Let’s have the courage to imagine an even better school district

Dear BVSD Families and Staff,

Over the past several years, we have accomplished something remarkable. Together, we have made a great school district even better — and that has not been easy.

By nearly every measure, the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) is performing at the highest level in its history:

• Accredited with Distinction for the second consecutive year — the only district in the Denver Metro Area and Northern Colorado with this accomplishment
• Graduation rate of 93.3% — the highest in district history
• Strong academic growth and achievement across the system

These outcomes did not happen by accident. They were made possible by creating better conditions for our students and teachers through our All Together for All Students Strategic Plan, which made a commitment to:

• Come together as a community
• Imagine making one of the best school districts in Colorado even better
• Take action so that every student has the opportunity to succeed

When a system is already high-performing, it can be difficult to imagine improvement. We, however, have been working to address the persistent gaps between white students and students of color, and between students with more advantages and those with greater needs.

We refocused on research-based practices, aligned resources intentionally, and gave more funding to schools serving students with higher needs.

In just a few short years, the impact has been significant. It is still a work in progress, but student performance is rising across groups, and schools that once struggled are showing strong momentum.

We now face a different challenge – declining enrollment 

Enrollment loss directly impacts funding. We know that if student numbers continue to decline, we will not have the resources to sustain the programs, staffing, and opportunities our community expects — and our students deserve.

It is human nature to hold tightly to what we know and love.

But once again, we are calling on our community to:

• Come together as a community
• Imagine making one of the best school districts in Colorado even better
• Take action so that every student has the opportunity to succeed

Across Colorado and the nation, many districts facing similar circumstances have moved quickly to propose solutions with limited community input. That was also the experience in BVSD during the enrollment decline nearly 20 years ago.

This time, we are choosing a different path.

Let’s have the courage to do it differently, BVSD

Before developing formal proposals, we are engaging our community. We are asking families, staff, and community members to share their values and priorities.

Your feedback will inform district leaders as they shape potential options, and ultimately guide the Board of Education in determining next steps.

As engagement begins, we are starting to hear a familiar message from parents: “Save our school.”

That reaction is understandable. Schools are deeply personal. They represent memories, relationships, and identity.

But if we focus only on preserving what exists today, we risk missing the opportunity to design something even stronger for tomorrow.

Let us approach this moment thoughtfully, honestly, and courageously — committed not only to protecting what we love, but to building a school system capable of serving every student for years to come.

As we move forward, we ask our community to commit to three shared principles:

Appreciate Today While Imagining Tomorrow

We can honor and celebrate the schools we love while also envisioning a future that may look different — and stronger — for our children.

Disagree with Respect and Curiosity

Healthy debate is part of democracy. We will not all agree, and that is okay. Let us model for our students how to engage in difficult conversations with respect, civility, and shared purpose.

Leave Children Out of the Debate

This process can be emotional. Young learners should not carry that weight. Regardless of the outcome, every student will continue to be part of a caring, supportive learning community — and our goal is to make those communities even stronger.

We are grateful for your partnership, your honesty, and your commitment to BVSD’s future.

Together, we can once again imagine — and build — something better.