As New Members Join, Kay Hollabaugh Hopes the Upper Adams School Board Can Rebuild Trust and Work as a Team

As the Upper Adams School District prepares to welcome three new directors, returning board member Kay Hollabaugh says she is entering the year with a mix of realism, gratitude, and cautious optimism.

Hollabaugh was the top vote-getter in the November election.

After nearly three years on the board—years marked by political tension, lengthy policy debates, and periods of deep division—Hollabaugh believes this transition offers a rare opportunity to reset expectations and rebuild a spirit of cooperation.

When she first joined the board through appointment in April 2023, Hollabaugh saw a district that was not only financially stable but also earning meaningful recognition for the quality of its schools. Among the most significant recent honors is the district’s inclusion in the U.S. News “National Best High Schools” list for 2025–2026, an accolade that, to her, reflects the strength and dedication of Upper Adams educators and administrators.

“These awards tell us something important,” she said. “They tell us the district is operating well. Our administrators and teachers know what they are doing—and our job as a board is to support that good work.”

That belief shapes her hopes for the year ahead. Hollabaugh wants the new board to return its attention to the core responsibilities of a school director: policy oversight, budget stewardship, and fair evaluation of the superintendent. She hopes to step away from the hyper-detailed, operational debates that dominated the board’s time in recent years, especially the two-year struggle over revisions to Policy 109. With that policy now nearing final approval, she says, the district can finally shift its energy back to the full slate of policies that require regular, timely review.

One of her strongest hopes is that the new directors will embrace the board’s work as a shared learning process. Hollabaugh frames the board experience as a collective commitment—a willingness for all nine directors to learn together, understand the district’s systems, ask thoughtful questions, and arrive at meetings ready to engage constructively.

“I’m very hopeful the new members will approach this role with openness and curiosity,” she said. “When everyone is committed to learning—and to listening—we have the foundation of a strong team.”

Hollabaugh also believes the progress made in the past year toward improving communication and reducing conflict can serve as a model. She credits the outgoing board members with helping rebuild a more respectful tone after the most contentious periods and hopes the new members will carry that work forward. While nearly 20 combined years of service are leaving the board, she feels the incoming members can bring new energy that complements the experience that remains.

Financially, Hollabaugh sees reasons for optimism as well. With updated projections and more favorable funding than expected, the district enters the coming year on steadier ground. She hopes this stability will allow the board to think strategically, focus on student needs, and avoid reactive decision-making driven by uncertainty.

More than anything, Hollabaugh wants a board culture grounded in unity and shared purpose. She acknowledges the political pressures that shaped the election season and the intense divisions seen at the polls, but she is determined not to let partisanship define the board’s work.

“I’m hopeful,” she said. “I want us to work together, stay mindful of our responsibilities, and do what’s best for our students and our faculty. That’s what matters. And I truly believe—if we commit to learning together and listening to one another—we can get there.”