D 49 Board of Education meeting wrap-up
By Deb Risden
The El Paso County School District 49 Board of Education held its monthly meeting Sept. 12. All BOE members were present.
Superintendent’s update
Peter Hilts, superintendent, said that the D 49 school performance reports have been received from the Colorado Department of Education. He summarized the results as follows:
- 97% of D 49 schools maintained or improved their level of performance on the CDE student performance framework (29 out of 30 schools).
- Last year, two D 49 schools earned 74 or more points, which is the threshold score for distinction. This year, there are seven D 49 schools that scored at or above the threshold level. Hilts said Patriot High School scored 75 points.
- Nine schools made double digit year-over-year improvements in their school performance framework scores.
- Science, math and English are tested in elementary schools for achievement and growth levels. All D 49 elementary schools improved performance in all areas.
- The average improvement of all schools in the state was under 2%; D 49 schools, on average, improved 6%.
- Two out of two alternative education campuses improved their performance.
- There are no D 49 schools designated as needing improvement.
- 100% of D 49 Title I schools earned a performance rating, the highest of CDE’s standards. Hilts said that Title I schools meet the same standards as other schools and are tested using the same tests under the same conditions. “What we are doing is using the federal dollars that are targeted for schools that have a higher percentage of students living in poverty and we are providing extra resources, and we are providing extra support,” Hilts said. “We are providing access and opportunity on the front end, and the outcome took care of itself … . This is a remarkable achievement.”
Student Board of Representatives’ update
Kathrine Taylor, Sand Creek High School senior, said the SCHS football team recently beat Air Academy. She said the school is full and requested consideration for providing more space for SCHS and other schools that are growing. Taylor said she is involved in ROTC and marching band with hopes that the band will make it to the state competition this year. “I’m loving everything that’s going on in my school so far,” she said.
Juliet Olsen, senior at Vista Ridge High School, said there is a lot of effort going into improving school culture and school spirit. She attributes their successes to the new administration and students working together. Olsen is president of VRHS student council. She said the SBOR is continuing to work on resolutions and hoping to visit middle and elementary schools to hear how students in those schools are feeling about what is happening in D 49.
Board update
Lori Thompson, president, attended The Power Zone’s fun day and said it was a great event for all ages. Thompson attended an education summit with attendees from around the state, including SBOR members and former members, BOE members and students. A legal panel and legislative updates were among the activities. She said there was collaboration among different boards of education. Thompson attended the Special Education Advisory Council meeting. She said the fall resource fair will not take place this year due to a lack of volunteers. She said D 49 partnered with D 11 and D 20 to host the fair that benefits not only students but also adults in the community. The D 11 and D 20 coordinators no longer have students in school; therefore, new coordinators and other volunteers are needed. Thompson said an updated D 49 website has launched.
Jamilynn D’Avola, vice president, attended the Power Zone back-to-school family fun night, hosted by Skyview Middle School. She said it was a great event for all family members. D’Avola attended the first District Accountability Advisory Committee meeting of the school year. The DAAC is made up of parents, teachers and administrators and is experiencing a shortage of parent representatives, she said. D’Avola encouraged parents to contact their school principals to enquire about joining their school accountability committees and becoming representatives of their schools at DAAC. “We need a lot more parent voices. It’s important in helping make decisions for D 49,” she said.
Marie LaVere-Wright, secretary, said the theme for the Falcon Education Foundation annual event will be the 80s. She suggested the SBOR students consider partnering with a teacher in their school to write mini grants to the foundation for any resolutions they develop related to projects that need funding. There are teachers in every school in the district who have experience writing grant requests.
Mike Heil, treasurer, attended the Colorado Association of School Boards seminar on Title IX changes. He attended the first Superintendents Cultural Leadership Advisory Councilmeeting of the year and the long-range facilities planning committee meeting. He said the facilities planning committee is taking on the challenge of finding more space for schools. Heil said he has volunteered to serve on a panel at the state level that will work to define what is adequate funding for schools.
Debra Schmidt, director, attended a field day at Bennett Ranch Elementary School. She said there were a variety of outdoor activities, including music and art stations. Schmidt attended an all-staff event at Sand Creek High School and said it was a high-energy event celebrating good things happening at D 49.
Action items
The BOE approved the following:
- The survey date for Impact Aid is Nov. 5. The survey assists the district in learning where students might be connected to federal programs, especially the U.S. military. D 49 receives federal revenue subsidies based on the data.
- Supplemental appropriation documents for Universal Pre-K Fund 19 (funding received for preschool that was supplemental to the budget)
- 2025 graduation date and times for three high schools to be held at the Broadmoor World Arena May 23, 2025: Falcon High School at 9 a.m., Vista Ridge High School at 1 p.m. and Sand Creek High School at 5 p.m.
- Resolution for GOAL Academy requesting that the state look at possible legislation for reporting district performance framework data in a way that separates alternative education campus data from other performance data
- Policy and procedure revisions to meet legal requirements and minor updates to job title changes
Discussion items
Spencer McCabe, budget manager, presented a quarterly report for the last quarter of the 2023-2024 school year that ended June 30. McCabe reported that spending ended at $148 million, which was $1 million higher than budgeted; however, revenue was $3 million higher due to increased property taxes. McCabe said the budget might look different going forward because the state has changed how schools are funded, which means that schools would receive more of the funding during the first nine months of the school year. He said the new funding process would help balance the deficit that typically occurs prior to collecting property taxes. McCabe does not anticipate unexpected variances in the annual report. LaVere-Wright suggested that a 10% overage is positive for the district, as it allows for some savings in the case of state or federal funding delays. Heil said that D 49 received the Association of School Business Official’s International Certificate of Excellence in financial reporting for fiscal year 2023.
The next regular meeting of the BOE is Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the Peakview Hall at the Creekside Success Center in Colorado Springs.
Right to School Choice Initiative Amendment 80
Amendment 80: School choice in the state constitution
Amendment 80 seeks to codify parents’ rights to decide how their kids are educated between kindergarten and 12th grade. It says parents have the right to choose between public schools as well as neighborhood schools, charter schools, private schools, home schooling, open enrollment options, and future innovations in education.
Colorado parents already have the right to send their kids to public or private schools, or home-school them.
Opponents of Amendment 80 say its intention is to divert resources away from public schools. Supporters are concerned support for charter schools is eroding and hope the amendment would preserve school choice. The state’s leading charter school organization, the Colorado League of Charter Schools, has not taken a stance on the measure.
A “yes” vote on Amendment 80 would amend the state constitution to protect parents’ right to direct their children’s education.
From D 49 superintendent Peter Hilts: “We will watch with interest as the election season plays out, keeping in mind school choice is written into Colorado law, and choice upholds District 49’s vision and strategic plan.
“Regardless of the outcome in November, we operate as a portfolio district, offering a wide selection of exceptional choices. Families and students will find great educational choices here, backed by an outstanding workforce who are dedicated to launching successful students.”
Source for Amendment 80 and other November ballot measures:
