Together, we'll work to do what's best for kids
Our students have more diverse needs than ever, and we are preparing to support them with fewer resources. Declining birth rates and declining student enrollment are having negative impacts in Poudre School District and on school districts across the state of Colorado and the nation. Demographers project an enrollment decrease of about 10% in PSD in the next several years, which equates to a recurring reduction of roughly $40 million to the district’s annual budget (10% of a roughly $400 million total budget). Said another way, this is equal to about 404 full-time positions.
With mounting facility maintenance and improvement needs and a need for new facilities to support the continuing growth in some areas of our district – such as the towns of Timnath and Wellington – collectively nearing an estimated $1 billion in cost, the PSD Board of Education will need to decide whether to ask voters to support a ballot measure.
What are the issues?
- Birth rates have been declining.
- Student enrollment has been decreasing.
- Colorado has one of the lowest funding rates for schools in the nation.
As a result, PSD faces significant cuts to programming and services and must make changes to educational programs, possibly consolidate schools, and change boundaries. Changes would go into effect no sooner than the 2025-26 school year.
We'll engage with our community to look for solutions
In PSD, we exist for our students. We believe in the transformative power of public education to positively impact students’ lives and prepare them to be successful in a changing world. One of the things that our students learn is how to solve real-world problems and adjust as things evolve. We are practicing what we teach and working with our community to address the very real challenges that are affecting our larger community today and for years to come. Navigating change isn’t easy, but we do so better when we do it together.
Review the possible options for boundary modifications, school consolidations and educational program changes that would take effect in the 2025-26 school year on the Facilities Planning Steering Committee web page. >>
Looking ahead:
- May 7: It is anticipated that updated scenarios developed by the Facilities Planning Steering Committee will be shared with the community around May 7, after which time, the community will have the opportunity to provide additional feedback via questionnaire.
- May 14 board meeting: These updated scenarios will be presented to the Board of Education at their meeting on May 14.
- May 28: The final recommendations from the Facilities Planning Steering Committee regarding potential changes will be shared with the Board of Education on May 28.
- June 4: A Board of Education listening session will be held 5:30-10 p.m., Tuesday, June 4, in the auditorium at Fort Collins High School, 3400 Lambkin Way in Fort Collins
- June 11: It is anticipated the board will vote on these possible changes at their June 11 meeting.
Roles in the process
- Facilities Planning Steering Committee: Leads this work
- Evaluates data and information and engages the community to develop two to three scenarios for change to address the challenges the district faces
- Makes a recommendation to the Board of Education in June 2024
- Guided by Colorado State University’s Institute for the Built Environment, an outside facilitator hired by PSD
- PSD Staff and Superintendent: By invitation only
- Supports the work of the Facilities Planning Steering Committee by providing information and resources to the committee
- Board of Education: Decision maker
- Listens to and provides feedback on the recommendation of the Facilities Planning Steering Committee
- Votes to approve any changes to be implemented for the 2025-26 school year
Community participation
In addition, all members of the community will be able to participate in the process by sharing ideas, concerns, and other feedback in listening sessions that are currently scheduled for March 2024.
The difficult but necessary steps we take today keep us aligned with our values of ensuring that students and their families have high-quality educational choices in PSD; growing the programs that are in high demand; and continuing to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars and community assets like our facilities. Inaction puts the long-term sustainability of our entire school district at risk in the future.
Learn more - "Understanding PSD" video series: