Big Changes, Bright Futures

Welcome to our first episode of season five! We’re kicking off the new year with some updates on what’s changing in 2026. First up, we’re deploying our latest two-schools-in-one building setup. Special guest Brian Smith will dive into how the Falcon Zone will make the most of this temporary move and why it’s a primary piece of some big-picture planning.  

We had to make some tough calls to stabilize our budget as last year came to a close. In this episode, we’ll get into how those changes are going and celebrate the incredible spirit of our staff who keep showing up for our students, year after year. 

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We treat it very seriously becau we understand, just like everybody understands. The main reason for the existenc of a school district is students So everything is student focused from the beginning, and we support all the people who support the students. So there's a greater level of ca Nobody is here because they're trying to make $ They're here because they're try make a big difference in a milli Students are the mission at D49, and we couldn't be more excited for another year of launching students to success Welcome to our first episode of five. I'm D49 Director of Communicatio David Nancarrow. Here in the heart of Colorado's region, it's back to business as plus a few strategic shifts to start the school year. Our superintendent and host, Pet Hilts, unpacks why two schools a the same building in 2026, and why that move is a primary p of some big picture planning. We'll hear about why the summer for productivity, and what goes getting our district ready to welcome back staff and And we'll also hear about how the financial forecast is sh up, as we've emerged from a very challenging season a committed to providing a top notch education to every learner Let's get to it. You're listening to 49 voices at D49 podcast. Spend some time with us as we take an in-depth look at how our workforce, stude families, and community make D49 the best choice to lear work, and lead. These are our stories of dedicat innovation and inspiration as we deliver excellence in educ And now your host, Peter Hilts. All right. Friends of 49 voices, our D49 in-house podcast. Welcome back to the show. I am Peter Hilts. I'm the superintendent, and we a incredibly grateful to have you As we take a deeper dive into th that make our district the best choice to learn, work, As this episode drops, we are ba School year 26-27 is just underw Hot on the heels of a summer that included some rest and prod were starting off the year with a shift in the Falcon Zone that factors into some big pictu planning while creating new opportunities that we're excited to share here To help me do that, as a group o including Falcon Zone superinten Brian Smith, executive director of joint operations Doc Fletcher, and Chief Financial Officer Rebekah Brooks So, team, thank you very much for joining Absolutely. So one of the realities about every school district, and certainly it's true for dist is that facility management always happens on a t and a short calendar. So I'm really excited to have our executive director o operations, Doctor Lou Fletcher, here with us, because he's going to tell us about some of the top priority w that our teams have been tacklin over the summer of 26. Yeah, I know those saying says you got to work smarter, not har we've been put in a position of both smart and hard, really and For operations is the busiest time of year. We amp up the projects by a fact We are making sure that when stu and teachers get to their classr they will have everything that they need to have. So as people are coming back in, my folks are saying, hey, welcom because they never left. One of the big things that we ha we had a fantastic peak program in the Mohawk building, and for and also be a money saving propo we had to put together a student Success center. Where does that go? Instead of building a brand new we co-locate it to elementary sc It made sense. It gave us the ability to have a sustainable building that usually the the old adage that elementary school is not go for anything but elementary scho But we were able to turn into our new Student Success Cen So we'll have the peak program g there, as well as some other act We had to do minimal remodeling to make that work. We're also going to gain some pr capacity in that whole propositi Yeah. No, it's it really ends up being benefici not just to our financial operat but it's really beneficial to our literal operation and our operating team. We have worked really hard to ma all of our facilities in the green level of an index. Call the facility condition inde This is an industry standard, and to have a school district where every single building is i the green is sort of unheard of. But you and your team have been about taking on what you can tak and where necessary, you sought out some partnerships So can you tell us a little bit about a new partnership that is going to specifically he address efficiency and the sustainability of our existing buildings? Absolutely. Most people are aware that we ha some cuts last year, and some of that was cuts to cap Now, if we cut capital, we didn't have a strategy to be to replace that capital in some We would get deeper and deeper into piles of deferred maintenan So we did as we brought in Schne Electric to be on a performance so that we can be very laser focused on replacing old infrast and replacing inefficient infras and getting things to a place wh we're saving money while we're d So people hear that phrase performance con And now I know that means that t some there's some kind of contingency in ther Can you explain a little bit mor about what Performance contracti does for the district, and why it's the right move for It's all about efficiency. There's inefficiencies that exis