Parents of students enrolled in the Academy of Public Service (APS) program at Rock Springs High School received an unexpected ParentSquare notification Thursday afternoon. The message, sent by Sweetwater County School District No. 1 employee Lyndsey James, was distributed as an Immediate Notification to parents and students. Rather than providing information related to academics, student activities, transportation, or another educational matter, it encouraged recipients to volunteer for Eric Barlow’s gubernatorial campaign.
The notification stated:
“Susie Von Ahrens is looking for volunteers to walk in the parade on Saturday for the Eric Barlow campaign. If you would like to walk in the parade and hand out campaign materials, please contact Ms. Ahrens at 307-871-0761.”
When Barlow announced his campaign leadership team in January 2026, Fred and Susie von Ahrens of Sweetwater County were included among those leading the campaign.
ParentSquare is Sweetwater County School District No. 1’s official communication platform. The district uses it to communicate with parents about school operations, student programs, transportation, emergencies, and other official school business. Families reasonably expect messages delivered through that system to concern their children’s education, not political campaigns.
Wyoming law limits the use of public resources for political activity, and Statute 9-13-105 states: “A public official, public member or public employee shall not use public funds, time, personnel, facilities or equipment for political or campaign activity unless the use is authorized by law.”
The ParentSquare notification was distributed through a taxpayer-funded communication system maintained by the school district. Whether that use complies with Wyoming’s ethics laws is a question that deserves careful review based on the facts and any applicable district procedures.
A review of Sweetwater County School District No. 1’s publicly available Board policies did not identify a policy specifically authorizing the use of ParentSquare or other district communication systems for political campaign messages. That does not necessarily mean no guidance exists. Such direction may instead be contained in administrative regulations, employee handbooks, internal procedures, or ParentSquare operating guidelines that are not publicly posted.
The same legal and ethical standards should apply regardless of the candidate or political party. Public schools are entrusted with taxpayer-funded resources for the purpose of educating students and communicating with families about school-related matters. Maintaining that public trust requires that official communication systems be used in a manner consistent with Wyoming law and the responsibilities of a public institution.
SCSD1 Statement:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 2026
SWEETWATER SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1
PRESS RELEASE
Sweetwater School District No. 1 Apologizes for ParentSquare Communication Regarding Political Volunteer Opportunity
ROCK SPRINGS, WY—Sweetwater School District No. 1 wishes to address a recent ParentSquare message sent to select district families and community members. The communication in question shared a volunteer opportunity that was associated with a specific political candidate. We recognize that this was an error, and we sincerely apologize to our community and families.
The intent behind the message was to share what appeared to be a community volunteer opportunity, not to endorse or promote any political candidate or party. Unfortunately, the association with a single candidate’s campaign was not identified prior to distribution, and the message should not have been sent in the manner it was. Had this opportunity been shared at all, it should have been extended equally to all candidates and all parties in the spirit of civic engagement.
Sweetwater School District No. 1 does not take a stance on, endorse or support any political candidate, political party, or partisan cause. This is a core value of our district and a standard to which we hold ourselves firmly accountable. Our role in the civic process is to promote civic awareness and encourage informed participation among students, families and staff, representing all perspectives fairly and without bias.
We are committed to reviewing our internal communication review processes to ensure that future messages distributed through ParentSquare and other district channels meet the high standards our community deserves. We take this responsibility seriously and are taking immediate steps to strengthen our approval procedures.
We are deeply sorry for any confusion, concern, or offense this message may have caused. The trust of our families and community members is something we do not take lightly. Sweetwater School District No. 1 remains dedicated to serving all students and families regardless of political affiliation, and we thank you for your continued support and understanding.
**End of Statement**