GOLDEN — Jefferson County Public Schools is forming a committee to look at how its schools and other facilities are used, including possible closures.
The committee, composed of school and community members, is expected to work through most of this year before bringing its findings and recommendations to the board of education.
The committee’s work is part of the district’s three-year effort that cut more than $35 million from the $697 million operating budget.
Superintendent Cindy Stevenson said no decisions have been made, adding it is premature to talk about closing schools.
“We don’t do this lightly,” Stevenson said. “We want to see how our schools and facilities are being used, and the committee will look at the most efficient and effective uses.”
Three Jefferson County schools — Arvada Middle, Deer Creek Middle and Meiklejohn Elementary — are below 50 percent capacity.
Stevenson said Meiklejohn, which opened in the fall of 2006, is in a growth area of Arvada.
“Nothing is off the table,” she said, noting the best use of a building may mean “repurposing” it, such as combining programs or relocating a program.
The state’s largest district has 92 elementary schools, two kindergarten-through-eighth-grade schools, 20 middle schools, 17 high schools, nine option schools and 13 charter schools.
Ann Schrader: 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com
