By Deb Risden
The El Paso County School District 49 Board of Education held its monthly meeting May 8. All board members were present. Kayla Maldonado, internal communications manager, recognized the Fantastic 49 recipients.
- Erica O’Harrow and Olivya Dettmers, students at Horizon Middle School, for their leadership in elevating the HMS social media presence
- Ludwing Aguilar Hernandez, Vista Ridge High School student and Skyview Middle School Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education peer pathway intern, for his advocacy of multilingual learners
- Karen Parks, family, school and community engagement teacher on special assignment, for providing exceptional service in her role fostering strong connections among the school district, family and community
- Kim Marshall, math teacher at Skyview Middle School, for taking the lead in creating individualized education plans for special education students and mentoring new teachers
Open forum
Twenty-six people spoke during the open forum about the proposed new policy JBA: Preserving Fairness and Safety in Sports. Fourteen people spoke against the policy; 12 spoke in favor of it. (See article on policy JBA on Pg. 1.)
Superintendent’s update
Peter Hilts, superintendent, said schools are busy preparing for graduations and holding senior activities such as breakfasts, brunches, 3.75 dinners and senior sunsets. He said Meron Hoffman, Student Board of Representatives member, was selected as a representative to the Colorado High School Activities Association.
Board update
Lori Thompson, president, toured middle and high schools and the location for a new automotive program. She attended the 3.75 dinners at Vista Ridge High School, Sand Creek High School and Spring Studio. Thompson said the highest performing students being honored at the 3.75 dinners were involved in community work, churches, extracurricular activities and athletics. She said the honorees credited teachers, coaches and parents that made an impact on their lives. Thompson said graduates at Spring Studio had earned anywhere from 18 to 60 college credits through concurrent college enrollment.
Jamilynn D’Avola, vice president, visited all middle and high schools with Thompson. She said the rollout of a new dance and theater program at SCHS was impressive; she witnessed a JROTC class where students were learning the Constitution and the process for amending it. D’Avola also attended the VRHS and Falcon High School 3.75 awards ceremony.
Marie LaVere-Wright, secretary, said the Falcon Education Foundation held their annual fundraiser in April. She said the FEF co-sponsored 3.75 events at high schools that requested it. She said they also awarded $18,000 in mini-grants to 28 teachers and $29,500 to 10 graduating seniors this year.
Mike Heil, treasurer, attended the long-range facilities planning committee meeting where contingency planning was discussed in case a building became unavailable. Heil attended the Superintendent’s Cultural Leadership Advisory Council and said the committee is preparing a new policy on cell phone use. Heil attended the Career Technical Education Engage 49 event and encouraged parents to look into the district’s career technical offerings for their younger children as a chance to explore a path that might interest them. Heil attended the 3.75 awards dinner at SCHS. He said many high-achieving students recognized teachers and how they successfully addressed social and emotional needs.
The BOE unanimously approved the following:
- Falcon Zone’s enVision Math curriculum program by SAVVAS
- Licensed Practical Nurse job description
- Course proposal for College Success Bootcamp at Pikes Peak Early College
- Matters relating to special service providers, as recommended by the administration
Passed by majority vote, 3:2:
- Job description for school counselor on special assignment
- Policy JBA – Preserving Fairness and Safety in Sports
- Board position regarding opposition to HB25-1312
Discussion items
Lauren Stuart, secretary of the District Accountability Advisory Committee, provided an update on DAAC activities. Stuart said School Accountability and Advisory committees provided input on school budget priorities for the 2025-2026 school year. Those priorities included needs in technology, safety and security (cameras and live security at elementary schools), updating outdoor areas and equipment and professional development opportunities for staff. Stuart said the DAAC is available to assist the BOE with research needed and providing parental feedback. She said the DAAC meets monthly and welcomes applications for new members.
April Vigil, student and secretary for the Students Working Against Tobacco, and Keira Teeples, treasurer of SWAT, presented an update on SWAT activities. The organization focuses on educating students about the dangers of tobacco use, provides resources to students such as Second Chance Tobacco and offers support for students who want to quit using nicotine products. Teeples said the focus is on educating students on the physical, emotional, social and financial effects of tobacco use without alienating or judging them. Vigil said it allows kids to seek help without fear of repercussions, and it provides support from their peers. The students visit elementary schools as part of educating students before they might start using tobacco. SWAT receives grant funding from the El Paso County Department of Public Health.
Nancy Lemmond, executive director of individualized education, proposed a new job description for a director of student success. The position would be responsible for D 49’s online expulsion program, including student engagement, providing data for state reporting, tracking attendance and facilitating return-to-school support for students re-entering. The position also supervises the military student and family liaison, the school counselor on special assignment, the Base49 manager and the central registration supervisor. Lemmond said this position will take the burden off middle and high schools. One of the goals is to retain students and transition them back into school successfully without being behind in schoolwork. The BOE moved the policy forward for a vote at the next regular meeting.
Paul Anderson, executive director of people and culture, presented a proposed update to the Staff Leaves and Absences Policy that would enhance the current leave policy to include bereavement leave for employees. The current policy allows for up to five days leave in case of a death of an immediate family member; however, the employee’s sick leave must be used in order to be paid. If no sick leave is available, the time off is unpaid. The new policy states employees will be paid for up to five days of leave if taken within two weeks of the death of the immediate family member, defined as a person related by blood, marriage, civil union or adoption. The BOE moved the policy forward for a vote at the next regular meeting.
Anderson presented a proposed salary schedule for the upcoming fiscal year. The proposed average pay increase is 3.7% for returning staff. The increases vary depending on position, workforce segment and current placement within the steps. The budget impact will be about $5.5 million. Anderson said all base pay scales will increase slightly. He said the district’s salaries are still below market, especially in the principal and assistant principal salary ranges. The proposed increases will address some of the gap but not all. The BOE moved the proposed salary schedules forward for a vote at the next meeting.
Rebekah Brooks, chief financial officer, presented a proposed budget for 2025-2026. Brooks said the per-pupil-rate paid and funded by the state is increasing by 2.9%; however, student growth is estimated to decrease by 0.5%. The total revenue increase is estimated to be $1.9 million (1.2%) and the total expenses for the new year are estimated to be $164 million, representing an increase of 2.8% along with a $5.5 million increase in staffing costs. She said the proposed budget is a conservative, worst-case-scenario plan and budget cuts could be needed midyear.
Lanette DePaul presented one policy revision, which the BOE moved forward for a vote at the next meeting.
The next regular meeting of the BOE is June 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Peakview Hall at the Creekside Success Center in Colorado Springs.
