Dear Editor,

Recently, there has been some concerning misinformation suggesting School District 51 has “manufactured” a financial crisis. This narrative is not only false, it’s harmful to our staff, teachers, students and the broader community.

If we want our community to ever consider supporting a future mill-levy override, it’s vital they understand the facts: District 51 is not adequately funded by the state, and no one has fabricated or exaggerated a financial crisis. The State of Colorado has commissioned two independent studies confirming that public education funding falls short of what’s needed to adequately serve students. You can review those reports here: www.air.org/project/colorado-financial-adequacy-study and www.apaconsulting.com/co-adequacy-study.

The D51 Board of Education and administration recognize recent discussions about district finances and school closures have raised questions. Because some inaccurate information has been circulating, we want to provide our community with a clear and factual explanation of the financial and enrollment challenges that guided these difficult decisions.

Since the 2019–2020 school year, D51’s student enrollment has dropped by more than 2,000 students, nearly three times faster than the state average. The signs of this began as early as 2017. This year alone, our student count declined by another 2.4 percent. Because Colorado funds schools based on the number of students enrolled, fewer students mean fewer dollars. Declining enrollment directly reduces the district’s yearly funding, no matter what changes occur at the state level.

Consolidating underused buildings and reducing staff continue to save the district more than $7.2 million each year. In total, these changes have avoided over $15 million in cumulative costs. These savings came from closing East Middle School, Fruita 8/9, three elementary schools, and reducing the size of our central office. Those funds have been redirected to teacher pay, benefits and classroom resources, where they have the most direct impact on students.

The district’s “fund balance” is like a savings account that helps protect against unexpected costs or drops in funding. This balance grew because of careful planning, not because the district withheld money from schools. During the pandemic, federal COVID relief funds – known as ESSER dollars (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) – were used strategically to cover certain expenses so that the district’s main budget, called the general fund, could be used for long-term stability while ensuring student needs were met.

Importantly, the district did not “hold back” state money. Those funds were used to raise staff pay and benefits, keep up with inflation and maintain essential programs.

From 2020–21 to 2024–25, total salary and benefit costs increased from $139 million to $199 million, a 43 percent increase. Total district spending rose 39 percent during the same time. Meanwhile, reserves grew from 14 percent to 23 percent of expenditures, which is appropriate for a $250 million annual budget. Strong reserves aren’t excess; they’re protection for students and staff in case of future downturns.

Even as enrollment declined, D51 invested heavily in its staff. Nearly all employees affected by school closures were able to stay employed within the district. The district’s pay increases in recent years, including a 38 percent increase in average teacher pay, have outpaced many other Colorado districts. These improvements were made possible by ongoing savings and careful budgeting.

While reductions in the state’s “Negative Factor” or “Budget Stabilization Factor” helped all Colorado districts that receive state funding, that change was not a repayment of previous funding losses, which totaled nearly $250 million for D51 over many years. Our district’s stable financial position is the result of local, long-term decisions, not an unexpected windfall. Without the savings from school closures and efficiency measures, D51 would be facing multi-million-dollar structural deficits today.

The D51 Board of Education and district leadership have worked to maintain financial stability, improve staff pay and protect student programs during a time of declining enrollment and rising costs. We understand school closures affect communities. Those choices were not made lightly. They were made to ensure that every student in Mesa County continues to have access to strong academic programs, great teachers and well-supported schools for years to come.

If anyone in the community has any questions, please reach out to the board of education or the D51 finance department with any and all questions. You can find contact information at d51schools.org.

— Andrea Haitz, Board of Education President, Mesa County Valley School District 51