Garfield County School of Innovation Seeks Tuition-Free Charter Approval

Glenwood Springs —The air in the council chambers is still, heavy with the kind of anticipation that settles over a room before a major decision. Outside, the July heat presses down on the asphalt, a reminder of the real-world stakes waiting behind the glass doors. Inside, the focus is narrow: a new school, a tight deadline, and a community that has to decide if it wants a different kind of education.

A proposed tuition-free charter school is asking for permission to open its doors in the Garfield Re-2 School District next summer. The Garfield County School of Innovation aims to launch in fall 2027, focusing heavily on science, technology, engineering, arts, math, and business. It’s not just another classroom; the organizers want to build a place where hands-on learning is the default, not the exception.

The clock is ticking. The school plans to submit its official charter application by Sept. 30. To get there, they are holding six parent information meetings across the county in New Castle, Glenwood Springs, Silt, Rifle, Parachute, and Carbondale. These sessions are open to anyone — parents, students, or just curious neighbors — and no RSVP is needed. The goal is simple: show up, ask questions, and let the district know you’re interested.

Judy Brannberg, the school’s co-founder and executive director, is leading the charge. She and her husband, Barry, aren’t new to this. They co-founded STEM School and Academy in Highlands Ranch back in 2009. Now, they’re bringing that experience to the Western Slope. They submitted their initial letter of intent on Aug. 1, and now they’re pushing for the full application.

And that matters because the approval process isn’t just a formality. After the district reviews the application, it goes to the Garfield Re-2 Board of Education for a final vote. If they say yes, the school opens in August 2027 with students in grades six through nine. But the vision doesn’t stop there. The long-term plan is to expand year by year, adding high school grades and eventually launching a K-5 program. The ultimate goal is a K-14 model, offering educational opportunities that extend beyond traditional high school graduation.

One of the biggest draws, according to Brannberg, is the engineering curriculum. In most schools, engineering is an elective or a niche interest. Here, every student starts taking engineering in sixth grade. It’s mandatory. The school also plans to build career and technical education labs focused on robotics, aviation, and entrepreneurship.

“Every sixth through 12th grader will get an engineering class,” Brannberg said. “It’s very important to have that hands-on learning.”

The school also plans to use Core Knowledge curriculum, project-based learning, and character development as core pillars. It’s a busy mix of academic rigor and practical skill-building. For families looking for a structured environment that emphasizes STEM and business, this proposal offers a distinct alternative to the traditional public school model.

As the information meetings kick off, the community gets a chance to weigh in. The letters of intent from families aren’t binding enrollments, but they help demonstrate support to the board. It’s a grassroots effort to shape the future of local education. The stage is set, the players are in position, and now the neighborhood gets to speak.