Yes on 5A - Invest In DCSD

08/26/2026

Learn more about the MLO here!

08/26/2026

Thanks to Fox31 for a really thorough report on why a MLO is needed and where the money will go. Please share!

Douglas County voters will get a chance to vote on a Mill Levy that the district said would help fund the schools enough to keep them competitive, efficient and secure.

08/26/2026

We want to thank the MBOC for reporting at the board meeting last night that DCSD has done exactly what they said they would with past MLOs and bonds.

The MBOC, Mill Bond Oversight Committee, is a volunteer citizen committee who is tasked to provide oversight and hold the district accountable for any money taxpayers provide to the district.

Please watch their full presentation at the BOE meeting last night.

08/26/2026

It’s go time! The Douglas County School Board unanimously voted to put a MLO on the ballot in November. We need your help to make this happen for our teachers, students and staff.

Please go to InvestinDCSD.com to sign up to help or to donate.

08/22/2026

We’d like to clarify some misinformation that’s being spread. This MLO will absolutely NOT change anything to do with TABOR. DCSD along with most other districts “debruced” back in the 90’s. This MLO changes NOTHING with TABOR.

Director Denzler commented to correct this misinformation and her comment was deleted. We want to make sure the facts are out there and people aren’t purposely spreading lies. Please help us make sure the facts are out there so our community can make an informed decision.

08/22/2026

Please sign up to speak in support of this board placing the MLO on the ballot. We are seeing some push back from the “hell no MLO” crowd and would love to hear voices who support our teachers, staff and students this Tuesday during public comment at the board meeting.

Dear Douglas County Voters,

Your help is needed on August 25th!

Thanks to you, DCSD remains the top-performing school district in the Denver metro area—an achievement that benefits every student, family, homeowner, and employer in our community.

Your trust in DCSD by approving previous funding measures has delivered measurable results:

Lowest staff turnover and highest graduation rates in the Denver metro region
Dozens of awards for student achievement—including the top scoring school district in English language arts and mathematics
Lower school district tax rates compared to neighboring districts
Central administration costs below the statewide average
The 2023 Mill Levy Override helped DCSD improve teacher retention, achieve the lowest employee turnover among metro-area school districts, strengthen school security, and raise student achievement.

But important needs remain.

DCSD’s starting teacher salary is still 7% below the Denver-area average. DCSD receives approximately $2,000 less per student, per year than Cherry Creek and Littleton schools (this equates to a $130 million gap annually). The proposed $54 million MLO would address this challenge and more by:

Improving teacher and staff compensation
Increasing and maintaining school security
Addressing high student demand for Career and Technical Education
Restoring student opportunities such as elementary instrumental music
The estimated residential cost is $33.70 annually—or about $2.81 per month—for every $100,000 in home value.

Please come show your support for this year’s MLO!

The Douglas County Schools Board of Education will convene to decide whether to place the MLO on the November ballot during their meeting on Tuesday, August 25th at 5pm. The Board will hold a public hearing before voting, and it is essential that parents and involved citizens attend and participate during the public comment portion of the agenda. Sign up to speak in person or via Zoom here.

If you cannot attend, please send an email with a note of support to the Board:

Clark Callahan - [email protected]
Kelly Denzler - [email protected]
Brad Geiger - [email protected]
Susan Meek - [email protected]
Kyrzia Parker - [email protected]
Tony Ryan - [email protected]
Valerie Thompson - [email protected]

Once the measure is referred, the District will hand the baton to Invest in DCSD. The campaign will have just 10 short weeks to recruit the volunteers and raise the necessary funds to gain voter approval. (This year ballots start going in the mail on October 9th, about a week earlier than previous years.)

Excellent schools, high-achieving students, exceptional teachers and principals, and strong property values are all part of what makes Douglas County such a desirable place to live. Please stand with Invest in DCSD on August 25 and help protect—and build upon—the progress our community has worked so diligently to achieve.

