One of the most important tasks of the Wyoming Legislature has one of the most boring names: “recalibration.” Every five years, our lawmakers are required to determine how much funding public schools need to provide our state’s children with quality education.
They bring in consultants, watch endless powerpoint presentations, and talk things over...and over, and over. And historically, it hasn’t gone well: multiple school districts and the Wyoming Education Association have successfully sued the legislature - several times - over lawmakers’ failure to adequately fund public schools.
In recent weeks, it became clear to us that they were at their old games again. In a social media conversation, Rep. Ken Pendergraft (R-Sheridan) made clear that he and his allies plan to use recalibration to slash public education funding.
It turns out, recalibration is not so boring after all. It’s a front-line fight to protect Wyoming institutions and values from lawmakers who want to weaken our state. And it wasn’t just Better Wyoming who thought so.
In collaboration with the Wyoming Education Association, educators and advocates from around the state packed the room at the Legislature’s recalibration meeting in Casper on June 17. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported that
“It was standing room-only Tuesday morning, the first day of the Wyoming Legislature’s Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration two-day meeting in Casper. Educators, parents and school administrators filled the seats, ready to advocate for public education.”
Better Wyoming was proud to be a part of this effort, recruiting and training incredible volunteers in how to make their voices heard. Robyn Edwards gave a powerful testimony (quoted in an article in WyoFile):
“We are asking you as elected officials, as stewards of the public good and as human beings to fully fund public education, to meet your constitutional duty obligations,” said retired teacher Robyn Edwards, “because without a robust public school, our small towns will unravel, our communities will erode, and our children, especially those in poverty, will be more vulnerable to falling through the cracks.”
Clearly, when lawmakers try to hurt Wyoming communities, plenty of Wyomingites are ready to stand up to them.