04/22/2026

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are writing to inform you that a confirmed case of measles has been identified in our school community. We are working closely with the Lake County Public Health Agency to ensure the safety and well-being of all students and staff.

Per guidelines and direction from Public Health, school will run as normal on Thursday and until further notice.

More information for LCHS families can be found here: https://shorturl.at/9uhgN

Information and press release can be found at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/press-release/colorado-public-health-officials-confirm-measles-case-in-lake-county-resident 

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms typically begin 7 to 14 days after exposure and may include:

• High fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes
• A blotchy red rash that usually starts on the face and spreads

What We Are Doing:

• We have reported the case to the local health authorities and are following their guidance.
• We are identifying individuals who may have been exposed.
• Areas where the individual was present are being properly ventilated and cleaned.
• Unvaccinated individuals may be temporarily excluded from school, per public health recommendations.

What You Can Do:

• Check your child’s vaccination records. Two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine are highly effective.
• Monitor your child for symptoms of measles for the next 21 days.
• If your child shows any signs of illness, please keep them home and consult your healthcare provider.

If your child is not up to date on their vaccinations or you’re unsure, we strongly encourage you to contact your healthcare provider. Vaccination protects not only your child but also those who are most vulnerable.

We understand this news may be concerning. Please know that we are taking all recommended precautions to limit the spread of illness and will continue to keep you informed of any updates.

If you have questions or need support, feel free to contact your school office.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter and for your partnership in keeping our school community safe.

Sincerely,

Colleen Nielsen, RN

School Nurse

Dear LCSD Families:

Please be aware of the following information published by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. At this time, since Lake County is not part of a planned power outage, we currently plan to operate school as normal tomorrow and Thursday.

We will update you when and if we receive additional information.

From LCSO:

“PUBLIC NOTICE – High Wildfire Risk & Potential Power Outage in Lake County

We wanted to alert residents to dangerous fire weather conditions expected this week that may impact power across our region.

Xcel Energy is monitoring strong winds, low humidity, and extremely dry conditions forecast to arrive Wednesday, April 22, with peak winds expected in the afternoon, and continuing into Thursday, April 23 along the northern Front Range.

What this means:

– Xcel Energy is evaluating a potential Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) for some customers in western Colorado (Mesa, Garfield, Park, Eagle and Summit Counties) beginning the morning of Wednesday, April 22 (9AM-Noon). 

– A PSPS is a planned outage used as a last resort to reduce the risk of wildfires during dangerous weather conditions.

– Lake County is not currently part of the planned outage / PSPS, but some may experience unplanned outages. 

– Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS) will be active statewide. This makes power lines more sensitive, and they may automatically shut off if a hazard (i.e. strong winds) is detected. 

– You could experience brief or unexpected outages as a result.

What you should do NOW:

– Plan for potential power outages beginning Wednesday

– If you or a family member depends on electricity for medical equipment, prepare now

– Keep devices charged and have flashlights, water, and supplies ready

– Update your contact preferences with Xcel Energy via My Account to receive alerts

– Visit Xcel Energy’s website for outage preparedness tips and information on the Safe for Colorado program for qualifying medical customers

Xcel Energy will contact potentially affected customers directly. Watch for updates.

Please follow Lake County Office of Emergency Management on Facebook for additional updates . Stay prepared, Lake County! 

https://www.facebook.com/LCOEM”

Thank you!

LCSD Leadership Team

Dear LCSD Families:

As you are aware, sometimes in Leadville we have infrastructure that is aging.

One example is the district’s land line phone system. This year, we have had increasing issues with this system, and school phones have been down more than we would like.

Please know that we are working to get land line service restored, and to implement a more permanent fix.

In the meantime, please use the following cell phone numbers to reach our schools:

Lake County High School
Cell phone alternate number: 719-293-0998

Cloud City High School

Cell phone alternate number: 719-293-5904

Lake County Intermediate School
Cell phone alternate number: 719-293-0964

Lake County Elementary School
Cell phone alternate number: 719-293-0931

The Center Early Childhood Programs
Cell phone alternate number: 719-293-0931

District Office
Cell phone alternate number: 719-293-0738

Dear LCSD Families, Staff and Partners:

Welcome to April! It’s felt like spring for quite a while, but now we can call it official. I want to start by announcing that our annual Family Survey is now open! This survey is critically important for us to understand what is working well, and what can be improved, in our schools. We will be tracking results of this survey as part of our strategic plan, related to our goal of improving collaboration with families. The survey will be open until May 1 and should take less than 10 minutes. You can take the survey multiple times if you have students at multiple schools. Take it now! 

Panther Spotlight

This month’s Panther Spotlight celebrates hands-on learning at LCHS. The Building Trades program under the guidance of teacher Cody Jump is offering for the first time this year coursework and certification in General Carpentry and Advanced Carpentry in partnership with CMC and the National Center for Construction Education and Research. To gain hands-on experience, 12 students dug into the renovation of the Dutch Henry Clubhouse, which is the headquarters of our Nordic and Alpine skiing programs. As a part of this project, students poured concrete, built stairs, installed new windows, replaced portions of the front deck, installed a new heating system, completely updated the roof framing for the entire building, and installed a new, insulated vaulted ceiling with updated lighting and ventilation. Way to go!

April Headlines (scroll to learn more)

• Improving Student Outcomes – State testing season is here! Please send students to school rested and ready to show what they know. Learn more.
• Strategic Plan – We did it! The Board of Education will approve our 5-year strategic plan on April 13.
• School Merge – Thank you to everyone who attended our Family Tours to preview next year’s school configuration.

April Updates

Improving Student Outcomes: April is state testing month. Students in grades 3-11 will be taking the CMAS and PSAT/SAT assessments. While it is tempting to think of these tests as an unwelcome disruption, they are critically important as a way for our students to demonstrate what they have learned. We use the data to track our progress and identify areas for improvement. Good rest and attendance for students are critical this month. Thank you for your help!

Strategic Plan: On April 13, the Board of Education will approve the district’s strategic plan. After nearly a year of listening and considering the priorities you shared, we have a road map for the next 5 years. Watch our website for the publication of the full plan, as well as a scorecard where we will track our progress on over 25 different data points and metrics. The plan will keep us accountable to the things you have said are most important as we move forward.

School Merge: In the summer of 2026, we will consolidate our school campuses from four to three. Thank you to everyone who attended one of our school consolidation information sessions and tours this week! This presentation provides an overview of what is happening, and why the district is making these changes. You can also read our Q&A about school consolidation and submit any questions in English or Spanish. 

See you soon,

Kate