This week we wrapped up the 24/25 school year in the Roaring Fork Schools. We graduated 475 seniors last weekend from Bridges, Basalt, Roaring Fork, and Glenwood Springs High Schools. We served 5,560 students. We employed over 800 full time professionals and many more part time guest teachers and athletic coaches. We partnered with nearly 3,000 valley families. This year we welcomed almost 400 new kindergarteners and opened our first infant rooms, welcoming 16 children of the class of 2042. 

Almost 1,000 RFSD students took advanced coursework in the 24/25 school year including Advanced Placement and college courses in partnership with Colorado Mountain College. Over 250 students participated in Career and Technical Education pathways like automotive, construction, and health sciences earning industry certifications and laying the groundwork for post-secondary college and career success.

This year student athletes competed on over 40 varsity sports teams, many at regional and state championships. Student leaders participated in academic and career focused activities including Model United Nations, Mock Trial, Speech & Debate, and Culinary Arts competitions that sent them across the country to compete at national levels. Thousands of RFSD students participated in music and art programming and showcased their efforts in music recitals, art exhibitions, and theater performances. At our elementary and middle schools, students participated in service learning projects, visited libraries and museums, explored local riparian areas, and many had their first experience sleeping out under the stars through outdoor education programs. 

This year our schools developed comprehensive school culture and climate plans that improved student behavior — dramatically decreasing disciplinary incidents across all schools. We partnered with families to support student academic achievement through day-to-day conversations, formal parent-teacher conferences, and school and district parent advisory committees. In this year’s district-wide parent survey, we achieved the highest levels of positive feedback in all areas since the survey’s inception in 2019.

This year we opened Meadowood, our largest staff housing project in Carbondale. 50 RFSD employees and their families moved into brand new, energy efficient, spacious 1-3 bedroom condos at affordable rates. We launched new employee labor relations teams and implemented our first Certified Teacher Collaborative Bargaining Contract to ensure that RFSD staff have a seat at the table to improve working conditions, salaries, and benefits. 

We conducted an organizational equity audit to ensure that our internal systems related to HR, finance, and policy are aligned to our overarching mission and commitment to equitable outcomes for all students. We conducted a Special Education Program Review to ensure that we are meeting the needs of students with disabilities. Our Board of Education updated and revised nearly 90 policies – strengthening governance and accountability along the way. 

Much of this work is guided by and aligned to our new 5-year strategic plan. Launched this year, it directs the Roaring Fork Schools into a new era of accountability and transparency. As part of the plan, we’ve published data on our website that tracks our progress on priorities in real time. There, the public can view the metrics we measure to advance these 5 priorities: Students First, Rigorous Learning for All, Operational Excellence, Student-Centered Partnerships, and a Thriving Team. 

In the midst of this busy year, we successfully navigated a staggering set of internal and external financial challenges. We emerged with a balanced 25/26 budget, stronger internal finance systems, and achieved this without significant impacts to students, programming, staff, or families. 

It has been a productive year, but challenges remain. In terms of strategic goals — and student outcomes specifically — the achievement gap between student groups persists in nearly every academic indicator. Student attendance is still far from our target 95% daily goal. We must do more to make sure every student feels a strong sense of belonging and representation in their school communities. We must continue to improve operational systems to deliver efficient, effective services that enhance student learning and teacher success. We have to continue to strengthen partnerships with parents in support of student academic growth and achievement.

And we must do more to recruit and retain a high quality staff that reflects the diversity of our valley. Our strategic plans will guide this work over the next four years and our data dashboard will ensure that we monitor progress and adjust course when needed.

We also anticipate considerable external challenges. Declining student enrollment will continue to stretch resources to deliver comprehensive programming across our small schools. The rising cost of living and health care in the valley makes it hard for students, staff, and families to meet basic needs. And the uncertainty of funding at the state and federal levels makes long term financial planning difficult.

We will continue to forge ahead. This week we’ll send students and most student-facing staff off for a well deserved summer break. Operational teams will stay on through the summer to care for facilities and grounds, maintain operational systems, and run summer programming. 

We have much to be grateful for. If you share your child with us, work for the Roaring Fork Schools, partner with the Roaring Fork Schools, cheer on athletic teams, volunteer at events or on committees, follow the local education news, or pay local taxes, you are a part of the Roaring Fork Schools community. We are grateful for your support. Thank you for being part of our continuous improvement, our progress on behalf of kids and community. It has been an honor to serve you this school year.   

Dr. Anna Cole is superintendent of the Roaring Fork District Schools in Glenwood Springs, Carbondale and Basalt.