District overview
Garfield County School District 16 (Grand Valley)
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
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How is Grand Valley (Garfield 16) paid for?
Garfield County School District 16 serves about 1,100 students in Parachute, Battlement Mesa and nearby communities in four schools. Colorado pays districts a set amount per funded student, and local property taxes cover part of that cost. The 2026-27 budget counts 1,137.8 funded students at $13,188.50 each, about $15.0 million. The district also uses grants from the Garfield County Federal Mineral Lease District for building projects. A five-member elected board adopts the budget and policies.
Spending more than it takes in
The 2026-27 general fund plans $21.5 million in spending and $0.7 million in transfers against $20.5 million in revenue. The $1.69 million gap comes from savings, which fall from $9.07 million to $7.38 million.
Local taxes versus state aid
Property taxes in the adopted budget are $6.29 million, up from $4.65 million in the May draft. State and federal revenue is $11.9 million, down from $13.9 million in the draft.
Rising costs
Health insurance rises 21% for 2026-27. Employees get a 1.5% raise, and the starting base salary is now $45,225.
Who decides
Five directors elected at large. Tomasulo is president, Gronewoller is vice president and Stewart is secretary/treasurer. One seat opened in September 2026 and is filled by board appointment. The board meets on the second Tuesday of most months at 5 p.m.
Reserves are still large compared with one year of spending, and the district also receives mineral lease grants. The documents do not show a plan to close the gap other than the funding goal in the superintendent's goals.
Where the district stands
Calculated: $21,461,095 expenditures divided by 1,137.8 funded students. Includes transportation, benefits and facilities.
Major projects
Early childcare center
design and planning; no opening date statedThe district is planning an early childhood facility and, in May 2026, discussed a childcare center with the Parachute/Battlement Mesa Parks and Recreation District. Cost and location were not stated in the documents read.
- Board told design should be done by early January and bidding to begin in late January
- Work session on the childcare center with the recreation district
- Board approved a Preschool Director position
- Aspen Community Foundation early childhood tuition grant on the agenda
Funding
Not stated; the district also accepts Aspen Community Foundation early childhood grants
Center for Family Learning roof repair
under contract; completion not statedA contractor (FCI Constructors) is repairing a roof drain problem and sealing the whole roof. Change orders raised the total from $155,252 to $183,259.
- Board approved the contract and the change orders
Funding
Mineral lease grant of $112,876 plus district capital funds
Door lock and access reader upgrades
grant application and purchases approvedThe board approved a $136,301 mineral lease grant application for door lock compliance and replaced old door card readers district-wide for about $7,000.
- Board approved the grant application
- Board approved district-wide card reader replacement
Funding
Garfield County Federal Mineral Lease District grant (requested)
2026-27 Unified Improvement Plan
presented October 13, 2026State-required plan with goals to raise reading and math proficiency in grades 2 to 8. Bea Underwood Elementary and Grand Valley Middle School are on Priority Improvement plans.
- Elementary math curriculum review under way
- Board approved Big Ideas math for Bea Underwood Elementary
- Plan and school performance data on the agenda
Funding
Not stated in the plan summary
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