The Montrose County School District will not close any elementary schools at this time, opting instead to form an advisory committee to study the issue and make a recommendation by February 2027.
The decision came during a special school board meeting Tuesday night, where board members acknowledged uncertainty in the data, a compressed timeline and concerns from the community about the process.
On the table were the elementary school decision as well as items aimed at potentially putting Olathe Elementary principal Jennifer Hesse and district superintendent Carrie Stephenson on paid administrative leave pending a third-party investigation into staff complaints.
The district is navigating a projected budget shortfall, first outlined in a press release issued April 1. In the weeks that followed, district leaders held public meetings April 21-23 to discuss possible school consolidation, with executive staff on hand to answer questions.
School Board President Neisha Balleck attended the meetings but left early from the two in-person sessions, drawing criticism during public comment.
Former school board member Phoebe Benziger said board members needed to be more present and engaged with the community before making a decision.
“You have not had the time or the resources to make this decision,” Benziger said. “The two community meetings were attended by (school board member Jody Hovde and Balleck)… But again they would have liked you (Balleck) to have been there for public comment. All of you need to be present to hear the voices of the people who elected you to be in the chairs you’re sitting in.”
Benziger also took issue with the timing of meeting materials.
“When a public agenda is released within 24 hours of a public meeting, that’s not transparency, that’s hiding something,” she said, and alluded to the idea that some school board members may have come in with an agenda to fire Stephenson. “I will admit you’re transparent but not the way you want to be. I’m watching you and so is the community. I urge you to proceed and make your decision with ultimate care.”
Balleck responded that her early departures were due to family commitments, including her daughter’s senior night and a birthday party on consecutive evenings.
Board member Ted Valerio said the district’s timeline felt rushed and that he was not convinced the board had enough information to justify closing a school at this time.
“I agree with (Hovde) on the info and data we have—it does feel a little rushed,” Valerio said. “This happened fairly quick and we’re being asked to make a decision. Not any ill intent. As of right now from what I see, I don’t think I have the data that shows the school district will implode if we don’t close a school right now.”
The district has been weighing whether to close either Northside Elementary or Pomona Elementary amid declining enrollment trends. While falling birth rates have been cited as a key factor, some community members said the district should also consider other data points.
During public comment, Jen Cross, a parent of a Pomona Elementary student, urged the board to slow down and improve its outreach to families.
“I have a third grader at Pomona, and went to the meeting last week, and it was really hard,” Cross said. “I would like to start by thanking (district executive staff) for stepping up to do hard things. I think we have a remarkably competent staff that is trying to attack these (issues).”
Cross said families were given too little notice to engage meaningfully.
“We had a week’s notice that this was on the chopping block and there was going to be a parent’s meeting,” she said. “If a third of the people who responded are unsure or need more information, are you going to give them the information then vote four days later? Because that sucks. That does not seem like it’s including our community and our kids.”
She also questioned the district’s reliance on birth rate data.
“Birth rates are not the only data,” Cross said, adding that she had concerns the district had not sufficiently considered factors such as in-migration.
Another speaker, Joshua Logan, raised concerns about the broader impact of charter schools on traditional public school systems, referencing a news story he heard on the radio.
“They were talking about how they opened two charter schools in (an Iowa) town, and they’re now shutting down five elementary schools,” Logan said. “I have a great concern that this seems to be a nationwide trend of a smash and grab by the conservative parties to grab what they can while they can.”
Logan said he was worried the new charter school could contribute to future closures in Montrose.
“I’m just extremely concerned that this charter school is not only going to cause other schools to shut down, but then you’re going to have to understand you’re going to be under a microscope,” he said, adding that any changes to curriculum or the display of religious symbols would face scrutiny.
At the same time, at least a couple speakers voiced support for the current board majority, which was elected in November as a conservative slate.
The makeup of the board shifted following that election, with newcomers including Tiffany Vincent joining Balleck and Valerio, who had previously often found themselves in the minority on key votes.
The comments come as Montrose Classical Academy, a new charter school, prepares to open. District projections estimate approximately 50 students could transfer from MCSD to the charter.
District officials have said the charter school is funded through a per-pupil revenue model and does not receive direct funding from the district beyond that pass-through.
Following discussion, board member Jody Hovde moved to take no action on school closures and instead establish an advisory committee to work with district staff and return with a recommendation by February 2027. The motion passed unanimously.
Executive Director of Operations Jim Pavlich clarified after the decision, saying the follow-up should not be viewed as targeting specific schools.
“The way that was written, I don’t think Pomona and Northside staffs are in the crosshairs,” Pavlich said. “I think I heard this isn’t delaying a decision between Pomona and Northside, it’s looking at all our schools… (Pomona and Northside staffs) don’t need to be holding their breaths till February.”
Board members agreed with sentiment. The advisory committee is expected to review enrollment trends, financial projections and facility needs before bringing a recommendation back to the board by February.
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During the meeting, the school board also decided unanimously to put Olathe Elementary principal Jennifer Hesse on paid administrative leave (she has already resigned, effective at the end of the school year). Superintendent Carrie Stephenson will not, however go on paid administrative leave. After much discussion by school board members, Jody Hovde, Tiffany Vincent, Shane Daly and Tom West voted to take the suspension off the table, while Neisha Bullock, Scott Scarborough and Ted Valerio voted against taking the issue off the table.
Check back later for more regarding this story.
Justin Tubbs is the Montrose Business Times editor. He can be reached by email at justin@montrosebusinesstimes.com or by phone at 970-765-0915 or mobile at 254-246-2260.
