WEEK OF FEBRUARY 20, 2025
VOLUME 129 | ISSUE 51
$2
DCSD approves policy to guide school closures BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The Douglas County School Board unanimously approved a policy to help guide school closures, including the planned closures of three elementary schools in Highlands Ranch in 2026. No schools in Highlands Ranch have yet been named as part of the merging of six schools into three. The district is expected to announce which schools will be recommended for consolidation in March before the formal recommendation is made to the school board in April. The board will vote on school consolidations at the April 22 meeting, and then there will be a transition year before the schools are merged for the 2026-27 school year. The approved policy for school closures outlines the community engagement process, considerations and timelines to create a standardized district process. Criteria listed in the policy include preserving the “student, staff and community cohorts as much as possible,” while accounting for traffic management, safety, walkability, building quality and limitations, maximizing school programs, enrollment and financial sustainability. Superintendent Erin Kane said the recommendations will weigh all of the criteria listed in SEE CLOSURES, P4
Abigail Cabrera, the 2025 Elbert County Fair queen, exits the arena after the Grand Entry to kick off the Sweetheart Gymkhana.
PHOTO BY NICKY QUINBY
Sweetheart Gymkhana is royal treat Equine event at Messer Arena in Kiowa raises funds for Elbert County Fair Royalty Foundation
2025
BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
VOTING STARTS
MARCH 1!
On the crisp, clear morning of Feb. 9, the Messer Arena in Kiowa was full of dedicated, invested community members, all there to see Elbert County Fair Royalty’s Annual Sweetheart Gymkhana. The Gymkhana is
VOICES: 10 | LIFE: 14 | CALENDAR: 17 | PUZZLES: 19
more than just a fundraiser for the Elbert County Fair Royalty Foundation — it also celebrates the dedication, talent and hard work of the royalty and those who support them. The Sweetheart Gymkhana features several events, including barrel racing, keyhole, poles, and flags. “My favorite part of the event
is seeing the community come together to support these young leaders,” said Royalty Program Director Mandy Brammer. “It’s inspiring to watch participants challenge themselves in the arena while knowing they’re also contributing to a program that fosters confidence, leadership, and a passion for agriculture.”
The 2025 royalty includes Queen Abigail Cabrera, Princess Mya Noe and Junior Princess Ava Cleveland. These young women promote the Elbert County Fair by educating the public about the agricultural heritage of the county while developing leaderSEE GYMKHANA, P12
ELBERTCOUNTYNEWS.NET • A PUBLICATION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA