St. Columba Catholic School
2025-2026 ANNUAL REPORT DURANGO, COLORADO
A Message from the Principal Dear St. Columba School Families, Friends, and Supporters, With gratitude, I am pleased to share St. Columba Catholic School’s Annual Report and to celebrate another year in the long story of Catholic education in Durango— teaching Gospel truth and moral values in an environment of academic excellence according to Catholic tradition. That mission is lived most fully in the young people entrusted to our care. Our hope is not simply that they leave St. Columba well prepared academically, but that they go into the world prepared to lead, serve, live virtuously, and become visible signs of Christ’s love to the people around them. The past year brought much to celebrate, as several years of careful planning and hard work began to bear fruit. We continued significant efforts to strengthen teaching and learning across the school, refining our implementation of Core Knowledge Language Arts. We completed a multi-year review and selection of a new mathematics curriculum that our teachers will begin using in the 2026–2027 school year. We finished an important internal study of St. Columba Student Support Services. After nearly five years of visioning, prayer, discernment, planning, and generosity, construction is beginning on the new church narthex and associated improvements. It is an exciting time for our parish and school community, and the beginning of a long-range vision that will include significant improvements to our school facilities in the near future. This year also marked the conclusion of our three-year public-private partnership through the Columba Enrichment Program. Changes in regulations made continuation of the partnership no longer possible, and the CEP Board subsequently voted to dissolve the organization. We are deeply grateful for what this partnership allowed us to accomplish. As I reflect upon this year, I am struck by how closely these three developments are connected. Buildings, programs, partnerships, curriculum, and support systems are never ends in themselves. They are tools placed at the service of something much greater: the formation of children. Thank you for continuing to make that work possible. Your prayers, generosity, trust, and commitment allow St. Columba to remain both firmly rooted in the wisdom of our Catholic tradition and willing to grow thoughtfully in response to the children and families we serve.
With prayers and gratitude, Kevin C. Chick Principal St. Columba School
ST. COLUMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT 25-26
A Year in Review At St. Columba, every dollar entrusted to us is an investment in our students, our teachers, and the mission of our school. We are grateful to our families, donors, parish community, and supporters whose generosity makes our Catholic educational mission possible. During the 2025–2026 school year, St. Columba received $3.40 million in total revenue. Tuition provided 53% of our revenue, with educational services contributing another 23%. The remaining revenue came from grants, fundraising, restricted and unrestricted gifts, and food service. O V E R V I E W
O F
Revenue $ 3 , 4 0 1 , 4 8 5
Food Service Income 4% $140,980
Grants
5% $160,000
Restricted Gifts Education Services
3% $95,825
Fundraising
23% $788,896
7.0% $223,274
Unrestricted Gifts 5% $182,089
Food Service Expense Tuition
53% $1,810,421
O V E R V I E W
O F
Expenses $ 3 , 3 0 3 , 3 6 7
4% $142,700
Facility Rental
Our $3.30 million in expenses reflect our commitment to providing a quality Catholic education and a supportive environment for our students. Classroom compensation was our largest expense at 46%, followed by facility rental at 22%. Additional resources supported classroom and building operations, administration, and food service. We ended the year with net revenue of $98,118, which has been placed in our Reserve Fund for Capital Improvements. Maintaining this reserve allows us to prepare responsibly for future facility needs and make thoughtful investments in the long-term sustainability of St. Columba.
22% $699,240
Classroom Compensation 46% $1,522,530
General and Administrative 11% $376,952
Building Operations 10% $320,127
Classroom Operations 7% $241,818
We are deeply grateful for the generosity and stewardship of our St. Columba community. Together, we are not simply funding a school—we are investing in the formation, education, and future of our children.
