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Community Update: March 16, 2023

Regional Opportunities for Thriving Schools Community Update: March 16, 2023
Posted on 03/16/2023

Since Jeffco's Board of Education (the Board) voted to close 16 schools in November 2022, the district has been working to support impacted staff in securing positions for the 2023-24 school year and assisting impacted families in finding a new learning environment that best fits their student’s needs. In addition to finding placement for impacted staff and students, the district is working with these communities to help with the transition in the fall. 

Community Events

  • Dates and times for closing ceremonies and/or community celebrations have been identified by each of the 15 elementary schools that will close at the end of the 2022-23 school year. View this document for additional information on the events including dates, times and a link to a photo folder for anyone in the community to access and share photos for the event. If you are interested in supporting any of the celebrations, please contact the individual school. 

  • Closing and receiving schools are working with Red Rocks Community College art students & faculty on a community mural created from the prompt, "What makes you feel like you belong at school?" A rendering of the mural will be revealed at the closing ceremonies of closing schools in May and permanently installed at the receiving schools over summer break to greet and welcome students at the start of the 2023-24 school year.

  • The Boys and Girls Club will host a Spring Break Camp and Summer Break Camp for students at Emory and Lasley Elementary Schools.

Academic Support

  • Co-developing class lists using name, strength, need, etc.

  • Monitoring class sizes 

  • Preparing for academic and behavior transitions 

  • Additional high-dosage tutors and mental health supports

Staff Support

  • Resume writing and interview workshops

  • Virtual drop-in office hours with Human Resources

  • Opportunity to gain an endorsement in Special Education and Early Childhood Education

  • February 25 – Staffing event for JCEA (educators)

    • ~90% of educators who attended the event have already secured a position within Jeffco for the 2023-24 school year

  • March 15 – Meet & Greet for JESPA members (education support professionals (ESPs)) impacted by school closures

    • 55 ESPs, 35 schools and 3 departments attended the event

Transportation Support

Knowing that the district had planning underway for Regional Opportunities for Thriving Schools and Healthy & Equitable Start and End times, Jeffco’s Transportation and Fleet Services team began planning routes and operational resources for the 2023-24 school year in Fall 2022. 

Considerations and logistics that are being analyzed and planned for as routes are developed include:

  • Identifying eligible riders across the district

  • New start and end times of schools that impact existing routes

  • Newly eligible riders who attend a closing elementary school that is impacted by the Regional Opportunities for Thriving Schools work

  • Once eligible riders are identified, reviewing individual needs of those students, including any special accommodations or supports to determine if that student is best served on a traditional bus route or requires individual transportation arrangements

  • Using the Transfinder map software to route many potential scenarios that takes into consideration eligible riders, distance of the route, school start times and student need

Timeline for Announcing 2023-24 School Year Transportation Routes

Transportation and Fleet Services will announce routes at the end of July. Some fine-tuning of route details may be finalized up until the start of school as families of eligible riders decide whether or not their student(s) plan to utilize transportation services

If you have questions about transportation services for your students, please contact Transportation Services

Do you have additional questions about Regional Opportunities for Thriving Schools? Check out the Regional Opportunities for Thriving Schools web page or submit your questions through the comment form.


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