Latest news with #LaramieCountySchoolDistrict1
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
LCSD1 holds off on releasing gun policy for public comment, hears concerns
CHEYENNE — Laramie County School District 1 refrained from putting out a draft gun policy for public comment this week after the district's lawyer said she hadn't had enough time to consider its legal implications. Per legislation passed earlier this year to repeal gun-free zones across the state, any adult with a concealed-carry permit can lawfully carry on school district campuses as of July 1. The statute allows districts to make policies that set training and conduct standards; however, those policies would only affect staff and volunteers. Following the board's last meeting, two drafts of the policy, meant to comply with the provisions of House Bill 172, were sent to the district's Policy Advisory Committee for feedback. 'This is a tight, tight timeline, from the end of the session to July 1,' LCSD1 attorney Amy Pauli told the board. '... Our goal was to have a draft ready for you to vote on to put out for 45-day public comment tonight, and unfortunately we just weren't able to make that.' Public concerns Regardless of whether the policy is ready for the public to review, a few concerned residents took the opportunity to address broader concerns about guns in schools with the board. One teacher in the district told the board that, as a person born and raised in Wyoming with ample experience with schools and extensive exposure to guns, she hoped the district would develop a policy that would protect kids. The teacher acknowledged that changing these processes was beyond the scope of the board. However, she did endorse safety measures in line with Cheyenne Teachers Education Association (CTEA) recommendations. These recommendations included: metal detectors at large events; biometric locks for staff access; capping ammunition amounts and regulating the type of weapons allowed by staff; and requiring specific holsters with trigger guards and fasteners to keep firearms secure. She also echoed the need for staff to receive high-intensity training. One of the policies presented was by local parent and Moms for Liberty Laramie County Chapter Chairwoman Patricia McCoy. The other was a committee policy. McCoy's policy was presented via petition signed by several community members and is not affiliated with Moms for Liberty, according to McCoy. McCoy commended the board for its efforts on the policy. Although she prepared remarks regarding the draft policy, a draft policy was not presented at Monday's meeting. Dylan Ford, president of the CTEA, expressed concern from teachers about their own safety working under the new law. Ford echoed CTEA recommendations for safety. Ford spoke on behalf of some concerned CTEA members, a few of whom have already resigned and are seeking other employment because of the new law. The district was unable to confirm that any district employees had resigned due to the law. Ford echoed the need to take serious safety precautions. 'The likelihood of an actual shooting is fairly low,' Ford said. 'However, there are some things that are absolutely certain. False alarms are absolutely certain. In fact, East (High School) alone has already had multiple this year, and just the general chaos of the classroom. When you get groups of kids together, there's going to be a little bit of chaos.' At the end of the meeting, Trustee Barbara Cook took a moment to acknowledge the fears that some community members have. 'I think it's appropriate that we acknowledge that at least I have — and I know many people have — heard trepidation and fear, from parents, students, teachers, principals,' Cook said. 'So know that as trustees. We get that, we hear you, we know that there's some real concerns out there. Also, we will follow the law. No matter what the policy is, we need to follow that law.' Policy concerns The draft policy will have to include training requirements, per statute, which contributed to the lack of a draft policy at Monday's meeting. The district also has to determine how the policy will impact its insurance and how the policy will apply to Freedom Elementary, which sits on federal lands leased to the district by the U.S. Air Force, according to Pauli. 'The district is exploring options for general liability insurance that would cover incidents involving firearms,' LCSD1 Community Relations Director Mary Quast said. Even if the district requires individuals to have their own insurance, an option Quast says has been considered, the current liability policy does not cover incidents involving firearms. 'Staff has been working with our insurance, and we are not covered,' Pauli told the board. 'No district in the state, unless you've already had an existing policy, is covered. Most insurance companies are handing out declarations that say, 'You're not going to be covered.'' Another major concern is Freedom Elementary, since it's on federal property. 'We (might) need to put in language that basically says Freedom is only included in this policy if specifically approved by the United States Air Force,' Pauli advised the board. 'We don't want to put anything that would contradict what the Air Force expects of us or that would jeopardize potentially our lease of that property.' To accommodate for concerns around insurance, training requirements and Freedom Elementary's status on federal property, Pauli said the policy would at best be ready by early May. A major concern is the required public comment extending past July 1 due to continued edits to an incomplete draft. 'What I don't want to have happen is we put forward something for a 45-day public review and we end up changing it, either based on public comment or further conversations with our law enforcement officials,' Pauli said. 'And changing the training requirements and then needing to go out for a second 45-day review, because that puts us out 90 days.' The next school board meeting is May 5, at which time the board hopes to see a draft policy.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
LCSD1 addresses MCER misconceptions, parents continue to push back
