Roaring Fork board hears proposal to raise pre-K tuition up to 36% and rework staff subsidy
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Summary
Staff presented proposed early-childhood (pre-K) tuition increases ranging roughly 5%–36% intended to reduce a $1.2M–$1.5M district subsidy; the committee proposes converting the staff sliding-scale into a staff tuition assistance program and leaning on external scholarship sources. Directors asked for more data and time to review potential equity and staffing impacts.
District staff presented a proposed set of increases to early-childhood (ECE) tuition aimed at reducing a recurring subsidy the district currently covers from its K–12 fund.
"We are subsidizing our early childhood education programs anywhere from 1.2 to 1,500,000 from our K-12 fund," Superintendent Dr. Anna Cole told directors, explaining that proposed rate increases range by program from about 5% to 36% and that the increases were intended to better align the district with local comparables and to make the program fiscally sustainable.
Staff also proposed converting the current staff sliding-scale discount into a targeted staff tuition assistance program (managed by the Family Resource Center) and said they were optimistic that external scholarship partners (referred to in the meeting as '7 a') would be providing additional scholarship support by 2026–27.
Board concerns: Directors repeatedly asked for more time and data. The Basalt representative said a 37% increase in infant care could be "catastrophic" for some families and requested details on day-rate calculations and why Basalt rates differ. Several directors pressed staff to show the cost-to-run each classroom, historical tuition data, the number of slots serving staff versus public families, and the impact on UPK/CCAP revenues (which depend on posted tuition rates).
Staff said they would return with more detailed comparables, an itemized cost-to-run analysis, and scenarios that would preserve flexibility (for example, 2- or 3-day enrollment options rather than only full-time five-day spots). No final decision or vote was taken at the meeting.