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Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.
Green. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yes.
>> Good afternoon and welcome to the work session for the board of education of Gley School District 6. This meeting will now come to order. Miss Lemon, will you please call the role? >> Director Zari, >> present. >> Director Bentley, >> present. Director Campos Spitzy >> present. Director Edmonds >> present.
>> Director Limos Garcia >> present. >> Director Mash present. Director Roi >> present. >> All board members present. >> Thank you. The first item on our agenda is to review our calendar which does go through of the year.
I don't know if there are any questions. Once again, please RSVP to all events um especially the graduations. Um, they'll be printing their programs and want to know who is on stage. Um,
I assume Boys and Girls Club needed an RSVP from us as well. >> Yeah, Amy needs to double check that because we've got some question marks, but she'll check in with you guys. >> Okay. Um, I would highlight the D6 retirement celebration on May 6th.
That's a really fun event. um we get to honor our educators who are retiring. It's really fun to hear their stories of all the different buildings or all the different roles or how long they've been with us. Um so if you can come to that that's a lot of fun.
Any other highlights from you Amy or dear coach? Nope. Any questions? All right. Moving on to board member comments and reports. Let's start with you, Mr. Red.
>> Right on. Okay. So, uh I guess since we had a little bit more time between board meetings, there's a bit more that that I got to be a part of. So, um I went to the career fair at Island Grove, which is really cool to go there and just see all the different opportunities that they made available to students.
Everything from SWAT trucks to um even ECA was there actually. It was great to show the the students the other options for high school, especially since they always kind of think of the quote unquote big three. So to have some other school representations there. Um the food bank was there, so they got to
learn about just those different industries for them to work in. And I know we've been getting updates on that. So it's just great for the kids to actually get something that's not a screen. They get to actually talk to people and see what things like banking and and even what is offered through the CTE center. This was really um just
thank you to all the businesses that agreed to spend their their workday to be there and and help our students just know of the many options that they have. Um the Heath school visit was great to be back in in Heath. Haven't uh haven't been in that building since 1999. So it
was it's cool to see some things have been updated. Um but it's great to see that they have such a strong community and they are very close and caring. I know often times Heath might get overlooked just for some of the other middle schools, but just to see the great options that they have, especially that they have a
wonderful feeder program and to what they can offer there that goes into the high school. So, um I just I sensed a lot of pride from the administration, but even with among the students as well, it was great great to see that from the from Heath Middle School. Um then that same day, I got to go to Battle of the Books at Fred Chartis.
Thank you to Fred Chartis for hosting those for the district. and um got to see my my daughter compete and see some other familiar faces from other areas of my life. Um went to the ECA scholar breakfast which is great. I know that this is really the season where students start getting recognized for all of
their accomplishments not only this school year but for for ECA they were recognizing students from last spring because you know it's hard to honor a student with a GPA in spring semester when the spring semester isn't over. Um but it was great to be at at AS um wonderful facility for those type of
events to recognize students and their hard work. Um and so as students are heading towards graduation and I guess the end of the school year not not all the kiddos who get recognition are graduating just to relish in those accomplishments. Um I know there's a lot
of pride in the parents seeing that from the parents but also the teachers as well. It's just great um to see teachers care so much about their students. it's not that it's a number on the page so we can put a headline in the paper that they really do care that their students are getting the GPA and getting the experiences and getting themselves
prepared not just for graduation but for post high school. Um and then lastly, transition services. It was wonderful to get to be there. I've I've been interacting with transition services for tomorrow will actually be 12 years for me at the food bank. Um, and so interacting with transition services almost that entire time and to see where
they are from and I only got one little snippet being at the food bank, but to see all the other wonderful things they do and obviously my desk smells really good because they gave us a bunch of soaps and air fresheners and all that stuff. So, it was just great to see those students um ability to to adapt
and to learn and how to best transition from high school to the workforce. So, um, yeah, it's just great couple of weeks. I was excited. So, actually excited for today. I was looking forward to the board meeting. So, that's it for me. >> Thank you.
>> So, yeah, it's been a busy couple weeks for me as well. I got to go to Shasheen Steam College and career ready family night. Um, they did such a great job. It was like CSU had a truck there and they were doing experiments that were over my head on energy transfer. Um they had a
what is it called? Boston Dynamics robot that looked like a dog and was like unreal galloping all over the library inside. Um the students were presenting their science projects. Um there were CTE students doing anything from cosmetology to teaching kids how to weld
with this like electronic thing that would grade you on how well you did. I got like an 80some. So I asked uh Kyle if he'd hire me. But um >> did he get back to you? So, so anyway, it was so so cool. Um,
and very well attended. There were so many families. Everyone was engaged. Um, I I just thought they did a fabulous job coordinating that. Um, and they were handing out those career pathway, you know, handouts that they give the students so that they know which high schools have which pathways. I was like,
see, it's happening in real time. Um, I got to enjoy the Heath school visit as well. Uh the student panel was so impressive. They were obviously leaders in their building. Um but I probably what I love the most is that many of them said their favorite class was math.
