Stock:Schools Need Funding Upgrades

Laramie County School District #1 Superintendent Mark Stock says one thing he will be following during the upcoming legislative session is whether lawmakers approve an external cost adjustment for public schools.

Stock says that while on one hand he feels Wyoming schools in many ways are "funded entirely adequately", there has not been an external cost adjustment in four years. Stock says that hasn't had a big impact on LCSD#1 because increasing enrollment has led to increased funding. He also says "some of the smaller school districts are starting to hurt".

Stock says the other thing he'll be watching is whether lawmakers make more money available for facility construction. He says some construction is needed in LCSD#1 if the district is to ever meet the state-mandated student-teacher ratio of 16-1 in the lower grades. Stock says the district's top project right now is the new Carey Jr. High.