Board votes to close or merge schools starting July 2027

What happened

On September 22, 2026 the board voted 5-2 to adopt the Resilient Schools Proposal, effective July 1, 2027. Birch closes and merges into Kohl; Mesa closes and merges into Bear Creek; Douglass and Flatirons close and their areas are split among nearby schools. Monarch PK-8 becomes a grades 6-8 middle school and Eldorado PK-8 becomes PK-5. High Peaks moves into the Douglass building and Community Montessori moves to the Aurora 7 building.

Why it matters to families

Families at the closing and relocated schools will change schools, boundaries and bus routes for 2027-28. The district says the school-age population has dropped by 3,675 students since 2017 and will fall about 1,706 more by 2030, and that the plan would save roughly $3.5 to $4.0 million a year.

The evidence

Resolution 26-27 lists each action; the September 22 minutes record the 5-2 roll call (Bucher and Temu Otting voted no). Savings estimate comes from the September 15 work session slides. Choice Enrollment applications are due December 18, 2026.

The source