Sara Sandstrom-Kobi, Nederland. Every year schools have concerts, sporting events, new students, fundraisers, graduations and new staff. The schools in Nederland are no exception. Although 2019 will probably be remembered most as the year of the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) Bond Construction Project. Nederland Elementary School (NES), Nederland Middle Senior High School (NMSHS) and the Bus Barn received millions of dollars in renovations. 

There are new classrooms, playgrounds, roofs, boilers, paint, carpet, lockers, furniture and climbing walls.  As much work as possible was done when school was not in session. The rest of the time construction workers, teachers, staff and students worked around each other with patience and flexibility.  

In 2019 intern NMSHS principal Rick Elertson became the principal of NMSHS. New teachers and staff were hired at both schools. In May 2019 thirty-two students graduated from NMSHS. In August 2019 approximately 30 students started Kindergarten at NES. 

Middle and high school students have been busy participating in sports, band, orchestra, choir, theater, robotics, National Honor Society and more. The Nordic and downhill skiers are on the slopes now getting ready for their season. Basketball players are on the court and actors are on stage getting ready for the musical. All students are studying and working toward that high school diploma. 

At the elementary school the youngest students are learning to read, third graders are learning multiplication and the oldest students are writing more complex stories. Principal Laurel Reckert leads the team of teachers and support staff in teaching the youngest students in Nederland. The staff works hard to meet the academic and emotional needs of each student. Students participate in Mindfulness and Brainwise every day. 

Elementary students have participated in the annual Field Day in the fall, run in the Jog-a-thon to raise money for the PTA and hit the slopes every January during NED SHRED Days. NES is also now a part of Green Star Schools with Eco-cycle. The school is composting in the cafeteria as well as paper towels in the rest rooms. Green Girl Recycling came to NES to inform students about all the things they can recycle at school. 

A small group of parents have been meeting with Boulder Valley School District leaders throughout 2019. All are welcome to attend these meetings and they focus on school improvements. The big question facing Nederland schools is how to keep local kids in the local schools. This question is difficult to answer. There are many factors involved like housing prices, aging population in Boulder, open enrollment and, of course, budgets. Ideas are being presented and supported to keep our schools strong and appealing to all families in the Peak to Peak area. 

Nederland schools support students from preschool through twelfth grade. These are community schools that help our students grow academically, behaviorally and socially. Take some time in 2020 to support the students by helping to raise funds for student activities, take in a theatrical performance, cheer on the basketball teams and thank a teacher and administrator for all their hard work. Making a positive contribution to Nederland schools means making a positive contribution to the community. 

(Originally published in the January 2, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)