Um and some of them were girls who liked math. So I really like that. Um they did ask us if we could figure out their backpack hook situation. So some of the rooms they were just dumping their backpacks on the ground. And I am confident we can help them figure out that problem. Um I got to attend the
dream team honors banquet. Um it was a recordbreaking scholarship night. So they had never given this much money. They gave $84,500 in scholarships to 50 students. Um and just a a magical night. Um the theme was
old Hollywood and it was just an elevated, elegant, beautiful event. Um so really enjoyed that. Um I got to hang out with a lot of eighth graders on April 3rd at UNC. They hold um it's called the Latina Youth Leadership Conference. It's the 27th year they do
this and they had 232 eighth grade girls and from our schools they were from Prairie Heights, Twiton, Frontier, Bella Romero, Salida del Sol um and then they had high schools in other dis or middle schools in other districts as well. Um but the girls get workshops on
self-esteem and um cultural pride and leadership and um all kinds of and an education panel. So that was really cool. Then this weekend, I missed the Boy Scouts dinner, but I was in Denver. I attended an event called the Latin
American Education Foundation fundraising gayla. Um, it is an organization that raises funds for uh students to achieve higher education. Um, their theme was Suenos to success, which is dreams to success, and they honored 11 graduates, and one of them
was a D6 grad. So, um, she went to Maplewood for elementary and then Heath for middle school and then Central, uh, for high school and then just graduated from UNC with a double major in Spanish and dietetics and she was one of 11 amazing scholars, uh, being honored and
I was very proud that she came from us. Um, and other than that, just uh, things going on in the cool things to hear about from like parents in the district. I was at a birth a kid's birthday party on Friday and the mom um told me that she was going to take an intern for the
first time, Rose Perez. She's I think doing Discover D6 Academy and she's a realtor and she was so impressed. She got 16 applications. She talked about the cover letters and the resumes being so professional that it was hard for her to narrow it down from 16 to five. So,
she's going to interview five students um to give one internship. um but grateful for our community partners um who are who are taking interns um and I told her I was excited for her and um hope that she had a great experience. Um and then I'm a soccer mom on the weekends. So Saturdays I'm out at
Montford. Um and it's such a great time to just be around educators, parents, like the whole community feels like is out there. Um we actually scrimmaged or I guess it was a real game against Sean Scribbik's daughter. Um I'm not going to say who won, but my daughter is a rock
star. So, uh, there's a hint. Um, but yeah, they had the concession stand open and I was just fell in love with Gley all over again. We live in such a cool all-American town. Um, let's see. I had a couple more things.
Oh, yes. Um, a story for my clinic. I had a 5-year-old coming in to get his shots so he could start kindergarten. Spanish- speaking family. He was the oldest. And at the end of the visit, he couldn't do the eye exam because he didn't know his his shapes or his letters or his numbers. So, we couldn't
like, you know, he couldn't participate. But he was like a talker. He was very confident and like was telling me a million stories. So, I told dad, you know, you can teach him the alphabet this summer before he starts school and you should take him to the library and you can take out 25 books at a time and
they're in Spanish and English. The dad had never heard of a library and he's like, "What are you talking about? what's a library? And I was like, "Oh my goodness, it is a a magical building that is free and you can check out books and then return them and check out more." Um, but just a a reminder for me
even who works with an underserved community that these are resources that we take for granted that some of our community members don't even know exist. So, I wrote down the address to the link library. And I wish I could have been a fly on the wall when that little 5-year-old discovered this brand new world. Ah, gets me. Um, I did want to
end my comments tonight with an apology. Um, last board meeting I I did I was out of line and I want to I want to admit that publicly and I want to make sure I'm not setting a a bad example for new
board members. Um, I think our role as board directors is in policy, right? like we we review policies, we revise them, we can re repeal them if we don't like them, we can suggest them even we can say like, "Hey, do we have a policy
on X or Y?" Um, but we shouldn't be writing them. So, I do want to um apologize for for setting a bad example um and for not not understanding the role as well as I should this far in. So,
learn from my mistakes. Thank you guys. Thank you, >> Director Azari. >> Okay. Uh Weston and uh Dr. Brenda did a great job of reporting out on several things that I attended. I did go to the Shashi Steam College and Career Family
Night. Brenda is absolutely right. She did great at all the all the folks that were there. Very impressive. Uh that uh robotic dog is a very interesting thing and it kind of freaks me out every time I see it. I'm glad it's not chasing me.
Anyway, okay. On March 27th, I I attended the Prairie High Schools to watch assembly. We got a thank you u from um Principal Cooney uh tonight, and I appreciate that. I think one of my uh
most impressive uh things that happened that day was uh seeing our superintendent once again get the attention of a of a gym full of middle schoolers and walking right into the middle of them. I think that that was just super. I wish adults were so easy
to get attention at times. On March 31st, I also attended the career fair expo at Island Grove. Uh again, um Weston did a good job of reporting out on that. It's a big event. Lot of things
going on there. Kudos to the district 6 staff for organizing that. I also attended the Heath and the transition services visit again. Uh it was great to see the um I didn't know that the main
food pantry was located down there. So that that was new to me and again a lot of organ organization goes into that. It was great to see the kids working in that and organizing that. And then finally I had the opportunity to represent the district at that whale
respit center lunch. It's great to have community partners. Uh they they are interested in in just working closely with the school district on the best for in the best interest of kids and families. And then I also attended the Sunny Mapelli Distinguished Citizens
Dinner. Um it was great to to see community members honored at that event as well. So there you go. Thank you, President Mash. >> Dr. Elim Garcia. >> Okay. Yes. Um I attended a lot of the events that most of you have attended
and it's always so great to see just the plethora of our board at the various events and the experiences that we each get and bring and to hear your perspective. It just is so enjoyable to hear that. Um so I attended the Prairie Heights Assembly um the watch assembly.
