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walked into school — an important improvement over some past years when students reported waiting days in the auditorium to get a schedule.

At Monaco Elementary, parents walked their little ones, carrying stu ed backpacks, boxes of tissues, and other supplies, to wait for their teachers to take them into their rst day of classes.

Monaco is receiving students this year from former Hanson Elementary which the district closed due to declining enrollment and to make more room for the alternative high school. Parents of Hanson students said their kids were nervous, but fortunately found former teachers and classmates among the friendly faces at their new school.

“ ey’re very excited now that they found out a lot of their friends moved with them,” said parent Tabitha Amaya. Her rst and third graders were still getting used to the new school building, but besides praising the lunch and recess periods of the day, were excited to have a science class this year. “ at’s the highlight.”

For Amaya, one concern remains: how she’ll manage to get her kids to school on ursdays. e district announced that this year they’ll have classes start two hours later once a week to allow teachers more time to plan or train.

“With both parents working, it’s kind of hard,” Amaya said. She said Monaco leaders had reached out to her to hear her concerns, seemingly looking for a solution, she thought, but she hasn’t heard back.

“I guess we’ll see ursday,” Amaya said.

Adams 14 has about 6,100 students and still has an uncertain future. Reorganization could mean school closures or nearby districts taking control over the district’s schools, but the plan has to be shaped and approved by the community, and leaders appointed to the reorganization committee support letting Adams 14 continue to operate as is.

Much of that work remains on hold while the district awaits a Colorado Supreme Court decision as it argues the state doesn’t have the ability to order a school district to close. In the meantime, district leaders are counting on Superintendent Karla Loria’s new administration to drive academic improvements that multiple past administrations have been unable to accomplish.

District leadership refused an interview to talk about the work that’s going into those improvements. Parents said they’re unaware of what changes are happening, but are hopeful for a good school year.

Angelica Munoz said she just moved to Commerce City and isn’t aware of any of the district changes, but heard from her sister-in-law that Monaco was a “wonderful school.”

Her daughter loved her rst day of kindergarten.

“She can’t wait to go back tomorrow,” Munoz said. “She said they were doing a lot of reading. I think that’s good.”

Carlos Cabrera has a son, 14, with special needs, who is starting at Adams City High School this year.

Cabrera said his son was worried about the bigger school, older students, and more social interactions, and he was concerned because his son doesn’t communicate much.

But after school, Cabrera said it seemed to go well.

“He said he likes the teachers,” he said. “It looks like it went good.”