§ 21-6-207 — Proposal to change boundaries, reorganize or combine districts; criteria

(a) Any district boundary board or any two (2) or more
district boundary boards acting jointly may, when in the
judgment of the board it would be for the benefit of the
educational needs of the pupils, and only when each school
district board consents, submit in writing to the state
committee a proposal which would:
(i) Alter and change the boundaries of any school
district of any kind; or
(ii) Reorganize any school district or portions of
districts; or
(iii) Combine any school district or portion thereof
with any adjoining school district or districts; provided that
no existing district shall be divided in any manner which will
leave the total assessed valuation of its property less in
proportion to the number of children shown in its census than
the average ratio for all school districts in the county unless
the trustees for those districts agree thereto.
(b) Except as provided in this subsection, all actions
taken under this article shall conform to the following
criteria:
(i) School districts shall be organized as efficient
administrative units considering primarily the education,
convenience and welfare of the children;
(ii) Except as authorized in W.S. 21-6-223, the
entire state shall be divided into unified school districts;
(iii) All territory of each school district shall be
contiguous;
(iv) All territory within a school district shall be
a single area from which trustees are elected at-large or be
divided into trustee residence areas. Each trustee residence
area shall be contiguous. In establishing trustee residence
areas, the structure for election of trustees shall be in
accordance with W.S. 21-3-111(b);
(v) In developing proposals for organization,
reorganization and adjustment of boundaries the district
boundary boards shall consider a ratio of average daily
membership to assessed valuation as nearly equalized as
practicable among the districts in the various counties;
(vi) Each proposal shall include provisions for
educational opportunity and services as nearly equal as possible
in all areas of each district;
(vii) A public hearing or hearings shall be held
prior to the submission of a proposal by the district boundary
boards prior to the organization, reorganization, boundary
adjustment or combining of school districts to receive and keep
a record of testimony. Notice of each public hearing shall be
published in a newspaper of general circulation in the area at
least once each week for the two (2) weeks immediately preceding
the time set for each hearing. The notice shall contain a
statement of the time and place of the hearing and a brief
summary of its purpose. In addition, at least ten (10) days and
not more than fourteen (14) days before the hearing, a copy of
the notice shall be sent by mail to each school district trustee
residing in the area involved in the hearing. A subcommittee
composed of not less than three (3) members of each district
boundary board involved, may hold any hearing required to be
held under this paragraph.
(c) Unless the state committee determines the information
required by this subsection is not necessary for a proposal, a
district boundary board proposal submitted to the state
committee shall contain:
(i) A name and number of the proposed district;
(ii) A map showing the boundaries of established
school districts and the boundaries proposed;
(iii) A description of the proposed boundaries;
(iv) Recommendations respecting the location of
schools, the utilization of existing buildings, allocation of
existing indebtedness, the employment of existing personnel, the
procedure for the reduction in force of employees and the
transportation requirements under the proposal;
(v) A summary of the reasons for the proposal;
(vi) A record of all hearings;
(vii) A summary of anticipated improvement in
education; and
(viii) Other reports, records and materials as the
district boundary board or the state committee deems
appropriate.