Residents urge county to act as District 70 schools face funding, classification and scholarship questions

At a Pueblo County town hall Tuesday evening, residents from Avondale and other rural areas urged the Board of County Commissioners to press state leaders and review local scholarship and school-funding arrangements as District 70 faces possible elementary school closures.

The question matters because closure proposals would affect small communities that residents say rely on local schools as community hubs. Gloria Duran of Avondale told the commissioners that the closure of her town’s school would “impact not just our children, but the very fabric of our community.” Commissioner Paul McGeeter noted the county has limited authority over K–12 funding decisions and urged residents to contact state legislators, adding, “As county commissioners, we don't have any control over that, but I will tell you as a strong believer in strong schools for our community, I really urge you to get a hold of our legislators and our…