At its regular monthly meeting, the Falcon School District 49 Board of Education approved several items, including continuing the fee-for-service busing program through the 2013-2014 school year ñ only this time with a cap.Cap for bus costsThe BOE responded to concerns about the total cost of the fee-for-service program for families with more than one child. They unanimously approved a cap on per household cost for transportation fees. The cap, set at two children per household, was recommended by Gene Hammond, director of transportation, following a transportation program assessment and community input.Because the fee-for-service program constitutes a portion of the total transportation cost, the cap was a good compromise, said Marie LaVere Wright, board treasurer. ìWe are trying to lessen the effects as much as we can; weíre trying to meet people halfway,î she said. The cap was the only fee adjustment the board made; all other transportation fees will remain the same.More approvalsThe board also unanimously approved the following items: adoption of a board policy regarding school website publishing; revision of board policy on instruction through online and blended learning; designation of May 6-10 as National Teacher Appreciation Week; a $135,000 contract to replace the districtís time and attendance system, which is outdated and inefficient, according to the proposal; and a federal- and state-mandated extended school year calendar to provide programming throughout the summer for students with developmental or behavioral needs.The BOE unanimously approved a contract to provide nutrition services for the 2013-2014 school year to the charter schools in the district: Banning Lewis Ranch Academy, Indigo Ranch Classical Academy, Pikes Peak School of Expeditionary Learning and Rocky Mountain Classical Academy.Brett Ridgway, chief business officer, presented a proposal to close 10 accounts with UMB because of a branch closure and open 11 new accounts at FirstBank. The accounts will replace the former accounts and include a new general fund to help the finance department with cash management. The board unanimously approved the item.FVA touts successFalcon Virtual Academyís principal, Dave Knoche, presented information on the success the Academy has had since it opened two years ago. He said the school has an 89.5 percent graduation rate, an 87 percent retention rate for the kindergarten through grade eight programs and a dropout rate of less than 2 percent. The statistics are particularly impressive because the school has had to manage a 400-percent increase in student population over the last two years, he said.Additionally, Knoche said, ìWeíve had great results in our blended learning courses and have seen a 30-percent increase in student success rate.î The model has facilitated concurrent enrollment for students who wish to take college courses through Pikes Peak Community College while attending FVA, he said.Knoche also recognized Rochelle Kohlhouse, a teacher at FVA who received the Colorado Online Teacher of the Year award for 2012-2013 from the Colorado Department of Education. Kohlhouse will be formally recognized at the May meeting of the state board.Updates on staff policies and budgetAs a discussion item, the BOE addressed a revision to board policies regarding the definition of ìimmediate familyî to make it more inclusive. The board also discussed revisions to clarify conflicts of interest pertaining to gifts offered to and accepted by staff. ìWe need to make sure weíre clear about whatís allowed and whatís not allowed,î LaVere-Wright said. To ensure revisions are understood by both staff and parents, the board discussed the need for proper communication and community education. Both revision items were moved to action items for the May meeting.Ridgway discussed the districtís 2013-2014 budget and financial outlook. The following are included in the proposed use of the funding surplus: a step increase for all staff members, setting aside money for increased utility costs and providing the zones with additional funding to disperse directly to the schools. Ridgway said he will continue to meet with district leaders to ìsee what everyone needs to let negotiating begin.îThe next BOE meeting is May 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the board room at the central administration office.
