School Facilities Commission
Within the School Facilities Commission Page
As the result of rulings made by the Wyoming Supreme Court, the responsibility for school construction shifted from local school districts to the state, which created a need for an oversight agency.
The School Facilities Commission (SFC) was established in 2002 when the 56th Legislature enacted House Bill 0043. It was created to ensure adequate and equitable K-12 educational facilities throughout the state.
The Commission consists of seven voting members who are appointed by the sitting governor and approved by the Legislature. In addition to the voting members, the state Superintendent of Public Instruction serves in an ex officio, nonvoting capacity. Each appointed member serves a four-year term.
2021 Commission Rule Change Meetings
Regional Stakeholder Input Meetings:
Southeast - Monday, July 12, 9-11am - Wheatland
Attended by: 8 district reps from Albany 1, Laramie 1, Laramie 2, Platte 1, & Platte 2, and Senator Pappas (Chair of Select committee on School Facilities)
Central East - Monday, July 12, 1-3pm - Douglas
Attended by: 2 district reps from Converse 1, and Senator Pappas (Chair of Select committee on School Facilities)
Northeast - Tuesday, July 13, 9-11am - Gillette
Attended by: 5 district reps from Campbell1 and Crook 1, and Senator Pappas (Chair of Select committee on School Facilities).
Northwest - Wednesday, July 14, 9-11am - Greybull
Attended by: 8 district reps from Big Horn 1, Big Horn 2, Big Horn 3, Big Horn 4, and Washakie 1.
Central West - Wednesday, July 14, 3-5pm - Riverton
Attended by: 5 district reps from Fremont 1, Fremont 6, and Fremont 25, and Tom Farrens (School Facilities Commissioner)
Southwest - Thursday, July 15, 10am-12pm - Rock Springs
Attended by: 3 district reps from Sweetwater 1 and Sweetwater 2, and Carol Jelaco (Sweetwater 1 School Board Chair)
Thank you all for meeting with us as we traveled around the state discussing changes to the School Facilities Commission’s Rules and Regulations this last week. We had many informative conversations and heard varying perspectives from many different district personnel and board members. Thank you for hosting us and sharing your views on these issues. If you haven’t already, please fill out the brief feedback form so we can most accurately share your views with the commission next week at the July meeting.
We know that many of you were unable to attend for various reasons, but we would greatly appreciate your perspective as well. We have provided a few items to help explain the proposed changes. Please take a moment to view the Rule Change Drafts, watch this video presentation on Chapter 8, download the Capacity Calculation Worksheet to see what may work best for your district, and then let us know your thoughts and suggestions in the feedback form.
Thanks again to everyone for helping the School Facilities Commission best serve you, the school districts and educators of Wyoming.
Continued SFC Rulemaking Timeline - 2021
July 22, 2021 - 8 am - State Capitol Complex - SFC confirmation for presentation to Select Committee
September 2, 2021 - 8 am - Location tbd - Select Committee review and input
September 16 - 8 am - Location tbd - SFC initiates formal rulemaking
Sept. 17- Nov. 15 - Comment period, districts may continue to submit comments throughout
November 16, 2021 - Time and Location tbd - SFC public hearing and final formal approval
2021 Commission Rule Change Drafts
To provide us with comments, questions, or suggestions after reviewing the purposed rule changes to Chapters 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, and 10 please fill out the feedback form linked below.
Chapter 1: General Provisions
Chapter 2: Rules of Practice and Procedure for Contested Case Proceedings
Chapter 3: Uniform Adequacy Standards
Chapter 8: Criteria for Identifying and Prioritizing Remedies, and Establishing Project Budgets
Chapter 9: Implementation of Remedies and Project Management
Chapter 10: District-Initiated Elements, District-Initiated Projects, and Local Enhancements
Commission Meetings & Materials
Wyoming statute requires the School Facilities Commission to meet at least once per quarter. However, the current Commission meets on a bi-monthly basis; with meetings taking place over a two-day period.
The first day is an informal work session where Commissioners are briefed on 1) items that will require official action and 2) items that are only being presented for informational purposes. Then, on the second day, the Commission holds a formal business meeting to vote on various action items on the agenda.
If you would like to present an action or information item to the Commission:
Send an email request to Shelly Lovato at shelly.lovato@wyo.gov. Your email should be accompanied by a letter that is: 1) composed on district letterhead, 2) clearly outlines your request/issue, and 3) signed by the district superintendent.
