Garfield Re-2 School District
News
Garfield Re-2 News
![High School students on stage with elementary students throwing confetti.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1779135380/garfieldre2net/fkhz3nb5huvpjr9rqv5f/DSC01082.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1779135380/garfieldre2net/fkhz3nb5huvpjr9rqv5f/DSC01082.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1779135380/garfieldre2net/fkhz3nb5huvpjr9rqv5f/DSC01082.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1779135380/garfieldre2net/fkhz3nb5huvpjr9rqv5f/DSC01082.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1779135380/garfieldre2net/fkhz3nb5huvpjr9rqv5f/DSC01082.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1779135380/garfieldre2net/fkhz3nb5huvpjr9rqv5f/DSC01082.jpg","width":2048}])
There are some stories that stay on the page.
And then there are stories that come to life, put on costumes, dance under stage lights, and make an elementary student whisper, “Whoa… that’s mine.”
That was the magic behind Stories That Soar! at Garfield Re-2 School District this spring, as students from Wamsley Elementary School partnered with drama students from Rifle High School to transform children’s writing into live theater.
In a Rifle High School classroom, English Language Development instructor Jeremy Harrison saw how honoring all students’ strengths can help them shine. Earlier this year, he asked one of his newcomer students to teach her classmates a few words in her home language - Quechua, an indigenous language from mostly Bolivia.
It was a small, but powerful moment.
“This student has this knowledge that none of the rest of us have. And to be honest, she missed a lot of school growing up, so the rest of school is super hard because she doesn’t have the background knowledge her peers have, but she has this one thing: she is an expert, and not even the teacher knows, and she can be the smart one. You should have seen her light up and share her knowledge with us,” he enthused.
“Being bilingual is a very clear strength,” Mr. Harrison added. “I am hoping that we can give students the opportunity to develop an asset they already have.”
![man with a beard and sunglasses]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1775839131/garfieldre2net/ivtitfdtktrgbdfcltj4/stevebeaulieu.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1775839131/garfieldre2net/ivtitfdtktrgbdfcltj4/stevebeaulieu.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1775839131/garfieldre2net/ivtitfdtktrgbdfcltj4/stevebeaulieu.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1775839131/garfieldre2net/ivtitfdtktrgbdfcltj4/stevebeaulieu.png","width":864}])
This week we had the opportunity to visit Cactus Valley Elementary for our meeting. CVE is celebrating solid performance growth continuing their upward trajectory, adding to years of success. The amazing staff shared some of their struggles and their innovative plans to reach all of our students.
![Picture of a man in a plaid shirt with a bald head.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1774551966/garfieldre2net/sel5sc6xhzt5sbmhvqzr/Mik2.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1774551966/garfieldre2net/sel5sc6xhzt5sbmhvqzr/Mik2.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1774551966/garfieldre2net/sel5sc6xhzt5sbmhvqzr/Mik2.jpg","width":640}])
Garfield Re-2 School District is pleased to announce that longtime Coal Ridge High School educator and assistant principal Michael Mikalakis has been selected to serve as the school’s next principal, effective July 1, 2026, pending Board of Education approval. Mikalakis will take the reins from outgoing principal Jackie Davis, who is retiring at the end of the 25-26 school year.
Mikalakis will become just the fifth principal in Coal Ridge High School’s history, a responsibility he does not take lightly.
![Parents, Staff and Community are invited to meet the Coal Ridge High School Principal candidates at the Coal Ridge High School Library Thursday, April 2, from 5 - 6:30 p.m.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1774552225/garfieldre2net/n8f1esc0ums2kkc7n2zb/1.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1774552225/garfieldre2net/n8f1esc0ums2kkc7n2zb/1.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1774552225/garfieldre2net/n8f1esc0ums2kkc7n2zb/1.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1774552225/garfieldre2net/n8f1esc0ums2kkc7n2zb/1.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1774552225/garfieldre2net/n8f1esc0ums2kkc7n2zb/1.png","width":1545}])
Parents, Staff and Community are invited to meet the Coal Ridge High School Principal candidates at the Coal Ridge High School Library Thursday, April 2, from 5 - 6:30 p.m. The three candidtes are Michael Mikalakis, Jessica Newman and Troy Snyder.
The first time Coal Ridge High School junior Kindall Murr took the controls of a small airplane, she wasn’t thinking about homework or college applications.
She was looking out over the Western Slope from the sky.
"I fell in love with flying," Murr said. "Just seeing the area from above was so cool. Everything about it was so fun. I was like, 'I don't want a boring job. This is what I want to do.'"
Superintendent News
![Photo of Kirk Banghart]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1744651002/garfieldre2net/aucabjd2ykf6b1ra7jit/kirkbanghart.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1744651002/garfieldre2net/aucabjd2ykf6b1ra7jit/kirkbanghart.jpg","width":500}])
As another school year comes to a close across Garfield Re-2, it is time to pause and reflect on just how much there is to celebrate.
This time of year always carries a special energy in our schools. Hallways are filled with countdowns, classrooms are wrapping up final projects, and campuses are alive with field days, concerts, art displays, awards ceremonies, and the excitement that comes with finishing another chapter and preparing for the next. It is a season of transition, reflection, and pride.
As I finish my first year in Garfield Re-2, I have learned so much about this amazing District.
