District overview
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
Montezuma-Cortez School District Re-1 serves Cortez in Montezuma County, Colorado, with about 2,500 students (NCES). Colorado funds districts mainly through a per-student formula and local property taxes, and the district also has a voter-approved mill levy override that pays for teacher and paraprofessional raises. A seven-member board elected from seven director districts adopts the budget, approves policies and hires the superintendent.
Superintendent Ramirez resigned effective Aug 18, 2026. Middle school principal Andrew Pearson is interim superintendent from Aug 21, 2026 through May 2027, and the board is planning a permanent search.
Seven directors. President Joshua Shumway, Vice President Laura DeWitt, Secretary Mike Lynch and Treasurer Jason Hall lead the board. Five seats were on the Nov 2025 ballot or filled then.
The board's top-listed goal is raising third grade English language arts scores, followed by communication and school culture and climate.
Regular meetings are usually the third Tuesday at 6 p.m. with first-Tuesday work sessions. The portal lists meetings since April 8, 2026, plus imported earlier meetings.
The posted agendas list actions but most minutes were not posted, so some outcomes are not documented.
External NCES figure; the board materials read did not state a headcount.
After the Aug 18, 2026 resignation, the board appointed Andrew Pearson as interim and looked at using CASB's search partner HYA. On Oct 6 it scheduled talks on interim expectations and the search timeline.
General fund
Replacement heating and cooling systems at Lewis-Arriola, Kemper and Mesa elementary schools have been discussed in closed session since March 2026, and Performance Services options were before the board on Oct 20.
Not yet set; no contract approved in the pages read
The board's first goal is raising third grade ELA scores. A transition plan was on the Aug 18 agenda and Benchmark digital with print consumables was recommended for 2026-27 on Sept 1.
Not stated in the pages read
Three of seven director seats are on the November 2027 coordinated election ballot: District A (a two-year term won in Nov 2025), District C (filled by appointment in Sept 2025) and District G.
Official source · verified Nov 7, 2026
Practical guides to school phone policies, district budgets, and administrator hiring.
Explore resources →Built from the board's agendas, attached memos and available minutes on its public meeting portal (Nov 2025 to Nov 2026) and the board's YouTube recordings.
We read every agenda, packet, recording, and set of minutes, and write up the decisions that affect families — each one linked to the document it came from.
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