State Sen. Ellen Roberts was given a whirlwind tour of Dolores Schools last week.
Dolores Re-4 Schools Superintendent Scott Cooper said superintendents across the state are offering tours of schools to give legislators a firsthand look at the campuses that are affected by their yeas and nays the capitol.
Rural school districts like Dolores have faced a budget crisis due to the state pulling money from Amendment 23 education funds to balance its budget. After schools sued, the Colorado Supreme Court recently ruled the state legislature is authorized to continuing tapping into the funds for other uses. The budgetary phenomenon has been dubbed by school districts as “The Negative Factor.”
To offset it, voters earlier this month passed Referendum 3A, which asked permission for the Dolores School District to continue a mill levy passed in 2008 for another eight years.
Although 3A’s passage was a huge win for the district, Cooper says its important to get face time in with the decision makers.
“The more they can see what great things we’re doing with the resources we have, the more likely they are to remember us when drafting, discussion, and voting on legislation related to education,” Cooper said.
When popping into classrooms, Roberts took a few questions from curious students, that were interested in just what exactly she did. Fielding questions ranging from “Can I have your autograph?” to “What do you do as Senator?”
Dolores students were eager and curious to get to know their visitor.
“I hope you all study hard, and learn lots,” Roberts said.
