District overview
Las Animas School District RE-1
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
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How is Las Animas RE-1 run and paid for?
Las Animas School District RE-1 in Bent County, Colorado, runs Las Animas Elementary, a junior and senior high school and the Academy of Las Animas Online, an online school that is more than half of enrollment. Colorado pays districts a set amount per funded student and local property taxes cover part of the cost. A five-member elected board adopts the budget and policies. The board is led by a new superintendent, Lana Gardner, who replaced Toby Melster in 2026.
Enrollment
The October 2025 count was 856: elementary 191, junior high 57, high school 133 and online school 475.
Leadership change
The board did not renew the superintendent in February 2026, ran a search, and moved the elementary principal into the superintendent job. An interim elementary principal and a new finance director were named.
Finance office
Its outside finance firm ended its contract in 2026. In July the board was told financial reports would resume once accounts are caught up. The district is working with Abacus and a state-funded assessment.
Who decides
Five directors: Alex Netherton (president), Kimberly Reyher (vice president), April Arrona, Cosme Gallegos and Jake Six. Meetings move to the second Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
The posted documents do not include budget books, so the amount of savings the board voted to use in 2026-27 is not shown. Board minutes are posted as scanned signed PDFs.
Where the district stands
Calculated: 191 elementary + 57 junior high + 133 high school + 475 online school from the November 19, 2025 consent agenda.
Major projects
Visitor management and card access system
bid accepted February 2026Homesync Security was chosen over Honeywell to install visitor check-in and door card access at district buildings.
- Board accepts the Homesync bid
Funding
Not stated in the minutes
Superintendent transition and finance office rebuild
new superintendent in place; finance catch-up under wayA new superintendent and finance director started in summer 2026 while the district brought in Abacus and a state-funded financial assessment.
- Superintendent contract not renewed; finance firm ends services
- Board posts superintendent search
- Contract with Lana Gardner and finance director on agenda
- Abacus contract and policy overhaul on agenda
Funding
General fund (proposed CASB policy overhaul)
Facility condition assessment
proposed October 14, 2026A Schneider Electric study of all district buildings through the Santa Fe Trail BOCES.
- Schneider Electric quote shown at work session
- Board asked to approve the assessment
Funding
General fund
Recent news
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Practical guides to school phone policies, district budgets, and administrator hiring.
Explore resources →Built from board agendas and signed minutes posted on the district website (Nov 2025 to Oct 2026).
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