ST. COLUMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT 25-26
A Partnership That Leaves a Lasting Legacy The Conclusion of the Columba Enrichment Program Over the past three years, St. Columba School participated in a unique private-public partnership through the Columba Enrichment Program. Through publicly funded enrichment opportunities, this partnership provided resources that allowed the school to expand programs and make strategic investments while maintaining its Catholic identity and independently funding its core educational mission. Changes in public regulations ultimately made continuation of the partnership no longer possible, and the CEP Board voted to dissolve the organization. We close this chapter with genuine gratitude. From the beginning, St. Columba approached these resources with an important principle of stewardship: our regular school program should remain sustainable without them. Rather than building core operations around temporary funding, the school directed much of the opportunity toward investments that could produce lasting benefits. Those investments strengthened the school in four related areas. New and enhanced curriculum 24.9% and instructional resources now provide teachers and students with materials that will serve $750,000 classrooms for years to come. Additional staffing, materials, assessment, and progress monitoring helped us develop a more intentional and cohesive approach to Student Support Services. Strategic investments in technology and educational infrastructure strengthened the systems that support both students and teachers throughout the school. And sustained professional learning gave our teachers training, coaching, curriculum support, and real opportunities to strengthen classroom practice. Because of that approach, the benefits of this partnership do not disappear at its end. Two areas will experience more visible change. Our lunch program will transition back to participation in the USDA Free and Reduced Lunch Program, and some families will notice changes in the cost structure of after-school programming, which previously benefited from CEP enrichment support. Other areas of the operational budget will require prudent adjustments as well. What families should not experience is a reduction in the essential educational program they have entrusted to St. Columba. That was intentional. The partnership was a blessing and an opportunity. Thoughtful planning allowed us to receive that blessing without becoming dependent upon it. We now move into the next chapter grateful for what was accomplished and confident in the sustainability of the school we have continued to build.
From Vision to Action
ST. COLUMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT 25-26
Phase One of Our Long-Range Campus Plan For nearly five years, our parish and school community has prayed, envisioned, discerned, planned, and prepared for the future of the St. Columba campus. Now we begin to build. Construction begins at the end of September with our church entry renovation and narthex addition. This milestone is possible because of the extraordinary generosity of people committed to preserving and strengthening St. Columba for generations to come. For our students, the narthex will become part of their weekly worship experience. A narthex has always served an important purpose in the architecture of the Church: it marks a transition from the activity of ordinary life into sacred space, from the concerns of the world into the reverence of worship. The new space will offer our children and our parish community a beautiful entrance into that experience while also providing practical improvements, including modern restroom facilities, gathering space, environmental improvements, and important safety upgrades. Throughout construction, protecting students and maintaining the strength of the regular school day remain our first priorities. Daily academic operations will continue without disruption. Families will experience temporary adjustments to traffic patterns, arrival, and dismissal as construction progresses, but classroom instruction and regular school programming will continue as usual. School Masses and weekend parish Masses will temporarily be held in the school Gymnasium this year. While our surroundings will be different, what makes worship sacred remains unchanged—for the Church is first the people of God gathered together.
Phase 1
Phase 2
Highlights with direct benefit to the school Church upgrades to improve our weekly worship Narthex patio for school events Fire suppression in the Hauser Bldg and Church New utilities delivery and site work for current and future improvements
Highlights (targeted to begin 2028) Elementary School improvements System upgrades (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, fire suppression & safety) New gym floor, windows, roof Kitchen upgrades Bathroom upgrades
ST. COLUMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT 25-26
Academic excellence is a hallmark of Catholic education at St. Columba. Strong schools continually examine what they teach, how they teach it, how students respond, and what teachers need to help every child grow. Over the past several years, St. Columba has made significant investments in three interconnected areas: literacy, mathematics, and Student Support Services. Our implementation of Core Knowledge Language Arts has continued as a multiyear process involving curriculum resources, teacher training, classroom implementation, review, and refinement. The program strengthens foundational literacy while integrating reading, writing, vocabulary, knowledge-building, history, literature, and the broader content knowledge that children need to become strong readers and thinkers. This past year also concluded a multi-year process of reviewing and selecting a new mathematics curriculum. Our goal was not to abandon the traditional strengths that have long characterized Catholic education. It was to preserve those foundations while providing teachers with stronger contemporary resources, instructional strategies, professional training, and materials. Implementation begins during the 2026–2027 school year. Perhaps the most significant work has been the continued development of St. Columba Student Support Services. Over several years, we have strengthened progress monitoring, developed more targeted learning opportunities, identified essential staff positions, expanded instructional resources, and increased our ability to respond when students need additional support. This past year, we completed an internal study and summation of that work. The result is a more cohesive approach that helps us identify desired outcomes, understand the roles of teachers and support professionals, and evaluate whether the supports we provide are helping students make meaningful progress. Together, this work reflects something deeply characteristic of Catholic education: respect for what has proven to be enduring, combined with the willingness to learn, improve, and use the best tools available in service of the child. That is how tradition remains alive, and how academic excellence continues from one generation of St. Columba students to the next.
Strengthening the Heart of the School
Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Support
ST. COLUMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT 25-26
St. Columba School Fundraising for Annual Operations Tuition is an important part of making a St. Columba education possible, but tuition alone does not cover the full cost of educating each student. Throughout the year, our school families and the broader St. Columba community come together through fundraising, grants, parish support, and other sources of revenue to help bridge that gap and sustain the excellence of a Catholic education.
