D 49 board meeting update

The D 49 School District Board of Education met July 12. Board members Dave Stark and Randall Brungardt were absent. The board approved 11 consent agenda items:

• Revisions to board policy with regard to the sick leave bank: The revisions prevent the sick bank from being used when an injury results from participation in a high-risk activity. Other revisions further restrict use of the sick bank.
• Revisions to the board policy for student travel, which allow the superintendent to approve student travel with a requirement that approved travel be reported to the board
• Two contracts with the YMCA for $2 allowing the district to build a temporary parking lot on one-half acre of land west of Sand Creek High School; the lot will be used while the metal building is under construction; also, a contract in the amount of $9,999 with Dwire Earthmoving & Excavating to level out and compact the half acre land
• A revision to the graduation policy so that students will earn half of a physical education credit for each semester of participation in ROTC, marching band or an athletic season

The board also approved the following action items:

• Notification of the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder of the district’s intent to participate in the 2007 coordinated election; Superintendent Dr. Nancy Wright said that two board seats will be open in November and the district will hold a workshop Aug. 22 to which potential candidates are invited.
• A recommendation that Loretta Branham, the board’s administrative assistant, be appointed as the district’s designated election official
• The publishing of a call for nominations for school board candidates. Candidate nomination material will become available to interested individuals on Monday, Aug. 13.

Ann Fletcher, co-chair of the district’s Mill Levy Oversight Committee, updated the board about the committee’s activities. She said the district added 500,000 square feet of classroom space and has $500,000 in excess funds from the 2006 projects.Eric Paugh, assistant superintendent of learning services, introduced Monty Lammers, formerly the vice principal at Stetson Elementary School. Lammers is now the new principal at Woodmen Hills Elementary School.In the open forum segment, Norene Patton, music teacher from Meridian Ranch Elementary School, spoke about her concerns regarding classroom space. She said she and the Spanish teacher may not have a classroom in the coming year because of growth, and both may have to use a cart to travel from classroom to classroom. “I think it’s really second-rate to have music and Spanish on a cart,” she said. She asked for more modular buildings at the school.Henry Reitwiesner, director of planning and construction, said five modular buildings will be available when the high school moves to the new high school on Eastonville Road.Lori Dion, jump rope team coach, and eight members of the “Just Jump” team, shared their experiences at the USA National Jump Rope Tournament in Orlando, Fla., in June:

• Cody LampÈ one first place in the three minute jump competition
• Cody LampÈ and Hannah Gilman won second place for pairs freestyle
• Cody LampÈ won second place overall for boys aged 14 and under
• Haley Linville won second place in the singles free style competition

The next board meeting is Aug. 9 at the D 49 administrative offices at 10850 E. Woodmen Road.