Understanding Measure 4A: The Connection Between Strong Schools And our Economy

By Curtis Englehart, CEcD, Executive Director of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership

The quality of our schools is one of the most important long-term investments we can make in Mesa County. It influences where families choose to live, where businesses choose to invest, and whether our employers can find the skilled workforce they need to grow. That is why the discussion surrounding Measure 4A deserves our attention. 

This November, Mesa County Valley School District 51 (D51) is asking voters to approve a $23.2 million mill levy override (MLO) to provide additional local funding for school operations. Unlike a bond, a mill levy override does not create debt or fund building construction. It provides ongoing operating revenue for priorities such as school safety, career and technical education, STEM programming, and employee compensation. 

Ultimately, this is a conversation about the investment we are willing to make in the students, teachers, and schools that help shape our community’s future.  So, what exactly would Measure 4A support? Here is a closer look at the investments proposed and why they matter to our students, our workforce, and the future of Mesa County. 

School Safety: Creating secure environments where students can thrive 

D51 currently invests approximately $1.5 million annually in school safety and security, but the district does not currently have enough security officers to provide consistent coverage at every school. At the elementary level, one security officer currently covers approximately four schools. Measure 4A would add nine additional security officers, effectively improving that coverage from 1 officer for every 4 elementary schools to approximately 1 officer for every 2 schools. The proposal also includes three full-year safety positions, along with additional training, equipment, and resources. 

For parents, students, and staff, school safety is not an abstract issue. Students need to feel safe to learn, and educators need to be able to focus on teaching. Doubling the level of security coverage at our elementary schools is a tangible investment in creating safer, more secure learning environments across D51. 

Workforce Readiness: Preparing students for the jobs our community needs 

D51 invests approximately $3.7 million annually in career and technical education and maintains a $2.1 million partnership with CMU Tech to connect students with workforce training and industry credentials. Measure 4A would expand STEM and career programming across grade levels, including computer science, Career Center opportunities, and emerging fields including drone technology. 

These investments align directly with what we hear from our business community. According to the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual survey, securing a skilled workforce remains one of the primary concerns keeping local business owners up at night. 

As someone who works directly with employers across Mesa County, I know workforce challenges can limit business growth, investment and job creation. Our schools are a critical part of the solution. Preparing students for in-demand careers creates more opportunities for graduates while helping local businesses find the talent they need to grow. That is an investment in both our students and the long-term competitiveness of Western Colorado. 

Teacher and Staff Compensation: Attracting and retaining great educators 

D51 has made meaningful progress in teacher compensation, including increasing starting teacher salaries by more than $13,000 since the 2020-21 school year. However, D51 continues to face challenges competing with comparable districts for educators. 

The proposed MLO would fund two salary steps for eligible employees including teachers, custodians, and paraprofessionals, and a 5% market adjustment for teachers. The goal is to help D51 recruit and retain high-quality educators and staff in a competitive labor market. Competitive compensation is an important part of building and maintaining the strong teaching workforce our students deserve. 

Recognizing D51’s Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability  

D51 has demonstrated progress both financially and academically. The district has reduced central-office costs by approximately $5.8 million, including reductions in administrative positions, while increasing reserves from approximately 5% of expenditures several years ago to more than 21%. The district is also one of only two large Colorado school districts highlighted as having reduced central-office costs. 

That financial discipline has occurred alongside measurable academic progress. D51 has achieved its highest graduation rate in more than 17 years, and 88% of D51 schools are now in the two highest academic rating categories. Seventy-one percent of K-3 students are meeting or exceeding the district’s literacy benchmark, the highest percentage since monitoring began. Several elementary grades have also met or exceeded state proficiency levels in math and English language arts; and last year, 100% of D51 schools earned the two highest academic rating categories. 

D51 high school students are showing progress as well, with ninth and tenth-graders surpassing the state mean in both ELA and math on the PSAT/SAT for the first time. 

As we consider additional local investment for D51, ballot measure 4A is about recognizing our education system’s ability to make difficult choices, reduce costs, strengthen its financial position, and make measurable academic progress while addressing there is still more work to do. 

An Investment in Mesa County’s Future 

This decision is also about local control. D51 receives substantially less local mill levy override funding per student than many comparable Colorado districts. D51 ranks 171st of 178 Colorado districts in per-student funding. 

Meanwhile, Mesa County is working to strengthen its economy, attract investment, create quality jobs and develop a skilled workforce. Those goals are closely connected to the strength of our schools. 

A strong economy needs a skilled workforce. A skilled workforce needs strong educational pathways; and strong schools need the resources to provide safe classrooms, relevant career opportunities and competitive educators. 

Measure 4A is ultimately a decision for Mesa County voters. As we consider it, we should look beyond the tax number and understand the needs being addressed, the proposed investments and the progress the district has made. 

The future of Mesa County depends largely on the opportunities we create for the next generation. How we prepare our students today will help shape the community we become tomorrow.