Brandi Valdez - Future Candidate for Adams 14 School Board

09/24/2026

Adams 14, once again, where is the accountability and communication?
I feel like we have beaten the issue of accountability to death in Adams 14, hoping that eventually something will change. Yet here we are again.
Today, one of the brand-new electric school buses broke down in the high school bus loop because of a dead battery. Now, I'm not complaining about the bus breaking down because, let's face it, s**t happens! Things break, batteries die, and unexpected situations arise.
What I AM complaining about is the complete lack of communication with parents!
As I'm writing this at 3:30 p.m., that bus is STILL sitting at the high school, unable to start. Yet no communication has been sent to parents letting them know their children weren't leaving school on time, that their bus was delayed, or when they could expect their children to arrive home.
Why?
Why are parents left wondering where their children are? Why is it so difficult to send out a simple notification when something like this happens?
This isn't about a dead battery. It's about accountability, communication, and respecting the families who trust this district with their children every single day.
Parents shouldn't have to track down information about their children's transportation. The district should be proactively communicating with families, especially when students are delayed.
How many times do we have to raise the same concerns before we see meaningful changes?
A bus breaking down is understandable. Failing to communicate with parents is a separate issue that deserves an explanation.
Our children deserve better, and so do their families.

09/23/2026

🗳️ Voting is a right, and everyone deserves the opportunity to understand how to use their voice!

The Arc of Adams County is partnering with the Adams County Clerk & Recorder’s Office for Ready to Vote, a FREE, nonpartisan voter education session specifically for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and support staff.

📅 Thursday, September 24
⏰ 5:00–6:00 PM
📍 Adams County Human Services Center
💻 Or attend online via Zoom

I love seeing opportunities like this that help make civic participation more accessible. Understanding how voting works, what to expect, and how to participate should be information everyone can access.

Please share this with anyone who may benefit, and don’t forget to RSVP! 🗳️💜

09/23/2026

The money raised goes for a great cause..

09/21/2026

Good questions!

ADAMS 14: Real progress or just for show? The district shows advancement, but doubts and the need for oversight persist. Read the full analysis in the editorial by Jesús Sánchez Melean. https://elcomerciodecolorado.com/progress-that-demands-vigilance-2/

09/18/2026

A great opportunity to meet your kids teachers and learn more about the curriculum they are being taught..

09/17/2026

These decisions matter—and our voices belong in the conversation.

The Colorado State Board of Education is considering rule changes involving school funding, homeschool students, access to state information, and the READ Act—including dyslexia screening, READ plans, assessments, and parent involvement.

Some of these rules may sound technical, but the decisions made at the state level eventually make their way into our classrooms, our districts, and our homes.

They can impact how students are identified, what support they receive, how schools are funded, what parents are told, and what opportunities are available to our kids.

You don’t have to understand every statute or every page of a proposed rule to participate. Ask questions. Learn what is being proposed. Submit your comments. Show up and speak.

Our kids don’t get to sit at every table where decisions about their education are made—so it is our responsibility as parents, educators, and community members to make sure their needs are represented.

Please get involved. Even one question or one public comment can bring attention to something decision-makers need to consider. ❤️📚

Written comments are due October 7, and the State Board hearings are October 14–15.

Estas decisiones son importantes, y nuestras voces deben formar parte de la conversación.

La Junta Estatal de Educación de Colorado está considerando cambios en las normas relativas a la financiación escolar, los estudiantes educados en casa, el acceso a información estatal y la Ley READ (incluyendo la detección de dislexia, los planes READ, las evaluaciones y la participación de los padres).

Algunas de estas normas pueden parecer técnicas, pero las decisiones tomadas a nivel estatal terminan llegando a nuestras aulas, nuestros distritos y nuestros hogares.

Pueden influir en cómo se identifica a los estudiantes, qué apoyo reciben, cómo se financian las escuelas, qué información se comunica a los padres y qué oportunidades están disponibles para nuestros hijos.

No es necesario entender cada ley o cada página de una norma propuesta para participar. Haga preguntas. Infórmese sobre lo que se propone. Envíe sus comentarios. Asista y exprese su opinión.

Nuestros hijos no pueden estar presentes en todas las mesas donde se toman decisiones sobre su educación; por ello, es nuestra responsabilidad —como padres, educadores y miembros de la comunidad— asegurarnos de que sus necesidades estén representadas.

