Wyoming’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Megan Degenfelder, has publicly criticized members of the School Facilities Commission (SFC) for making light of a lawsuit filed by parents opposing the closure of eight elementary schools in Laramie County, Oil City News reports.
The controversy arose during the closing moments of the commission’s Tuesday meeting. As the meeting wrapped up, SFC Chair Jack Tartar quipped:
“Have a Merry Christmas, and enjoy being sued.”
His comment was met with laughter from other commissioners and State Construction Department staff. One individual responded with a “Ho ho ho!” while another joked that Tartar should have worn his Grinch tie.
The remarks were seen as a reference to a lawsuit filed on Dec. 6 in Laramie District Court. The lawsuit challenges the commission’s decision to adopt a controversial plan that would close eight elementary schools in Laramie County School District 1 as part of a broader strategy to address building capacity and condition issues.
Superintendent Degenfelder did not hold back her disapproval of the commission’s conduct. In a statement released on Friday, she emphasized the importance of parental rights in education.
“I ran for State Superintendent because I was tired of the rights of parents being stifled,” Degenfelder stated. “Parents have a fundamental and constitutional right to direct their child’s education, and we must stop treating the concerns of parents as a laughing matter.”
She also criticized the commission for lacking professionalism and empathy, calling on state leaders to take parents’ legal concerns seriously. While Degenfelder sits on the School Facilities Commission, she does not have a vote. During Tuesday’s meeting, one of her staff members attended virtually on her behalf.
The commission’s comments also drew sharp criticism from the parents involved in the lawsuit. Katie Dijkstal, one of the plaintiffs, expressed her disappointment after watching the exchange.
“I was shocked and saddened to see commissioners and agency employees openly laughing at our rights as parents to pursue this petition,” Dijkstal said. “My small child permanently losing her school, along with hundreds of other children, is no laughing matter, and neither are our legal procedures in Wyoming.”
Dijkstal’s co-plaintiff, Franz Fuchs, echoed similar concerns. Both parents have children who attend or are slated to attend the schools affected by the closure plan. Deming Elementary and Jessup Elementary — the schools their children attend — are among the eight elementary schools identified for closure under the controversial plan.
The parents’ lawsuit challenges the commission’s adoption of “Remedy Four”, a proposal stemming from the “Most Cost-Effective Remedy” (MCER) study. The study, conducted as part of a legally required assessment of school buildings across the state, aimed to identify the most affordable way to resolve capacity and condition issues in Laramie County School District 1.
The proposal calls for the closure of eight elementary schools, while other schools would be expanded, replaced, or newly constructed. The closures, which would occur in phases from 2025 to 2035, aim to consolidate resources by relying more on larger schools serving grades 5-6.
The lawsuit, filed by Dijkstal and Fuchs, alleges that the SFC’s decision to adopt the plan was “arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, and unsupported by substantial evidence.” The plaintiffs argue that the statistical analysis behind the plan was flawed and that the commission relied on inaccurate and irrelevant evidence.
The eight elementary schools slated for closure include Miller, Hebard, Fairview, Bain, Lebhart, Henderson, Deming, and Jessup. Parents argue that losing these neighborhood schools will uproot children from their familiar learning environments, impacting not only education but also the broader community fabric.
The lawsuit seeks judicial review and reversal of the MCER adoption, hoping to halt the closure plan. It remains to be seen how the court will rule on the matter.
Meanwhile, Degenfelder’s criticism highlights broader tensions between Wyoming’s education officials, parents, and the School Facilities Commission. As of press time, WyoFile had reached out to Chair Jack Tartar and the State Construction Department for comment, but no response had been received.
