CASPER, Wyo. — The Natrona County School District 1 Board of Trustees meeting on Monday was dominated by an emotional flood of public comment, as around 50 people pleaded against a staff recommendation to close Woods Learning Center and Bar Nunn Elementary School.
The recommendation aims to save the district $1.7 million annually, but speakers warned the closures would destroy unique educational programs and vital community hubs.
The speakers — including parents, students, teachers and town leaders — focused heavily on the specialized programming and the potential long-term harm to children if the closures proceed starting with the 2026–27 school year.
Parents and former students of Woods Learning Center described the facility as a vital alternative learning environment. Speakers argued that closing Woods amounts to “voting to kill a program that is unique within the district.” The program’s value was attributed to its specialized approach, including project-based learning, multi-age classrooms and a focus on hands-on, experiential learning.
Many families sought out Woods because of what makes it different, trustees were told. Speakers mentioned how the small size and nurturing atmosphere are essential for children who struggle in larger, traditional settings.
“Woods is not just a school; it is a community, it is a family,” parent Eric Nelson said.
Diane Seville warned that children who need more individual attention “will get lost in the bigger schools” without the program. Haley Peterson said the school’s focus on hands-on learning, confidence-building and public speaking skills paved the way for future success, with Primary Pod teacher Deyonne Jackson adding that Woods has been recognized nationally for its innovative approach.
Speakers advocating for Bar Nunn Elementary spoke about the school’s role as a community hub and questioned the district’s rationale for closure. Mayor Peter Boyer acknowledged the difficult situation but told the board the town is proactively seeking grants and solutions for future growth after losing the potential for a nearby Radiant Industries nuclear microreactor manufacturing plant.
Bar Nunn Elementary School students participate in class on Sept. 15. (NCSD1 photo)
Multiple parents expressed concerns over district policies, saying NCSD1 capped or denied open-enrollment requests despite the school operating at 35% capacity. DeAnn Russell, instructional facilitator at Bar Nunn, said that of the students attending the school, 81% made Bar Nunn their preference.
Emotional testimony underscored the impact on children, with Madison Trimble sharing that her child “cried when I told her that it was very likely that her school would be closing next year.”
“You’re ripping out the beating heart of that community, and you’re taking away a gem in this district,” she said.
Second-grade teacher Hannah Schirlinger asked the board to focus on creative solutions rather than viewing the current situation as a foregone conclusion.
“Don’t get hung up on the money, over staff and low enrollment that we keep talking about … but please see them as hurdles and not excuses,” she said.
Trustee response
Trustees offered their own emotional responses, acknowledging the depth of community feeling and the difficulty of the impending decision.
Trustee Jenifer Hopkins opened comments by saying the decision “touches families most of all, and I feel that deeply.” She touched on the impact on both facilities, saying Woods Learning Center is “more than a building,” also being a “neighborhood anchor,” and expressed difficulty accepting the mothballing of Bar Nunn Elementary, which received “nearly $5 million in taxpayer-funded upgrades” just six years prior. Hopkins questioned whether every option had been explored and asked if smaller, walkable neighborhood schools could have been preserved through “smarter budgeting.”
Trustee John Bolender echoed the sorrow felt, saying the possibility of closures “has upset many in Natrona County, including members of this board.” Bolender, who has roots with Woods Learning Center, recalled his 22 years there, including its opening year.
“The thought of Woods Learning Center closing hurt my heart,” he said. “Life throws us many challenges and we have to work our way through them and learn from them.”
Trustee Kyla Alvey admitted to having a “very, very heavy heart” about balancing district finances against the possibility of closing schools. She expressed distress over the potential closure of Woods, saying, “There’s not one thing about that school that I don’t think is amazing.”
Alvey also spoke about the value of Bar Nunn Elementary, where her children attend, but said, “Bar Nunn isn’t choosing Bar Nunn, and I don’t know why that is.”
Trustee Thea True-Wells acknowledged the complexity of the situation, saying trustees “wear many hats,” including that of trustee, community member, neighbor, friend and family. She said in this situation, the board must “prioritize the trustee hat and its obligations” to ensure the district’s “health and direction.”
Trustee Michael Stedillie thanked the speakers for “[your] compassion and your professionalism.” He reiterated what seasoned trustees had told him: “Voting to close a school will be the hardest thing that we will ever have to deal with as members of this board.”
Chair Kevin Christopherson shared his personal connection, having spent 15 years at Woods Learning Center and having had three children attend there.
“We are thinking, and we are praying and we hear you,” he said.
The staff recommendation to close the schools was advanced by the Infrastructure Planning Committee on Oct 17. Trustees are scheduled to vote on the recommendations during their Nov. 10 meeting.
