflow: districts and the state construction department meet on facility plans, which cover land, building square footage, leases, capacity, charter school leases, major maintenance lists and needs that might not appear in condition or capacity indices. The department now schedules facility planning meetings earlier in the year—September through December—to feed timely information into the budget process.

The budget request accompanying the annual report includes recommended remedies for capacity and condition problems, project cost estimates by phase (planning, design, construction), and possible refinements to previously approved projects. After appropriation, the commission may transfer up to 15% of funds between project phases with reporting requirements back to the legislature.

Committee members pressed staff about accessing the underlying data. Department officials said the annual report contains building-level scores and that approved facility plans and the full annual report are posted on the State Construction Department website once the commission approves them. The department said the publicly posted annual report includes the condition and capacity schedules and a building-by-building breakout of scores and projected deficiencies.

Officials also emphasized the connection between condition assessments and budget prioritization. Wilmarth and State Construction Department staff said districts may challenge decisions under the Wyoming Administrative Procedures Act if they disagree with the department’s or commission’s determinations during planning or remedy selection. The committee requested the department bring the annual report and budget request materials to the August meeting for review.","Legislative staff and the State Construction Department summarized how Wyoming’s school facility plans, condition assessments and the annual budget request are developed, emphasizing a new 2023 Bureau Veritas assessment, biennial facility plans and the commission’s role in prioritizing projects.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Teton County superintendent asks committee for immediate funds to meet new single‑stall restroom requirement

Staff and stakeholders debate use of district funds, special reserves and procurement options for school enhancements

Committee briefed on declining enrollment, capacity triggers and most cost-effective remedy (Mercer) studies

Committee hears how component funding and major maintenance are prioritized for Wyoming schools

State staff outlines school facilities planning, condition assessment and annual budget process