Red Feather school will remain open

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

Red Feather Lakes is ready to celebrate. In February, Poudre School District's feasibility committee recommended unanimously to keep Red Feather Lakes Elementary open, rather than busing the students to Livermore Elementary.

The committee's vote brought relief and elation to many in the community who have been fighting for months for the school's survival.

Judy Viola of Red Feather Lakes, one of those who coordinated the community's efforts, said the committee's vote was "exhilarating."

To celebrate the positive outcome, school boosters are organizing a thank-you event for the community. According to Bev Bishop, a preschool teacher, a potluck dinner and dance will be held at the school on March 26, 5 to 9 p.m. Everyone is welcome. The school will provide meat, drinks and table service, and community members may bring side dishes and desserts. Those who plan to attend should RSVP to the school at 488-6550 by March 19.

The PSD school board heard the Red Feather recommendation at its Feb. 9 meeting, and Tom Viola joked to the board that his wife's many e-mails to them "should end soon." He added that the Red Feather community "deeply appreciates the work of the feasibility committee and their recommendation to keep the school open."

At the same meeting, the board voted to amend PSD's "executive limitations" policy, moving school closure decisions back to the board. The amendment says the superintendent may not "substantially change the principal educational purpose of a school by closing or repurposing it, or by consolidating or combining it with another school."

Some have asked whether the board needs to vote to keep the Red Feather school open. According to board chair Nancy Tellez, the trustees plan to accept the feasibility committee report, and no further action will be required for the Red Feather School issue.

Tellez explained that if the board were going to close the Red Feather school, a vote would be required. However, keeping the school open does not change the status quo, so no vote is needed.

"I am pleased with the committee's recommendation, because it's a sound recommendation, and I am ready to abide by that," she said.

Jenny Powelson, president of the RFLE Parent-Teacher Organization, said she was "overwhelmed at the amount of energy that the community has put toward this effort. Without this amazing community, there might have been a different outcome."

Kevin Hahn, assistant superintendent and head of the feasibility committee, said there were several reasons for recommending that Red Feather Elementary remain open.

"The minimal cost savings were outweighed by concerns associated with transportation distance, travel time and safety," he said following the Feb. 9 board meeting. "Additionally, the unfavorable impact on families and community outweighed the potential savings."

As part of a long-term effort, the Red Feather PTO has come up with several cost-saving ideas for the school board to consider. The group proposes expanding the school to a K-8 configuration and moving to a four-day school week, a format that has been adopted by several rural schools in eastern Colorado. In addition, the PTO proposes making energy-efficient improvements at the school. Powelson said these and other changes could result in annual savings of 12 to 15 percent.

Also on Feb. 9, the feasibility committee recommended moving the Lab School in with Moore Core Knowledge Elementary. It proposed that early childhood programs now housed at Fullana and Barton be split up among several other elementary schools