CHUGWATER – This fall marks the second year for Prairie View Community School in Chugwater, and after clearing a lot of red tape, its 88 students will be able to arrive on a newly-formed bus fleet.
The school’s administrators have been working with the Wyoming Department of Education and the state’s transportation department to define what a fleet would look like for the charter school who crosses traditional public school district boundaries. After many meetings, a lot of paperwork, and after an unfortunate breakdown of two buses originally slated to come from Fremont County, Platte County School District. No. 1 out of Wheatland agreed to sign over two of their buses that were retired due to age and mileage. PVCS students from Wheatland and Cheyenne will arrive on their first day of school on the buses, and, utilizing a couple multiple passenger vehicles added to the community school’s fleet, students to the east and west will also be transported to school.
PCSD No. 1 superintendent John Weigel said at Monday night’s school board meeting he was happy to help the community school, and since the WDE controls the transportation system for authorized schools within the state, it does not financially affect the school district based in Wheatland.

PVCS director Bryce Cushman said he is excited the school will be able to provide this service for their students. By taking advantage of the bus driver training program recently offered by Platte Co. School District No. 1 in Wheatland, PVCS was able to add four drivers to their staff, for a total of six fully licensed bus drivers.
The plan is for students to load and unload onto the buses at the Wheatland Middle School in Wheatland, in cooperation with PCSD No. 1, and at the fire station off Horse Creek Road in Cheyenne. Additionally, teachers coming from Wheatland will also be allowed to ride the bus if they desire. The advantage of Chugwater’s location makes the ride approximately 30 minutes for both routes.
Another sign of progress for the school will be the hot, fresh meals that will be served this year, made mostly from scratch. PVCS has hired Danette Springs to head up the kitchen and cook meals that will cost under $4 per meal.
As an approved charter school under the purview of the WDE, Prairie View Community School in Chugwater provides school choice to the families of Chugwater and surrounding areas. Students in the school come from Laramie, Platte, and Goshen Counties. The school schedule runs 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Monday through Thursday, beginning August 20.