Welcome back to Class Notes.

This week: Jeffco finally showed where the $45 million in cuts are landing, but hasn’t said which 11 schools face the deepest reductions. A former school psychologist was convicted of sexual assault. And the district sold a shuttered elementary school for half its appraised value, with neighbors now fighting the housing development.

One thing I noticed this week: A lot of decisions that affect families happen behind closed doors. By the time parents hear about them, the window for input has nearly closed. Sound familiar?

Let's get into it.

First look: How Jeffco's $45M in cuts will hit schools

The district finally showed where the cuts are landing. Eleven schools face deeper reductions than average, but the district won't say which ones.

Jefferson County Public Schools eliminated 139 positions, including 50 filled jobs, as part of a plan to cut $45 million and close a $60 million budget gap. At the Jan. 7 board meeting, officials spelled out which departments will lose the most—but declined to name the 11 schools facing cuts steeper than 3%.

Parents will find out when budget allocations arrive this month, leaving just weeks for School Accountability Committees to weigh in before teacher notifications begin in February.

What students will see: Fewer hot meal choices and longer cafeteria lines. Four social-emotional learning coaches cut. Fewer nurses. Custodians cleaning more square footage. Repairs taking longer.

Between the lines: The teachers’ union told the board they don't feel like "equal partners” in the budget-cutting process and that they have struggled to get information about the cuts to answer members’ questions.

What's next: The board voted last night (Jan. 15) on a revised budget showing the district will spend $49 million more than it collects—$10 million worse than projected just seven months ago. A community committee is now working on a potential November ballot measure to restore some funding.

📌📌 Jeffco sold Zerger Elementary for half its appraised value. The former school was appraised at $3.43 million. The district will receive at most $1.8 million from developer Cardel Homes, possibly as little as $1.26 million. The district says accepting less was deliberate to encourage lower-density housing. Full story →

📌 Westminster says 8 schools face changes. The district clarified that planned reconfigurations will affect eight campuses over three years, including closures, mergers, and middle school program eliminations. Full story →

📌 Former Jeffco school psychologist convicted of sexual assault. A Jefferson County jury found James Michael Chevrier guilty on five felony charges, including sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust. Full story →

📍 27J reboundary discussions. With Rocky Vista High School opening in Fall 2027, the district will need to redraw attendance zones. I'm tracking how the district plans to engage families and the timeline for decisions that will affect where students go to school.

📍 Zerger and the Rocky Flats question. The sale story is out, but the Westminster City Council vote is now scheduled for Jan. 26. Soil testing found plutonium and americium levels above background but below regulatory thresholds. Neighbors want more testing before construction begins.

📍 Jeffco's budget pain isn't over. The board voted last night on a revised budget that's $10 million worse than projected seven months ago. Even if voters approve a mill levy in November, programs cut now may not come back.

Thanks for reading the second issue of Class Notes. If you're finding it useful, forward it to another parent, teacher, or neighbor who wants to know what's happening in their schools.

See you next week.
Suzie

Class Notes is reported and written by Suzie Glassman for the Colorado Trust for Local News.

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