District overview
Sargent School District RE-33J
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
A small rural district whose money follows its shrinking enrollment
Sargent School District RE-33J serves about 290 students on one campus north of Monte Vista, in Rio Grande County in Colorado's San Luis Valley. It runs an elementary school, a junior high and a high school, plus a preschool and an online program. Like most Colorado districts it is paid mostly by the state school finance formula, which pays per funded student, plus local property taxes and a small $75,000 mill levy override. Because the money follows students, falling enrollment shrinks the budget. A five-member Board of Education sets policy and the budget. Superintendent Scott Hodgson runs the district, and Jennifer Pierce is now principal for all grades.
State formula money
State equalization is the district's largest source of money. Funded pupil count is projected to fall from 294.9 to 275.3 students in 2026-27 (May 26, 2026 minutes).
Smaller 2026-27 budget
The general fund is about $4.59 million, roughly $409,000 less than 2025-26, partly because a one-time $408,000 radio grant ended. Salaries and benefits are about 75% of spending.
Mostly appointed board
After the board fell to two members in late 2025, it appointed Adam Klecker, Matthew Smartt, Emily Brown and Austin Heersink. Only President Clay Mitchell was elected. All terms run to the November 2027 election.
Sharing with neighbors
Sargent now shares a football team with Sangre de Cristo and plans to share a food-service company, Chartwells, with Mountain Valley and Moffat.
The budget is balanced and the district won a competitive state BEST grant, so the cuts are about fewer students rather than overspending. The minutes do not show a deficit.
Where the district stands
Calculation: $4,585,279 divided by 275.3 funded pupils. Covers the general fund only.
Major projects
BEST grant boiler and heating/cooling replacement
design underwayMillig Design Build found the buildings' water-source heat pumps and boilers cannot keep rooms comfortable. The plan replaces boilers and adds air-to-water heat pumps. The design phase costs $230,000. Earlier the board president said the building project was about $675,000 over budget because of HVAC and roofing costs.
- Millig selected for HVAC project
- BEST application approved
- BEST grant award reported
- Design-build contracts authorized
- Mechanical contractor selection on agenda
Funding
Colorado BEST capital construction grant plus local match (a $250,000 match reduction was requested)
New graduation requirements and career pathways
second reading pendingPolicy IKF would add career pathways (agriculture, business, aviation and others), mark required courses and cut personal finance to a half credit.
- Pathways draft first reading
- IKF first reading tabled
- Second reading on agenda
Funding
General fund; $200,000 CTE Innovation Grant reported June 2026
Shared food-service management with Chartwells
proposal approvedSargent, Mountain Valley and Moffat would hire Chartwells to manage school meals while local staff keep cooking.
- Exploration reported
- Chartwells proposal approved 5-0
Funding
Food service fund; goal is no general fund subsidy
Recent news
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Practical guides to school phone policies, district budgets, and administrator hiring.
Explore resources →Board of Education agendas, agenda packets and minutes for October 2025 through November 2026 from the district's Diligent Community portal, plus budget, salary, state accountability and policy documents from the district website and its public Google Drive policy book. The board roster comes from the district's School Board page.
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