News & Events

The Garfield Re-2 School Board held its regular meeting on Wednesday, June 25 at the district office. Thank you all who came to the meeting!

We began the evening by celebrating the outstanding accomplishments of our high school spring sports athletes. Heather Grumley and Lisa Pierce shared heartfelt and enthusiastic reports on the incredible success of our student-athletes. This meeting also marked their final presentation before retiring. We extend our deepest gratitude to both Heather and Lisa for their years of dedicated service to our students, schools, and community. We will miss you both! 

The Garfield Re-2 School Board celebrated outgoing Board President Britton Fletchall at their June 25, 225 school board meeting and declared a vacancy in Director District A.

Fletchall submitted a letter of resignation on June 18 and shared that his decision is rooted in the growth of his business, which now requires more travel and extended time away from the area.

“Serving has never been a burden, but a true motivator,” he explained. “While I value the ability to participate remotely, I believe this level of board service is most effective when done in person.”

Rifle High School graduate Abdon Rivera took his oath of enlistment as “Future Soldier” yesterday. His new title is the United States Army’s term for those joining its branch of service.

Rivera took the oath before family and friends, as well as a mentor teacher from school. He chose to take the oath at the Garfield County Commissioners’ chamber, an indication of his interest in public service. He is now part of the U.S. Army’s delayed entry program after considering his decision for a few years, and took this oath prior to entering basic training. He will take army preparatory training for three weeks and then basic training for nine weeks.

At Rifle High School, what started as an inside joke between two friends has bloomed into a business with a mission. Junior Madisyn Harra and senior Tiffany Moore turned their love of flowers into a flourishing service through their International Baccalaureate CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) project: H&M Flowers.

“We always joked about starting a flower shop one day,” said Tiffany.

So when the opportunity arose through their CAS project, they seized the bouquet.

RIFLE, CO - The Garfield Re-2 School District is pleased to announce that Kirk Banghart will serve as the next Superintendent beginning July 1, 2025. His contract was unanimously approved at the April 9, 2025, School Board meeting. Mr. Banghart will take over for current Superintendent Heather Grumley, who is retiring at the end of the school year after five years in the superintendent role and over 30 years in the Garfield Re-2 School District.

Mr. Banghart brings a passion for continuous improvement, a deep respect for the great work happening in Garfield Re-2, and a commitment to listening and learning from the community. His contract will officially begin July 1, 2025, and he will begin spending time in Garfield Re-2 a few days a month, specifically to support critical hiring decisions and get to know the staff of the District. 

When three inventive International Baccalaureate (IB) juniors from Rifle High School joined forces with a lively class of fourth graders at Highland Elementary, a memorable hero was hatched—a duck. With help from the younger students’ imaginative ideas, juniors Jasmin Abarca, Violet Reeves, and Kalli Rapp are hard at work on a bilingual children’s book that champions creativity, inclusivity, and service.

In a powerful step toward civic engagement, this November, Rifle and Coal Ridge High School students swapped their schoolbooks for ballots, serving as election judges across Garfield County. These students, just shy of voting age, got a rare inside look at democracy in action on Tuesday, November 5—greeting voters and witnessing firsthand the importance of each vote. Their participation is part of a renewed effort by Garfield County’s new Clerk and Recorder, Jackie Harmon, who believes they are the future of our democracy.

Harmon spearheaded the effort to involve students this year. 

“The opportunity for student judges has always been available, but as the new Clerk, I felt it was important to get the information out to the schools and students. They are the future of our democracy.”