It’s that time of year when families begin planning for next school year, and we invite every family in our area to consider Lewis-Palmer School District 38.

D38 is an excellent choice for many reasons, including ranking as one of the state’s top-performing school districts. Our mission is to develop each student’s talents in a safe, nurturing, and challenging educational environment to inspire a lifelong love of learning. We prioritize innovative and relevant programming for all students at all grade levels, and our students not only excel in academics, but also in athletics and the arts. Our “2026 Report to Our Community,” that recently arrived in mailboxes, includes a full page that highlights regional and state awards our district received in the past year.

You may have seen that the State of Colorado is facing a $1B budget shortfall. While legislators assure us that education is a last resort for making cuts, it likely won’t go untouched. As a result, D38 is working on making proactive budget adjustments for the 2026–27 school year. We’re collaborating with our staff to determine areas where we can reduce spending with the least possible impact, while still continuing to prioritize academic excellence, as well as student and staff safety. To learn more about budget impacts for school districts like ours, we invite you to check out the D38 Answers page of our website at lewispalmer.org (you’ll find the page under the “About” tab).

Last month, we took the opportunity to thank current and past Board members during National School Board Recognition Month. Several past members joined us at the regular board meeting for special recognition. Serving on a school board is a volunteer commitment, and these individuals give generously of their time and heart to support our district. They balance full professional and personal lives, yet still commit countless hours to reading, listening, learning, discussing, and making decisions that shape the future of our students, staff, and community. Their service requires humility, resilience, and a deep commitment to students, and I am incredibly grateful to all who have made the choice to serve D38 and our community.