DOUGLAS - At least one school building here is rapidly running out of room, with enrollment increasing even as unprecedented community growth is forecast for the next 10 to 25 years.

Superintendent Dan Espeland wants to prepare now for when those young students grow into their middle and high school years, but is somewhat strapped in advance planning.

He's facing skepticism from lawmakers and School Facilities Commission officials, and a reluctance to build now for projected needs.

"I think there is some skepticism in the Legislature about whether, actually, we will experience the continued growth some people are predicting," Espeland said.

The local economic development organization recently publicized information suggesting the city's population could double within seven to 15 years due to energy development.

"There is that fear we may hit a bust down the line. And there's some concern with overbuilding - that's not a good situation, either," Espeland said.

Espeland anticipates a School Facilities Commission report in about three weeks that will prioritize capital construction projects across the state, including a new primary school for Douglas.

The best news, however, may be that the commission has decided to hold back some of the capital construction money it expects to receive from the state this biennium, as a backup for emergency situations.

Following a joint meeting of the Select School Facilities Committee and School Facilities Commission Friday in Casper, director Ken Daraie said about $20 million of the commission's appropriation will be reserved until the last six to nine months of the biennium, when money typically runs out but needs are more clear.

"It's a lot of money, and yet it's not a lot, depending on what you wish to be able to do with it," Daraie said.

At that point, the $20 million could fund a new elementary school and a few emergencies, such as boiler or roof problems, Daraie said. If no emergencies arise, the money would fund the next item down on the commission's priority list.

The account is not a "reserve," Daraie said.

"By the time we're appropriated dollars, I don't think the Legislature intends for us to save money," he said. "The state is responsible for that. We need to put it to work as efficiently, prudently and as soon as possible."

Sen. Jim Anderson, R-Glenrock, chairs the legislative select committee. He said the committee and School Facilities Commission are considering ways to be more flexible, including shifting projects on the priority list when districts experience unusual changes, or when projects are delayed several years due to property constraints or other issues. That way, money can be spent on projects that are ready to go.

That could be good news for Douglas schools, which have enjoyed moderate enrollment increases for a number of years, even as other districts slipped in numbers. Recently, however, enrollment is significantly higher - especially in the youngest grades - and is continuing to grow as the school year plays out, a trend that is "quite unusual," Espeland said.

Enrollment districtwide was up "quite a bit" in September with 125 new students, but numbers dropped a few in the first two months. By the end of October, however, enrollment grew again.

In years past, the district would often lose enrollment through the year as seasonal workers left the area, Espeland explained. That trend is no longer holding, with numbers now remaining steady in some schools and increasing in others.

"If our enrollment continues to increase at the rate it is now, or even at a greater rate, even though we are down the list maybe two to three years for a new elementary school, we may get moved up on that list," Espeland said.

He acknowledged that many districts statewide have facility needs, and there's only so much money to spread around.

"Our primary concern right now is the elementary grades," Espeland said. "However, throughout our state, facility needs are extensive. A lot of schools were built in the 1970s and 1980s, and some need to be replaced. And, we're not alone in our issues of increased enrollment."

Anderson said at least four to five Wyoming counties are entering fairly rapid growth cycles, which affect schools. The picture can change rapidly, he said, citing Glenrock.

Mandated to downsize its buildings following significant drops in enrollment the past several years, that district is now on an upswing. A new school building recently completed to accommodate fewer students has already added classrooms - something, fortunately, the district had planned for in the new school design.

"We need to be able to respond to some of these instances," Anderson said. "We've come out of a situation when a lot of our schools were losing population."

Douglas never suffered significant drops in students, although the kind of growth happening now wasn't exactly predictable.

If numbers continue to climb, the district will have to consider additional modulars or new construction, Espeland said.

And modulars only fill a space need for so long. "There is a point where the concerns are not only classrooms, but lunchrooms, gymnasiums, music rooms," he said.

Right now, the middle and high schools are handling new students well. Espeland is thinking down the road, however, especially if enrollment in the younger grades continues to climb.

"If we continue to experience the growth we are right now at the primary school, we could be, down the line, looking at some capacity issues in those buildings too," he said.