In addition to January’s planned regular board meetings on Jan. 14 and 28, the Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) also held a community meeting on school safety on Jan. 27 from 7 to 8pm to discuss its current strategies and protocols with families. The gathering complemented the regular meetings’ focus on updates to the 2025-2026 district budget and updates on the pre-collegiate program.
During the Jan. 14 meeting, the board heard several community comments. Parent Tanner Gianinetti shared concerns about his child’s kindergarten class lesson on knowing and understanding their bodies. Gianinetti stated that he felt the lesson plan introduced children to the concept of gender, “making our youth more susceptible to ‘woke’ ideology.” He read from a prepared speech, explaining that he felt the extent and language of the lesson was inappropriate, and asked that the lesson plan be struck from the curriculum.
Two written comments received were both about RFSD’s Housing Master Plan. District residents Susan Sullivan and Karen Nudell expressed concerns about the proposed workforce housing developments for JW Drive in El Jebel. Sullivan wrote, “We ask that the District prioritize a joint impact study with Eagle County before submitting final applications for the JW Drive site” especially regarding traffic and infrastructure impacts. Nudell’s comment was shorter, but shared similar sentiments: “Find a less impacted area, please.”
For the remainder of the Jan. 14 meeting, the board discussed budget amendments. A memo from RFSD Chief Financial Officer Christy Chicoine stated: “The expenditures of the District appear to be stabilizing, with no large adjustments necessary overall.” Chicoine noted that the district anticipates a loss of $200,000 due to federal government funding reductions affecting the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program. The District will use supplemental budget to help cover that gap, and is working to secure other revenue sources for its Preschool Fund.
RFSD also anticipates decreased funding given a decline in full-time enrolled students. RFSD experienced a 4.2% decline in student enrollment this academic year, based on the October 2025 student count. According to data released by the Colorado Department of Education during a special press conference, schools across Colorado are facing declines in student enrollment. Statewide, student enrollment declined an average of 1.2% in October of 2025 compared with October of 2024.
During the Jan. 28 meeting, district employee Dave Smith provided a presentation on RFSD’s PreCollegiate Program. He included numbers on student participation, noting 260 students across the District’s three high schools, as well as demographics. Later in the meeting, the board reviewed RFSD’s first quarter financial statements and high-level revenues. Board members discussed 2025-2026 goals and the amended 2025-2026 budget as discussed at the previous meeting.
During the Jan. 27 school safety community meeting, the RFSD board hosted local law enforcement to cover facets of the District’s safety initiatives. The meeting covered details on school security measures and secure entry procedures, mental health and counseling resources available to students, partnerships with local organizations, resources for families and future planning for long-term safety and wellness strategies. Superintendent Dr. Anna Cole said, “Safety is always our first priority; it is important our community understands current strategies, protocols and investments to keep students, staff, school and our community safe.”
The February RFSD Board of Education regular meetings take place on Feb. 11 and 25 at 6:15pm in the Colorado Room of the District Office, 400 Sopris Avenue, Carbondale. RFSD board meeting agendas are available on the board website. Meetings are livestreamed on YouTubeand recordings become available soon afterward.