Superintendent: Laramie Needs a New High School

To Albany County School Superintendent Brian Recht, it’s obvious. A 50-year old building, outdated science facilities, small classrooms and a current site that the State says is ten acres too small, combine to show that Laramie needs a new high school. Yet the latest recommended budget from the Governor to the Legislature only provides funding for the first 12 school projects on the state priority needs list. Laramie’s new high school sits at number 13.

“A line was drawn right above us,” said Dr. Recht. “I respect being fiscally conservative with this year’s drop in gas prices, but there is no better future investment for communities than an investment in schools.”

The goal had been set to open a new state-of-the-art high school for the community on Turner Tract for the 2014-2015 school year. The new site was chosen in November after evaluations of five sites and a look into a renovation of the current site according to Dr. Recht. Turner Tract rose to the top of the list based on 46 factors, including land use, zoning, topography, aquifer protection and soil.

Without knowing what the Legislature will decide during the upcoming budget session, Dr. Recht says the monies for the land purchase are still in the budget, “so at this point, we are still able to move forward and proceed in our discussions with the City (of Laramie) to secure a section of Turner Tract for a new high school.”

Dr. Recht thinks a new high school for Laramie is due, especially because Laramie has not received any of the over $1.2 billion allocated or spent for K-12 school renovations or construction in Wyoming over the past nine years.

“Our high school is over 50 years old and served the community well,” said Dr. Recht. “But it is not flexible, with infrastructure that is worn to a level of not being economically feasible to replace. Our children, families, and community, need and and deserve a new modern high school that is inviting, clean, safe, aesthetically pleasing, and sustainable – a space that reflects our community’s commitment to education now, and in the future.”

With the Legislature set to convene on Feb. 13 for a budget session, Dr. Recht says he is preparing to ask the community to be involved and voice support for the project. He says three state agencies (School Facilities Department, School Facilities Commission and Legislative Select Committee on School Facilities) have already “reviewed, tested and approved the new Laramie High School project as worthy, necessary, and ready to move forward in the next biennium.”

While Governor Mead’s budget only sets 12 school projects in motion, the Joint Appropriations Committee seemed to be leaning toward approving the top 20 projects in their latest meeting.

For more information on the possible new high school for Laramie, listen to Laramie Live from Friday, Jan. 20, with Dr. Recht talking about the possibilities the school district is facing.