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BVSD superintendent warns proposed state changes would cut millions; board told to prepare for tight budget
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Andria Anderson told the Boulder Valley School District board that a proposed change to how student counts are averaged could remove roughly $4 million from BVSD and $160 million statewide; an adequacy study also showed a statewide shortfall average of $4,600 per student and BVSD faces an estimated $40 million adequacy gap.
Dr. Andria Anderson, superintendent of the Boulder Valley School District, told the school board on Jan. 28 that proposed state budget changes and a newly released adequacy study together signal sizeable funding pressure for the district.
‘‘Governor has proposed eliminating averaging, and eliminating averaging for BVSD, [would be] around $4,000,000 less than we would have if the 4 year averaging were to stay in place,’’ Dr. Anderson said. She told the board that the statewide impact of eliminating averaging would be about $160 million and that an adequacy study released last week showed Colorado districts are, on average, $4,600 short per student. ‘‘Boulder Valley Schools is short, more than $40,000,000 to be able to provide adequate services to our students,’’ she said.
Nut graf: The superintendent urged the board and district staff to ‘‘prepare for the worst and hope for the best’’ because the House and Senate budget work may not be finalized before BVSD must deliver a preliminary budget. She also noted a federal executive action that temporarily paused grant-making, which a judge has since enjoined; federal grants average about $12 million for BVSD.
Dr. Anderson said the district will produce a balanced budget for board review but cautioned that ‘‘to the extent that that balanced budget has all the things in that everybody would hope and wish for, it won't.’’ She encouraged public outreach to explain the district funding picture and said district staff will develop materials and town-hall style briefings.
Board members responded by urging clear public education about where school funding comes from and what the district can and cannot change. Board member Alex Medler suggested more frequent, informal opportunities for community conversation; others recommended clarifying the practical steps parents and staff should expect if budgets tighten.
Ending: The superintendent said budget updates will be regular agenda items and that staff will bring options and scenarios as the May state decisions become clearer. No board action was taken; the presentation was informational.