Day of Giving: Investing in the Future of Our Students Our annual Day of Giving Campaign is one of the most important ways we make this possible. Your generosity provides essential operating support that helps St. Columba School continue to offer a high-quality, faith-filled, mission-driven education—one that forms not only the minds of our students, but their hearts and character as well. Last school year, our annual fundraising campaign raised $229,447. These resources enable us to balance our operating budget and continue investing in our students and school community. Your participation in the Day of Giving is a tangible expression of your belief in the mission of St. Columba and in the promise of our students. Every gift matters. Whether large or small, each contribution helps strengthen our school and ensures that our students have the people, programs, and resources they need to thrive. While the total amount raised is essential, participation matters, too. Our goal is to reach 100% participation from our parents, alumni, parishioners, grandparents, and the greater St. Columba community. A gift of any size sends a powerful message: I believe in St. Columba, and I believe in the future of our students. The Day of Giving Campaign is an important part of our annual operating support and is distinct from other opportunities to give, including charitable outreach programs, the Adopt-a-Student Fund, and our capital campaign for facility improvements. Each serves a different purpose, and each reflects the generosity and shared commitment that make the St. Columba community so strong. Thank you for investing in our students, supporting our teachers and staff, and helping carry the mission of St. Columba School forward. Your generosity makes a lasting difference. For questions about the Day of Giving or other opportunities to support St. Columba School, please contact Principal Chick.
ST. COLUMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT 25-26
1882 GIVING SOCIETY With gratitude, we celebrate donors whose generous support uplifts our students, teachers, and families, reflecting a steadfast commitment to Catholic education. With grateful appreciation, we share a comprehensive list of our donors on the following pages (some donors have chosen to remain anonymous). God’s abundant blessings are ever-present at St. Columba School.
1882 Giving Society
Named for our founding year, the 1882 Society honors the individuals, families, and businesses who make gifts of $1,882 or more to St. Columba School. Recognition in this distinguished stewardship collective is renewable annually. These philanthropic leaders in our community include parents, grandparents, alumni, parishioners, and many friends.
Blessed by Your Generosity Thank you to our 1882 Giving Society. . . ADVANCE FIRE SYSTEMS
SAMUEL & LAURA JACQUEZ
CHRISTINA RINDERLE
ALPINE ANIMAL HOSPITAL
ED & KAY KOSNIK
RIVERVIEW ANIMAL HOSPITAL
AMY ROSE INTERIORS
PAUL & RENEE KOSNIK
JOAN ROBERTS-EMS
ANDERSON REALTY, LLC
MATTHEW KRICHMAN
JOE & AMY ROBERTSON
MATT AND STEPHANIE AURICH
KROGERS, INC.
CHANCE & LAUREN SCOTT
BANK OF COLORADO
JOHN & SHARON KUSENBERGER
PAUL & MOIRA SMITH
KATIE & IAN BARROWCLOUGH
LINDSAY & CALE LAFFERTY
SOTHEBY'S LEGACY PROPERTIES WEST
MICHAEL & JULIE BEST
MARGUERITE SOURS FOUNDATION
SOUTH-WESTERN FOOD, INC.
