Latest news with #Degenfelder
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Leaders work on rules to allow firearms in state facilities
CHEYENNE — Officials are getting closer to approving streamlined rules allowing members of the public to carry concealed firearms in state-owned public buildings by a July 1 deadline. In late February, after nearly a decade of trying to pass legislation to repeal the state's gun-free zones, lawmakers passed Enrolled Act 24, 'Wyoming Repeal Gun Free Zones Act.' The new law, which will go into effect this summer, repeals gun-free zones at public schools, community colleges, the University of Wyoming and state-owned government buildings. Gov. Mark Gordon let the new law go into effect without his signature, calling it a 'legislative power grab.' The State Building Commission must promulgate rules around firearms in public buildings to match state statute, and in early April, had a wide-ranging discussion on amending rules that covered not only firearms, but also public demonstrations at the Capitol. On Thursday, leaders shifted to a more targeted approach. 'Our direction was simply to reflect as simply as possible the legislation that passed' repealing Wyoming's gun-free zones, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder told her colleagues on the SBC of the latest rule draft. 'There is nothing in the rules that covers those other things discussed, as pertaining to surety bonds or public gatherings,' Degenfelder said. 'We simply looked at how we include the codified language into our rules.' The commission, which includes Degenfelder, Gordon, Secretary of State Chuck Gray, State Auditor Kristi Racines and State Treasurer Curt Meier, must pass rules to govern firearm carry provisions in the public spaces, implementing the new state law, before the new state statutes become effective July 1. 'I think (the rules) do an excellent job following the enrolled act,' Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, told the commission Thursday via Zoom. In January, the executive branch adopted similar amended rules that applied only to the Capitol and the Capitol Complex in Cheyenne. The new rules will apply to all buildings owned by the state of Wyoming. 'These rules will apply much more broadly,' Racines said Thursday. The rules will not apply to facilities exempted under statute, or buildings the state leases under general services' leasing authority. It also excludes spaces in publicly owned buildings that are subject to a lease to a private party. Rules must be in place by July, and while the board discussed embarking on an emergency rulemaking process to meet that timeline, only Gray advocated for an expedited process. Instead, the commission voted to start the regular rulemaking with an additional meeting planned for June, if necessary, to meet the July deadline. 'Today, I do not believe we meet the threshold to pass emergency rules,' Racines said. Gray referenced what he called a 'fear of firearms' in 'letters from the Governor's office' and said that he would prefer to start the emergency rulemaking process immediately. 'I am a little bit concerned, because we do have a bill that is going into effect as the law of the land on July 1,' Gray said. 'I think it would be better to start this process now.' Gordon responded that, 'From my standpoint, we have carry here (in the Capitol), and it is great we are going to expand that.' 'I want to assure people there is no attempt to try to roll back or walk away from what we have here,' Gordon said. Leases and insurance rates Leaders discussed how to handle facilities that are privately owned, but leased by state agencies, and whether the new rules should stipulate that lease negotiations prioritize carrying of firearms. 'When you have a lease, what is (the Wyoming Department of Administration and Information) going to do to try and negotiate carry into the buildings?' Gray asked. 'I think that A&I should be asked as a default, as a first method, to try to negotiate that.' Racines responded that lease negotiations could be handled under A&I leasing rules, rather than proposed SBC rule changes. Acknowledging private property rights, the commissioners discussed the possibility that building owners who enter into state leases may not want to allow firearms into their facilities, because such a practice could mean rising insurance costs. Gray argued the new law will actually make those facilities safer. 'Removing these gun-free zones and allowing for carry protects these areas,' he said. 'I still see a lot of (people) struggling with this concept, but it should lower our liability. 'This increases safety, and while it might not fit this CNN-style worldview that schools across our country have tried to build, the research shows that this increases safety,' Gray said. 'If it did increase insurance rates, I think that is something A&I would need to move forward to the insurance commissioner because I think it would be consistent with predatory behavior.'
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State superintendent shares plan to improve Wyoming education
CHEYENNE — The future of Wyoming's workforce is heavily dependent on the quality of education, a belief that State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder reiterated to business owners Friday afternoon. Appearing as the guest speaker for the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce's monthly luncheon at Little America, Degenfelder discussed student performance, literacy and where Wyoming's education system can improve. 'The state of education is good, but we still have much work to do,' Degenfelder said. 'As business leaders, I do not need to explain to you all the importance of education. In fact, I think it should be our top priority as policymakers in the state. Our Founding Fathers found value in funding education because they knew that the key to building the greatest country on Earth was a well-educated citizenry.' Degenfelder noted that this drive for quality education is exactly why Wyomingites should be concerned about the results of the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), which showed a nationwide drop in reading proficiency. 'While we should absolutely celebrate our results staying relatively stable and above many other states, we should not settle for anything less than progress,' Degenfelder said. 'Wyoming doesn't do just good enough, we aim higher. And progress is possible, but we need bold, innovative leadership in Wyoming.' Degenfelder also noted that two years into her term, the state has made substantial progress on her strategic plan. The plan prioritizes parental empowerment and eliminating political bias; preparing students for jobs through career and technical education; developing citizenship for students; reducing bureaucracy and creating efficiencies; valuing and supporting teachers; and improving outcomes through early literacy. Parental empowerment The issue of parental rights and choice has been a hot topic in the state. Degenfelder has made it a priority to make policies that prioritize parent choice. This has included school choice, controversial library policies, transparency initiatives and anti-transgender legislation, requiring the reporting of health changes to parents. Ten school districts in the state have joined a curriculum transparency initiative, including Laramie County School District 1. 'At the end of the day, parents should be the No. 1 decision maker in their child's education,' Degenfelder said. The state superintendent has also supported public charter schools and education savings accounts, which she sees as an improvement in choice. 'I was a product of our traditional system, and wouldn't have changed a thing,' Degenfelder said. 'But it doesn't work as well for other families and situations. So, we're going to continue to build that and make sure that it works and we can keep a robust public education system, but also have choices for parents.' Degenfelder's values have also influenced her support of President Donald Trump attempting to close the U.S. Department of Education, which one attendee asked her to explain. 'We know how to do this without the federal agency,' Degenfelder said. 'And so that doesn't mean that the programs and services are going away. What that can mean is more of a block grant model to our states to be able to determine how we're going to handle education, reducing the bureaucracy, and the red tape that's associated.' The federal Department of Education was established in 1979 by former President Jimmy Carter; however, the federal government has had a role in education since the mid-1800s. It isn't certain yet what the federal government's involvement in education would be should President Trump successfully close the department, but Degenfelder sees an opportunity to increase flexibility for students. 'There's a lot of fear of the unknown out there right now, but I really think it's a great opportunity to be able again to take back power as states,' Degenfelder said. Future workforce Since she was presenting to local business leaders, Degenfelder made a point to demonstrate how local education builds the future workforce. 'Not only have we been able to significantly reduce the red tape that existed for career and technical education dollars to get from the federal and state government to our local districts,' Degenfelder said, 'but we also worked with the Legislature to double our funding for career and technical student organizations.' Programs like FFA, FBLA, FCCLA and DECA prepare students for the workforce. The state is also increasing workforce credentials and work-based learning opportunities, Degenfelder said. The state is piloting project-based learning and competency-based learning, and working to connect Native American students with career and technical opportunities. Degenfelder pointed to attempts to expand financial literacy instruction as an example of innovative ways to help students and local businesses. 'Imagine a Wyoming where students can learn far beyond the confines of a classroom,' Degenfelder said. '... That's what we're working toward in Wyoming education, because real-world experience counts when preparing the next generation of Wyoming's workforce.' Literacy NAEP results showed nationwide decreases in literacy. Despite this, Wyoming's fourth- and eighth-graders continued to perform above the national average in reading and mathematics, holding steady with 2022 scores, according to the Wyoming Department of Education. For Degenfelder, this doesn't mean that the state shouldn't pursue improvements, particularly in literacy. 'We know that if the child cannot read by the third grade their future is limited, and so we're currently in the process of discussing major literacy reform in the state of Wyoming, based on national best practices,' Degenfelder said. For the past three years, on average, fewer than 50% of Wyoming students have performed proficient or above on the English language arts assessment. Additionally, advocacy groups have expressed frustrations with the quality of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) in the state, which are typically used for students with some sort of physical or learning disability. 'We have to do better for our kids,' Degenfelder said. 'I believe, truly, that if we continue to work on these initiatives that I've outlined for you today, the next generation will be better prepared to enter the Wyoming workforce. They'll be better prepared to be patriotic citizens, and they'll be better prepared to be the visionaries that keep our state strong.' Teachers Degenfelder established a teacher retention and recruitment task force, composed of nearly 30 stakeholders across the state. They developed recommendations for teacher retention that would also attract new teachers. Recommendations such as the development of a principal leadership academy, reducing content and performance standards by nearly 70%, reducing the assessment burden for teachers and students, and launching a mental health framework have already begun to be implemented, according to Degenfelder. The WDE also intends to continue highlighting the work of teachers across the state. They also hope to create a network through which they can connect innovative teachers across the state for mentorship, Degenfelder told luncheon attendees. This mutual mentorship between teachers would take place within their area of expertise with the intent of them working together to better serve students. 'The vast majority of our students are doing an exceptional job in the classroom, and we need to ensure that the system isn't holding them back,' Degenfelder said. 'Supporting Wyoming teachers doesn't need to mean more bureaucracy. It means giving teachers the freedom to do their jobs.'