just systems like plumbing, elec And if we use these things as they are wide open without lo at the efficiency of it, we coul a lot more money than we need to And when you're running 30 different buildings with 30 d HVAC systems and internal contro inefficiency comes from having to learn new systems and adjust and have different training and equipment on hand for repairs. How Schneider Electric helping u smooth out those bumps and ridge A lot of people have the idea that if you run something for a you're saving money, but you're actually not. So out in our buildings, we have controls that are still pneumati and things like that that are not efficient. We're going to do is replace the digital controls and that kind o And then to your point, we're going to make sure that we have more standard equipment across all the buildin which simplifies our supply chai We're not looking for 40 differe spare parts to do the same funct We're looking for one spare part to do that function. We often say, you know that with operations, we we feed students, we protect students, we heat and the buildings that they are lear We transport them and get them where they need to And we manage the contracts that to preserve as much money as pos for the educational side. What is kind of the a final thought or a final impre that you would want to leave with our audience about how dist 49, under your leadership, treat its operational function? We treat it very seriously becau we understand, just like everybody understands, the main reason for the existence of a school district is students. So everything is student focused from the beginning, and we support all the people who support the students. So there's a greater level of ca Nobody is here because they're trying to make $ They're here because they're try make a big difference in a milli And that's part of why this set of transitions that we're going is going so well. We appreciate your addition to the 49 voices podcast, and we can't wait to se what you guys are going to do th Thank you. We better get back to work now. We're going to turn now to Brian Smith. And Brian. I just want to say welcome back voices. There is a lot going on in the F zone as we kick off the school y Let's talk specifically about what's new for two of our schools, Bennett Ranch and Falcon Elementary. We have a lot happening in the F right now, as we have moved Falcon Elementary School into the Bennett Ranch building so that they are now living toge in that building, operating as one campus, but still two separate, distinct We wanted to do that to maintain the history, the tra the legacy of Falcon Elementary is being one of the oldest schoo in the district to still serve our unique student population and what is needed for those stu and also still honor Bennett Ran Elementary as our newest element in the zone, and maintaining their traditions and legacies as And so we had an opportunity because enrollment has really sh and because we had space in the Ranch building, that we could bring those two sc together, house them there, have operate separately, but also col in some areas and work together to best serve students and to best make sure we have things happening for all of our elementary learne You know, Brian, when a school district experienc either a shift in enrollment or declining enrollment, we've seen a little bit of both. The most natural and the most common response is close the small school and just let those students get incorporated and absorbed into other schools. You had a different vision, and it really reflects the communities that you lead. If we look at nature, you don't normally see Hawk soaring down to hang out with the bulls. What is it about these two schoo communities that made you believe that this shared space would wor You know, Falcon Elementary is b longest elementary school in the There's such a legacy and tradit We could not let that go away. And the families that have long participated at Falcon Elementar and have their students there, even now, students that left tha that now have their own children in that building, there's such a tradition that we had to make sure to keep that alive and keep that that really cares for those stud on the eastern side of our distr together to best serve those stu And so we had to keep that schoo and in place so that we could continue the tr in the Falcon Zone. And by having the space availabl at Bennett Ranch, which also serves a unique commu we were able to allow both schoo to be together, but to still serve their communi and they have very similar needs as what they're doing to support learning, support student activi They both want to grow opportuni for students and get them to par in different activities, clubs and things that students can eng Because both of those schools were looking at that same focus, it naturally worked out to have them come together so that they can do individual t but now create some new opportun where they do come together and clubs, activities, academic enri that support both campuses toget It's going to be fun. I agree with you that it's going to be fun. I also know it's very different to have some guests come into yo So for our students at Bennett R those bulls who lead the way, they're going to lead the way by welcoming and hosting. But for those hawks from Falcon Elementary, it's a very, very different experience to be out of your familiar setting and to to go kind of across town and up the road. So what is happening to make sure that the students and really the staff and familie like they belong at that campus. It's not just we're moving in with someone else, that this tru a joint building for both school And so we collaborated very inte We listened to our community, we listened to our parents and s and found ways that we could mak everyone felt invited and ready to enter that new buil We intentionally moved