Matt Cartier-Koson message

Dear STEM Families,

I want to share an important update with you following yesterday’s State Board of Education hearing. Unfortunately, our appeal regarding the relocation of STEM High School was denied.

I know this will be disappointing news for many of you.

Over the past several months, we have shared a vision for what this new high school campus could mean for our students—significantly more lab space, dedicated high school facilities, expanded collaboration and learning spaces for our K-8 students, and increased STEM+ resources that ultimately would provide more space to support students and strengthen programming.

Many of you became excited about that vision because you could see what it could mean for your children. We did too.

One of the concerns raised during the process was whether we had demonstrated sufficient interest from students and families who reside within LPS boundaries. Throughout this process, we intentionally chose not to actively recruit or market to LPS families out of respect for the district and its concerns regarding declining enrollment and budget challenges. While we stand by our decision to approach the process collaboratively and in good faith, the lack of demonstrated interest from LPS families ultimately became a deciding factor considered in the decision.

But I don't want the disappointment of yesterday's decision to overshadow something important that became very clear throughout this process.

The quality of a STEM education was never in question.

Again and again, the strength of our academic program, our outcomes, our students, our teachers, and the unique education STEM provides were recognized.

I also want to thank our families.

Hundreds of you completed surveys, submitted letters, shared your experiences, attended meetings, encouraged us, and made your voices heard. Your support demonstrated just how much this community believes in STEM and in what we are building together.

Yesterday's decision does not change that.

It also does not change our commitment to your children.

Our students still deserve exceptional teachers, challenging academics, meaningful STEM experiences, strong industry partnerships, opportunities to innovate and create, and facilities that support the education we are providing.

We remain committed to pursuing all of those things.

We will take some time to process the decision, learn from this experience, and evaluate our options. Then we will regroup with our Board and leadership team and determine the best path forward.

In the meantime, the most important work continues in our classrooms.

Our teachers will teach. Our students will build, create, question, experiment, struggle, discover, and learn. Our community will continue doing what it has always done—providing an extraordinary STEM education for kids.

We know students may have questions. Next week, our middle and high school students will receive a brief update during Access, and our elementary students will hear an age-appropriate update directly from their teachers. These conversations will focus on reassurance and what the decision means for their school experience.

Thank you for trusting us with your children. Thank you for advocating for this school. And thank you for continuing to believe in what STEM is—and what it can continue to become.

Please reach out to me directly if you have any questions.

With Gratitude,

Matt Cartier
CEO, Koson Schools