CASPER, Wyo. — Natrona County School District 1 staff are recommending that both Woods Learning Center and Bar Nunn Elementary School be vacated and mothballed, beginning with the 2026–27 school year, in order to save the district money.
An agenda for the Friday, Oct. 17, meeting of the NCSD1 Board Infrastructure Planning Committee confirmed the recommendations and offered a rationale for potentially closing the facilities.
The decisions “are based on a pattern of declining enrollment trends, decreasing revenue, excess elementary capacity, the Space/Grade Configuration Study, and the demonstrated community interest in the school of choice open enrollment philosophy of Natrona County,” the agenda states.
An email from Bar Nunn Principal Lynn Leslie informed parents of Bar Nunn students that the school’s closure was being recommended to the Board Infrastructure Planning Committee at the next meeting.
“This is a very difficult decision,” Leslie wrote in the Tuesday email. “The report was developed with thorough consideration, care, and analysis while responsibly acknowledging the fiscal impact of current and long-term enrollment trends and capacity at Bar Nunn Elementary School.”
The email noted that Bar Nunn Elementary is at a 35% enrollment capacity, which is the lowest in Natrona County School District 1.
“In order to provide a quality education to every student, Bar Nunn has been and continues to be overstaffed,” the email stated. “This level of overstaffing is not sustainable with continued district budget reductions.”
The recommendation from NCSD1 staff to the Board of Infrastructure and Planning Committee states that because of declining enrollment, the district has experienced a consistent decrease in revenue. The NCSD1 Board Budget Committee initiated a review and study of every element of the district’s budget. That review identified strategies that could reduce its annual budget and/or improve its operational efficiency.
The closure of the two schools would save the district $1.7 million per year, the recommendation notes.
“We understand that all schools have a deep history and hold significant meaning in our community,” the email stated. “This difficult decision reflects the complex realities of managing declining enrollment with fiscal responsibility, while maintaining a priority focus on student learning.”
The news of the potential closures comes just a day after Bar Nunn Elementary was recognized by the NCSD1 Board of Trustees for moving two levels in a single year, shifting from a “not meeting” rating to a “meeting” rating. Leslie told the board that it was staff dedication and practices focused on high expectations that led to the jump.
The email notes that if the recommendation is moved forward from the Board Infrastructure Planning Committee to the Board of Trustees, it will be discussed at the upcoming Board of Trustees meetings, happening Oct. 27 and Nov. 10.
“We are committed to partnering with you through all stages of this process,” the email states. “Ongoing communication for shared understanding will be key moving forward. Tomorrow and each day will continue to be another great day of learning at the 2050.”
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