Latest news with #SchoolDistrict70
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Yahoo
Alleged school threats prompt D70 closures
(PUEBLO WEST, Colo.) — On Easter day, April 20, a message containing threats to students and teachers of Pueblo County School District 70 (D70) was allegedly sent to people, prompting several school closures for Monday, April 21, as the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) investigates. A viewer provided FOX21 News with a message sent to parents from D70 stating that, out of an abundance of caution, Liberty Point International School, District 70 Online Learning Academy Pueblo West Campus, and Swallows Charter Academy would be closed on Monday while the investigation continues. D70 sent a statement, saying, 'Pueblo County School District 70 is working in close partnership with the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office to investigate the situation.' According to PCSO, the Sheriff's Office received information of a possible threat, which at this time doesn't appear to be a credible threat. PCSO stated, 'We are working with District 70 officials and continue to investigate. We will have an increased presence at the schools tomorrow.' The threats were sent 26 years to the day after the Columbine shooting, when two teenage boys took the lives of 12 students and one teacher. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Heartbreaking': State proposal, failed override lead Pueblo D70 to consider budget cuts
Budget cuts, staff cuts and school consolidations were among the possible cost-cutting measures discussed at a Pueblo County School District 70 budget work session on Feb. 4. Pueblo D70 Superintendent Ronda Rein and Director of Finance Amanda Wittman spoke to board members about the effect a proposed restructuring of the State of Colorado's school funding formula may have on the district. District leaders also discussed the impact of the narrow failure of a November 2024 attempt at mill levy override. During his 2025 State of the State address on Jan. 9, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis proposed that enrollment counts for school funding calculations be changed from a four-year enrollment average to a single-year count in order to "eliminate this antiquated system that funds empty chairs rather than actual students." However, Rein and Wittman told attendees of the Feb. 4 work session that the proposed restructuring would negatively impact declining enrollment districts across the state. This includes Pueblo D70. "When doing projections based on what I call our D70 schools — not including our charters — we're looking at an estimated pupil count of 8,164... That's looking like a $2.5 million decrease in state funding to our district... That's just a revenue decrease based on this year to next year," Wittman said. Pueblo D70 already was gearing up for budget challenges prior to Polis' state of the state address. An attempted mill levy override to fund critical building needs at Pueblo County High School and other improvements districtwide was defeated by voters last November. "Elections have unfortunate results and this is what is going to kill us completely," Pueblo D70 Board Director Chris DeLuca said at the Feb. 4 work session. "We can't take care of our own because the state sure the hell isn't going to do it for us." On Feb. 5, Pueblo D70 Public Information Officer Lynnette Bonfiglio told the Chieftain in a written statement that the district's historically low state funding compared to other districts, the mill levy override's defeat, and proposed state funding changes forced Pueblo D70 to "explore all options to reduce expenditures." "No decisions have been made," Bonfiglio's statement reads. "All preliminary cost-saving measures are being considered to identify potential options to address critical budget challenges, ongoing life-safety needs across the district." Possible actions discussed at the Feb. 4 work session included cuts to administration budgets, transitioning from the International Baccalaureate (IB) to an Advanced Placement program, and cuts to low participation Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. Avondale Elementary School, the Beulah School of Natural Sciences and Craver Middle School were among the low-enrollment Pueblo D70 schools listed by Rein on Feb. 4 as being considered for "potential consolidation." "It's pretty heartbreaking, especially for those of us who've done this for over 20 years for this district... I hope you know that we take these cuts very personal," Rein said. "I always say some of these smaller schools are some of my favorite schools because it is a family. Our whole district is a family but those smaller schools are a very tight-knit group and we understand what it does to a whole community." Pueblo D70 is giving stakeholders the opportunity to submit public input on potential areas cuts can be made at The district is also urging the community to contact state representatives, local representatives and the Colorado Department of Education about how state funding cuts will impact local schools. Immigration and constitutional rights: What happens if ICE comes to Pueblo? Attorney offers guidance on constitutional rights Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@ Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo D70 is weighing budget cuts. Here's what they could entail
