Suzie Glassman
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Suzie Glassman
@suziereports.bsky.social
Education reporter @ColoradoTrust covering Jefferson, Adams, Weld counties | Freelance contributor @COTimesRecorder | School finance, governance, accountability
The food bank director told me something that stuck: "Sometimes the only flexible part of a family's budget is the food."

Full story has more from her on what she's seeing.
Schools unite for successful Weld district-wide food drive
Weld Re-8 School District held a successful food drive, collecting over 8,000 pounds of food. The entire district, including all six schools, participated.
www.ftluptonpress.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Adams 12 voters just passed a $39M tax increase for schools.

Now lobbyists are warning the state budget crisis could swallow those gains.

🔗 www.northglenn-thorntonsentinel.com/news/state-b...
Will budget woes undermine newly approved tax dollars?
Despite recent voter support to increase funding for Adams 12 Five Star Schools, potential state-level funding cuts are now threatening these gains. A budget deficit of $840 million to $1 billion for ...
www.northglenn-thorntonsentinel.com
December 5, 2025 at 5:31 PM
One student cracked open a piggy bank. The parents topped it off.

Weld Re-8 just pulled off its first district-wide food drive—8,483 lbs to the Fort Lupton Food and Clothing Bank.

The need is real: 57% of district students qualify for free/reduced lunch.
Schools unite for successful Weld district-wide food drive
Weld Re-8 School District held a successful food drive, collecting over 8,000 pounds of food. The entire district, including all six schools, participated.
www.ftluptonpress.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:48 AM
NEW: Jeffco Public Schools just recorded its smallest kindergarten class in district history.

The problem isn't families choosing other schools. It's families leaving Jefferson County entirely.

www.thegoldentranscript.com/news/jeffco-...
Jeffco enrollment falls to historic low as families move
Jefferson County Public Schools enrollment drops to lowest level in years, with smallest kindergarten class on record. Decrease linked to lower birth rates and families leaving the county due to risin...
www.thegoldentranscript.com
December 4, 2025 at 6:07 PM
NEW: Lakewood Library's admin offices have been closed 2 months after an asbestos spill.

State records show workers who weren't certified to handle asbestos removed contaminated flooring. The library knew it contained asbestos before work began.

🧵
December 3, 2025 at 12:08 AM
NEW: Lakewood Library's admin offices have been closed 2 months after an asbestos spill.

State records show workers who weren't certified to handle asbestos removed contaminated flooring. The library knew the flooring contained asbestos before work began.

🧵
December 2, 2025 at 11:35 PM
New from me: Westminster students are feeling safer, and 86% say they have a trusted adult at school.

But the board is pushing the district to aim for 90%.

What happens to the 14% who can't name someone? Mental health staff get their names and reach out.

www.westminsterwindow.com/article_d8c0...
More Westminster students say they have an adult to turn to
When Westminster students need help, most know where to find it, and the numbers are climbing.
www.westminsterwindow.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Reposted by Suzie Glassman
Written comments totaled 176 opposed to 23 in favor, with only two Sterling Ranch residents among supporters.
#copolitics
Douglas County Commissioners Strip School District Authority Over Sterling Ranch Schools
Commissioners voted 3-0 to reduce DCSD's role over near-unanimous community opposition and a warning from the state's own charter school authority Five months after voters rejected a home rule proposa...
coloradotimesrecorder.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Jefferson County Schools detailed their first specific cuts last week: 160 positions gone, $2M from athletics.

But here's what stood out: Parents say they learned about potential athletics cuts through school conversations just 2 weeks ago. 🧵
November 25, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Jefferson County library workers packed last night's board meeting. Leslie works 60 hours/week: "I just want to be able to survive off of one job."

Coworkers defaulting on car loans. Can't get second jobs due to erratic schedules.

🧵1/3
November 24, 2025 at 5:59 PM
NEW: Adams 12 is investing $2.3M to bring career and technical education to middle schoolers.

The bet: Hook kids early before they fall behind in credits and lose options for career training in high school.

www.northglenn-thorntonsentinel.com/news/adams-1...
Adams 12 brings career and tech training to middle school
Adams 12 Five Star Schools to launch $2.3 million middle school CTE programs for hands-on learning and career exploration. Initiative aimed at preventing students from falling behind in core subjects ...
www.northglenn-thorntonsentinel.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Beautiful story: CTE students used their technical skills to print a memorial plaque for Bradley Hardin, who spent his final months with cancer, ensuring they'd have pathways to careers.

The Star Wars fan called himself 'a lightsaber in the darkness'

www.thebrightonblade.com/news/27j-hon...
27J honors late CTE leader with posthumous Believer Award
Hardin's impact in Brighton 27J extended beyond his terminal diagnosis, building robust CTE pathways for district students in welding, construction, and engineering.
www.thebrightonblade.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Jeffco Schools superintendent evaluation is a study in contrasts:

✓ 23-point K-3 literacy gains
✗ Middle schools flat
✓ Longest tenure in a decade
✗ Teachers voted no confidence
✓ Board approved evaluation 4-1
✗ Can't measure "trust" after 3 years trying

www.thegoldentranscript.com/news/jeffco-...
Jeffco superintendent sees progress amid $60M budget crisis
Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Tracy Dorland described the past year as one in which "Jeffco made measurable progress on every goal," even as the district faces a $60 million
www.thegoldentranscript.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:06 PM
🚨 UPDATE: New data shows Emory got the WORST deal of six recent Jeffco school sales

Emory sold for 24% BELOW its "as-is" appraisal while most other schools sold ABOVE theirs

Thread with the numbers 🧵
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November 18, 2025 at 4:43 PM
For @coloradotimesrecorder.com: Douglas County GOP recruited replacements for conservative board members who voted to fund schools. Process included NDAs, recorded interviews, vetting for 'follow-through.'

