Estes Park school enrollment is down over the past decade; kindergartners count 1/2

The old phrase "do the math" often doesn't help in the ever-more-complicated world of education.

[And]

why do we employ full time Kindergarten teachers if we only get 1/2 pupil funding for kindergarteners?? Doesn't sound like any kind of financially responsible leadership has been in place for several years.

[Oh brother]

And wrote:

why do we employ full time Kindergarten teachers if we only get 1/2 pupil funding for kindergarteners?? Doesn't sound like any kind of financially responsible leadership has been in place for several years.

Put a For Sale sign on the old elementary school and use that income to offset debt instead of belly aching and pointing fingers and once again setting the taxpayer up for a mill levy overide (tax). It's not that hard folks.

[Why is]

the district's enrollment declining? That's the big question and it has little to do with the economy. This district is the joke of the educational system in Colorado with it's embezzlement, scandals, and incompetentency, big headed dictators/superintendents (present super is an exception...he's so so). Linda Chapman did so much damage to this district but was rewarded with outrageous bonuses which we as tax payers had no say in and could not afford and superintendent of the year??????? None were deserved but past boards had to get in their last dig before terming out. Once Todd Jirsa and Tony Paglia leave maybe, just maybe we will get things back to a honest, transparent, and fair track for kids, parents, community and staff.

[Mountain Wanderer]

So you think that we have a ten year decline in our next generation because someone received a bigger bonus than you think they should have received….hmm, you might be right of course but I think it might have more to do with when young parents said they need to feed their families for more than four months out of the year, when they pointed out that there is no opportunity for advancement higher than head bartender at the local cirrhosisatorium, when they complained that there is no advanced training here that would help their teenage children in the big bad world, the only response they received was a snotty "well if you don't like it here just LEAVE"….so they did.

[tstreet]

Would like to know more? How much of this is due to less young people of child bearing age? How much of this is due to lower children per females of child bearing age? What has been the trend in full time residents? What, if anything, does this have to do with the quality of the schools?

That aside, we would have to know more before we concluded that the trend in number of pupils was disturbing? That would seem to be better than an explosion of children which would put a heavy load on our schools and our taxpayers.

If this is a function of people deciding to have less children, that would be a good thing.

[Actual Parent]

I have children that go to school in Estes Park. The teachers and administration are wonderful. They care about educating all of the children as best they can. Compared with other districts (and other states) they do a great job with a comparably limited amount of money.

Part of the last mil levy included funding the kindergarten for full days. This was voted on by the voters of Estes Park. The school district and the voters decided to support all day kindergarten to help give young children a head start on academics. Most school districts have made the same decision.

Selling the old elementary school to make money for the school district in not a legal option and even if it were, the swimming pool (which the whole town uses) is connected and the sale wouldn't provide the ongoing money that the school needs.

Embezzlement and fraud are an unfortunate occurrence in all areas of business. The Estes Park school district is not alone in having this happen. They have made positive changes in their security measures so that this has little likely hood of happening again. But bad employees happen. The Estes Park Rec District had an employee stealing gasoline - one milk jug at a time. It's hard to account for every possibility.

The parents of children in the school district are amazing volunteers who give up a lot of time to help out in the school.

I know families that have moved away - and then come back realizing what a great school we do have.

Of course the lack of jobs has caused some families to move away from Estes Park. The demographics of the town of Estes Park and how they affect the school district is a concern. Cities evolve and school districts must change with it.

If you don't like how the school district operates, there are lots of ways to make a positive difference.

[You have]

Actual Parent wrote:

I have children that go to school in Estes Park. The teachers and administration are wonderful. They care about educating all of the children as best they can. Compared with other districts (and other states) they do a great job with a comparably limited amount of money.
Part of the last mil levy included funding the kindergarten for full days. This was voted on by the voters of Estes Park. The school district and the voters decided to support all day kindergarten to help give young children a head start on academics. Most school districts have made the same decision.
Selling the old elementary school to make money for the school district in not a legal option and even if it were, the swimming pool (which the whole town uses) is connected and the sale wouldn't provide the ongoing money that the school needs.
Embezzlement and fraud are an unfortunate occurrence in all areas of business. The Estes Park school district is not alone in having this happen. They have made positive changes in their security measures so that this has little likely hood of happening again. But bad employees happen. The Estes Park Rec District had an employee stealing gasoline - one milk jug at a time. It's hard to account for every possibility.
The parents of children in the school district are amazing volunteers who give up a lot of time to help out in the school.
I know families that have moved away - and then come back realizing what a great school we do have.
Of course the lack of jobs has caused some families to move away from Estes Park. The demographics of the town of Estes Park and how they affect the school district is a concern. Cities evolve and school districts must change with it.
If you don't like how the school district operates, there are lots of ways to make a positive difference.

have got to be kidding...to make excuses for inappropriate behavior is ridiculous. Estes park is the joke of the front range. And yes it is legal to sell the old elementary school. There is no way to spin what past board members, some still here, and superintendents did to this district. Or are you a board member actual parent? Have to be because everyone else knows the truth.

[An idea]

Oh brother wrote:

<quoted text>
Put a For Sale sign on the old elementary school and use that income....

Lot's of sunshine there, it would be a perfect location for a marijuana greenhouse. Oh wiat, it's in town limits...oh wait(2), it's within 500 ft of a school.
Well, any other options? I don't see the site as conducive to many business ventures - wait - how about a parking garage?