Good morning, Boulder. We’ll have final local election results later this week, but for today, we’re shifting focus to news about our schools:

First, BVSD is joining a nationwide push to crack down on student cell phone use, Jenna Sampson reports. The district is drafting the policy, with a final Board of Education vote expected by year’s end. If approved, starting likely January 2025, smartphones, watches and headphones will be banned at BVSD schools except during emergencies. This change primarily will affect high schoolers, as elementary and middle schools already restrict phone use. 

National surveys show phones distract students, and BVSD board members reported that halls and lunchrooms were nearly silent when they visited, as students looked at their screens. BVSD’s board president has been hesitant about the full ban, saying it’s a “drop in the bucket” in combating mental health issues linked to social media.

Separately, enrollment is declining across Boulder schools, creating funding challenges and reducing programs for students. Some schools face closure if trends continue. For the first time, BVSD is giving open enrollment preference to families who work in the district boundaries but live outside of them, prioritizing these families over other out-of-district students in hopes of attracting commuting parents to the district.

Finally, today is the last day to cure your ballot. Some trails at Hall Ranch have reopened, though Boulder Falls is now closed. Nederland’s sort yard is open, the Winter Park Ski Train has cut prices, and Cultural Caravan is bringing Zimbabwean music to town.

Have a lovely day.

— Brooke, reporter

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Featured stories

BVSD moves forward with strict no cell phone policy, likely starting in 2025

BVSD will be catching up to many districts nationwide that are enforcing strict bans in light of new research, but some question the actual impact and are worried about implementation. Continue reading…

With enrollment dropping, Boulder Valley School District tweaks open enrollment to attract out-of-district families

If you work within the boundaries of BVSD but don’t live in the district, your child will, for the first time, receive a somewhat higher priority in the open enrollment process, which closes on Jan. 8, 2025. Continue reading…

In other news

Sunshine returns in force today and tomorrow

After getting over a foot of snow this weekend, Boulder will see dry, sunny skies today and Thursday, with highs in the low 50s and 60s, respectively. That sun is melting snow and drying out mud, reopening the Bitterbrush and Antelope trails at Hall Ranch, the county announced. All other trail closures at Hall and Heil remain in place.

Boulder Falls temporarily closed after rockslide damages trail

The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Department has temporarily closed the Boulder Falls area in Boulder Canyon following a recent rockslide that damaged the trail. The closure is a proactive measure to ensure visitor safety after recent weather likely triggered soil movement, affecting trail infrastructure meant to capture rocks and sediment. OSMP is assessing the damage to determine necessary repairs, with no estimated timeline for reopening. 

Today is the last day to cure your mail-in-ballot

The Boulder County Elections Division is urging people to check for any issues with their mail-in ballot because today is the final day to cure ballots. If your signature doesn’t match the one on file or is missing, your ballot may not be counted. According to the county, “the longer a voter has lived in Colorado and the more frequently they vote, the more versions of someone’s signature the elections office has on file to complete the verification process.” First-time voters are more likely to have your ballot rejected. Check this dataset to see if your ballot was rejected and needs further verification.

Curing your ballot is important even if the elections you cared about are already decided. The district attorney receives the names of everyone with an uncounted ballot for investigation into voter fraud and will reach out if you do not cure your ballot. Some races may still be close, so every vote counts.

Nederland Sort Yard reopens for its final week today

The Nederland Sort Yard, which accepts wood, brush, branches, grass and leaves, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Saturday Nov. 16. Meeker Park Sort Yard, the county’s only other sort yard, has closed for the season. The sort yards are free to use, but new users must complete a short registration form before unloading. These yards can help mitigate wildfires by providing a place to clear debris and other fuel for fire. The Nederland Sort Yard will reopen in May.

You can also request wood from sort yards for arts and crafts projects and composting, but the county does not give out wood for wood chips or firewood.

The Winter Park Ski train resumes Dec. 20 at reduced fares

The Winter Park Ski train, which runs between Denver’s Union Station and Winter Park, will be cheaper this year, thanks to revenue from a fee imposed on rental cars. Last year’s round-trip ticket prices reached $139, but now the cost has dropped by more than 40%. One-way tickets are priced between $19 and $39, with lower fares on less busy days and half-price tickets for kids.

