LCSD Superintendent Update: September
Dear LCSD Families, Staff and Partners:
Happy September! I hope you will all be able to find some time to enjoy the outdoors this month. It’s by far my favorite time of the year in Leadville. I love being outside for soccer and football games, cheering on the volleyball team and getting ready for the snow to fly.
Before we dive in, are you curious about the results of last spring’s Family Survey? You can review them here.
And now, here are this month’s updates on the major initiatives that we are tackling this year. If you would like to learn more about any of these topics, please join us for the fall State of the Schools, Monday, September 29th at LCES at 6pm!:
September Headlines (scroll to learn more!)
- Improving Student Outcomes – Find out about our district’s 2025 academic results
- Strategic Plan – Take the survey today!
- School Consolidation – The Board has voted on grade-level configurations for 2026-27.
- Cell Phone Policy – Thank you! We appreciate your partnership.
- Calendar Committee – Have your voice heard before the committee wraps up in October.
- Other Committees – The District Accountability and Finance Committees are up and running.
September Updates
Improving Student Outcomes: We have received our 2025 academic results from the State. We are excited to report that LCIS improved its state rating! LCHS and the District maintained their “Improvement” ratings. On Monday, we celebrated 50 students with exceptional academic growth last year, and I also provided an update on our 2025 outcomes to the Board of Education. Student learning is directly tied to attendance. We want to see every student every day! Pictured: Honorees at our Academic Growth awards.
Strategic Plan: It’s time to take our Strategic Plan survey! This fall, we are launching a community-driven strategic planning process to help guide our priorities and investments in the years ahead. We want to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to share your perspective through our Strategic Plan Survey and help spread the word to other families and community members. Take the Survey: English Survey | Encuesta en Español or Sign up directly to participate in a Focus Group
School Consolidation: In the summer of 2026, we will consolidate our school campuses from four to three. On Monday, the Board of Education voted on the final grade configuration. Starting in 2026-27, grades PK-5 will be housed at LCES and grades 6-12 will be housed at LCHS. Cloud City High School and the district office will remain at Pitts for the time being. Project Dream will consolidate programs into LCIS. Read our Q&A about school consolidation.
Cell Phone Policy: We so appreciate partnership from all of you in implementing our new cell phone policy across the district. So far, we have seen improvements in student attention and engagement in class. We realize that this policy has required an adjustment for many of us (including in my own house!), and we are grateful.
Calendar Committee: The calendar committee is working hard to prepare a recommendation for the 2026-27 school calendar. Their first survey is complete and the committee will be sending a second survey at the very end of September. Stay tuned!
Other Committees: The District Accountability and Finance Committees are up and running for the year. If you are interested in joining one of these committees, please reach out to me.
Wishing you a happy leaf peeping season!
See you soon,
Kate
Kate Bartlett, Superintendent
719-486-6810, kcbartlett@lakecountyschools.net
