New faces, past problems, and a swearing-in that affects the future of Englewood students and staff. Two new board members will take the oath of office on Dec. 5. This comes at a contentious time, with problems like budget issues still lurking in the background. 

Here we spotlight new board member, Katie Wilberding Cross

Cross has expressed that she is thrilled about joining the board, “I have been considering a position on the school board for four years, so it is extremely exciting that it is finally happening!” Being a member of the Englewood community herself, Cross sees this new role in her life as an honor, “I feel deeply honored to be able to serve on this board as a community member, a public school advocate, and most importantly, as a parent.”

While a successful school board looks like many different things in a person’s mind, to Cross, the foundation comes from, “A collaborative group of dedicated people all working to innovatively address the most pressing issues facing our district and community.”   

Cross was open about her concerns with the budget issues facing our district, “In addition to school finance being an extremely complex system in the state of Colorado, Englewood Schools is also facing declining enrollment which makes these budget issues even more tricky.” Although, she knows this could be a main topic of conversation for the board, “I anticipate that addressing these budget issues will be a significant component of the school board’s future work.”

As a parent of Englewood students and a member of the community, Cross feels the Englewood community deserves the best from the board, “The students, families, and the Englewood community deserve a high-functioning board that consistently strives to meet their needs.”