District 60 students, parents and teachers urge board to keep concurrent-enrollment and career programs

Students, a teacher and a parent urged the Pueblo School District No. 60 Board of Education on Feb. 25 to reverse or pause plans to remove Senior-to-Sophomore (STS) concurrent-enrollment classes and to relocate career-oriented programs from Central High School.

Kylie Hughes, an 11th-grade student at Centennial High School, told the board the proposed elimination of STS classes would “diminish the visions of students whose only option may be taking an STS class at the high school.” She said STS gave her opportunities to take college-level work while remaining in a high‑school environment that provides social‑emotional supports.

Madeline (Maddie) Gonzalez, a 10th‑grader at Centennial, said STS courses let students “dip my feet into college-level content with the help and support that I need,” and that sending students off campus for college classes could force them to choose between college credit and high‑school extracurriculars and traditions.

Kelly Lonsberry, a veteran math teacher at Centennial High School, gave a more technical defense of STS. “The National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnership or NACEP is the sole accrediting body for concurrent enrollment partnerships, and they ensure that all concurrent enrollment courses taught within high school are as rigorous as those offered on the sponsoring college campus,” she said. Lonsberry cited NACEP material presented to the board that, she said, shows 80 percent of concurrent‑enrollment courses nationally are offered in the STS model, and that high‑school teachers meet credential requirements either through graduate‑level credits or a master’s degree.

Parent Kimberly Nobles said Central High School’s biomedical engineering, HOSA, DECA, FBLA and culinary arts programs were more than electives, calling them “career‑building opportunities” and urging the board to keep the programs at Central or provide transparent alternatives for affected students.

Speaking for the board and district, Superintendent Kimsey and several board members referenced a district “rightsizing” effort. Director Tebow described that work as starting “at the grassroots level,” and said the administration is engaging the community. No formal vote on STS or on program relocations took place at the Feb. 25 meeting.

Why it matters: District changes to how concurrent enrollment is offered and where career programs are housed could affect students’ access to college credit, extracurricular participation and hands‑on career preparation. Commenters said the changes would disproportionately affect students who rely on in‑school supports and access.

What happened next: Board members thanked speakers and asked for more information. The record shows public comment and staff testimony only; the board did not adopt a policy or take a final action on STS or the Central program moves at the Feb. 25 meeting.