It’s not the worst-case scenario.
What initially appeared to be a potential loss of $6 million for Teton County School District No.1 has turned into an estimated $900,000 increase for next school year under a draft bill outlining funding for all of Wyoming’s public schools.
That change follows an amendment from Rep. Mike Yin (D-Jackson) to the five-year school funding “recalibrating” bill, increasing the cost-of-living adjustment multiplier for his home district.
The shift was part of the committee of lawmakers tasked with recalibration backing away from deep proposed cuts to teacher positions and overall funding following pushback from educators around the state.
The bill, however, still leaves Wyoming’s northwest district with a lot to lobby for in the upcoming Legislative session, which begins on Feb. 6.
A 1.6% bump for Teton County school district’s approximately $56 million block grant was “good for now but not ideal,” Yin said in an interview. “We’re moving in a better direction than where we were at the beginning of the year.”
Teton County continues to stand out sharply as the most expensive place to live in Wyoming, according to the latest report from the state’s Economic Analysis Division. The report lists rent for a two-bedroom Teton County apartment at $3,377, with a statewide average of $1,034. It also statewide inflation at 4%, with housing as the biggest contributor.
Before the Legislative Service Office released funding calculations Tuesday morning, Kristen Mayo had already crunched the numbers. The chief financial officer for Teton County School District No. 1 told trustees the changes left the district’s funding essentially flat.
“I still would not say that that’s equitable,” she said.
Wyoming public schools are currently suing the state over that point. A court ruled last year that the state has underfunded its public schools, which the state is appealing. Wyoming’s last major school funding recalibration was in 2010.
Education leaders see a major goal of recalibration as being able to keep up with rising costs of living to retain teachers. Teton’s school district spends almost 90% of its general fund budget on salaries and benefits, Mayo said.
Employee retention is key to student outcomes, Superintendent Scott Crisp said in an interview.
“We want teachers to come to Teton County, we want teachers to stay in Teton County,” he said. “We want teachers to not only enjoy their professional work, but raise families in Teton County and be part of this community.”
There’s a long way to go before the bill becomes law.
School district leaders across the state, including in Teton County, say they will advocate to preserve elements they believe are at risk under the proposal, including small class sizes and local flexibility for spending and health care.
