District 11 prepares for school year after Waldo Canyon Fire

School leaders in District 11 have been preparing for a new school year and training to deal with emotional scars that students may have after dealing with loss in the Waldo Canyon Fire.

According to Superintendent Dr. Nicholas Gledich, 95 students and 18 employees in the district have been displaced after the fire.

Most of the students who lost their homes go to four schools: Coronado High School, Holmes Middle School, Chipeta Elementary and Trailblazer Elementary.

School starts on Monday Aug. 21. Leaders said they have made sure air quality is safe in all their schools. They also said bus routes through the burn area have been reworked to make sure students are safe.

School leaders said another big focus is helping students deal with emotional scars.

Aspen Pointe, a mental health care provider, has partnered with District 11 through a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant to provide services.

Mental health experts said all parents should talk to their children openly about the wildfire.

They said the uniqueness of dealing with a natural disaster is what experts will help teachers and counselors in the district talk to students about.

Counselors with Aspen Pointe will be available to students and their families throughout the school year.

Aspen Pointe is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To contact a Waldo support team member, call 719-572-6100.