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On Wednesday, February 11th, the board had the privilege to meet at Rifle High School. During the "Shine the Light" portion of the meeting, Principal Johnston shared with us some victories and ongoing challenges. Test scores continue to improve in certain areas. These should always be met with celebration. My focus has always been and will continue to be High Student Achievement for EVERY student. That's why we don't just celebrate our victories; we study the areas where we fall short. Make no mistake, this is a very important step in the process of getting better. We study, plan, and implement. Rifle High School continues to do this at a pace that I am extremely proud of. 

When Coal Ridge High School senior Yahir Garcia walks across the graduation stage this spring, he will be carrying more than a diploma. He will also be carrying a long-held goal, one shaped by family, community, and a desire to make health care more accessible for others. Yahir will be one of 10 students statewide to have the opportunity to walk straight into one of Colorado’s most competitive medical pathway programs.

Garcia has been accepted into the University of Colorado Denver / CU Anschutz Medical Campus BA/BS-MD Program, a highly competitive pathway that allows students to complete their undergraduate degree while holding a conditional seat in medical school. 

For children facing critical illness, a wish can be more than a moment of happiness, it can be a turning point. For Violeta, a four-year-old cancer survivor from western Garfield County, that turning point is a dream of meeting her favorite K-Pop group, TWICE.

Garfield Re-2 School District will honor that hope during Make-A-Wish Week. In Garfield Re-2, February 9–12 Rifle and Coal Ridge High Schools will hold a variety of assemblies, spirit days, and community events designed to raise awareness and support for wish kids like Violeta.

RIFLE, CO — Garfield Re-2 School District Superintendent Kirk Banghart shared a summary of results from the district’s recent Workforce Housing Survey with the Board of Education during its January 14, 2026, regular meeting. The information was presented as part of ongoing discussions focused on staff recruitment, retention, and long-term workforce stability.

The anonymous survey was administered by Colorado housing consultant Kwame Spearman and received responses from 451 employees, representing approximately 47 percent of the district’s workforce. District leaders noted that this level of participation provides a strong snapshot of staff experiences across job roles, schools, and departments.