Um and it was so exciting. the students were just so excited to learn that they were being recognized and uh everybody was so exciting about that. So I enjoyed that attending that. Um I attended the dream team scholarship dinner. We did
have about 50 recipients. I sit on the board for the Gly Team. Um so this was the most recipients that we've had and it was just well attended. Um so thank you all for um attending whoever attended that that night. Um I attended the transition services. This um
component was certainly near and dear to my heart. I was a Special Olympics coach for about 10 years and so just seeing how the students progress and how much time and effort we spend with each of these students to help them just be successful with life, I think was just
so tender for me. So I really enjoyed learning more about the transition services. Um I attended the children's festival this weekend um just briefly. Very well attended. Everybody loved it. It was great weather. Um, and then the Boy Scout event, um, as well with all you all. So, it was it was a great
couple weeks to be able to share out what definitely what Gley has for us. So, >> yep, that's it. >> Thank you, >> Director Ro. Um, well, it's been it does seem like it's been a while since we've been together, but um I um I guess one
of the things that I attended was I I think it's the last Discover District 6 uh session that was on March 26th at Jefferson. And I think the takeaway I had from that was um just it's I think they did a very good job of explaining
kind of how and why kids end up at Jefferson and kind of the unique uh needs that it meets. Um, so that was I it was really a well done presentation and I always super enjoy the kids giving us tours and and that was a a really
great experience. And then u the Prairie Heights Middle School on March 27th was really fun. Um, a lot of fun to be in a school assembly again and have all the cheering and the teachers acting crazy and I love the the fashion show they did
was great. Um, and then on April 1st, I did uh the tour of uh Heath Middle School, and that was they all start kind of running together in my mind. I have to kind of think, okay, location, where did I go to get to that one? So, um, and
then also on Saturday evening, the Boy Scout fundraiser benefit. And I found out that our own director, um, Dorne Aari, was a Boy Scout at one time. So, that was really interesting. So, and then I wanted to just share
briefly about this wasn't an activity for the district, but um we had some uh district people there. It was an Fellowship of Christian Athletes um Night of Champions uh last night. And the reason uh and my husband was awarded
the lifetime uh service award in uh disciplehip. It's based on Dan Staley. If anybody's ever familiar with him, he was a coach back when um McCartney was coaching and was real influential. But we had a numbers of some of the people
that Mark had started teaching with at Central that have been longtime retired. Um, one of the women called a bunch of them and they came and that was a real surprise and and I I told him it's it's you are really so out of touch because
there was so many things that would have told him that that maybe he was going to get an award and he was totally surprised. So, but one thing I just sort of a takeaway from that, one of the things that FCA offers um is they do offer a a a coaching workshop where and
I know the the Windsor coaches uh Windsor high school coaches shared that they had gone through that and it's more about what are your priorities in coaching and you know what are you trying to instill in your young people besides winning and losing um or you
know always winning. So, that was uh something that might might be fun to check into as far as offering uh some of our coaching staffs because they were very positive about the results for their their staff and their kind of being all on the same page. So, yeah,
thank you. And I also wanted to say to um director Campos Spitzy, thank you so much for that. um you in so many ways are someone I look up to um as a board member for your enthusiasm and your caring for our district and so in very
many ways you're very uh much someone that I want to um exemplify but and we thank you for that >> director Bentley >> uh fun fact I was also a boy scout >> believe it or not
>> um I I spent a couple weeks traveling for work uh since the last meeting. So, I didn't get to do as much as uh all of you guys, but I appreciate you guys being so dedicated and showing up to everything. Um outside of the dream team scholarship award, which is always great that dinner, uh I did get to go to the
common grounds at the Chamber of Commerce on last Friday, which uh in this update from the city, they kind of touched on the downtown project and um you know, there's a lot of drama with the funding and the stuff, everything going on with Cascadia. So, uh, it didn't sound like any of that's in
jeopardy and the land swaps are in process and and it still is not a big cons doesn't sound like it's a big priority or worry at city level because of all the Cascadia stuff, but it was encouraging to hear that is still going forward because I know we're we're doing
our parts in that. So, um, outside of that, just excited to get into graduation season. Thank you all for your very detailed um presentations and and as director Bentley said, thank you for attending.
Um and there's so many things to go to. Um I was just going to highlight that I think we had our first um student say that she wanted to be a principal and then even said maybe I'm going to be sitting in your chair, Dr. Belch and that was awesome. >> Watch out. Watch out. Um, so we very
much hope that one of our future superintendents comes from district 6. Um, I also attended the community council on education. That's a once a month um, meeting with the the business community and and the education community. We heard extensively about
the UNCC career I'm going to say it wrong, but like the the folks who help students figure out what's next career center. Yes. And um very very robust program, lots of options for students. They're encouraging them to come, you know, not
six weeks before they graduate, but one, two, three years into their um careers and they have micro um internships and larger internships and of course um resume and and cover letter writing and all those kinds of things. So great to hear all the supports for our students
and um yeah. All right, thank you for everyone's comments. Um the next portion of our meeting will be our budget update. Get this over to Dr. Milch. >> Thank you, President Mash. Uh CFO, Chief
Financial Officer Megan Sponsor will join us uh to help us through this. Uh we thought we would give you just some background on school finance and how it works, a little bit of how the formula works and then uh talk a little bit
about what we are forecasting and and a little bit about what we're thinking. We're not ready to share um a lot of detail with you. We're still uh we're still working with the compensation committee through negotiations. So, we haven't we don't have closure on that
yet, but we do you'll see in tonight's presentation, we do have some some ideas about where we might be headed. So, with that, I'll turn it over to you, Miss Sponsor. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Pilch. Um, I thought it would be helpful to kind of start with the 30,000 foot view, and we might get down to 10,000 ft, but we're not going
to get to the granular level today by any means. Um, but as Dr. Pilch said, I thought it would be helpful to kind of talk about the process and why we are just now getting to this information at
this point in the year. Um, so it all starts with the legislative process and as you know the legislature has been in session for quite some time now. It is not unusual for school finance information to come super late in the
session. This year was a little unusual in that they actually introduced the school finance act like one of the very first bills, one of the first week I think it was. And that was great. And I was actually talking to Nate earlier
today. The reason that that was so helpful is because it allowed the CDE to start generating some numbers for districts. So even though we don't really know what school finance act says yet, we have some starting point which
typically we don't have. It's really just kind of a guess at this point. So that was really helpful that they did introduce the bill because it allowed CDE to start the work. Um so most of our funding comes from the school finance
act. It's approximately 86 85 86% of our general fund budget. So that's why this is so critical to us and why we pay attention so closely. Um the overall K12 funding is set in the
state budget bill which is called the long bill that has been introduced that I believe has made it through the house at this point after a long weekend. it sounded like um someone had requested that the bill be read out loud and it
was a 640 page bill or something like that. So that took some time. Um once the long bill is introduced then that paves the way for the school finance act. So the the lawn bill kind of sets
the dollar figure, but the school finance act says this is how we're going to divvy up those dollars. So why does it take so long? Really, it's because they're waiting for better information to guide their decisions. And so there are quarterly
economic forecasts that come out every quarter. Um the December forecast sets kind of the framework for the legislative session, but they don't have enough information at that point to make spending decisions for the next year. So
they typically wait until the March forecast and then that's what determines what they can spend. So right now those forecasts were released on March 19th. Um there are two forecasts that come out
every quarter. One is from the office of state planning and budgeting and that it often is called the OSPB that is part of the governor's office and the other one it comes from the legislative council staff. Legislative council is a
nonpartisan entity and I think one of the interesting things is legislative council can only use what is in current law to generate any kind of forecast. So, um, the school finance act that was
introduced, so it's it's Senate Bill 23, so it's a low number because it was early on, um, is currently scheduled for the first committee on April 20th. So, why are those forecasts so important?