​​The train will also begin running earlier this year: every weekend from Dec. 20 to Jan. 5, with expanded Thursday-to-Monday service from Jan. 9 to March 31. 

The train departs Denver at 7 a.m. and arrives at 9:11 am, with an added Amtrak extension to Fraser, arriving at 9:41. The return trip leaves Winter Park at 4:35 pm. The new rental car fees will also help fund  larger rail projects, according to outgoing state Senate President Steve Fenberg of Boulder, who sponsored the law, Colorado Public Radio reported.

Cultural Caravan brings Zimbabwean music residency to Boulder this month

Cultural Caravan, a Boulder-based nonprofit founded in 2021, supports local artists and businesses by offering diverse, low-cost music programming. This November, Cultural Caravan will host a residency featuring Zimbabwean multi-instrumentalist Zivanai Masango, a familiar face in Boulder’s music community. Known for his work with the Afrofusion band ZiMBiRA, Masango will perform with fellow Zimbabwean musicians, sharing music inspired by stories of home and heritage.

Event schedule:

  • Nov. 20: Behind the Music, The Dairy, Boulder. 7 p.m. Free; reservations preferred.
  • Nov. 21: Dinner & Concert, Piripi, Erie. 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Reservations required.
  • Nov. 22: Zimbabwean Marimba Workshop, Sister Carmen Community Center, Lafayette. Free; reservations preferred.
  • Nov. 23: Family Concert, Boulder Library Canyon Theater. 11:15 a.m. Free; reservations preferred.
  • Nov. 23: Mainstage Concert, Mountain View United Methodist Church, Boulder. 7 p.m. Pay-what-you-can. Students and children free; reservations preferred.

We covered Cultural Caravan when it launched. Learn more here.

BRL’s to-do list: What else is happening this week

☀️ Explore more events in Boulder and use the self-submission form on our events page to reach thousands in our community — for free! To have your event featured on our list, make sure to submit it to our events calendar.

Outdoors

Boulder Nordic Team Ski Swap at Boulder Elk’s Lodge: Wednesday, Nov. 13, 6:30-8:30 p.m., 3975 28th St. Read More.

Warren Miller’s 75 (5 Shows!) at Boulder Theater: Thursday, Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m., 2032 14th St. Additional Dates: Friday, Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 16, 3 p.m. Read More.

2024 Climbing Film Tour at Dairy Arts Center: Thursday, Nov. 14, 7-9 p.m., 2590 Walnut St. Read More

Yoga Nidra in the Salt Cave at 333 West South Boulder Road: Saturday, Nov. 16, 10-11 a.m., Louisville. Read More

Music

Bourbon Blues & Grooves – Rex Peoples: Wednesday, Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m., 1455 Coal Creek Dr., Unit T, Lafayette. Read More

Symphonic Band: Fall 2024 Concert at Macky Auditorium: Wednesday, Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m., 1595 Pleasant St. Read More

Live DJ Set and Dance Floor at Rosetta Hall: Thursday, Nov. 14, 10 p.m., 1109 Walnut St. Read More

Heathers: The Musical at Imig Music Building: Thursday, Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m., 1020 18th Street. Additional Dates: Friday, Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 16, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 17, 2 p.m. Read More

The FABBA Show! Nat’l Touring ABBA Tribute with Special Guest DJ Drake at Nissi’s: Friday, Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m., 1455 Coal Creek Dr., Unit T, Lafayette. Read More

Concert Jazz Ensemble: Second Fall 2024 Concert at Grusin Music Hall: Friday, Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m., 1020 18th St. Read More

Jerry Garcia Bluegrass Night at Etown: Friday, Nov. 15, 7-9:30 p.m., 1535 Spruce St. Virtual Event. Read More.

Colorado Symphony Cello Ensemble at Center for Musical Arts: Friday, Nov. 15, 7:30-9 p.m., 200 E Baseline Road, Lafayette, CO. Read More.

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Brooke Stephenson is a reporter for Boulder Reporting Lab, where she covers local government, housing, transportation, policing and more. Previously, she worked at ProPublica, and her reporting has been published by Carolina Public Press and Trail Runner Magazine. Most recently, she was the audience and engagement editor at Cardinal News, a nonprofit covering Southwest and Southside Virginia. Email: brooke@boulderreportinglab.org.