Sincerely,

Invest in DCSD Campaign Committee

https://investindcsd.com

08/14/2026

“If approved by voters, district officials said the override funding would support a range of priorities, with the largest share dedicated to employee compensation. The proposed spending plan includes:

Compensation: $22.4 million for a 4% increase for teachers and staff
Charter schools: $12 million distributed proportionally to charter schools.
Specialized student programming: $5.1 million to expand services for students with specialized needs.
Career and technical education: $4.2 million to expand trades and workforce development programs.
Student programming: $3.8 million to restore elementary instrumental music, support middle school teaming models, and implement emerging technologies.
Curriculum: $3.3 million for literacy and math instructional materials.
Safety and security: $2 million annually to help maintain school resource officer staffing and offset rising security costs.
Athletics and activities: $1.2 million to address program disparities and expand programs for students with disabilities.

Superintendent Erin Kane said the proposal comes as school districts across Colorado face mounting financial pressures, including rising operating costs and state funding constraints.

“The state of Colorado came in with well over $1 billion in a shortfall this last year. That impacted K-12 education funding,” Kane said.

Colorado school districts are funded through a combination of local property taxes and state aid. However, Kane said recent increases in property tax collections do not necessarily translate into additional revenue for districts because state contributions are adjusted as local revenues rise.

“We did not see the benefit of those increases in property taxes,” Kane said. “Where we do see benefits is our bonds and mill levy overrides.”

Douglas County School District officials are asking the Board of Education to place a $54 million mill levy override on the November ballot, arguing that additional funding is needed to help the district remain competitive as its funding trails that of neighboring school systems. District staff form...

08/13/2026

Dear Douglas County Voters,

Your help is needed on August 25th!

Thanks to you, DCSD remains the top-performing school district in the Denver metro area—an achievement that benefits every student, family, homeowner, and employer in our community.

Your trust in DCSD by approving previous funding measures has delivered measurable results:

Lowest staff turnover and highest graduation rates in the Denver metro region
Dozens of awards for student achievement—including the top scoring school district in English language arts and mathematics
Lower school district tax rates compared to neighboring districts
Central administration costs below the statewide average
The 2023 Mill Levy Override helped DCSD improve teacher retention, achieve the lowest employee turnover among metro-area school districts, strengthen school security, and raise student achievement.

But important needs remain.

DCSD’s starting teacher salary is still 7% below the Denver-area average. DCSD receives approximately $2,000 less per student, per year than Cherry Creek and Littleton schools (this equates to a $130 million gap annually). The proposed $54 million MLO would address this challenge and more by:

Improving teacher and staff compensation
Increasing and maintaining school security
Addressing high student demand for Career and Technical Education
Restoring student opportunities such as elementary instrumental music
The estimated residential cost is $33.70 annually—or about $2.81 per month—for every $100,000 in home value.

Please come show your support for this year’s MLO!

The Douglas County Schools Board of Education will convene to decide whether to place the MLO on the November ballot during their meeting on Tuesday, August 25th at 5pm. The Board will hold a public hearing before voting, and it is essential that parents and involved citizens attend and participate during the public comment portion of the agenda. Sign up to speak in person or via Zoom here.

If you cannot attend, please send an email with a note of support to the Board:

Clark Callahan - [email protected]
Kelly Denzler - [email protected]
Brad Geiger - [email protected]
Susan Meek - [email protected]
Kyrzia Parker - [email protected]
Tony Ryan - [email protected]
Valerie Thompson - [email protected]

Once the measure is referred, the District will hand the baton to Invest in DCSD. The campaign will have just 10 short weeks to recruit the volunteers and raise the necessary funds to gain voter approval. (This year ballots start going in the mail on October 9th, about a week earlier than previous years.)

Excellent schools, high-achieving students, exceptional teachers and principals, and strong property values are all part of what makes Douglas County such a desirable place to live. Please stand with Invest in DCSD on August 25 and help protect—and build upon—the progress our community has worked so diligently to achieve.

Sincerely,

Invest in DCSD Campaign Committee

https://investindcsd.com

08/12/2026

Take a moment to watch this message from Superintendent Kane. She talks about all the accomplishments DCSD has made and how they plan to continue that success in the future. This includes a potential MLO this November.

Please watch and help share.

DCSD Superintendent Erin Kane welcomes everyone to the 2026-2027 sc...

05/07/2026

Are you ready to support another MLO? Tell us in the comments.

As the Douglas County School District continues to balance educational priorities with economic realities, it is considering putting a mill levy override on the next ballot, but not everyone is