There’s much to share, so let’s jump right in:
UPCOMING COMMITTEE MEETINGS
(NOTE: These take place in the Thyra Thomson State Office Building in Casper)
Joint Judiciary (Next meeting – Tuesday, Aug. 12): The committee has been working on another “obscenities” bill, targeting educators, librarians and materials in libraries and classrooms. The most recent proposal can be found here. The bill does not eliminate the exemption for teachers and librarians for criminal prosecution under obscenity statutes, but it does open districts and public libraries to civil liability. The bill also provides a new definition of what materials may be deemed obscene, a definition that would effectively eliminate all sex education in the state. In March, the WEA hired American Viewpoint, a Republican polling firm, to conduct a statewide survey on the state of education in Wyoming. Overwhelmingly, respondents do not support criminalizing teachers and librarians for materials that some may disagree with. The committee will take public comment in person and online. If you are passionate about an inclusive and modern education for our Wyoming public students, please consider putting your voice in the room!
School Facilities (Next meeting – Wednesday, Aug. 20): At the conclusion of the last school facilities meeting, a motion was passed that would require the committee to determine a functional definition of “suitability” for school facilities. The WEA’s school finance litigation case resulted in a number of orders with which the legislature is required to comply, including defining and implementing a standard for suitability.
Revenue (Next meeting – Aug. 21-22): While significant revisions were made to property taxes last session, the legislature continues to explore the idea of eliminating residential property tax completely. Property taxes are one of the few stable revenue streams that help fund services from fire and police to public education. Local school districts raise revenue through property taxes to try and meet their “guarantee” — how much money is needed to adequately fund their local schools. Most districts across the state fail to meet this guarantee, and the state is required to fund the remainder through dollars provided by districts who fund “over” their guarantee and through the common school fund. If the legislature eliminates property taxes, the state is still required to fully fund a cost-based model of education and will be on the hook for that tab, increasing the cost to the state and taxpayers. The requirement to fully fund education is one that is mandated in good times and in bad; Wyoming has the nation’s third most volatile economy, and an economic downturn is a guarantee at some point. The legislature will still have to fund education, and where those dollars would come from is not entirely clear. As it is now, the state is once again in a structural deficit in education funding with a shortfall of more than $600 million barreling down the tracks.
Joint Education (Next meeting – Aug. 21-22): The committee will address a number of important topics including a Teachers’ Bill of Rights (TBOR), student behaviors, reading assessment and intervention, as well as teacher recruitment and retention. The legislature has asked WEA to present on recruitment and retention and to offer comment on the TBOR draft, since WEA provided some of the language. We know that the new school year is right around the corner, but if you have concerns with teacher morale and the issues you face in your classroom, we would welcome you providing comment at this meeting.
Other Dates to Know:
- WEA is working with the consultants Picus Odden & Associates to set up Professional Judgment Panels for small schools/districts. Those panels will take place online from 1-5pm on Aug. 19 and 20.
- The next School Finance Recalibration meeting will take place Sept. 4-5 in Casper.
FROM OUR PARTNERS:
- Better Wyoming Grassroots Institute: Thank you to the WEA members who signed up for Better Wyoming’s Grassroots Institute organizer training. There was so much support for this event that they are considering hosting another institute; we will provide updates as we get them.
- Labor in the Park: WEA is partnering with AFL-CIO to host a “Labor Party in the Park” at the Lions Park Shelter in Cheyenne on Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 1) at noon. There will be food, refreshments, and an opportunity to meet labor leaders and workers who are the backbone of our communities.
- LCSD #1 Picnic: Laramie County School District and the Wyoming Public Employees Association will host a back-to-school picnic at Storey Gym on Friday, Aug. 22, from 11am to 1pm.