More School Aged Children Could Return

Laramie, Wy –
Census figures show that there are ten thousand fewer school aged children then five years ago. That has many school officials wringing their hands, since school funding is based on enrollment. But a Cheyenne economist thinks things will improve. Dick O'Gara predicts that more school age children are coming to the state, mostly because of the economic improvements he sees throughout the state.
But O'Gara quickly adds a caveat. He says most of the increases will occur in the states larger towns. He thinks the smaller communities could still see enrollment losses. O'Gara says the lack of jobs in small towns in the biggest culprit.