Since Rico’s schoolchildren attend Telluride schools but are part of the Dolores County School District, The Kids of Rico Planning Committee took matters into their own hands to realign Rico kids to be annexed into the Telluride School District.
Next week, The Kids of Rico Planning Committee will hold two information sessions, one at Dolores County School District on Aug. 15 and the other at Telluride School District on Aug. 16, to explain and gain support from both school districts’ residents to realign Rico’s schoolchildren from the Dolores County School District into the Telluride School District. Another meeting has been set for Aug. 31 in Rico.
Rico school realignment public meetings
Dolores County session
Aug. 15, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
High School Commons
525 N. Main St.
Dove Creek, 81324
Telluride session
Aug. 16, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Telluride Elementary School
447 W. Columbia Ave.
Telluride, 81435
Rico session
Aug. 31, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Enterprise Bar & Grill
3 N. Glasgow Ave.
Rico, CO 81332
According to a news release, Rico’s only public school shut its doors in 2018. Since then, most of the town’s 25 school-age children have attended Telluride schools, 28 miles away.
A problem with that is that they are still part of the Dolores County School District, even though the closest Dolores County school is 75 miles away in Dove Creek.
Colorado’s Public Schools of Choice Law, which allows students to attend any school that has space, has permitted Dolores County students to attend Telluride schools. However, this year, limited room nearly kept one Dolores County student from attending class in Telluride.
Next week’s meeting on the realignment plan will focus on how the realignment would benefit Rico’s schoolchildren and how realignment would impact to taxpayers in both districts. Community members’ questions will be answered as well.
Both school boards support the realignment and approved a proposal to the November 2023 ballot.
Additionally, state law requires residents in both Dolores County and Telluride school districts to vote for the realignment plan during November’s elections.
If approved, the realignment will take effect July 1, 2024.
According to the Kids of Rico, the realignment would not increase Dolores County property taxes, the Rico school building and property would no longer be a concern for DCSD taxpayers, and it would not lead to a county annexation.
