In The News

Sept. 24, 2026: Last night, our Board of Education unanimously approved a framework for how funds from Ballot Question 5B would be allocated if voters approve the measure in November. I want to share what that means for you and acknowledge the collaboration that brought us to this point. Through conversations between our district negotiations team and the Eagle County Education Association, we reached an agreement to dedicate 80% of the district’s share of the proposed mill levy override to employee compensation. Of the $10.1 million the measure would generate annually, approximately $600,000 would be allocated to Eagle County Charter Academy as required based on student enrollment. Of the remaining approximately $9.5 million, about $7.6 million would support compensation for certified staff, support staff, and school leadership. Based on our current estimates, that investment represents an average compensation increase of approximately 9%–10%. The exact structure and individual impact will depend on continued work with our Association partners and additional salary schedule development. That work is expected to include: • restoring a step to the certified salary schedule; • increasing coaching and activity stipends to better reflect current compensation levels; • developing broader revisions to our salary schedules for 2027–28; and • exploring whether a one-time payment can be provided as soon as possible following voter approval while the longer-term compensation structure is finalized. If the measure is approved, compensation increases for the 2026–27 school year would be retroactive to July 1, 2026. We know compensation matters to your ability to build a life here in Eagle County. It also matters to our students, who benefit from the experience, relationships, and consistency you bring to their schools each day. The remaining 20% would support the instructional and student support priorities identified in the ballot measure, including strengthening reading, writing, and math; restoring art, music, and physical education; and maintaining student access to mental health professionals. I appreciate the work of our association partners, district team, and Board in establishing this framework. Having a clear plan allows staff and community members to understand how these funds would be used. We encourage you to visit the district’s Mill Levy Override webpage. We will continue sharing details and answering questions as they arise. Thank you for the care and commitment you bring to our students and to one another. Your work is at the heart of what we do. Sincerely, Dr. KC Somers Superintendent