The legislative council forecast would have paused the implementation of the new funding bill. There are some automatic triggers that were built into that legislation and based on the numbers that the legislative council came up with, it would have triggered a
pause. The OSPB forecast allowed for that implementation to continue. So sometimes those two forecasts are very close, sometimes they're miles apart. In this case, they were miles apart. And I think
part of that was because legislative council can only do what's in current law. The governor's office and the OSPB, they made some assumptions and they made some pretty big assumptions around some things like the sale of Pinnacle. Um
Pinnacle is the workers comp association. That's who we have our workers compensation insurance through. um the state owns a stake of that entity and so the last couple years it's been a
topic of conversation that maybe the state should sell part of that ownership. So the governor's forecast says okay we're going to assume that that happened. So they assumed that they had
revenue of 300 to $400 million. That really hasn't happened yet. And so there are some assumptions like that that are built into the OSPB forecast. Interestingly, it's this is not typical, but
interestingly, the joint budget committee decided to go with the OSPB forecast. I think part of it was because many of them are so committed to the new school funding formula, they did not want to
have a pause. And so I think part of it was they they wanted to choose the lesser of the two evils with those forecasts. And um it's a bit of a gamble, but they chose that one to create the budget for the year.
So, we'll see where that lands, but I think overall it's benefiting K12. I think there is also some angst amongst those of us in K12 that what happens if the economy
turns south or something happens um and the money really isn't there. So I want to talk a little bit about the previous um school funding formula and the new funding formula. So the previous funding formula was
based on the school finance act created in 1994. That act has been revised and changed over all these years but it was still very outdated. that act typically put the funding focus
on district characteristics and not on student characteristics. And so the intent with the new funding formula was to have more of the student characteristics come through.
So in uh 2024, House Bill 1448 was adopted and that created the new public school finance formula. That formula um as I mentioned has some triggers that might pause that
implementation, but right now it is set to phase in over seven years. So next year would be year two of the phase in. Um that means it would be phased in at 30%. So 30% of what? Um
that's where the old formula is compared to the new formula and the difference between the two is what they consider the phase in amount. So they're going to take the difference between the two formulas and 30% of that and that comes to the district.
So, I know that this is very hard to read. So, uh it's more just a visual. Don't worry about what the boxes actually say. But the the previous school funding formula, as I mentioned, was very district- centered. And so it had things like the cost of living
factor and the personnel cost and um non-personnel costs and things like that that were really about where the district was and what the district's characteristics were and not necessarily about the students.
So the new formula, this might look more complex, but it's actually much simpler. Um, this one has all of the student characteristic pieces up front. So, those are first in that formula.
So, we have the foundation funding, then we add funding for students that are at risk, students that are English language learners, and special ed students. Then we start talking about things like the cost of living factor.
There's a new factor called the local funding factor, size factor, and all of those come together. And then we add on top of that any extended high school students and multid-dist online students.
So, I know that that is a lot of boxes that stack up, but it's actually much much simpler. Uh the worksheet to get to this funding formula is actually fits on a page. The worksheet for the other formula was about 500 line items.
So it's greatly simplified. So based on the school finance act that has been introduced, we are expecting our base funding to be $8,99. Um then once you add all those factors in, so special ed, English language
learners at risk, we are projecting our total per pupil funding to be $12,174. Then we have separate funding for extended high school and online students of $10,721. And that's just something that is
written into statute. It's interesting because I guess the theory was that if you had online students, you didn't have the same infrastructure to operate, so you shouldn't get reimbursed all that money. So that's why there's that
difference. So I've mentioned a few times about our general fund and I thought it would be helpful to talk about the different types of funds that we do have. Uh we do use fund accounting which is required and we have five types of funds. We have
a general fund, our special revenue funds, capital reserve funds, debt service fund and what we call agency funds. Um general funds are the ones that we talk about most often because those are the funds that we in this room have
control over, how those are spent. Um, special revenue funds are things like our grant funds, our food service fund, student activities and athletics funds. So, those funds exist for a specific purpose. And so, we might have a little
bit of say in how those funds are spent, but there are rules that guide what we can and cannot do. And then our capital reserves funds, um, that is our building fund and our capital projects fund. So that's what we use for maintenance and for building new
buildings and buying property. So I'm coming down a little bit further from the 30,000 foot view to talk a little bit more about the general fund. And I mentioned our per pupil funding.
And so what does that mean in terms of how much money do we have to spend overall? That depends on our enrollment. So you can see the past three years we have been in a little bit of a declining enrollment situation.