JOHN & ERIN BRACH
RYAN & MICHELLE MARTYN
SPINE COLORADO
CHARLES & ELIZABETH BRANNEN
DON & LYNN MAY
AMY & PAT STIEFEL
CLAYTON BRYSON
SHANNON MAZUR & GRAHAM SMITH
LAURA & CHRISTIAN SWAN
PAUL & ELIZABETH CAHILL
DOUG & KATHERINE MCCRADY
SWAN GLOBAL INVESTMENTS
ANNIE CARROLL & ROBERT LEIB
SUE MCWILLIAMS
TEQUILA'S
DANIELLE & KEVIN CHICK
JOHN & JEANNE MOORE
MICHAEL TRACY
CLASSIQUE BUILDERS
ZACH MORSE
URBAN MARKET
RODNEY & SUSAN CROSS
MICHAEL NEEB
GIL & JACQUI VAN LUNSEN
CUSTOM BUILT
MARK & PATRICIA NORTON
SKIP & BARBARA VAUGHAN
DURANGO MOTOR COMPANY
LINDA PAJKA
WEBB FAMILY FOUNDATOIN
FRANK & DANIELLE ENEA
KIM PENNY
ZANE & VIKKI WELLS
MANDIE & JONATHAN FRAZIER
PETER & BARBARA MACDONALD
WELLS GROUP OF DURANGO
ROBERT & KOURTNEY HADRICK
FOUNDATION
JEREMY & LILY WISSING
RANDY & KRISTIN HAYS
PITCH ROOFING
ROB ZMARZLAK
JOAN HEIL
MATT & TRACY POPE
JESSICA & RIGOBERTO HERNANDEZ
JASON PORTZ
ST. COLUMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT 25-26
Thank you to our Individual Sponsors. . . GIFTS $500-$1881 ANDREW & AMBER ARIAS
STEVEN T. JONES
DR. JOHN PARTENOPE
TYLER & MARGRETHE BATES
FR. JAMES KOENIGSFELD
SARAH & SCOTT PENNY
WAYNE BEDOR
CATHRIN & DAVE KREBES
HAL PIERCE
MATTHEW & MARY LYNN CLARK
IVAN KUBELDIS
MARY POILLION
BRIAN CONNER
JOHN & SHARON KUSENBERGER
ERIK & MINDY POTTER
DURANGO MAGAZINE, LLC
MARY LINDT
JULIE & JASON ROMERO
ROBERT & DEBRA EGGER
VICTOR & MEGAN LONGINOTTI
COLLEEN ROPER
TREVOR & JOY EHLERS
ERICK & JESSIKA LOYER
TIM & ALICE ROSE
JIM & MEG FOLTZ
JENNIFER MACHO-SEEKINS
CELESTE SALAFIA
L & C KONZ CHARITABLE FUND
TIM & SARAH MAINZER
NOAH SCHMIDT
DAVID & KAREN GREEN
WENDY MALEY
WALTER & CAROL SIGGINS
ZACH & REBECCA GREEN
MORGAN & ELENA MANULIK
BRYCE & ELISE SILAGY
HEIKKI & MELISSA HALL
HEIDI & GILBERT MARTINEZ
PAM & MARTIN SMITH
DONN HARGROVE
NAOMI SERNA MARTY
RYAN & AMBER TRACY
JESSICA HAYDON
DAN & ERIN MCGUINNESS
KRISTIN TRAINOR
JARED & SKYE HIDDEN
DIANA MCPHEETERS
HEATHER M. SMITH TRUST
MONTE HIDDEN
KELLI MILKE
CHRIS WOOLVERTON
SUSIE HOPKINS
ERIK & KRISTEN MISCHKER
RICHARD & MEGAN WRONA
JULIE C. JAEGER
JOE & BETZI MURPHY
DONALD & JACQUELINE ZIRKELBACH
Rooted in faith. Lifted by generosity. Together, we rise to new heights, helping our students reach theirs.
GIFTS $20-$499 ADRIAN & EMMY ARCHULETA
THOMAS & LINDA CHARNOCK
JOHN ADKINS & MARIA DONNELLY
ERICA BAYER
AMANDA CHERIPKA
LAUREN H. EASTBURN
ROSEMARIE BECKER
CAITLIN CISNEROS
MICHAEL J. ECKSTEIN
ALI BENDER
LAUREN CLEWLEY
UTE ECKSTEIN
JODY BERGER
CATHY CRAY
JAMES & HOLLY ESTELLE
DAN & ANDREA BERGHOFF
JAMES & LINDSEY CRITTENDEN
DONALD & CYNTHIA FARRELL
MOLLY BEST
KIM D'ERAMO
KYLE SANDERS & MARYANNE FELKINS
NICHOLAS BEST
AGNES E. DALE
GLENDORA FERGUSON
STACY BOKER
BETSY M. DAVIS
CARA A. FLYNT
DAVID & ANN BRACH
VICTORIA DEAL
ARYANA FOROUHAR
MEEGAN BRETZEL
BENJAMIN & EDIE DELIN
HAILY FOROUHAR
ROBIN ADLEY BROWNE
RUTH DELIN
MELISSA A. MAZUR FOROUHAR