CHEYENNE – Following continued frustration from the broader community, Laramie County School District 1 and its Board of Trustees released a new statement late Friday regarding a controversial Most Cost-Effective Remedy (MCER) study. In the statement, the board and LCSD1 administration attempted to 'dispel misinformation' and clarify what the board knew prior to voting through a plan that will effectively close eight schools in the district. 'The board firmly supports our district staff and the role they played in the MCER study,' the statement reads. 'It is vital to clarify that there was no collusion or ulterior motives influencing the outcome. Every step taken was aimed at addressing the challenges faced by our district and finding viable, fiscally responsible solutions.' The district reiterated promises to prioritize the needs of the district and quality education. The MCER study, adopted by board members in October of last year, proposed implementing Remedy 4, which will close eight elementary schools in LCSD1 in order to fund essential maintenance for several of the remaining schools. The remedy also allows the district to build two new schools, including a new Arp Elementary, whose students have been displaced since the fall of 2023. The decision was met with widespread outrage, which accumulated in a petition signed by more than 1,000 people and a lawsuit being filed against the State Facilities Commission (SFC), the Wyoming State Construction Department (SCD) and the state of Wyoming. 'While we understand that some in the community were surprised and upset about the recommendation to build four new elementary schools while closing eight smaller, aging schools over the next decade, we believe that the ire and negativity directed at those that took part in the MCER on behalf of the district is unfair and misplaced,' the statement reads. While the statement said there will be four new schools, Remedy 4 calls for building two new schools and addressing facility concerns in five schools, whether that be replacing those schools or building additions to the facilities. The proposed changes would take place over the next 10 years. District involved Despite the statement's attempt to clarify the district's intentions with the study, parents remain frustrated with the lack of transparency in the process. 'The Board of Trustees say they appreciate the ongoing concern and conversation regarding the future of school buildings,' Abigail Boudewyns, an LCSD1 parent, shared via email. 'The Board, however, has had no conversations with parents, nor made any effort to engage with parents on these issues. Despite what the Board of Trustees might believe, conversations cannot be had during a one-sided, three-minute public comment.' Boudewyns wrote the district has opted 'to avoid parents by hiding behind lawsuits and abdicating its statutory responsibilities to unelected staff,' rather than engage in conversation with parents. A parent and former second-grade teacher, Murphy Booth, reiterated Boudewyns' concern about the district, adding that the board is meant to represent the public and their needs. 'I'm still disappointed that the board is acting like an arm of the district instead of an arm of the public,' Booth said. 'I think that's still my biggest sadness after reading this (statement).' Many parents believe alternative remedies in the study would have allowed the district to both keep the eight schools slated to close and build a new Arp Elementary. This was further substantiated when the Cheyenne Parent Alliance released a statement claiming that stakeholders, including the district, intended to use the MCER study to close schools. The news release included a video compiled from meetings between the district, the SCD and consulting firm FEA dating back to January 2024. '(The video) shows LCSD1 administrators, along with the SCD, actively shaped the MCER process and advocated for eliminating elementary schools, rather than pursuing necessary renovations or replacements,' according to the release. The board challenged this in its statement, saying that it wanted to dispel the narrative that it wasn't informed/provided updates as the MCER proceeded. 'The Board received updates throughout the MCER process about the different types of remedies being considered,' the statement reads. 'However, many of the trustees were surprised at the final decision that was brought forward that was broader and presented as an all-or-nothing option in order to receive the funding for the much-needed buildings. While the administration was involved in many conversations throughout the process, ultimately it was the responsibility of the state's third-party consultant to determine the most cost-effective remedy.' The board and administration maintained that they did not receive the final MCER, nor were they aware of the consultant's ultimate recommendation, until the end of the process. Once received, the MCER was immediately posted on the district's website for public review. Over the past several years, district staff have made numerous presentations to the Board of Trustees, community members and others to 'help garner awareness of the district's facility funding needs and plans to consolidate many of its aging facilities,' according to the latest LCSD1 statement. Those presentations and district MCER studies determined the district's priorities, such as continuing the 5-6 grade configuration model, phasing out older buildings to reduce the district's major maintenance burden, relieve staffing issues and consolidate design remedies. Additionally they discussed a need for three new buildings in the South triad. 'These board-approved priorities were brought forward by district staff to the most recent state-funded MCER,' the statement reads. Parents still opposed Despite the district's statement, some parents are still perturbed by the lack of transparency and public input, an issue they've been stating since the study was released in October. 'The mass-closing of schools is one of the most important issues a district can face,' Boudewyns wrote. 'Yet, these school closures received zero public engagement. The trustees cannot continue to be a captured board, acting as passive bystanders as the district administration shuts down a third of its neighborhood schools. This district deserves leaders.' Parents were also concerned that the district has now stated that they were informed, as board members stated they were 'just as shocked' as the public was when they voted in October. 'As a parent, I am extremely upset by the lack of transparency and blatant disregard the district has shown throughout this entire process,' parent and former educator Fallon Bonomo shared in a written statement. 'They have gone out of their way to keep parents and community members in the dark – just look at the rushed timeline as proof of that. The study was released, and in less than a week, the board voted on it. There was no adequate time for parents and community members to analyze and challenge this drastic overhaul of our education system.' Booth said the statement won't deter her from continuing to speak out. Several parents have continued to use public comment during board meetings to speak with the district about the MCER. 'As long as there's still an option to save these schools, I will never stop,' Booth said. 'This type of statement just shows me that they're doubling down even more … and trying to make it seem equitable by closing schools instead of bringing all schools back up to appropriate condition levels.' Parents are continuing to demand the board 'do their job' and represent the voters. 'Reconsidering a decision and changing course because you've heard the will of the people doesn't make you look weak – it does the opposite,' Bonomo wrote. 'It shows integrity, leadership and respect for the community you serve. But forcing through an unwanted plan despite overwhelming opposition suggests a desire to control, rather than collaborate, a disregard for the voices of those you represent, and a failure to put students and families first.'