Um last year was probably the first really significant decline that I have seen in this district with the exception of the year of COVID. Um so I think this is something that we need to start paying attention to. I'm sure that you
have heard of other districts in the metro area and other places, Fort Collins for example, um where they do have significant declining enrollment and so they're having to have conversations about closing schools and trying to find ways to make their budget
work. We're not in that situation, but it is something that we need to be paying attention to. Um, in the school finance act, they have what they call enrollment averaging. And that's something that has been a very hot topic, especially with districts that
have declining enrollment. And so, it's been a conversation about um some people might call them phantom students, but when you average your enrollment, it kind of helps that fiscal cliff that you might experience. So, um, we don't
experience that huge drop off all in one year. So, that's very important for districts because we can't necessarily adjust our spending like a business could or other entities might be able to.
So, school finance act revenue, this again goes into our general fund. In the current year, we have $260.8 8 million um coming in through school finance act. For next year, we are expecting $268.8
million. So that's approximately $8 million in new funding. We do take the charter school enrollment and their per pupil funding that gets passed on to the charter schools right off the top. And so that leaves about
5.5 million in what we would call new money for us to spend. So that's good news, right? It is good. But we also are experiencing expenses going up much faster than the revenue
coming in. So, these are some expectations of expenses and increases that we will have to figure out how we're going to fund. Um, salary increases. I put a range in
there because we have not settled on what we are going to do for raises for employees. We would like to do something. Um, it just depends if we can find the cuts to help offset the total amount. The health insurance increase
came in at 4.4 million. So I believe during negotiations I had said 8 million. We have come way down from that. So that's good. But it's still 4.4 million is a a big number. We have our cop payment that's about 3 million. And
then we have our IT refresh. So, refreshing Chromebooks for schools and laptops for teachers and our smartboards and things like that. Um, we had paused that for this school year and so if we
are going to reinstate that, which my understanding is we need to, that is $3 million. And then we have some grant-f funed positions. These are specifically social workers. um that grant is coming to an
end and we have found that those positions are valuable and we want to keep them and so that is about 500,000. So that all totals about 14.9 to 18.44
million. We have 5.5 in new revenue. So we have some work to do. We have identified some reductions already and we're continuing that work. Um because we needed to get staffing
information out to schools quickly, we have made some adjustments to uh student teacher ratio to help balance there. We also needed to rightsize. So we staffed our schools based on a higher enrollment
than what actually happened. So, we have to rightsize that staffing as well. So, it kind of feels like a maybe a double hit to the schools a little bit. Um, but it's what we needed to do to try to get to a balanced budget.
We are also eliminating some administrative and central support staff positions. We will have more specifics on those later on, but just know that we are doing that. And then um I will be
working with each department to try to identify where else can we find some cuts and make some savings. And so that's partly going to happen tomorrow in our cabinet meeting. We'll continue to talk about budget and where we can
find find money. Nate and I were talking about the state like peeling up the couch cushions and looking for the loose change under there. That's kind of what we're going to be doing tomorrow, too. So, >> well, and we've already done some of that work. >> We have. >> Yeah. We've identified a few million in
cuts already. >> Yes. >> So, with that, what questions can I answer for you? >> What was that figure you just cited there, Dr. Pelch? >> Three million. >> A few. >> A few. >> A few. >> Depends on how you define a few.
>> I I just wonder. Mhm. >> So, basically, uh, if I do the math right, it's somewhere between 10 and 12 million. >> Yes. >> That the district has to find. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Right now.
>> Mhm. And because we've already right sized staffing back to our current enrollment, um that that has already netted some of those dollars as well as the administrative cuts we've already make
it we've already made. >> And there are some things that we may recommend that we pull out of our fund balance. So our rainy day savings account. Um, I think the increase in
health insurance costs, for example, we may recommend that we take some of that from our fund balance to put into our health account. Um, thinking that we might not necessarily need it, but it would help shore up that account going forward. So, if we had another bad
claims year, it would be there if we need it. So, we'll be making some of those recommendations as well. I have a couple questions. One with uh so it sounds like we had an IT pause and that we're going to unpause. Is there a
way to unpause like is it just an on and off button? Can we go like in the middle somewhere? >> I think we're working on that. Um Tony Czech who's not here tonight, but we've had some conversations about what what would it look like to maybe have fewer
computers at the schools. Um, so that's certain grade levels you might be able to get away with that where others you probably can't. So we're trying to find that kind of middle ground of what makes sense and where can we save some money.
>> Um, with the adjustments to the teacher to student ratio. I was wondering if there was um if there was differentiation. I know we've talked about um the foundational years, the K through three years and trying to keep that ratio more manageable. Mhm. Yeah,
absolutely. Um we always try to keep the I would say K3 class sizes more manageable. Um that's something that they the principles work with Anthony and Wes on and when they're trying to make decisions, do I have, you know,
four sections of first grade or three sections? And um so we always emphasize those early grades having smaller classes >> and there is some tension in the system that I will share um in that you may
recall we went back and said hey there we've got to have all of the elect or certain electives available to all students at all middle schools for example and so uh in doing so we you
We have in the past had schools that chose to say convert one elective teacher to a classroom teacher. Uh thereby lowering regular class size. Um and we've just we have said no this is the program we offer. Um we we need to
offer full programs at all schools. And so um smart labs have been one of those tensions this year. uh our ele a few of our elementary principles wanted to convert that FTE to classroom FTE to try to remain where they were last year when
they were overstaffed which is important to remember they were over staffed last year because the numbers especially at the elementary did not come in at at as high as we thought they would and so we've we've gone back to getting that right size which meant that most schools
lost at least one FTE if not more Um but but we have made the decision at this level that we're you know we we have smart discovery labs we have uh donors and organizations that have contributed significantly to the implementation of
those and it is a curriculum and so to put a classified person in there instead of a classroom teacher really is doing a disservice to to that investment. Um and it's also probably a contract violation because we're asking classified people
to act as a classroom teacher which is against our master contract. So um that there is some tension in the system. I will tell you about some of these pieces which is to be expected. I mean the reality is guys we are we as many districts in the state of Colorado are
facing a budget deficit and there's going to be some pain with that. I mean that is the reality. So, we we got to get through it. And um I do think we're still in in better shape than many of our our neighbors who are in significant declining enrollment.
