Why we are approaching declining enrollment differently this time

Beginning next week, we will welcome students, parents, employees and community members to engagement sessions as we look to make our schools resilient in a time of declining enrollment. 

It is crucially important that we hear from our community regarding their values and priorities before we make decisions about the future of our schools.

This is markedly different from what happened at the Boulder Valley School District about 20 years ago. Facing a similar decline in enrollment, the decision was made to close a number of schools, and then the district engaged the community.

This time we are approaching engagement differently. We are committed to listen to as many voices as possible before decisions are made. 

We started by connecting with our elementary principals and teachers – knowing they are closest to our students and know what they need to succeed. We are focused on the elementary level (PK-5 and PK-8 schools) at this time because that is where the impacts of enrollment decline are being felt the most. Now we begin our community engagement process, with six engagement sessions over the next two weeks, followed by a survey for all BVSD families and staff.

Read more about what to expect at our Community Engagement Sessions in this overview. 

The choices we face are complicated, and that’s why we are investing in building a shared understanding of the challenges together.

While our schools are performing incredibly well now, projections over the next five years show that we will have about 1,600 fewer students than we do now. We cannot stay on the current path. We simply won’t be able to sustain the educational excellence or programmatic options our families expect from BVSD.

During the session participants will learn about the challenges our under-enrolled schools face.  

Everyone will have the opportunity to share their values, priorities and consider the consequences that each possible action could have on our students, families and district.

Each event will be two and a half hours and include small group exercises facilitated by BVSD principals.The goal is to give everyone meaningful opportunities to share their voice and for BVSD leaders to actively listen. 

Every voice matters to us because it will inform the difficult decisions  we will make this fall. 

Please RSVP today and join us.