LAURA MARCU BUCK
TWIN BUTTES DENTAL
SNOWBIRD FROST
KRIS & AUDREY BUEHLER
LORI & GREGG G. DIGHERO
JEFF C. FULTZ
REMY BUEHLER
BROOKE DILLER
TIM GAFFNEY
CHAD & AMANDA CARPENTER
CHARLENE J. DIMACALI
DENNIS & NANCY GALEAZZI
CODY CHAPMAN
NANCY DOMBROWSKI
PHILIP & JENNIFER GALLACHER
ST. COLUMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT 25-26
GIFTS $20-$499 ELROY & MARTHA GARCIA
CHRISTINA L. KUSS
PATRICIA ROE
LINDA GARCIA
PER LARSON
ERIC ROHRBAUGH
MARY JO GARDERE
THERESA LARSON
JUSTIN ROLLER
MATT & BRIGID GERBER
MARY LASSER
CALVIN ROMERO
ANGELINA C. GLADSON
MARGARET LEDFORD
TODD & ANNE ROSSIGNOL
MICHAEL & JANE GOESSEL
MARGARET LOPENSKE
PATRICIA RYAN
ERIK & JENNIFER GOODWIN
PENELOPE & HAROLD LOYER
BARBARA SAMMONS
MARK A. GRANGER
STEPHANIE LOYER
JAMES & JUDITH SCHEEL
MIRIAM GRANGER
JOSEPH & BREE LUKER
GAIL & MARLO SCHULZ
CARL & NELLY GREGG
KAREN LUNCEFORD
BROOKE SHELTON
LYDIA GREGG
ARAWYN MADU
CATHY SIMBECK
JOHN HAGAN
IK MADU
PATTI SLAZES
MOLLY HAMILTON
PHILIP & MARILYN MALBERG
TRAVIS WILLSCHAU & CARRIE SLIFKA
JENNY HARGROVE
MARTHA MANULIK
ALISON SMITH
GREG & CANDACE HAROUN
STEVE CONKLIN & LISA MASTNY
BRIAN SMITH
JEFFERY A. HART
RAYMOND AND LA VERNA MAYOR
CAROLYN SMITH
KIRBIE HARTLEY
PETER & MARIAH MAY-OSTENDORP
CAROL SONTAG
JASON & HANNAH HARTMAN
TOM & NANCY MAZUR
MARK & JILL SOTOSKY
MIKE AND MARY HAYS
JODY MCCRADY
TIMOTHY SOTOSKY
MARIA HERNANDEZ
CYNTHIA MCMAHON
KERRY SPICER
LINDA HERZ
CYNTHIA MILLWARD
DANIEL STEPAN
ASHLEE HICKEY
KYLE & MARISSA MONTGOMERY
KATHRYN STOFCHECK
TERRY HICKEY
RICK & KATHY MORRIS
JOHN & ANNE STRAINIS
GLEN L. HOOD
JENNA MORRISON
ALISA & EASTON STUARD
KEVIN L. HRONICH
RUSS & CHARLOTTE NAGEL
RANDAL STUEVE
JOE & CAROL HUGHES
NATHAN & KATHERINE NAKAMOTO
TAYLOR SUTTON
PAUL & SHERYL INGLAT
ROLAND NAKAMOTO
MARIE SWEENEY
BEN & HOLLY JASON
AMY NEARY
SHEILA SWITZER
MEGAN J. JOHNSON
GREGORY NEARY
LILLIAN THOMAS
JIMMY G. JUSTICE
CHRISTINA NEVSHEHIR
ROB & BARBARA TOVER
MATT JUSTICE
CARLA NOVAK
HEIDI TRAINOR
KRIS KEHRER
MYRIAM PALMER
DAVE & MARY TURCOTT
HARLAN & JEANA KELLEY
GARY & LISA PEARCE
JANET WALLACE
NANCY KERRY
LARRY & SUE PEDERSON
KAELEN WATERS
EMILY KING
PATRICIA & PAUL PETERSEN
EILEEN & LARRY WEGRZYN
JOHAN & JULIE KLEVA
MARY LOU PETERSON
KEVIN & ALI WEGRZYN
CATHERINE & DONALD KNARESBORO
JOSEPH POPE
RYAN WELU
KATHRYN & PAUL KOEHLER
HILLARY J. RAAB
MARY WHATCOTT
KELSEY KOLZ
ROSE MARIE & LARRY RAAB
BENJAMIN & JESSICA WHEATLEY
JEREMY & JULIA KOSCHKE
MARY & BOB RALPH
RICHARD & JOANN WILTZ
JOSH KOSCHKE
TERESE RAMSEY
STEVEN WOOLVERTON
QUINLYN KOSNIK
DRU RAY
PHYLLIS ZIMMERMAN
NANCY KOST
LEROY & DONNA RHEAULT
APRIL ZION
PATRICIA KOST
DAVID & DEBORAH RODRIGUEZ
GARTH KUBELDIS
MOLLY RODRIGUEZ
ST. COLUMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT 25-26
Strength in Community Thank you to our STAR Business Sponsors! Please share our gratitude by supporting these sponsors whenever possible!