Legal Clips, [July 2006]
The Wyoming School Boards Association (WSBA) has partially withdrawn from the long-standing school finance lawsuit against the state after the Wyoming legislature provided enough funding to significantly raise teacher pay and improve instruction. According to WSBA President Monty Wardell, the new funding has improved morale in his school district and brought in a big pool of qualified teaching applicants. However, WSBA will remain in the suit in order to address what members see as problems paying for school buildings and other facilities. Mr. Wardell says the association will consider withdrawing from the suit altogether if sufficient progress is made on this issue. State officials continue to encourage the other plaintiffs, the Wyoming Education Association (WEA) and 32 individual school districts, to negotiate a settlement. "I am glad that the WSBA agrees that the Wyoming Legislature carefully examined and supported the needs of our districts," says state superintendent Jim McBride. Governor Dave Freudenthal adds, "I think it is reflective of discussions we've had over the last few years and is intended I think to demonstrate good faith on the part of the school boards association." He says the litigation has had some positive effects on the school funding system but feels any remaining issues would best be resolved outside of court.
      However, WEA vows to continue the suit because it believes the issue is not the total dollar amount but, rather, whether the state funds schools in a way that remains fair even as state and local economies fluctuate in coming years. "It needs to work for all the districts, all the time," says WEA attorney Patrick Hacker. Of WSBA's decision, he says, "I don't think it's going to alter the course or the nature of the litigation. Their participation was valued. It won't alter either the issues, the outcome or anything else. I would say it simply affects the ability of that organization to have input." It was not immediately clear how school districts would respond. The case is on appeal to the Wyoming Supreme Court—the fourth time a school finance case has gone to the high court since 1980.

Casper Star-Tribune
By Barbara Nordby
[Link to full story]

[Editor's Note: For background on the Wyoming litigation, see below.]
[NSBA School Law pages on Wyoming settlement efforts]