Por favor, participe. Incluso una sola pregunta o un comentario público pueden llamar la atención sobre algo que quienes toman las decisiones deben considerar. ❤️📚

La fecha límite para enviar comentarios por escrito es el 7 de octubre, y las audiencias de la Junta Estatal se llevarán a cabo los días 14 y 15 de octubre.

09/16/2026

👏👏

A Big THANK YOU for all you do!

09/10/2026

COMMUNITY — I think we need to start asking some serious questions about what is happening with Adams City Middle School and Kearney Middle School.

At the September 1 Study Session, Adams 14 presented The 14’ers Ascent: Honoring Heritage, Engineering Futures, outlining plans to repurpose ACMS and Kearney and develop a facilities roadmap for the next 25 years. Adams 14 Board 9-1-26-2.pdf

First, I want to be clear: I am not against investing in our schools or creating spaces and opportunities that benefit our students and community.

What I continue to question is how we get there, who is involved in making those decisions, and where the money is coming from.

Because according to the district’s own presentation, this process is already much further along than simply asking the community, “What would you like to see?”

Strategic visioning has already taken place with district leadership.

A design workshop has already been conducted.

Initial concepts have already been shared with Board members.

And a Conceptual Design Book with draft floor plans, spatial layouts and architectural renderings has already been completed.

The “early community outreach” identified in the presentation?

Feedback at alumni dinners. Adams 14 Board 9-1-26-2.pdf

So my question is:

Where was the broader community while these concepts were being developed?

Parents? Students? Teachers? Staff? Taxpayers? SACs? DAC? Community organizations?

Now let’s talk about the money.

The estimated cost for the proposed ACMS work is approximately $4.5–$6.5 MILLION. Adams 14 Board 9-1-26-2.pdf

Kearney is another estimated $3–$4 MILLION. Adams 14 Board 9-1-26-2.pdf

That’s potentially $7.5–$10.5 MILLION between these two projects.

Where exactly is that funding coming from?

Because the presentation doesn’t answer that question.

Instead, it says there has been a review of “available capital resources and scope support from current budgets” and a distinction between “current funded scopes” and opportunities obtaining future resources. Adams 14 Board 9-1-26-2.pdf

So let’s get specific.

How much of this $7.5–$10.5 million is already funded?

What district funds are being used?

How much is coming from existing capital dollars?

What exactly does “future resources” mean?

Are grants being pursued?

Will additional taxpayer funding eventually be requested?

And what other district priorities could be affected if existing budget or capital dollars are redirected toward these projects?

Those aren’t unreasonable questions when we’re talking about millions of dollars.

And there is another issue I can’t ignore.

The district is proposing a committee that will help recommend a 25-year roadmap for these facilities — yet the September 1 presentation literally says:

“Membership to be determined.” Adams 14 Board 9-1-26-2.pdf

Meanwhile, the proposed timeline has committee meetings around September 10 and September 17, a public/community meeting around September 24, recommendations being finalized October 1, and a presentation to the Board October 20. Adams 14 Board 9-1-26-2.pdf

Think about that timeline.

We are talking about decisions intended to influence the next 25 YEARS, yet the proposed process from the first committee meeting to final recommendations is roughly three weeks.

And the broader public appears to get one designated community input meeting in that timeline.

That’s not the kind of community engagement I believe Adams 14 needs.

Especially when the Board’s own stated goal says Adams 14 should “develop and foster supportive partnerships to fully engage all members of the community.” Adams 14 Board 9-1-26-2.pdf

Community engagement shouldn’t happen after the renderings are created.

It shouldn’t happen after leadership has already developed the vision.

And it shouldn’t consist of showing people plans and asking whether they like them.

Real community engagement means bringing people to the table before the plan is built.

Considering everything our community has already been through regarding facilities, ACMS, Kearney, Summit Heights and previous bond conversations, I believe the public deserves complete transparency before millions more are committed.

Tell us:

What has already been approved?
What has already been funded?
How much has already been spent?
Where is the money coming from?
Who decided these were the priorities?
Who will select the committee?
And how much ability does the community actually have to change what is being proposed?

Because if the answer is that the major decisions have already been made, then this isn’t community engagement.

It’s community notification.

09/09/2026