Aquiles LaGrave: “Closing schools adjusts the budget, but does not attract more children to Boulder”

MESSAGE FROM THE BOULDER MAYORAL CANDIDATE | Aquiles LaGrave assures that housing construction will curb the exodus of families in Boulder. (Photo / El Comercio de Colorado)

REACTION FROM BOULDER MAYORAL CANDIDATE

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

Boulder mayoral candidate Aquiles LaGrave questioned the decision adopted by the Board of Education of the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) to close educational facilities. LaGrave rejected the school authorities’ resolution and warned that the measure represents a financial band-aid that ignores the underlying cause linked to the departure of students.

“Closing schools might adjust a budget, but it will not attract more children to Boulder. The city drives families away with the high cost of housing. Furthermore, they cut the services that families use and are then surprised when there are fewer students,” declared LaGrave when stating his position on the impact of the measures on the community.

According to LaGrave, enrollment decline will not be corrected by closing facilities or passing the cost on to affected neighborhoods. “The origin of this measure will not be corrected when another school closes and the ‘bill’ is passed to another community. Before a family is asked to transfer their child to another school, the complete plan must be presented to the community,” he asserted.

Demands transparency and housing solutions

The mayoral hopeful demanded transparency regarding the restructuring numbers before relocating students. “The savings to be obtained, the costs families will assume, and the benefits children will receive must be indicated. If we want to save the schools, we must fight for the families that fill the classrooms. I am prepared to fight that battle,” he stated.

Likewise, the candidate addressed a letter to the community asking the Boulder City Council to intervene in the housing issue to curb the exodus of families. LaGrave concluded that a school district cannot balance its finances solely through consolidations and cuts.