everythin from Falcon Elementary School over to Bennett Ranch so that when those students arri they feel like they're still at It may be some different walls, it may be some different spaces, but their items, their belonging their learning materials are all still there so that they feel like being a Falcon Elementary School hawk is still the same as it was It's just in a different locatio We're fortunate that when we built the Bennett Ranch it was part of the Firebird Nati since it's in close proximity to Falcon Middle School, and there was already a partnership developed there between those two buildings. Now we're welcoming a third scho onto the Firebird Nation campus. And so we really looked at the b We looked at making sure the logos are present throughout all of the different and hallways within the building We added the big logo in the com so that you can tell that that Firebird Nation Campus Comm auditorium space is for both sch The gym now has branding for bot We even have a special mural right outside of the gym that had a Firebird with a bull running out of it, while the Hawk needed to be ther And so now we have a proud blue Hawk flying from that Firebird a So as we give kudos to those eng and architects and the people that were involved in the planni one of the things that you might at Bennett Ranch Elementary is t sort of looks a little bit overb for an elementary school. Maybe you can share some of that background. Yeah. When we designed the school several years ago, we designed i as a flexible pre-K eight campus so that it could be utilized as school space, elementary school or future CTE level programs. We wanted to be very flexible so that as we build a building, available to use for different n And so we are very fortunate as we bring these two campuses t It has two gyms, it has two art rooms, two music So we're going to still be able Falcon Elementary School and Ben Elementary School to offer their same specials with their s teachers to engage students in those elective courses that t and participate in and have new space to do that. Falcon elementary, in the past h many of those courses in retrofitted rooms or modular, and now they have a brand new re music room or art room or Big Ji It's going to be great, and the are really going to benefit from And in that vein of flexibility, why do you share a little bit about what is happening with the formerly known as Falcon Element The building that was formerly Falcon Elementary is now going t the district's student Success C We are going to house the peak p that was originally on the Mohaw road over there off of Woodman. They are relocating to the Student Success Center, a as some of our other specialized to support students and families so that we can still utilize the that Falcon Elementary School ha Because it's a great space, it has the ability to serve stud but with the growing needs of our students, it made m for us to move into a new locati and allow that space now to be u for other programs in the distri that Falcon Zone will benefit from as we engage with and serve our students appropria So, Brian, you've done a great j of explaining the educational si of this transition and why it's to honor the legacy of Falcon El and and merge it with the emergi at Bennett Ranch Elementary. From an education and community standpoint, this was the right t to do, but it was also the right to do from a financial perspecti So I want to invite our Chief Financial officer, Rebekah Brook into this conversation to explain how we are taking adv of the literal asset formerly known as Falcon Element and how that is the right thing for district 49. Rebecca, thank you for joining u on this episode of 49 voices. Thank you so much for having me. For those of you that could use a little bit of b 49 was one of many school distri around the state that had to tak last spring to stabilize our bud and although that work was incredibly important, it was also pretty painful because we had to reduce our pro and we had to reduce our workfor So as we begin this new budget c this new school year with that, in our recent memory, how would you describe our budge Yeah, sure. We are in a place of what I would consider stabilization. So what we went through was a very painful, high stress tria It was very heavy for everyone. But now we are not completely ou of the woods, but the bleeding h and we have a balanced budget that our structural alignment is now sound and we're starting this school year on solid footin So we went through this season where we had to stabilize the bu We had to be pretty decisive abo and we're emerging from that part of the season. Are there any positives that you from the work that we did to stabilize our budget? Absolutely We are leaner, sharper, more strategically aligned than we ha There's a hope that lies in our newfound agilit We now know exactly who we are, we know how to maximize our doll and we are hyper focused on what truly matters. The students. I think the students and their p would appreciate that focus. And although it has been a hard there are some people who look at this issue of kind of financial responsibility bein and they see that as sort of opposed to staff mora as if they're two halves of a teeter totter, and if one goes up, the other has to go down. I know you've had a different pe Can you share how do we balance the need to be appropriately frugal with the need to maintain high staff morale? You can't budget cut your way into high morale. You can build trust through absolute transparency. You don't hide numbers. When staff knows exactly why a decision was made, then they can see leadership is sharing in the sac It creates a sense of shared pur and morale stays high when peopl respected, informed and valued, not when things are falsely suga So I appreciate your sensitivity and your commitment to making su people have accurate