We're fortunate to not be in that situation where you're you're compounded with increasing costs and as well as declining enrollment. Um fortunately I was on a superintendent call today and um everybody all of us are facing
increased in health insurance costs all of us. And um I I do think we'll be able to do we're hoping to do more in terms of compensation for teachers than what many of our neighbors are planning to
do. and we just we just need to to to hire high quality staff and keep them here. >> Do you mind going back to the slide where it talks about salary increases? So, I think this is a really important one for all of us to to understand because I did already get a question
from a retired educator last week who was like, "What's going on with all the layoffs?" And so I, you know, from negotiations, I knew health insurance was going up. So, it's an explanation of well, we we're not pausing um the teacher salary, you know, ladder that
they do. So, we're not doing a freeze. Our health insurance has gone up. Um you know, we have some grant funed positions that things like restorative justice that have kept kids in school rather than, you know, having them suspended. And so, it is an explanation and and like this person understood, you know,
it was like it it came in very she came in hot. And by understanding this part um and being able to explain that to the community, it's like we this isn't something we love doing. We don't want to do cuts and layoffs, but this is what the financial picture looks like. Um and
with 300 plus fewer students and not knowing what next year will look like. Um I think it helps people understand. >> That's a really good point. And part of why the cuts feel so great is we were overstaffed by 300 students, which is
about >> well it was I think 370 students almost 16 teachers >> yes so that 16 FT and then that we have significantly added special education
uh certified teachers as well as pair professionals throughout the year as needs have continued to increase and you you all hear a lot about special education um and so we've got those positions come back also I mean we've got to get that right sized again. Um,
so it does, you know, that so then and then you're not increasing. So it feels kind of like a double whammy in terms of class size. >> And it wasn't that long ago that we had all the COVID relief money, too. So we were able to do a lot in terms of hiring
teachers with those funds. >> A lot of a lot of work. The other thing, so Miss Sponsor, I wonder if you want to walk through um just kind of what the the cost of a step is if you have that at off the top of your head and or the
cost of of So when we talk about salary increases, that's not just additional percent on the base salary that is also steps and lanes. So that's teachers who gain a year of experience or teachers
who have increased their education. That's what we talk about when we talk about lanes. If you know as they increase their their hours, their graduate hours um or earn new degrees, they also increase in terms of their pay. And then we'd hope the reason you
see the four to seven and a half million is that kind of depends on how much we are able to put onto the base for teachers. and those teachers that are, you know, already all the way through the schedule, if we don't add to the base of
that schedule, then they won't see an increase. And so that's another complexity I think that you know people are like well steps are great but we have a whole other group of employees that have been here for 25 years that
expect to see some kind of pay adjustment >> as well as our other employees that are not classroom teachers and that are not on the salary schedule. >> Yes. So, off the top of my head, >> I know, sorry, Megan, >> I believe that the cost of the step is around 2.5 million.
>> Yeah, I think we we were getting closer to three million, which when I first came to the district, a cost of a step was right around a million dollars. >> You know, a decade ago is around a million dollars. And so, it you know, that it's it's gotten more and more expensive to operate the organization.
>> Yep. So, and then when we talk about our classified and administrative employees, that's another like one and a half million. So, that's where the four million comes from. Um, we try to do something comparable for classified and
administrative employees as we do for our certified teachers. So, that's where those numbers are coming from. We uh over the last few years as co dollars the relief dollars went away we
did keep those parent um lays on positions at the elementary and middle schools we also kept social workers and counselors and made sure that we had the mental health providers and so those have been questions that we've been asked by principles about those positions and about um would we cut
those and and use those for teacher FT and it's you know it's really um that's a difficult decision to make because do you put it all in if you put it all in the classroom, who's there to support the child who is struggling when the classroom teacher is
with with the rest of the class? And so those those conversations we're trying to not have this year, they are probably conversations we're going to need to have um in coming years if if there is not either additional revenue that we go to the ballot and ask voters for or or
additional revenue through a new statewide ballot measure. Uh we will probably need to look to make some of those decisions in the future. And you know, it's it's everything. You know, quite frankly, we're talking
about, you know, do we do we fill the legal council position with Nate's um upcoming resignation and or do we go back to the model we had several years ago? Um we're going to have legal fees the but maybe we
we we don't spend as much if we don't have in-house counsel. So, that's one of the conversations we're having. Um we are pretty confident that we will see some forward movement with the new funding formula. >> Yes. Yes. So it was pretty clear in the
long bill that that was the expectation as that continues. So yeah, >> it's just gonna it's just slow coming because, you know, they're trying not to harm other, you know, harm districts. At the same time, they're trying to honor
that new formula in those districts that would see additional revenue. So, it's it's complex. >> I know nobody can predict anything in terms of the future, but we did lose
that 300 students or so. Uh do you feel at N at in any way positive that that number will go back up that we will gain again >> 300 students that may have left? >> The demography we've been working with
really anticipates we'll probably only gain over the next 10 years by a few hundred students. So I don't think we'll see an increase of 300 in one year. um not according to our demographer, not according to the numbers that we look at. Um but but I think fortunately we
won't I mean we we don't have any indication that we're going to see what you know our friends in Thompson and Pter and other districts in the Front Range have seen in terms of declining enrollment either. We we do still have homes that that for Colorado for the
Front Range are somewhat or at least a little bit more affordable. We do have new still have new construction coming. um in some areas and so all of that contributes to our ability to grow a little bit but you know we saw years
director where we grew you know hundreds of kids in a year you know a few hundred a year we're not we're not the future does not look like that's what we're going to see now director mash working in the in the in the the
pediatric ward and um and being a part of delivering new babies tells We got lots of new babies coming. So, in about five years, maybe I'll be wrong when those babies hit our kindergarten. Yeah. >> Yeah. Well, and don't we still hear that we're supposed to be bigger than Fort
Collins by 2050? >> Yes. But keep in mind that's a lot of that is West Gley. Yeah. Outside of our school boundary. >> Yeah. >> I was trying to is where the St. Michael's shopping center like just west of that they're building. Is that our
district? kind of >> on the other side of 34. >> Um 34. >> It kind of angles through there. >> Yeah. >> Um it goes kind of to the west of St. Michael's and angles through >> um to the south of Prairie Heights. That
is in the district. >> East of St. Michael's is >> Yes. Okay. Some But when you're on that side of 34, there's some that is ours. when you come across 34 then east of or
west of um well all for certain 83rd is all Windsor school district but >> there's a big development that is supposedly coming in south of Per Heights and that would definitely fall in our district boundary. >> Who knows they're up upgrading the
airport. Maybe we'll see growth in northeast gley too. Yeah, we had um 84 more babies in 2025 than in 2024, which is like 6%. But >> that's good because if they stay here in the community, that means they >> they are coming.
