'I don't think it's ever been harder to be 17,' LCSD1 superintendent says to chamber
Apr. 5—CHEYENNE — In an impassioned speech in front of the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce Friday afternoon, Laramie County School District 1 Superintendent Stephen Newton compared his vision for the district to his childhood.
Newton said he grew up in Guernsey and frequently took hunting trips in the surrounding area. He recalled an occasion when he went hunting with his brother-in-law. He said his relative told him that if he ever got lost to walk toward Laramie Peak, a mountain on the horizon to their west. That mountain in the distance, he said, symbolized the way LCSD1 should envision its future.
"It was that thing off in the distance that I always kept my eye on," he said. "I knew, if we were headed toward that, we were going where we're supposed to be. We're gonna talk a little bit about what Laramie Peak (looks) like. What is finding true north in this community?"
Before the superintendent addressed the chamber Friday afternoon, Cheyenne Regional Medical Center CEO Tim Thornell gave a brief statement commending Newton. Newton should be recognized not only for his commitment to education, Thornell said, but the time he spends volunteering for other causes in the community.
Chamber President Dale Steenbergen also addressed education before Newton went on to speak, urging Chamber members to ask their lawmakers and legislators to increase and approve funding for Cheyenne schools.
"From our standpoint, it was very disappointing to see the lack of dedication, even from some of our Laramie County elected officials, to build new schools in Cheyenne and Laramie County," Steenbergen said.
At the end of his speech, a Chamber member asked Newton about the status of school construction in Laramie County. He estimated that funds allocated last year would allow for progress to be made on two new schools, with more recent funding creating the potential for a third. He qualified that assertion by talking about the complex nature of government funding, adding that sometimes money that is allocated for a project cannot be accessed without approval.
"It should be easier, but, right now, it's not," Newton said. "So, I'm a little reluctant to say, but what we think is, out of last year's money that still hasn't been released, we should be able to get an elementary school and a south side (fifth- and sixth-grade) elementary school."
He added that some of that money would go to increasing the capacity at existing schools, particularly East High School, which he said was "bursting at the seams."
He then went on to talk about what the most recent legislative session could bring for LCSD1.
"If you followed the soap opera that we just had," he said, "as far as schools were concerned, the Legislature had proposed what would be, probably, another elementary school for us. Then, they took it away. Then, they gave it back. So, right now, we're looking at perhaps one more that, Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we'll be (starting to build) as early as August."
Newton spent a large part of his speech talking about many challenges students who attend the district face. Talking about it in the terms of student graduation rate, he mentioned that several factors stand in the way of student success.
As an example, he mentioned that more than 2,000 LCSD1 students have a special need that might impact their ability to pursue their education. He also mentioned that a large set of students in the district do not speak English as a first language, which could also impact their success. Overall, though, he said society has made being young difficult.
"I don't think it's ever been harder to be 17 years old," he said. "Think about all they have to say 'no' to."
Newton, at several points, took care to address concerns that the quality of education at LCSD1 might be poor or in decline.
"If you feel like the quality of education is wanting in this community," he said,"... here's the dare: Whatever you think you're smartest at ... whatever you think you're best at in life, go home and Google 'Advanced Placement released exam.' I dare you to take those sample questions and see if you can answer them.
"Why do I ask you that? Why do I act like you might not be able to? Because, I taught high school science for a lot of years, and I could not, right now, pass the AP biology or chemistry test. (But) we have 1,767 kids getting ready to knock the socks off."
Samir Knox is the Wyoming Tribune Eagle's criminal justice and public safety reporter. He can be reached by email at sknox@wyomingnews.com or by phone at 307-633-3152. Follow him on X at @bySamirKnox.
