One to 5% of students in all Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) grade levels are not participating in sexual education courses, newly released data shows. RFSD Superintendent Dr. Anna Cole told district officials last Wednesday that this average opt-out rate, gathered from a district-wide survey conducted in response to calls for strengthened information transparency and […]
education
Posted inYouth News
Civics Bee empowers local students to use their voice
The curtain has lifted on a national competition carving a pathway into our intimate valley: the Civics Bee. Youth empowerment nonprofit Youthentity and the Carbondale Chamber have partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to bring the first Greater RFV Regional Civics Bee tournament to Carbondale Middle School (CMS) on April 30 at 6pm, providing […]
Posted inEducation
A taste of victory: Youthentity student from Carbondale wins culinary competition
Editor’s note: Translation assisted by artificial intelligence tools and edited by Bianca Godina The culinary talent of the Valley stood out at the state level thanks to Evony Mejía Montoya, a student in the Youthentity Culinary Academy who earned first place in the Italco Charcuterie Board & Hors d’oeuvre competition, an event that brings together […]
Posted inEducation
Glenwood charter school seeks legal ruling on ability to bus students from neighboring district
A decision whether the charter Two Rivers Community School (TRCS) will be able to continue busing students from the neighboring Garfield Re-2 School District now rests with a judge. Re-2 Superintendent Kirk Banghart in October 2025 sent a letter to Roaring Fork District Re-1 Superintendent Anna Cole requesting an end to TRCS’s practice of busing […]
Posted inEducation
Carbondale Education Foundation coming into its own to support local schools
An effort to resurrect a Carbondale-centric foundation to support the local schools has yielded a fair amount of success over the last two years. In October of last year, the new Carbondale Education Foundation (CEF) also resurrected the town’s Oktoberfest celebration, taking it on as a primary fundraiser for the organization. The event raised more […]
Posted inColumns
Local journalism gave me the opportunity to pursue my dreams
Let’s rewind the clocks 21 months. I was in the Roaring Fork Valley between the third and fourth semesters of my graduate studies, which I was pursuing via a small international university in southwestern Germany. In my free time, I was writing — not a new habit — but I was wondering if it was […]
Posted inYouth News
Reflecting on cultural respect with local educators and spiritual leaders
Sopris Stars analysis by Vivienne Shapiro Every moment in our lives can influence who we are. Our culture. Our beliefs. Our values. Every single day we have the opportunity to make choices that will determine not only who we are in the privacy of our heads, but also who we are to the world around […]
Posted inLocal Government
RFSD Report: Language program reviews, superintendent evaluation, public outreach
In October, the Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) held two regular Board of Education meetings and a special session, Oct. 15, for a superintendent review. The board conducted its annual review of Dr. Anna Cole’s performance in the role. Next week, district voters will elect two new board members for four-year terms. Oct. 8 meeting […]
Posted inEducation
Interview with Roaring Fork School District E incumbent candidate Kathryn Kuhlenberg
The Sopris Sun asked all four Roaring Fork School District Board of Education candidates the same eight questions, formulated with help from our Youth News Bureau. We received all responses by Oct. 6. What made you decide to run for the school board and what areyour qualifications?The Board of Education is a crucial part of […]
Posted inEducation
Mark Johnson Memorial Fund success forms another step in funding school music programs
On Feb. 15, Mark Johnson, a local music educator and beloved community figure, tragically died in a car accident on Highway 82. In response to this, Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS), in collaboration with the Aspen Music Festival and School, created the Mark Johnson Memorial Fund, a “community fundraising campaign in support of the Carbondale music […]