MILLS, Wyo. — The Mills City Council has approved building site plans for a public charter school on 22 acres at the intersection of Poison Spider Lane and Robertson Road.

Wyoming Classical Academy proposes to construct a K–12 campus in a multi-phased development.

During its Nov. 14 regular session, the Mills City Council approved by resolution a site plan for Phase I consisting of a two-story classroom building for grades K–6.

On Nov. 2, the City of Mills Planning and Zoning Board voted to recommend that the City Council approve the charter school site plan with a list of conditions.

A master site plan for the 20-acre lot, zoned urban agriculture, proposes construction of three sections totaling 82,220 square feet done in three phases. Phase 1 is for a two-story, 37,920-square-foot elementary building. Phase 2 is for a 29,800-square-foot middle and high school and Phase 3 is for a 14,500-square-foot gymnasium.

City approval requires a traffic study review along with current traffic conditions, if necessary, when Phase 2 construction is considered.

“All recommendations of the updated traffic analysis shall be met at that time,” state city documents.

According to Nov. 2 planning and zoning board minutes, board member Bob Greenley suggested starting now to think about the traffic signal at Robertson Road and Poison Spider Lane.

Shawn Gustafson, the applicant’s agent, said a traffic impact study had been done for the property and indicated that a signal would be needed at the intersection at full-build-out, meeting minutes state.

According to P&Z minutes, City Planner Megan Nelms told board members the city wants to ensure costs for traffic signal installation are shared if other areas around the school and intersection develop in the future.

Planning and zoning board members also questioned crosswalk locations, lack of sidewalks on the other side of Robertson Road and the narrow width of Poison Spider Lane.

Nelms said Poison Spider Lane will be widened and a left turn lane added at the far western end of the property near the student drop-off entrance, according to meeting minutes.

Opened Aug. 28 for students in kindergarten through sixth grade in the former Mills Elementary School at 420 2nd St., Wyoming Classical Academy Inc. is a tuition-free Wyoming public charter school. An open house was held in Mills for Natrona County residents interested in the proposed school in January 2022.

“We are a Hillsdale College Barney Charter School that offers an exceptional American classical education,” states Headmaster Matt Teterud on the City of Mills website.

Hillsdale College in Michigan provides an American classical K–12 education curriculum guided by the liberal arts and sciences, the Hillsdale College website states.

The publicly funded academy intends to expand with a new grade each year until it is a K–12 school.

The charter was created via a contract between the State Loan and Investment Board made up of Wyoming’s top five elected officials and Wyoming Classical Academy overseen by a five-member board. The contract, signed by representatives of both entities in early 2023, was effective July 1. It is valid through June 30, 2028.

The Wyoming Department of Education supervises as the SLIB’s agent.

Read the Wyoming Classical Academy and State Loan and Investment Board contract here: