At the end of last  school year, responding to feedback from the community, the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) Board of Education updated Policy JN, greatly reducing school and classroom fees.

This summer as an intern with BVSD’s Communications Department through the BVSD Grad Plus Leadership program, Brianna Sandoval, Monarch High School Senior, got the opportunity to see how our local law enforcement prepares for situations in BVSD schools. She attended a multi-jurisdictional (local law enforcement and first responders from different local agencies) summer exercise that prepared first responders across Boulder County for an active shooter incident inside a school. Read her first-person account and takeaways from the event.

As part of the Boulder Valley School District’s ongoing commitment to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, we want to address a critical issue affecting communities across the nation—fentanyl. This powerful synthetic opioid, while primarily used for medical purposes, poses a significant risk when misused or encountered outside of medical supervision. Understanding and awareness are key to protecting our children from this dangerous substance.

Whether you’re a gun owner, or you know someone who owns a gun, there is a role for everyone in the conversation around secure gun storage. Be SMART is a framework that parents, caretakers, and community leaders can follow to help keep their communities safe.

School emergencies can be a frightening experience for everyone, from students to teachers to parents. For students with special needs, these situations can be especially daunting. Boulder High School recognized these unique challenges, following a swatting event at the school in February of 2023, and wanted to ensure that all of their students felt secure and cared for even in the most stressful times.

Electric-assist e-bikes are booming across the Boulder Valley School District. It’s important that students and parents understand the rules for safe riding and most importantly—when selecting an appropriate e-bike for your student—knowing what is and isn't a safe, appropriate and in many cases, legal option, based on the student’s age.

The threat of large-scale natural disasters, which have grown more frequent and more intense with climate change, is ever present and unfortunately too familiar to our BVSD community.

Boulder County Elections Division offers a unique opportunity for high school juniors and seniors (ages 16 and 17) to work as student election judges in during the upcoming General Election in November.

In September, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced more than 16,000 semifinalists in its 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Thirty-seven Boulder Valley School District students made the cut. 

Crosswalk safety is critical for ensuring children get to and from school safely. Teaching children how to navigate crosswalks can help prevent accidents and encourage safer walking and biking habits.

In early August, before the school year started, the leadership and recess teams at 16 Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) elementary schools opted-in to participate in a comprehensive two-day Recess Implementation training provided by Playworks. The goal of the training is to create playgrounds where safe and healthy play is accessible for everyone.