Those Rotarians who braved the heavy snow on Friday were treated to an excellent presentation about our local school district by Roaring Fork School District Superintendent, Dr. Anna Cole. Cole provided a thorough overview of the Roaring Fork School District with candor, humor, and intelligence.
Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) is the second largest employer in the Valley (Aspen Ski Co. is the first) employing over 1000 full- and part-time workers (500 teachers and 300 other full-time employees). They provide education to approximately 6000 students in 12 schools and 2 charter schools.
Cole considers student diversity the district’s strongest asset. 60% of students are Latinx. 40% live in Spanish-speaking households, and 50% of student families have incomes below poverty level. These strengths contribute to district challenges, too.
Upon entry into the position, Cole organized a thorough assessment of the district to understand where the staff needs to focus. The assessment results identified RFSD’s strengths as 1) building strong relationship culture, 2) prioritizing student safety, 3) deeply committed staff, 4) providing wrap-around support for families through strong community partnerships, 5) creating a stable learning environment, 6) care, and 7) high-quality, research-based curriculum.
The study identified challenges as well; 1) systemic achievement gaps along socioeconomic and racial lines. Cole frankly admitted, “we are missing the mark with over half of our students,” 2) instruction is not meeting the rigor of the content taught; teachers are not appropriately challenging students enough, 3) inconsistent opportunities for cognitive engagement, 4) chronic absenteeism, and 5) weak sense of belonging.
Using these results, the district and board developed a new strategic plan targeting the district’s challenges by leveraging its strengths. The plan is outlined on the district website. A data dashboard is forthcoming which will communicate to all how the district is progressing.
Schools have become more than simply the providers of education. The high cost of living and the challenges of educator recruitment and retention have driven the district to build and operate 135 housing units with more to come. School meal programs and health centers seek to meet the needs of students and their families.
The district faces new challenges in the coming years, particularly in terms of finance and declining enrollments. School age enrollment is dropping all over the country and has been for a while. Colorado is one of the last states to experience this decline. High costs of living in the mountains lessen the required in-migration needed to maintain enrollment.
Cole concluded her presentation with Q & A that was robust and lively. Desires for another appearance by Cole were expressed so if you missed her this time, stay tuned for her return.
