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How Chávez Huerta of Pueblo Plans to Avoid Closure and Stabilize Finances
A late January report from a Pueblo School District 60 charter school representative warned that Chavez Huerta K-12 Preparatory Academy, without significant budget cuts, would lose nearly $1.8 million and close its doors in 2025.
Today, leaders at the west side school say they are confident the academy will not only survive but continue to serve families for decades to come. A 2024-25 working budget approved by Chavez Huerta’s board directors calls for positive net proceeds of more than $135,000 in the 2023-24 school year and more than $256,000 in 2024-25 for the charter school.
These net proceeds contrast sharply with the projections shared in Pueblo D60 representative Tom Weston’s Jan. 30 report. Chávez Huerta was projected to earn less than $21,000 in 2023-24 before losing nearly $1.8 million in 2024-25.
Chavez Huerta Board Treasurer Steven Trujillo told the Chieftain that the school has put itself on “solid financial footing” through a proactive review of expenses and revenue streams.
“The approved budget (2023-24) predicted a net profit of US$20,000,” Trujillo said. “We’ve been able to recognize that the (year-end) projection, at least at this point, is going to be $135,000. That’s just being very diligent in our spending – a lot of different actions that the team and management have taken to really tighten our belts.” .”
How Chávez Huerta intends to ‘tighten his belt’ for the next school year
Compared to 2023-24 end-of-school-year projections, Chavez Huerta is expected to spend about $979,000 less on employee salaries, about $493,000 less on employee benefits and about $202,000 on services professionals acquired in 2024-25.
Additionally, the school planned to reduce more than $208,000 in supplies and property spending, according to the working budget shared with the Chief.
“We looked at and did a combination of different things from a staffing standpoint to help reduce some of those costs, and we really looked at it from a service standpoint for what was most directly impactful to students in their academic performance course with us.” “, Trujillo said.
The school’s president and CEO position, which was vacated by Christian De La Oliva in January, has been restructured into an executive director position that will be filled by former high school principal Fred Segura. Vacancies left by the dismissals of a long-term substitute teacher, a guidance counselor and an art teacher were not filled.
Chavez Huerta also released a marketing specialist position in February, according to Chavez Huerta’s budget notes reported in April and shared with the Chieftain on May 30. .
Information contained in the working budget and budget notes may be subject to change as directed by Chávez Huerta’s board of directors.
Pueblo School District 60, Chavez Huerta’s authorizer, shared a statement with the Chieftain on June 4 indicating that the district has been concerned about the charter school’s financial stability and academic performance “for several years.”
“The charter school is expected to continue to experience a decline in student enrollment, which will negatively impact its revenues, requiring significant budget cuts to remain financially solvent,” according to the June 4 statement.
In another statement shared with the Chieftain on June 6, Pueblo D60 said Chavez Huerta provided the district with some components of the charter school’s most recent budget. However, the district is awaiting receipt of the complete document.
“Our finance team continues to work closely with theirs in preparing for (Chávez Huerta’s) upcoming report to the D60 Board of Education,” according to the June 6 statement.
While overcoming financial obstacles, Chávez Huerta looks to the future
This fall, students at Ersilia Cruz de Chavez Huerta High School and Dolores Huerta Preparatory High School will benefit from a 70,000-square-foot area expansion connecting the two schools.
Funded primarily through a Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) grant, the expansion adds 20 middle school classrooms, 13 middle school classrooms, a high school cafeteria, a performance area and a kitchen. Elementary students will be moved to the old high school building at 213 Ruberson Drive.
O old high school buildingwhich will house elementary school students in the fall, was completed in 2022. Unlike the former Cesar Chavez Academy, the 213 Ruberson Drive property is on the same side of 18th Street as the now-connected Ersilia Cruz Middle School and Dolores Huerta Preparatory High School Building.
“We’re here to stay,” Trujillo told his boss. “Over 970 families have chosen to make (Chavez Huerta) their institution of choice and we believe our brightest days are ahead with these beautiful facilities set to serve our community for the next 20+ years.”
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Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news by subscribing to Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.