information and they have it when it's timel One of the decisions that we had was the the choice to co-locate Falcon Elementary School onto th of Bennett Ranch Elementary Scho And Brian earlier talked about the cultural and educational implications of What can you tell us a little bi about the way that move is maxim the space we have and why this makes sense financi Sure. So from a CFO perspective, every square foot of real estate that we own costs money to heat, cool, light, or maintain. And so when you have any type of underutilized space, you're essentially leaking dolla that should be going into classr So by repurposing a school into the Student Success Center and c with Falcon Elementary and Benne Ranch, it optimizes our support And it's a textbook definition of strategic asset ma So instead of spending millions on new capital construction or letting buildings sit half em we look at what we've already ow and asked how we can make it wor better. For us. It's a financial win because it a position to drastically lower term operational overhead. But it's a community win because we didn't abandon our bu and we've transformed them to better serve students and sta Rebecca, you've said that our financial position is s but as a leader, I want more than stability. Is there anything in our situati that gives you optimism about where we're going? Definitely. There are so many things that we optimistic about, but the absolu biggest point of pride for me is our people. When you go through a budget red the numbers on a spreadsheet rep real human beings and real famil One of our top priorities during the restructuring was to keep as many talented educators and s in the district whenever possibl I'm incredibly proud to share th intentional vacancy management, meaning open positions that popped up through normal at So departures or retirements that we're able to rehire 51% of our licensed staff member who had been impacted by the cut These statistics prove that even in a crunch, our commitment to our workforce wasn't just lip service. We've lost many colleagues that we've loved and cared for, staff members who've had to carry the emotiona of that transition, and then pic those extra pieces is never easy It's been a deeply professional to our students. Our staff showed up every single They've processed the hardship, they've stabilized the classroom and kept our core mission alive. I'm profoundly grateful for their grace and grit. They are the reason we are stand strong today. I really appreciate that construction of grace and grit, and that's a great way for a CFO to balance optimism and realism. So how do you lead with those so of twin poles of emphasis in you I definitely believe that being a good financial steward means telling the truth, even when it's uncomfortable. My belief is that blind optimism can produce apathy or kind of an indifference, whil pessimism can produce cynicism. And both kind of extremes breed So constructive action requires seeing the world as it is, or being realistic while having the conviction to c And what are some of the things you cause for realistic optimism Yeah, I see a really strong move to recommit to education funding at the legislature through the current hurdles that we've overcome in the curre and most have thought that there hope, that strong commitment sti a definite ray of hope on our fu There are also some promising ballot measures that could be monumental to scho if they're passed. And then lastly, I'm hopeful that with increased tran with utmost integrity, we can win the trust and support of our community when we go to t for an MLO or mill levy override What would be something that if leave listeners with one takeawa regarding the district's financi what would it be? That we are stable and we're building for the long Last year was about weathering t and laying a new foundation. This year is about perfecting those changes and securing our f By managing every tax dollar with care and precision, we ensure our primary focus stay where it should be, supporting our students and our I love that perspective. From a CFO, you're not just about the number You really treat these financial as they need to be treated, as they impact our students, the and other educators and support staff that serve the the families that trust us. It is it is really beneficial to work with a CFO who has that impact mindset. So thank you Rebekah. Thank you Peter. So thank you to our 49 voices au We appreciate your interest in these different topics, parti the operational and financial el If you would like to learn more about what we've talked about to we frequently bring these matter our Board of Education and to th So you can always catch our boar in person or via livestream. And if you'd like to hear even m about the work Rebecca and her t doing, or Lou and their team are you can find archived meetings o Just go to our website, D49 and find the Board of Education page to see those meetings. As we close, I really want to thank Brian Smi the superintendent of the Falcon Doctor Lou Fletcher, the executi Director of Joint operations, an Brooks, our chief financial offi I hope you get a sense of their blended with their heart. For the students of district 49, that is why I am so grateful and so committed to keeping dist the best choice to learn, work a I'm Peter Hilts and we'll be bac with our next episode. Thank you for listening to the 4 podcast. Find all of our episodes anywhere you find your podcasts, and on our website at D40. We are always looking for topics to bring to you, our listeners. If you have an idea. Drop us a line anytime at info a We'll be back soon with our next And always remember, district 49 the best choice to learn, work, We are the home of more than 30 campuses, where we launch every to success and safe and welcomin environments wherever you want t D49 is a great place to start.