Last month, I shared information about property taxes and how state-level decisions are impacting school funding across Colorado. One of the key takeaways was this: even as property taxes increase, Garfield Re-2 is not receiving additional funding from those increases.
As we continue that conversation, the natural follow-up question is this: how are we managing the resources we do have, and how do we maintain our momentum as a district?
As we enter budget season, I want to provide a clear picture of what fiscal responsibility looks like in Garfield Re-2.
Across Colorado, school districts are entering a period of significant financial uncertainty.
At the center of this is a projected $1.4 billion gap (yes, that is with a B) in the state budget. Lawmakers in Denver are working to close that gap, but they have not solved it.
Some of the decisions made at the state level have already affected our community.
Over the past year, many of you have seen increases in your property taxes. A natural assumption is that when taxes go up, local schools receive more funding.
That is not what is happening.
Across Colorado, school districts are preparing for financial pressure in the 2026–27 budget cycle. Revenue forecasts are tightening. Funding formulas are under review. Enrollment trends continue to shift.
We are watching those developments closely. But in Garfield Re-2, we are not waiting for uncertainty to dictate our direction.
Momentum is a choice, and we are choosing to move forward.
January offers an important opportunity to reflect on where we are, where we are headed, and the leadership that helps guide our work every day. It is also National School Board Appreciation Month, and I want to begin the new year by recognizing and thanking the dedicated individuals who serve our community through their service on the Garfield Re-2 Board of Education.
Our Board, President Fathom Jensen, Vice President Chance Jenkins, Secretary Cassie Haskell, Treasurer Megan Heil, and Board Member Steve Beaulieu, provides steady leadership and thoughtful guidance for Garfield Re-2. They ensure that long-term decisions remain centered on students while upholding our shared vision. That clarity of governance creates stability, trust, and focus across our system. Most importantly, it allows the important work of teaching and learning to thrive.
As we turn the corner into a new year, there is a continued and steady sense of momentum across Garfield Re-2. It grows from the combination of our long-standing traditions, the stability of our shared values, and the fresh perspectives that keep us moving forward. The upcoming winter break offers all of us a welcome moment to pause, reflect, and return renewed for the work ahead.
Board Update
![Headshot of Chance Jenkins, Garfield Re-2 school board member]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1709925517/garfieldre2net/xhwk6i1xmzber78pxhts/Chance.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1709925517/garfieldre2net/xhwk6i1xmzber78pxhts/Chance.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1709925517/garfieldre2net/xhwk6i1xmzber78pxhts/Chance.jpg","width":667}])
Prior to Wednesday night’s Board of Education meeting, board members had the privilege of attending graduation ceremonies at both Rifle High School and Coal Ridge High School. This is truly one of the most rewarding times of the year — a moment where our entire community can see the very product of what our schools provide.
Watching our students walk across that stage and celebrate their achievements is a powerful reminder of why this work matters.
A special congratulations and recognition is owed to Steve Johnston and the entire Rifle High School team. The culture, pride, and excellence Steve has built at Rifle High School is truly something to behold, and the results speak for themselves. His leadership, dedication, and commitment to students make a difference every single day, and this community is fortunate to have him.
![Headshot of Fathom Jensen, Garfield Re-2 school board member]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1709925524/garfieldre2net/ofepwa0zwa1aoyokxwjo/Fathom.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1709925524/garfieldre2net/ofepwa0zwa1aoyokxwjo/Fathom.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1709925524/garfieldre2net/ofepwa0zwa1aoyokxwjo/Fathom.jpg","width":667}])
![Photo of school board member, female wearing a red shirt and long brown hair.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1719586433/garfieldre2net/bncnybk5znne3gvnj8ik/Cassie.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1719586433/garfieldre2net/bncnybk5znne3gvnj8ik/Cassie.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1719586433/garfieldre2net/bncnybk5znne3gvnj8ik/Cassie.jpg","width":667}])
Spring is blowing in, and with that, spring sports are underway! I’ve enjoyed watching the Rifle and Coal Ridge girls' golf teams; they are representing Re-2 well. Good luck to all of our spring athletes this season!
At Wednesday night’s school board meeting, our Nutrition Services team highlighted the incredible work they are doing. Not only are they providing free breakfast and lunch to our students, but they are also securing additional funding so our kids can enjoy Colorado-grown foods. A big thank you to all 32 members of our Nutrition Services team for everything they do to support our students and families.
![Headshot of School Board member]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1758911350/garfieldre2net/hcaru9iwqk4zwplmt0b7/MeganHeil1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1758911350/garfieldre2net/hcaru9iwqk4zwplmt0b7/MeganHeil1.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1758911350/garfieldre2net/hcaru9iwqk4zwplmt0b7/MeganHeil1.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1758911350/garfieldre2net/hcaru9iwqk4zwplmt0b7/MeganHeil1.jpg","width":896}])
Thank you to Wamsley Elementary School for hosting Shine the Light. They highlighted their new outdoor classroom and the important work happening in our schools. The “Shine the Light” presentations remain among the most meaningful parts of our meetings, offering Board members and the public a closer look at how students are supported in classrooms every day. It's clear that student success is directly related to the long hours and commitment embodied in every Wamsley employee. Thank you all for your tireless dedication.
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.