BOE October meeting

The Falcon School District 49 Board of Education met Oct. 10 for its regular monthly meeting, acting on several items.The board received two new applications for charter schools. iConnect Zone leader Kim McClelland said both schoolsí applications were reviewed under the same process, and all statutory review requirements were met.The application for the Adventures in Learning Career Academy was unanimously denied by the board per the recommendation of district staff. The district staff did recommend approving the application for the Valiant Academy, and the board unanimously agreed. Based on reports released by the Colorado Department of Education regarding District Performance Framework and School Performance Framework that indicated D 49 was rated as ìaccreditedî for meeting key performance items, the BOE unanimously voted to accredit all district schools.Upon review of a new set of metrics used to evaluate the performance of the districtís chief education, chief business and chief operations officers; the board unanimously approved the new evaluation tool. The board also agreed the new system would be constantly evaluated and improved to include more qualitative measures.The board approved the graduation dates and times for the class of 2014 and the graduation date for 2015. They have secured the World Arena as the location for all high schools for both years. The class of 2014ís graduations will take place Saturday, May 24: Vista Ridge High School at 9 a.m., Sand Creek High School at 1 p.m. and Falcon High School at 5 p.m. The class of 2015ís graduation will be May 23: Falcon at 9 a.m., Vista Ridge at 1 p.m. and Sand Creek at 5 p.m.The board unanimously approved the following people to the District Accountability Advisory Committee: Tiffanie Warder, Joanne Wheeler and Tasha Peters.The board approved a construction permit/inspection program through Pikes Peak Regional Building in a 4-1 vote, with board vice president Chris Wright opposed. All of the districtís construction permits and inspections, with the exception of electrical and plumbing, will now be handled by the PPRB.The board also approved the following:

• Nov. 18 though Nov. 22 as American Education Week
• Nov. 7 as the official survey date for Impact Aid, to determine the number of students connected to federal programs
• Revisions to policies regarding extra-curricular activities
• A policy regarding guest access to the districtís Internet connection
• Revisions to policies regarding tobacco-free school campuses, which bring the district into compliance with Colorado House Bill 12-1345
• Changes to the districtís benefit plan for 2013

Sand Creek Zone innovation leader Sean Dorsey updated the board on the zoneís activities relating to a leadership institute. ìThis leadership institute is shaping and molding teacher leaders, administrative leaders and student leaders,î Dorsey said. The zone has also secured a partnership with Colorado College for multi-year, multi-level training for the International Baccalaureate program and a certification program for IB teachers, he said.COO Jack Bay presented a plan for continued education and training in the facilities department that will ensure employees remain current on their competencies and certifications. Bay said the department will also offer new leadership training and opportunities for professional development.