Due dates for requests vary from month to month.
If you are requesting an acknowledgement of enhancement(s), please contact your SFD project manager before submitting your request.
Also provide any supporting information that will help the Commission better understand the request/issue being presented.
Since the information you provide will be included in the SFC meeting packet, we ask that documents be submitted in an electronic format and limited to 10 letter sized pages.
SFD will review and forward your information to the Commission Chair for further review and final inclusion on the agenda.
To help ensure the Commission has time to address all agenda items, please limit your presentation to 15-20 minutes.
2021 SFC Tentative Meeting Schedule
Important Notice on Public Attendance: In accordance with recommendations from the Wyoming Health Department and the CDC and for the health and safety of stakeholders, the SFC is transitioning back to in-person meetings over the summer with meetings to be held in a hybrid fashion. For the May, June, and July meetings, the commission will meet in Cheyenne at the Capitol Complex with a limited number of SCD staff. To help ensure that we can get back to full in-person meetings, potentially by the fall, we ask that the public not attend these meetings in-person and continue to use the video conferencing services made available. We appreciate your patience, and look forward to getting back and working together.
Upcoming Meetings
September 15, 9 am ~ Capitol Complex, Public Meeting Room E005 & Online
Work Session & Business Meeting
November 3-4
Work Session & Business Meeting
Past 2021 Meetings
February 10 & 11 ~ Online
Work session and Business meeting
April 7 & 8 ~ Online
Work session and Business meeting
May 11,12 & 13 ~ Online
Planning Session and Business meeting
June 23 ~ Capitol Complex, Public Meeting Room E005 & Online
Work Session & Business Meeting
July 21-22 ~ Online
Work Session and Business meeting
2020 Meetings
February 12 ~ Cheyenne
Work session and Business meeting
April 8 ~ Online
Work session and Business meeting
May 13 ~ Online
Planning Session and Business Meeting
June 24 ~ Online
Business Meeting
July 22 ~ Online
Business Meeting
August 27 ~ Online
Special meeting
September 16 ~ Online
Business meeting
November 4 ~ Online
Business meeting
December 16 ~ Online
Business Meeting
Commission Documents
Current Rules & Regulations
Chapter 1 - General Provisions
Chapter 2 - Rules of Practice and Procedure for Contested Case Proceedings
Chapter 3 - Uniform Adequacy Standards
Chapter 5 - Emergency Funding Procedures
Chapter 6 - Square Footage Guidelines for Major Maintenance Payments
Chapter 7 - Annual Reports and Major Building and Facility Repair and Replacement Requests
Chapter 8 - Criteria for Identifying and Prioritizing Remedies and Establishing Project Budgets
Chapter 9 - Implementation of Remedies and Project Management
Current Commission
Matt Garland - Chairman
Serves Until: 3/1/2022
District #4; Campbell, Johnson and Sheridan counties
Janet Anderson
Serves Until: 3/1/2023
District #1: Laramie, Goshen and Platte counties
Holly Dabb
Serves Until: 3/1/2024
District #2: Albany, Carbon and Sweetwater counties
Tom Farrens
Serves Until: 3/1/2023
District #3: Lincoln, Sublette and Teton and Uinta counties
Terry Livingston
terry.livingston@wyoboards.gov
Serves Until: 3/1/2023
District #5: Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park and Washakie counties
Joni Kachelhoffer
joni.kachelhoffer@wyoboards.gov
Serves Until: 2/1/2026
District #6: Crook, Niobrara and Weston counties
Mike Gilmore
Serves Until: 3/1/2023
District #7: Natrona, Fremont and Converse counties
Vision, Mission, and Principles
Vision
To provide collaborative support and leadership to build and maintain Wyoming's inventory of high quality school facilities which best serve the needs of Wyoming students.
Mission
To partner with Wyoming school districts to ensure the efficient, flexible, and responsible flow of funds to build and maintain cost-effective, adequate and equitable school facilities that best serve the needs of Wyoming students.
Principles
Customer-service orientation
Open and collaborative communication between the department and districts
An environment of respect and trust
Transparent processes
Responsible stewardship of state funds
Focus on solutions
Creating flexibility to achieve goals while complying with rules and statutes