Craig Daily Press

Craig — If increased student achievement, financial stability and capital upgrades are indicators of a school district’s success, Moffat County is in good stead, said Pete Bergmann, Moffat County School District superintendent.

He made these comments Tuesday at the second annual State of the County event.

As he reported the district’s progress last year, student achievement took the lead in the superintendent’s report to community members and leaders.

“Our mission, vision and goals are focused on achieving high levels of student learning in a safe, quality learning environment,” Bergmann said.

Last year, the Colorado De­­partment of Education accred­ited the school district, commending it for progress in various areas.

Student achievement improved in other areas, according to the superintendent’s report.

“An examination of our student achievement data indicates a six-year trend of steady growth in most academic areas,” Bergmann said.

The district reached 98 percent of its Annual Yearly Progress goals last year, he said, and the Moffat County dropout rate is at 1.8 percent — 2.7 percentage points lower than the state’s average.

In contrast, Colorado Student Assessment Program scores “flattened out” last year — a situation the district’s “dedicated staff” will try to remedy, Bergmann said before the event.

He commended the district’s teaching staff during his report, saying half the district’s teachers have Master’s degrees and 99 percent are deemed “highly qualified” by No Child Left Behind specifications.

The district’s financial situation took a significant turn for the better last year, he added.

The school district has stabilized its finances — something Bergmann said the district couldn’t claim at last year’s State of the County event.

“One year ago today, I stood before you and stated that our school district’s financial situation was at a critical crossroads,” he said.

The state Legislature’s decision to amend the school finance law and increase per-pupil funding helped change those circumstances.

But, only for the time being.

“This additional revenue (from the amended law) gives us temporary budget relief, but until the entire school finance law is completely revamped, maintaining quality programs within our annual revenues will always be a challenge,” Bergmann said.

Greater than expected tax revenues, increased student enrollment and decreased expenditures also improved the district’s financial standing.

“Tonight, I am pleased to tell you that Moffat County School District remains fiscally sound,” he said.

Bergmann ended with the district’s $29.5 million bond issue voters approved last year, saying the district was “very thankful for the tremendous community support” that approved the measure.

The additional funding will pay for capital construction and improvement projects throughout the district.

The superintendent presented five campus construction goals: repairing existing school facilities, increasing safety measures at all schools, upgrading the district’s technology, constructing a new middle school and retrofitting the Craig Intermediate School building to house preschool through fifth grade students.

The new middle school will accommodate sixth-graders who now attend CIS. Construction on the new middle school will begin this summer, Bergmann said, adding that the current grade configuration will not change next year.

Before the event, Assistant Superintendent Joel Sheridan said he believed the school district had “done quite a few things well,” including meeting most of their AYP goals and updating the district’s buildings.

Still, in his estimation, the district still has work to do.

“I think that any time you have an organization this large, you have room for refinement and improvement,” he said.

Sheridan added that the district’s current financial course isn’t guaranteed, either.

Although the district is on “pretty solid footing” now, unpredictable factors could change that in coming years, he said. Factors such as student enrollment and tax revenue.

Any such changes, however, may be some years down the road.

“We see nothing changing right now” in regards to school finances, Sheridan said.