Trinidad Schools Add Student Council, Expand Meal Support, Plan Upgrades
Trinidad School District No. 1 established a Student Advisory Council and expanded after school meal programs during board meetings on November 12 and November 19, moves aimed at improving student wellbeing and community stability. The district also completed Phase I of stadium improvements and is planning a second phase while pursuing funding, developments that will affect extracurricular access and local resources in Las Animas County.
Trinidad School District No. 1 moved this month to give students a stronger voice and to shore up basic needs that affect learning and participation. At a November 12 board meeting Superintendent Olivia Bachicha introduced a Student Advisory Council that will include pupils in grades 3 through 12, and the district followed up with the council's first session on November 19. School leaders intend the council to provide a formal channel for younger students and high school students to report concerns and ideas directly to district administrators.
Addressing food insecurity was a central element of the board discussions. Administrators described an after school meal effort that supplies sack dinners for 30 families each night, and they are exploring distribution of food boxes during Thanksgiving week. In a rural county with limited social services, these measures aim to reduce barriers to attendance and to support children who may otherwise struggle to focus on schoolwork or extracurricular activities because of hunger or household instability.
Facilities and extracurricular infrastructure also featured on the agenda. Phase I of the Trinidad High School football stadium renovation is complete, with an upgraded sound system installed. District officials are planning Phase II of the project and are considering fundraising to cover remaining costs. Board members approved governance norms designed to improve transparency and consistent procedures, and they confirmed committee and liaison assignments as part of regular oversight.
Financial housekeeping items were adopted, and the board noted a transportation reimbursement of $66,397 from the Colorado Department of Education. For residents of Las Animas County the combined actions represent both immediate supports and longer term investments. Expanding student input and stabilizing food access speak to public health implications and educational equity, while stadium upgrades and fiscal steps reflect community priorities around school activities and responsible stewardship of limited local resources.
