Because of stagnant test scores, big budget cuts from the state and a commitment to do more on less; Falcon School District 49 Board of Education took steps in January to obtain a special designation from the Colorado Department of Education, according to a D 49 press release. If successful, D 49 would become the stateís third district to obtain innovation status under the Innovation Schools Act of 2008. The CDE Web site defines the Innovation Act. Under the act, schools and districts can get waivers from state laws and collective bargaining agreements. The CDE grants the waivers as a way to support greater school autonomy and flexibility in an effort to increase student achievement.To date, only Wasson High School in Colorado Springs District 11 and seven schools in the Denver Public School district have received innovation waivers. D 49 is the first district in Colorado to seek innovation status for the entire district.At the Jan. 13 school board meeting, the board unanimously voted to approve the timeline presented by Brad Miller, attorney for D 49ís school board. Accordingly, D 49 would begin the 2012-2013 school year operating as innovation zones.On Jan. 20, the board approved three innovation leaders to operate the zones following D 49ís current feeder pattern. Vista Ridge principal Bob Felice, Falcon principal Mark Carara and Sand Creek principal Sean Dorsey were named to lead the districtís innovation efforts.Felice said he is receiving excellent feedback from teachers who want more flexibility in the classroom.ìThe way schools are set up if teachers have an amazing idea they want to implement, it takes time to get approved,î Felice said. The complaint from teachers is that the students move on to the next grade before the idea can be put in place, he said.The innovation structure would solve the problem by allowing teachers to adjust curriculum and teaching methods to fit the needs of their students, Felice said. ìTeachers will be able to react more quickly, they will have far more autonomy,î he said. ìThis is very empowering for educators.îFelice said the key to success lies in collaboration with the community and taking parent feedback into account. ìWe are taking a very deliberate approach,î Felice said. ìWeíre here to serve the community.î He said the district has scheduled community meetings to gather community input about what the innovation zones will look like.Board member Andy Holloman said change in the district is inevitable. The district has faced budget cuts from the state and a failed bond measure. ìThe reality is the budget is not going to get better in the next three years,î Holloman said. The move toward zones of innovation will cut costs by eliminating central office administrators and tasking district departments like technology and transportation to operate as micro-businesses, Holloman said. The goal will be to maximize both efficiency and effectiveness, he said.Initial costs will be incurred as the district pays out contracts to central administration personnel whose positions are being cut in the reorganization process. Holloman said he understands that the community is tired of big payments made to departing employees. ìThis time is different,î he said. ìThis time we wonít refill the positions.îHolloman said the board has chosen this radical approach because they believe the traditional education model doesnít meet modern education needs.ìWeíve tried the old model,î Holloman said. Previous D 49 school boards have sought to raise academic achievement through school choice, charter schools and magnet programs, he said. ìThe scores are static. The one-size-fits-all-top-down solution isnít working.îHolloman said the diverse population in D 49 ñ from rural living in the east to more dense suburbs in the west ñ makes one solution impossible. The innovation zones will have the flexibility to meet the needs of the community it serves, Holloman said.In the end, the zones may look different from each other. As the district fully develops into nine feeder patterns, each zone will reflect the surrounding community.Holloman said the district is embarking into uncharted territory but D 49 has the opportunity to find a better way and pioneer the future of public education. ìLewis and Clark didnít know where they were going,î Holloman said.ìWe are very excited about this plan,î he said. ìIn five years I donít want to be in the same place we are now.î
