<\/p>\n
Lower enrollment numbers for the upcoming school year could take a substantial financial toll on Montezuma-Cortez schools.<\/p>\n
As of Tuesday evening, 2,047 students enrolled in the district, compared with about 2,500 students last year. About 1,300 students have enrolled for in-person classes, and 691 for online classes.<\/p>\n
In a presentation to the Montezuma-Cortez Board of Education, Superintendent Lori Haukeness said that if 322 students do not enroll for the new school year, the district would lose $749,864. If 166 students do not enroll, the district would lose $490,266.<\/p>\n
School board member Chris Flaherty said some parents don\u2019t like the district\u2019s \u201cstance on COVID-19,\u201d and don\u2019t want their children to go to school under social distancing or mask guidelines.<\/p>\n
Colorado Distance Learning Solutions\u2019 online curriculum and platform, which Montezuma-Cortez School District Re-1 will use for online students, has helped retain students who might have chosen an outside online option, Haukeness said.<\/p>\n
But if parents decide to move their online students into in-person classes, the school must be ready to absorb them, Flaherty said.<\/p>\n
To align class sizes with COVID-19 safety guidelines and to prepare teachers to absorb additional in-person students, physical classrooms will have up to 25 students, and online classes will have 35 students.<\/p>\n
Elementary school students who take classes online will have a district teacher. The district hasn\u2019t decided whether middle school and high school students will have a teacher from the district or a remote teacher from Colorado Distance Learning Solutions.<\/p>\n
An on-site tutor will be available for students in Towaoc.<\/p>\n
Because 34% of students will be online, the online program will operate as a school with its own support staff, said Assistant Superintendent Carol Mehesy.<\/p>\n
Some teachers volunteered to go online, because they are \u201cwilling to do what it takes for our students,\u201d Mehesy said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re just excited to get school started,\u201d Haukeness said.<\/p>\n
Parents are already feeling the impact of budget cuts, particularly to transportation. Students in rural areas as young as age 6 will have bus stops along busy highways, in some cases miles from their home.<\/p>\n
Previously, the school district offered door-to-door transportation, which helped working parents who might not be able to pick their students up at 3 p.m. from a bus stop.<\/p>\n
Board member Sheri Noyes said she was \u201cdisappointed (the notice) went out as late as it did,\u201d but with COVID-19, things can change at the last minute.<\/p>\n
Board member Sherri Wright said the district has to \u201ccut where we can so we have a sound education for all children.\u201d<\/p>\n