The Falcon School District 49 Board of Education met for its regular monthly meeting Oct. 4.Henry Allen, board director, said he received a call regarding the suspension of the school resource officer at Falcon High School. Allen said the El Paso County Sheriffís Department suspended the officer because of budgeting issues. Board president Tammy Harold assured the board and attendees that school safety is important and they will continue with someone in the position.Approved motionsThe board unanimously passed a motion to accredit all D 49 schools after the Colorado Department of Education presented the district with an accrediting rating. The CDE rates district performance on seven categories: academic achievement, academic growth, academic growth gaps, post-secondary and workforce readiness, test participation and finance and safety.The board also designated Nov. 1 as the date for the annual Impact Aid survey. The results of the survey determine, in part, the 2013-2014 budget, based on how many students in the district are part of federal aid programs.The board also passed a motion to recognize all D 49 staff for their commitment to education and their hard work by designating Nov. 11through Nov. 17 American Education Week.The board also approved the district accountability advisory committee; an extension of the contract with Colorado Computer Support through June 2013; the graduation date for Falcon and Vista Ridge high schools as May 25 at the World Arena in Colorado Springs; and the 2013 BOE meetings and work sessions schedule.New programs, charter school and podTom Wilke, principal of Patriot Learning Center, provided information on new initiatives at PLC, which include improvements to reading, writing and science test scores; implementation of the Reading Plus program; a culinary services course; a science-engineering program; and a commitment to community service. Wilke also said that PLC received 20 iPads from Kim McClelland, iConnect Zoneís innovation leader.McClelland said GOAL Academy Charter School has applied to transfer to D 49; district staff has deemed the school financially stable. GOAL Academyís student population is non-traditional: more than 57 percent have dropped out of traditional schools. The school graduated 245 students in 2012, 60 of those students had previously dropped out.McClelland said that bringing GOAL into the district would allow the school to have access to the online and blended learning knowledge that D 49 has amassed. ìThis would provide additional innovation options for our students and would increase the districtís student count by at least 2,700 students,î McClelland said, adding that funding would be positively affected.McClelland recommended approving the transfer application, with contract provisions and conditions. The board agreed to move the item to an action item for the Nov. 8 board meeting.The board also heard from Melissa Andrews of the districtís planning and procurement department regarding the purchase of a used pod for Evans Elementary School. A pod has the ability to replace three or four modular units while providing a safer environment for students, Andrews said. After performing a nationwide search, she said she found two potential options: an eight-classroom pod for $227,903 and a 10-classroom pod for $293,033.Dustin Horras, Evans principal, recommended purchasing the 10-classroom pod and keeping the modulars that are in poor condition, which the pod would replace, as storage. Andrews said the pod could be ready to use within four months of the purchase date.The board agreed to move the purchase of the 10-classroom pod to an action item for the Nov. 8 meeting, with the stipulation that an outside source evaluates the building to ensure its quality.The next meeting is Nov. 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the board room at the central administration building.