The kicker? Their hand-picked candidates just lost.
coloradotimesrecorder.com/2025/10/doug...
DougCo GOP Selected Conservative Replacements for School Board Majority
Party-recruited candidates seek seats currently held by members who defied GOP demands, despite lack of voter signal for changes In 2023, David DiCarlo lost his Douglas County school board race...
coloradotimesrecorder.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Excited to announce I won a $10K grant as part of the National Trust for Local News' News Innovation Sprint!

The grant will help build templates any newsroom can use to turn complex decisions (budgets, zoning, policy) into interactive experiences.

#LocalNews #MediaInnovation #InteractiveNews
November 11, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Jeffco students with a 3.0 GPA now have guaranteed admission to CU Denver. No application fees, automatic acceptance, and the ability to save thousands by living at home.

www.thegoldentranscript.com/news/jeffco-...
Jeffco students with 3.0 GPA get CU Denver guarantee
Coordinated effort for creating clear pathways from high school to careers by Jeffco includes agreements with other universities and career exploration programs.
www.thegoldentranscript.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Morning after: Jeffco school board sees 3 new faces. Echevarria (64%), Gibbons (68%), Moeinian (41%) heading to victory.

New board inherits: $60M budget crisis, trust deficit with teachers, safety concerns. What should be priority #1?

www.thegoldentranscript.com/news/new-fac...
New faces emerge as Jeffco school board race leaders
Jefferson County voters likely electing new school board members with challengers leading in all contested races. Experience and pledges to manage tight budgets featured prominently in District 1 resu...
www.thegoldentranscript.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Halloween's over, but we found 17 ghosts that operate year-round in Jefferson County Schools' finances.

These "ghost" purchasing accounts spent $1.7 million with no individual accountability—while the district cuts $60 million from classrooms.

www.thegoldentranscript.com/news/jeffco-...
Jeffco schools "ghost" accounts spent $1.73M in 7 months
Ghost accounts don't follow normal P-card rules, lack application forms, and had a total of 409 transactions totaling $1.73 million within seven months.
www.thegoldentranscript.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:13 PM
"They know they don't matter."

A parent's raw testimony about 10 years of dismissed concerns at Evergreen HS cut through last night's community forum. While Jeffco pledges permanent security after September's shooting, parents say the real issues run deeper.

www.canyoncourier.com/news/educati...
Jeffco pledges permanent Evergreen security amid frustration
Evergreen High School parent voices concerns about student safety and support at a community forum following a recent shooting incident. District officials pledge permanent security enhancements, incl...
www.canyoncourier.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:21 PM
"You can make change. So go try." A fifth-grader's advice after helping pass Jefferson County's first climate-focused ends policy. Great story about youth advocacy:

www.thegoldentranscript.com/news/student...
Students who fear climate change lead fight against it
Aziza Jabara, a high school senior in Colorado, led a campaign for a school policy to address climate change, inspiring students across her district.
www.thegoldentranscript.com
October 21, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Jefferson County charter schools serving 12% of district students suddenly lost School Resource Officers in September after contract language was enforced. Parents learned about it only after their SRO disappeared.

www.thegoldentranscript.com/news/jeffco-...
Jeffco charters lose SROs as contracts spark confusion
Parents at Jefferson County charter schools expressed concerns about the absence of school resource officers (SROs) since September, highlighting a lack of communication and clarity in the district’s ...
www.thegoldentranscript.com
October 20, 2025 at 4:42 PM
📚 Adams 12 school board voter guide now available! We teamed up with Chalkbeat to bring you comprehensive, nonpartisan profiles of every candidate.

Read the full guide: www.northglenn-thorntonsentinel.com/news/educati...

#Adams12 #SchoolBoard #ColoradoVotes
Meet the Candidates: 2025 Adams 12 School Board Race
In Adams 12 Five Star Schools, voters will choose two school board members this year. Ike Anyanwuebo and Juan Evans II are vying for the District 3 seat, while Amira Assad-Lucas seeks re-election for ...
www.northglenn-thorntonsentinel.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:27 PM
🗳️ NEW: Jeffco school board voter guide is here! We partnered with @Chalkbeat to profile all candidates running in November. Get nonpartisan info on their stances on funding, achievement & more.
Read before you vote:

www.thegoldentranscript.com/news/voter-g...
Voter Guide: Meet the 2025 Jeffco School Board Candidates
In Jeffco Public Schools, voters are selecting three school board members this year. Seven candidates are running for the positions. Two candidates, Michael Yocum and Denine Echevarria, are competing ...
www.thegoldentranscript.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Matthew Silverstone confronted a gunman at Evergreen High. He was shot in the head and chest. His heart stopped twice. Doctors said he'd need lifelong care.

Five weeks later, he walked out of the hospital smiling.

www.canyoncourier.com/news/evergre...
Evergreen shooting victim leaves hospital, defies odds
A brave survivor overcomes tragedy at Evergreen High School after a hero's welcome at the hospital. Matthew Silverstone walked out to applause after a harrowing ordeal. 140 first responders and hospit...
www.canyoncourier.com
October 14, 2025 at 11:14 PM