Takeaways from Je co K-8 and middle school enrollment and choice numbers, ahead of school closures

BY YESENIA ROBLES CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Je co school leaders have said identifying middle schools to close will be more complicated than it was with elementary schools.

at’s a daunting challenge for a district that voted to close 16 elementary schools last fall.

Leaders plan to recommend to the school board in August which schools to close, and to redraw some attendance boundaries and redesignate feeder schools in summer 2024.

A look at enrollment, school spending, campus utilization levels, and family poverty gives a glance at some of the data that may inform Je co’s decisions.

e district’s work has been spurred by years of declining enrollment. Even though the number of residents in Je co increased over two decades, the population of schoolage children decreased by 29,918 from 2000 to 2020. Fewer children are being born. According to the district, 2020 marked the lowest number of births recorded in 15 years.

Arvada community has stepped up to support when it can.

After Community Table rescinded its boundaries at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it opened its doors to the entire surrounding community — not just Arvada, which it had primarily served in the past. e food pantry remained open throughout the pandemic, o ering food and other services to vulnerable populations in trying times.

e support appears to be twofold —as Community Table expanded its borders, residents of surrounding communities have pitched in to keep food on the shelves for their less fortunate neighbors.

“We fortunately have a great community, primarily in Arvada and Wheat Ridge, that’s stepped up to help out their citizenry,” Sandy Martin, Community Table’s CEO said. “When the pandemic hit, we got rid of boundaries because we were one of the few pantries that stayed open. the last thing we want to do is turn people away. at’s not meeting our mission.”

Martin and Baldassare said that in addition to donations, the pantry has to purchase a lot of the food it o ers, which is only possible thanks to the generosity of donors. Baldas- sare said the nonpro t purchases about 5,000 pounds of food a week, and that used to be a monthly expense.

Rising food insecurity has prompted Community Table to allow people to pick up more food. In the past, people were limited to shopping at the nonpro t’s grocery store 12 times a year; now they may shop twice a month. Folks can also pick up free boxes of food as often as needed, though they do not get to select the food themselves if they opt for the box.

“We decided that twice a month would be more realistic for families. at’s on par with what a lot of other places have gone to,” Baldassare said.

In addition to combating food shortages, Community Table has gone above and beyond for the people it serves, partnering with about a dozen local organizations and nonpro ts to provide a whole lot more than food.

Community Table has on-site medical and dental care, showers, laundry, mental health counseling, housing navigation, enrollment in government assistance programs and other services.

Martin said she hopes that o ering on-site services in the heart of Arvada — Community Table is located at 8555 W 57th Ave., near Olde Town — will help people who may not have the means to bounce around a bunch of di erent locations trying to get help.

“A lot of people are using us that never thought they would need to,” Martin said. “We kind of consider ourselves a hub in Arvada for these types of services. It’s di cult to get down to the county (building in Golden). We’re right in the community.” e following are a list of Commu- nity Table’s partnerships:

Medical Care: Stride Medical, Red Rocks Community College

Wednesdays

Community Table has partnered with Stride Medical to provide primary care services for people who are uninsured or underinsured. Stride comes to Community Table’s campus every Wednesday, and Red Rocks Community College will soon begin o ering medical services at the nonpro t as well.

Dentistry: No Smile Left Behind ird Wednesday of the month

Once a month, No Smile Left Behind performs basic dentistry for patients on Medicaid or those who are uninsured. e nonpro t cannot provide dental surgeries but can give referrals for those in need.

Shower and laundry truck: Bayaud, The Dignity Project

Fridays (Tuesdays forthcoming)

Every Friday, Bayaud Enterprises’ shower and laundry truck rolls up to Community Table, o ering free, hot showers and complimentary laundry. e Dignity Project has a similar truck that will begin visiting Community Table on Tuesdays starting soon.

DMV services: DMV To Go ird Friday of the month

DMV To Go o ers full DMV services — including drivers licenses and car registration — for all community members on the third Friday of the month.

Mental health: Ardent Foundation workshops, Advocates for Recovery Quarterly/Tuesdays e Ardent Foundation provides quarterly workshops on mental health, the last of which focused on coping mechanisms and stress relief, and the next of which will be held in July. ese sessions are open to the whole community.

Advocates for Recovery provide weekly meetings with clients interested in recovery services, every Tuesday.