• Charter school filing deadline is this summer.

The Town of Alpine has been one of the fastest growing communities in Wyoming over the past 30 years. From an estimated population of 200 in 1990, the 2020 census has the town now listed with 1,220 residents. Over that same period of time, many have stated their desire for a school within their boundaries. As of now, the closest school is Etna Elementary with middle and high school aged students having the option of either Star Valley or Jackson Hole High Schools, with special permission.

“I can remember school board meetings years ago with former Mayor Donn Wooden and others stating the desire for a school,” stated Dan Dockstader, senator for District 16. “There is a template in place in the State of Wyoming with how they fund their schools. There have to be so many students that sets it up to construct a school. In the past Alpine has not met that threshold to hit that number. Alpine continues to grow and there seems to be more of an interest than there has been in many years to have a school there.”

Both Dockstader and Andrew Byron spoke with SVI Media as part of the Weekday Wake-up radio program about the option of a charter school in the area. Byron is the representative for House District 22 which covers the north end of Star Valley including Alpine, portions of Etna and Star Valley Ranch.

“Lots of options are on the table,” Byron said. “There are two different lanes. The traditional lane is through the  state program and what we call a MCER [Most Cost-Effective Remedy] study. Another option that has come to the forefront in recent years is a charter school option which is still a public school but has a different look to it.”

Byron expressed concern about the length of time a MCER study can translate into an actual school building.

“So Senator Dockstader and I were talking at the session about the idea of looking at a charter school There are charter schools that are currently happening in eastern Wyoming. We started talking and got part of a budget amendment though that allows for a charter school option in western Wyoming. We’re really just opening up the best path and keeping all avenues open.”

The pair recently visited charter schools in the Intermountain region.

“Both Representative Byron  and I looked at some charter schools in Utah and if you put it together right, those are successful schools,” Dockstader said. “They are doing it with a little less than the state school system at $10-12,000 per student versus $17-18,000 per student in the public school system. It’s a little more focused for areas of study but you can do that through a charter option.”

Senator Dockstader also stated that he has been informed that the funding for a charter school in Alpine is “already there”.

“There is interest there and there is interest in the traditional system too and we have to let that all unfold and see which route we are going to go,” he added.

Representative Byron felt that the statewide approach has its merits but also some drawbacks.

“MCER is a great way to prioritize schools state-wide but it doesn’t come without complications,” he stated. “I think that with what we have coming down the pipe statewide with school capitol construction projects that have gone through those studies; I”m just worried about the timeline. I look at current fourth-graders in the Lincoln County school system and if we go that traditional route, those kids might be graduated by the time we get a school if that is identified as the best route. I think we need to continue to explore all options. At the end of the day I look at my peer group in the area and [a charter school] is an intriguing option. I think it really could pull from our region and could allow for more flexibility in the public education realm.”

Dockstader also mentioned that should a charter school be the route that the community choses to go, that it would likely start with elementary grade levels and then expand over time. But the decision to move forward is one that may need to come quickly.

“The application for a charter school must be filed by this summer,” he concluded. “In the legislation it was worded as one charter in western Wyoming so we would need to do that sooner rather than later.”