Many of the stories over the past week regarding education have stemmed from recent meetings of members of the Joint Appropriations Committee (JAC) and early decisions by some lawmakers to potentially make big changes to the funding of education in the state. Lincoln County School District #2 Superintendent, Matt Erickson, spoke with SVI about the upcoming school recalibration talks.

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“Every five years by the Wyoming Constitution, the legislators form a select committee on funding for K-12 education,” Erickson explained. “Wyoming has the most amazing funding [model] in the nation if we would just step up and consistently fund it as the constitution calls for. What I’m mainly referring to is the ECA’s or External Cost Adjustments. This cycle of recalibration, we have a committee that’s maybe stacked or loaded that’s not as favorable to education. My main concern right now with recalibration is that it’s a big infringement on local control,”

Erickson went on to note that the board of LCSD#2 “works extremely hard” with ongoing training and education themselves and that their ability to manage many aspects of the education process are much preferred than what could be statewide control from the capitol in Cheyenne.

“[Our board] does an amazing job with budgeting and making sure kids have the basket of goods that they need,” Erickson continued. “Our teacher salaries, we try and be second or third in the state; obviously behind Jackson. Right now we are second. Our average teacher salary is a little over $77,000 and as part of recalibration the vast majority of this select committee feels they can govern better from Cheyenne than local school boards. Their proposal is to go to a weighted salary of $70,560. There is also an adjustment being proposed to class size at the secondary level. Currently was amended to go to 22-1 and then from grades 9-12 it’s being proposed at 25 to 1. Thats a big hit.”

Erickson also said that the proposed recommendations from the JAC would affect extra-curricular activities.

“We are currently prorated on activity funding at the school level and that is being proposed to be done at the district level,” he said. “That would be a hit of several hundred thousand dollars to our district. I’m super frustrated but I’m going to have faith and be optimistic and I have total confidence in Senator Dockstader and Representative Erickson and Representative Andrew Byron, that they will prevail with some common sense when we get to the session here in a couple of weeks.There is no need to panic right now but there are some proposals that would be major, major changes to the way we do business.”

Erickson asked that patrons and stakeholders with the district be involved with the process and that includes getting accurate information from the district office themselves.

“I would certainly encourage parents to reach out and get the facts,” he concluded. “We’d be happy to meet with anybody. JC Inskeep is our Business Manager. Jason Horsley has a great handle on this. Corey Hokanson has a good handle. Nate Wescott is our Special Services Director. I’m happy to talk to anyone and encourage them to get involved. We’ve met with principals and staff directors and asked them to get involved as well. We just need to make sure we hold legislators accountable to what’s best for students.”