>> Yeah. And that's just one hospital, but and yeah, I think we're up about 20 >> deliveries for the first quarter. So that would be about the same. Another >> another 80 extra babies. >> That's one of two hospitals. So >> yeah, that's right. I need somebody with an N to get the numbers from the other hospitals so we can see if we're just
stealing it from Banner or >> or they're just coming here to have babies from other communities or Yeah. >> Does not like Banner? >> Well, I go I am at Banner. It's >> not at UCL. >> No. Oh, >> I don't know. I I I sample different system.
>> Yeah. No. Yeah. I don't know. >> Yeah. We'll need a monthly baby report. >> There you go. Well, yeah, that's that's a new demography. >> Sounds like a podcast. So the other thing that's that Megan has not put on here as expenses, but is
another factor we continue to to wrestle with is preschool and that we are not being fully funded for preschool and we are losing money on preschool and we're having to dip into our general fund to make up the difference in preschool. So that's that's problematic as well to
have a you know a new statewide program that is not fully funded at the state level. and we continue to say we'll see what happens. We'll have a new governor. We'll >> have a statewide initiative we're going to hear about shortly.
>> We we do anticipate two measures on the ballot. Um and one that will is there's hope for it to be referred legislatively to the ballot and then another that they're collecting signatures on and they're very optimistic that they will
have the signatures. Both measures are polling very well actually. Um so one of the measures is the measure that really kind of puts lifts the ceiling or puts a floor um on Taber and uh initially
looked like there'd be a lot more money coming to K12 from that initiative whereas now it looks more like an initiative to to balance the state budget and >> and fund programs throughout the state. Dates can talk about it more.
>> But I think there I think that there will be some amendments coming forward that will help clarify >> that's our hope >> what K12 will actually get. I think there's a lot of hope amongst K12 that it will help us. The way the language is currently written it's not that much of
a help. >> Um >> so we're waiting more money in the pot in general then at least they don't take it from education. Right. >> That's the hope. Mhm. >> Then the other ballot measure is a graduated income tax measure. Um where
most most folks in Colorado will pay less and those highest earners in the state of Colorado would pay pay more. Um and that measure would all those dollars would go
to K12 um if that measure were to pass. So, >> we'll keep watching what's coming our way for November and then that's probably a nice segue almost to Nate, but what other questions do you all have about the budget? >> I guess I it's just interesting to me
that with all the concerns about safety in the schools and um you know, the people that need to be there to back up if there's something bad that happens with social workers and that kind of thing and therapists in the schools that there isn't a special funding for that.
But I I suppose there's lots of issues like that that why isn't there some kind of special funding so that we have the safety in the schools but then also these social workers and counselors to be there for the kids. >> The state of Colorado flat out does not
have a mechanism to fully fund >> um public education. I mean that is the reality. We are still one of the probably lowest 10% of states funded at the state level in in the nation. So we we just have not we don't have a
mechanism to to fund K12 at the level that it's funded in other states and neighboring states to us. Um and but and you're right, the needs are significant and have become even more significant. I know throughout my
career, uh we the needs are far greater today than they were even 20 years ago. >> And um and there's there is more I mean we have in in our strategic plan, we've we have written for more safety and security measures in our schools. It's
but it's going to be a matter of funding of course. So, we'll keep plugging through it. >> There used to the state used to um decades ago used to designate that you had to put away certain percentages of
your budget for certain things like capital improvements, um transportation, and then they realized that districts just couldn't commit to those things at the level of funding that districts were receiving. And that's why there's so
much onus on the local local taxpayers. We were looking at another district um at a problem we're trying to solve and we were looking at another district and we saw that that district brings in 4,500 per student in mill levy override
dollars >> um with multiple mil levy overrides at that district. And so we bring in 750 >> around 1,200 >> 1,200 now around 1,200 with our mil levy override. So if you just think of the difference of we're bringing in 1,200
and another district in the front range is bringing in 4,500. I mean that's there's so much disparity too >> and the funding% >> of the more than 30% of the per people funding >> which is really why we have to why you
see that paying people become such um kind of a deficit to us because in those in districts that have passed multiple mill levy overrides um many of those have passed promising to pay teachers and those dollars go to paying teachers
and uh we just don't have the volume of dollars that some of the other large districts have that have more mil levy override dollars than we do. So it's but and yet we need to stay competitive or we will not compete for those teachers
with those districts and administrators teachers and administrators. >> So when will we revisit this? Well, we have we're working hard this week and then we have another meeting Monday morning with our compensation committee.
