El Paso County Colorado District 49

DISTRICT 49 BOE January Meeting Wrap-Up

By Deb Risden

The El Paso County School District 49 Board of Education held its monthly meeting Jan. 16. All board members were present. Kayla Maldonado, internal communications manager, recognized the following Fantastic 49 celebrants:

  • Violet Carroll and Keira Teeples, Sand Creek High School student body co-presidents, for their leadership that reflects values of kindness, inclusion and care. The students organized a zone-wide blanket drive for families who receive support and services at the Ronald McDonald House.
  • Monica Rosario, district behavior support technician, for building relationships with students and staff. She immediately responds when students are in crisis and utilizes individualized strategies in supporting students. 

Superintendent’s update

Peter Hilts, superintendent, said that Colorado Department of Education data indicates D 49 is now the district with the largest number of students in El Paso County. Remington Elementary School was one of two schools to win an award from the CDE for being a distinguished school of excellence (see Remington wins award). Hilts said there was a recent breach involving the district’s student information system, PowerSchool (see individual article, “Data breach impacts D 49 article). 

Student Board of Representatives’ update

Meghan Welch, Falcon High School student, said the school has been involved in raising money to help a student who is battling cancer. They are hosting a benefit event and holding class battles to raise money. 

Nikkos Clift, Pikes Peak Early College student, said the school is hosting a middle school robotics competition and a freshman night at The Campus-Spring Studio.

Board update

Lori Thompson, president, attended the Gifted and Talented Art Fair and said the quality of artwork and creativity was incredible. She attended a ribbon cutting at the Panther Den, a building that replaces a modular designed for classrooms; it includes rooms for art, performing arts and a gymnasium for sixth graders. Thompson said the building is designed to help students transition to middle school. She toured the new career and technical education wing at Vista Ridge High School. Thompson attended the SBOR where students discussed the new cell phone policy. The students discussed the importance of explaining to students why the policy is in place. 

Jamilynn D’Avola, vice president, said she toured the VRHS career and technical education wing. She said the wing allows VRHS to increase the number of CTE courses they can offer students.

Marie LaVere-Wright, secretary, reported that the Falcon Education Foundation’s annual event will be April 11 at The Antlers. She said the theme is the 80s. LaVere-Wright said the El Paso Council PTA is hosting their reflection awards this month and many D 49 students have placed. 

Mike Heil, treasurer, said he participated in an independent study commissioned by the state to determine the amount of adequate funding needed to support schools. Heil said they looked at district school performance framework and applicable laws and built a model of what a set of schools like that needs to deliver performance ratings. Heil sat in on a panel that reviewed all aspects of the model. The result indicated the state is about $3.5 billion short. Heil said these studies are going to be used to inform the public and open debate about fixing school funding. He noted these figures did not include building maintenance. D 49 has about $135 million in deferred maintenance due over the next five years; $3 million per year has been budgeted toward those needs.

Action items

The BOE unanimously approved the following:

  • Job description for a commercial kitchen appliance HVAC technician 
  • Zone boundary changes in preparation for the new Percheron development 
  • SCHS’s new course: Modern Performance in Music
  • VRHS’s new courses: World History and Geography combined and Speech and Debate
  • Teacher repositioning plan as recommended by the administration

The following passed by a majority vote of 4-1

  • Amended budget
  • FHS’s two new courses for choir
  • SCHS’s new course: Leadership Council of Athletics

Discussion items

Amy Sanchez-Martinez, SCHS principal, presented a new course proposal: Pathways to Success. The course runs in a sequence from ninth to 12th grades and supports students in college and career readiness skills. Example curricula includes goal setting, organization, note-taking, study skills, time management, resume building, completing job and college applications, job shadowing, interview skills and financial literacy. There is no new budget impact to the district for this course. The BOE moved the course description forward for a vote at the next meeting.

Ryan Bailey, Patriot High School principal, presented a curriculum for alternative cooperative education. He said the school is no longer designated as an alternative education campus and the proposed curriculum will provide a CTE pathway for students. The pathway includes problem solving, goal and vision-setting, critical thinking and more. The BOE moved the program forward for a vote at the next meeting.

Hilts presented the results of the superintendent’s evaluation. The evaluation metrics were developed by the BOE. The evaluation model identifies seven domains: leadership, strategy, customers, knowledge management, workforce, operations and results/final outcomes. The evaluation indicated Hilts was meeting or exceeding expectations in six of seven domains. He partially meets expectations in strategy. The BOE suggests he delegate more duties and clearly defines the next steps in strategy.

Lanette DePaul, senior executive assistant to the Board of Education, led a follow-up discussion on the use of the Raptor system as a check-in system for the BOE meeting attendance. The system is currently used in school buildings as a check-in system. The BOE chose to evaluate the potential new procedure by doing a test run simultaneously with the current system of check-in and public comment signups.

Zone performance reports

All four zone superintendents gave their respective performance reports. The following are based on Renaissance Star assessments. 

Brian Smith, Falcon Zone superintendent, reported that schools are meeting expectations overall in literacy and math. Three schools are approaching performance standards for math. A culture and climate survey conducted with parents and students indicates a parent rating of 6.6, elementary student rating of 7.4 and secondary student rating of 7.5. Smith said the zone will be focused on increasing math performance ratings.

Culture and Climate ratings focus on creating and sustaining a positive, supportive climate (atmosphere) for all students and staff, according to edutopia.org. 

Theresa Ritz, POWER Zone superintendent, said schools are meeting performance benchmarks in math and reading and exceeding in early literacy. The culture and climate survey indicated a parent score of 8.0, elementary student score of 7.5 and secondary student score of 6.3. Ritz said one area they will focus on going forward is school spirit and culture at the secondary level.

Dustin Horras, Sand Creek Zone superintendent, said schools are meeting performance benchmarks in math and literacy with the exception of two schools that are approaching meeting standards in math. The culture and climate survey indicated a parent score of 7.8, elementary school students 7.4 and secondary student score of 6.4. Horras said all six schools are implementing the Jostens Renaissance program focusing on positive school culture for students and staff. 

Verenice Gutierrez, iConnect Zone superintendent, reported that schools are meeting expectations in math and exceeding in reading. The culture and climate survey indicated a parent score of 8.9, elementary students 6.9 and secondary students 8.2. Gutierrez noted the zone has 54.7% of the students in the district, including charter schools that are not required to report their scores.

The zone leaders all report they work together in collaboration to identify and share best practices for the purpose of student success.

The next regular meeting of the BOE is Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at Bennett Ranch Elementary School in Falcon.

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Deb Risden

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