Poudre Board Cuts Four Schools, Saves Three Mountain Campuses
The district voted to close Beattie, Johnson, Putnam, and Blevins schools while giving Timnath Elementary one more year to secure funding for a new building.
By Harper Foster ·
The Poudre School District Board of Education in Colorado voted to close four schools and merge two others after a nearly nine hour meeting. The decisions will reshape attendance zones for families across the district starting in 2027 and 2028. Board members also approved a plan to combine Centennial High School and Poudre Community Academy into a single campus.
The board removed three mountain schools from the proposed closure list. Livermore Elementary, Red Feather Elementary, and Stove Prairie Elementary will remain open. Nina Heeren, a former parent at Livermore Elementary, described the outcome as exciting for the community. Heeren said she woke her children to share the news. She noted that even though they were in middle and high school, they understood the impact and were happy the schools were no longer at risk.
Timnath Elementary received an additional year to find ways to fully fund a new building. The board gave the community more time to develop a solution that meets long term needs. Kristen Tatti, a parent in Timnath, expressed gratitude for the extra time. She stated that the community has a lot of work ahead to meet the district's requirements.
Four schools will close under the new plan. Beattie Elementary, Johnson Elementary, and Putnam Elementary are on the list. Blevins Middle School will also close. These changes will take effect between 2027 and 2028. The board also voted to close Irish Escuela Bilingüe in the fall of the 2028-29 school year. The district plans to create a more unified dual language program in the future.
Students from schools slated to close will receive priority consideration in the district's school choice process. Transportation will be provided to students who live outside the walking zones of their newly assigned schools. This support aims to reduce the burden on families during the transition.
The vote followed a lengthy session with parents, students, and community members advocating for their schools. For families whose schools are closing, the decision marks the start of a new transition period. Tatti described the extra time for Timnath Elementary as an important first step in addressing the community's educational needs.
