St. Vrain Valley Board hears growth plans and budget details for Community Schools childcare and enrichment

The St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J board on Wednesday heard a wide‑ranging presentation on the district's Community Schools program, which provides before‑and‑after childcare, preschool wraparound care and enrichment classes for elementary students.

Susan Zimmerman, a Community Schools leader, told the board the program now serves thousands of students across the district after growing from about 1,100 participants in 2010 to just under 4,000 last year. Zimmerman said licensed childcare includes roughly 191 pre‑K seats and about 1,982 K–5 seats; enrichment offerings numbered 421 last year and added roughly 6,000 additional enrollments beyond licensed care across 22 schools.

"Our primary goals are offering reliable solutions for our working parents," Zimmerman said. "We consider ourselves a vital and thriving partner with each school, which gives us the opportunity to work closely with classroom instruction." She described the program's emphasis on social‑emotional learning and matching enrichment to classroom curricula.

Martha Clemonson, assistant coordinator for Community Schools, reviewed how fees are set and how the department supports families who cannot pay full cost. "We budget for [unpaid] scholarships," she said, adding that the department did not collect about $275,000 last year and plans for an annual shortfall in the $250,000–$300,000 range; the department's pandemic peak was $500,000 of foregone fees. Clemonson said the program maintains a fund balance and an internal scholarship application process to cover need.

Board members asked how the shortfall is covered and whether late‑start day offerings remain available. Clemonson said the department budgets anticipatory amounts and uses fund balance to stabilize operations. Board members praised Community Schools for close coordination with finance and school staff.

District staff also outlined planned expansions. Zimmerman said the district has set aside $620,000 to pilot infant and toddler care for district employees and expects to allocate roughly $300,000 for an additional toddler room at a new Erie elementary school that will open in the coming year.

The board did not take formal action on program funding during the meeting; presenters asked the board to note the plan and the department's budgeting approach. The board moved on to consent items and other agenda matters.