Thanks for Voting and Passing 5B in 2023!
Dear Friend of Education,
The Education Foundation of Eagle County and Citizens for Exceptional Eagle County Schools thank you for voting in the 2023 November election. We feel fortunate to live in a country where we can exercise our voice through voting.
We especially appreciate all volunteers and workers who helped with the YES for 5A & 5B effort. Their dedication and work on this campaign were essential to raising awareness about teacher pay, housing, and childcare issues. We thank everyone on the EFEC team and Eagle County Education Association for bringing the community together to understand Eagle County School District’s challenges and the two ballot initiatives.
We also especially value and appreciate all the teachers and staff who helped share the facts about the two ballot questions and participated in honk and waves these past weeks after their long school days.
The voters approved 5B, and we couldn’t be more grateful for this positive outcome. The funds from 5B allow the district to keep building affordable staff housing in areas where it is most needed. Miller Flats in Edwards has been a success story, proving the need is real. Now, the district can build housing in Gypsum and continue projects in Maloit Park.
The funds from 5B will also support the construction of an early learning center in Gypsum and expand the capacity of the Edwards Early Learning Center. Our young families need help finding childcare and preschool spots, and building the new center will be great for our families in Gypsum.
We can’t thank the voters enough for this positive outcome.
Wendy Rimel &Tessa Kirchner
Education Foundation of Eagle County
STRONG SCHOOLS MATTER
Two ballot questions that work together to strengthen our local schools and community.
Retain and attract quality teachers and staff
Build employee housing
Expand early childhood education
Enhance safety and security in our schools
Provide student mental health supports
5A
2023 BALLOT MEASURE
DIDN'T PASS
Mill Levy Override
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Support the district’s commitment to retain and recruit the best and brightest teachers and staff.
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Enhance the safety and security for schools and classrooms
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Provide critical support services, including mental health counseling and intervention specialists.
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Maintain programs including art, music, technology, and physical education supporting vibrant learning experiences, core skills, and language development; improving academic performance opportunities for students.
5B
2023 BALLOT MEASURE
PASSED!
Bond
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Construct employee housing to retain and attract teachers and staff.
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Improve school safety and security of schools and classroom environments.
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Expand early childhood education and care services by building an early learning center in Gypsum and expanding capacity at the Edwards Early Learning Center.
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Replace, update, or repair roofs, HVAC, playgrounds, gyms, locker rooms, and athletic facilities, improving learning environments and extending the useful life of existing facilities.
Why Now?
BECAUSE STRONG SCHOOLS MATTER
Public education in Colorado has always been underfunded when compared to the rest of the country, and this is not changing anytime soon. To compensate for insufficient funding from the state level, school districts rely on their local communities to provide necessary funding through voter-approved property tax-generated investments in local schools.
Growth, especially in our youngest learners, has magnified the lack of adequate childcare and early learning opportunities throughout Eagle County, particularly in the western end of the valley.
The nationwide shortage of qualified teachers has impacted every school district, including our own. Retaining and attracting quality teachers and staff is especially challenging for ECSD because of the cost of living and lack of affordable housing.
School safety and security are a key priority, as is providing much-needed student mental health services and counseling supports to ensure the success of every child.
It’s because of these challenges that ECSD has turned to voters in this election to provide the necessary funding needed to work toward solving these complex problems.
Education Foundation of Eagle County
The Education Foundation of Eagle County is committed to supporting public education and the intellectual and emotional growth of students, specifically focusing on in-school enrichment, mental health support services, and efforts to retain top teacher talent. EFEC’s top priority is to maintain an excellent learning experience for students by supporting teachers and schools in Eagle County.
Thank You!
We value your support, engagement, and that you recognize great schools make great communities!