Adams 12 officials warn budget cuts, enrollment decline drove $27 million reduction and 50-plus job cuts

Adams 12 Five Star Schools Superintendent Chris Godowsky and Board President Lori Gold Steen told the Northglenn City Council that the district made roughly $27 million in general fund reductions for next year — more than a 5% cut — and eliminated over 50 positions amid declining enrollment and state funding changes.

The presentation outlined why the district reduced spending, what the district will do with bond proceeds and how facilities decisions tied to safety and maintenance informed priorities. “We had some fairly significant reductions we had to make this last year to our system for next year,” Godowsky told the council.

The district said enrollment now is about 35,000 students across district-managed and charter-authorized schools and that Adams 12 is the sixth-largest district in Colorado. Godowsky said the district’s general fund is about $400 million and that the $27 million cut was driven by a combination of declining enrollment, a state change in how declines are averaged and double-digit cost increases in utilities, insurance and technology. He told the council the district reduced more than 50 positions as part of the plan and made targeted reductions in roles such as teacher-librarians,…