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Larimer and Weld counties, Colorado

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Thompson accountability committee has parent-representation gaps, speaker says

·Loveland·Larimer County

From the Thompson School District Board of Education meeting of

The proposed roster is expected to go to the board for approval at its next meeting, with an Oct. 21 start date proposed. Recruitment remains largely word of mouth; nonvoting participants can join discussions but cannot vote.

Parent representation on Thompson School District’s accountability committee appears lower than in prior years, with gaps among several school communities, a speaker told the board Oct. 7.

The District Accountability Committee works with district staff and the Board of Education to recommend, review and monitor district goals and improvement efforts. Administrators submitted a list of people interested in serving as voting members for the 2026-27 school year. The proposed membership would go to the board for approval at its next meeting, a staff member said. The proposed start date is Oct. 21.

A speaker expressed concern about the low number of parents on the committee, though they still outnumber the next-largest group as state rules require. Parent representation appeared lower than in prior years, the speaker said, urging recruitment among families connected to early childhood, K-8, New Vision and English-language groups. Director Stu Boyd said Berthoud’s four schools have no representative on the committee: “But when we talk about gaps, to not have a representative from an entire community, the 4 schools, for me is a little bit concerning.”

The district asked principals to share committee information with their communities, but recruitment remains largely word of mouth and often depends on personal invitations, a staff member said. The district has not made a major recruitment push but has discussed doing more outreach in the weeks before, the staff member said. Another speaker suggested alerting board members when applications open so they can encourage people in their communities to apply, noting that many members joined after a personal invitation.

People who are not voting members can join committee discussions but cannot vote, a staff member said. The committee’s limited votes usually concern celebrations and recommendations to the board, the staff member said. A board member asked whether the board could appoint additional members during the school year if more people came forward. The staff member said it was unclear what state law and district rules allow.

More from this meeting

  1. Thompson School District Board of Education study session, Oct. 7, 2026

    Thompson district drafts five-year plan to guide learning, spending; Thompson board steers four student goals toward Oct. 21 vote; Thompson plan targets students with disabilities; staff member cites first percentile.

  2. Item 4.1Thompson district drafts five-year plan to guide learning, spending

    If approved, district leaders would set first-year priorities and develop an annual plan. The draft also calls for technology-use guidance and an audit of how much instruction time student assessments take.

  3. Item 4.2Thompson board steers four student goals toward Oct. 21 vote

    The proposed goals pair reading, writing and math benchmarks with a 15% narrowing of test-score gaps for students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, minority students, bilingual learners and students with disabilities. Workforce readiness may be considered later, after…

  4. Item 4.3Thompson plan targets students with disabilities; staff member cites first percentile

    The draft budgets in-person coaching and on-demand teacher training, with semester reviews planned over two school years. The board must approve it before submission to the state.

  5. Item 4.4Peakview principal says only 47% of students making typical growth

    The improvement plan targets classroom instruction, student reengagement and family partnerships. It lists August as a proposed start, with formal progress checks in December and May 2027.

  6. Item 4.6Thompson district proposes selling Community Connections building for Mary Blair move

    A proposed Thompson School District resolution would declare the Community Connections Building surplus and begin the sale process as the district plans to move the program to Mary Blair.

  7. Item 4.7, Item 4.8 and Item 4.9Thompson considers pregnancy, parental status in nondiscrimination policy

    The revisions would apply to students, staff and community members in district programs, with separate board votes planned on the policy and two related exhibits. Broader changes, including an appeals process, remain under review.

  8. Item 4.11 and Item 4.12Thompson proposal would allow charges for records work after first hour

    The proposal would require a district website form with details such as date ranges and search terms. The board is set to discuss the policy and a related regulation, then vote on each separately in two weeks.

  9. Item 6.1Thompson reports uneven growth in math, English language arts

    Elementary English language arts and PSAT reading and writing improved, while secondary math materials no longer align with state standards. A curriculum pilot is underway, with a board update expected in coming months.