D 49 board meeting wrap up

The Falcon School District 49 Board of Education held its regular board meeting in October, with all members present, except for director Chuck Irons, who was absent with prior notice.Before the meeting, the BOE held a ìFantastic 49î event, and recognized Robin Walters, biology teacher from Sand Creek High School, who received the Outstanding Biology Teacher for Colorado award from the National Association of Biology Teachers.The BOE also heard a presentation from Randall Briggs, lead technician and fleet manager for D 49. Briggs discussed two of the four new school busses the district received, and highlighted the special needs bus, including the eco-friendly Cummins diesel engine. He also described how the seats in the bus can be adjusted and reconfigured to allow for increased flexibility and adaptability for students with special needs.During the public comment segment, Michelle Gibson, English teacher at Vista Ridge High School, said she volunteered to give up a planning period to teach an ACT preparation course, started by Chad Cosner, the schoolís individual career and academic plan support personnel. Gibson said the program helps students raise their ACT scores.Action itemsThe BOE unanimously approved the following actions items:

• Changes in the health care rates of district employees, ranging from $0 to $15 more per month per employee, depending on coverageDesignation of Tuesday, Oct. 27, as the Official Impact Aid Survey Date for the 2015-2016 school year.
• Inclusion of certain school fees at Woodmen Hills and Remington elementary schools, Falcon Middle School and Falcon High School: The fees were missing from the comprehensive fee schedule the BOE considered at its May board meeting.
• Reclassification of two job descriptions: consolidation of the current ground supervisor and facilities assistant manager job descriptions into the facilities manager job description; and an upgrade of the current low voltage specialist position to facilities system specialist
• Colorado Association of School Boardsí recommendations for revisions to the following policies: authorized use of school-owned materials or equipment; staff fringe benefits; hiring of instruction staff/portability of non-probationary status; and part-time and substitute instructional staff
• District-recommended revisions to the following policies: maintenance/control of materials/property; and facilities development goals/priority objectives
• Personnel changes that allow the district to officially hire Horizon Middle Schoolís volleyball coach: Kevin Butcher, BOE treasurer, recused himself from the vote because the coach is his wife.

Discussion itemsPeter Hilts, chief education officer, along with Lisl Davies from Falcon High School and Alex Occhi from Sand Creek High School, presented information about the newly created Student Board of Representatives.ìLast January, you (the BOE) directed the officers to develop a way for students to have a more active and representative voice before you all,î Hilts said. The result is the formation of the Student Board of Representatives.The students will participate in BOE meetings, with the exception of voting or attending executive session, Hilts said.ìI think this is a really great idea because sometimes interactions between the board and the students get lost in translation,î Davies said. ìThis will help you to consider what the students are thinking.îìIf we have students bring problems and situations before the board, we can help you understand how things are at the schools,î Occhi said.Students from different high schools in the district will represent the Student Board each month, Hilts said. There are already about 20 participants so far.Sean Dorsey, Sand Creek innovation zone leader, provided a performance update on his zone.

• Currently, 94 students are coming in from other districts to attend Sand Creek High School.
• 213 students at SCHS are taking one or more Advanced Placement classes
• About 40 percent of the exams taken for AP classes earned a 3 or above, making them eligible to receive college credit for that class.
• 238 students are taking at least one International Baccalaureate class

Matt Meister, D 49 director of communications, updated the board on the communications department, including new features like live chats on each schoolís website. ìWe are constantly analyzing how we are communicating with the community,î he said.The board entered into executive session following the public meeting. No action was taken.The next regular meeting of the BOE is Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the board room of the D 49 Education Service Center.