Um I've asked Aaron um I' I've shared with Aaron that we only have the one meeting in May and the one in June to actually ratify the contract. So I think her goal is to try to have um her the
the terms we've negotiated finalized and go to her membership prior and for ratification prior to that May board meeting. So they would need to do that like the first week of May. So sometime
really the final week of April um early May I will have uh Miss Lemon set up meetings with you all individually too so that we can just go a little more deeply and answer individual questions and then um the actual budget comes back
for considerate for for approval in June. Um but we should be able to bring you some preview of that earlier than that June meeting. It's a busy time of year and it's a hard time. Anytime you have less resources
than you did previously, it doesn't feel good or it feels I mean we know we have more resources but we also have >> greater expenses. Yeah. >> Thank you very much for that detailed. It's it's I know our previous president would attend every finance 101 at every
CASPY and learn something new every time. So we appreciate >> you were just getting started learning about school finance and it just changed. >> So thank you very much >> and um we will move over to Mr. Fall. Dr. Pch, may I have a tissue?
>> You may. It's cold in here. Drippy nose. I need a blanket. Thank you. All right, I'm just getting an outline passed around. Um, and good evening, President Mash and board directors and Dr. Pilch. My name is Nate Fall. I'm
legal counsel for the school district. Um, this is just getting so long. I need to think about how to kind of recreate this because it's getting chaotic just like the fast tracker is. Um, I don't want to go through each and every single one of these. I don't think it's worthwhile
unless you want to just stop me. Um, I've updated this outline though just to kind of say where it's at. You can see for some of these bills, it's still stuck in purgatory. Like that first bill hasn't gone anywhere um since February, right? Um, but I'm going to kind of skip
around here, so please bear with me. And I just want to start at school finance. So, um, I know that Miss Sponsor just beautifully laid out school finance, and I don't want to cause confusion as to everything that Miss Sponselor just so clearly articulated to you all. Um, but
just know that the the joint budget committee essentially closed a gap that was significant, right? We're talking almost a billion dollars. And they did that really through kind of a lot of Jedi, mind trick, kind of throwing some money here and there, making up about $800 million. I can say that part of
that was based on this pinnacle sale of pinnacle that is um speculative in nature. Uh they res reduce the general fund reserve from 15% to 13% and that was freed up about $340 million. Obviously we don't want to we don't want to lower our general fund
reserve amount any more than that. In fact they want to bring that back to 15% by 2028. So again this is kind of a one-time transfer. um they relied on the more optimistic um revenue forecast as Miss Sponsor pointed out. And then um significantly they
committed zero dollars to uh general set aides for new legislative priorities, meaning anything that has a significant fiscal note probably isn't moving forward this year. So they kind of had made some adjustments. They are being wildly optimistic. We're happy that they
are. Um, and the reason that we're happy is because the school finance act is going to be fully funded to the extent that we need it to be fully funded for next year. Um, and so that's kind of how they made up the difference. That's a one-time change. They're not going to be able to make up that much money again.
So, I think we need to continue having honest conversations with ourselves about this lack of money that the state has available to support public education. So, um, and really I shouldn't just say public education. I should say for all
government services, but, um, my focus always is public education. >> And Mr. F, I'll just add, it's important to remember that, um, we, you know, we have significant elections coming up in the state of Colorado. And that too
influences, I think, a desire this year to not have cut K12. >> Yeah, it's a good point. Um, so this brings me to Senate Bill 23. That's little section I. That's the
school finance act. Um, this was introduced as one of the first bills that was introduced. Um, and my I think that should say April the House Education Committee. Oh, that that date seems wrong here. Um, so just know that this is something that I would recommend
we do support and I can I I'll provide you the electronic version with an updated date there. That seems awkward. March 12th. Um, so just so you know, a couple things they did is they're going to be continuing to draw upon the state education fund. There have been questions around solvency and that the
state education fund does risk solveny somewhere down the line. Um, if we continue to draw off of it, um, again to kind of make this work, this is how they're doing this to perform. case. The Colorado Association of School Executives has been working really since
last year on kind of a smoothing factor to address declining enrollment statewide. We know that the new funding formula impacts districts with declining enrollment the most. And so, um, I think in terms of kind of what all districts are looking for, Case has been kind of
more wanting to address kind of that four-year averaging and that smoothing factor, uh, which is going to drop, um, as the years progress. And this brings me then to 135. So we talked about Senate Bill 135. That's on the
second page here. Um and that's that what's going to be moving forward a ballot measure in the fall. So we talked a bit about this at the last meeting. Just know that that's going to be um up to voters to determine if some reserve from Taber can be set aside up to 2% of
this current year fiscal year. Right. And so, um, any Taber refund kind of in excess, any revenue, um, that does go back to taxpayers, they would reserve 2% of that to go directly to, um, school
districts. It's a education specific, um, fund, right? And they're calling it the positive factor. I think now it is probably appropriate to support this bill. I don't think it's perfect. I think we have lots of questions around whether or not it's actually going to
serve the purpose that it's being brought forward. Um, right. And we we know with the marijuana tax that it didn't do everything that it was promised. Um, but I think really we just need to consider finding ways to support public education funding and this is just another way. Um, did you have something to say, Dr. K?
>> I had a question because so you said 2% of the refund would hopefully go to K through 12. What happens to the other 98%? Does it just get refunded or is it going somewhere else? >> I believe that's how that works, right? Yeah, it would get refunded. That would be part of the refund. Um,
>> and I could but I could be wrong. It's 2% of the total program funding >> of whatever they retain. We'd get 2% of what they retain, but the remainder of what's retained could go to other statewide programs. the way it's written
right now. We don't know what the amendments may look like, but right now it's written to where other do you know other remaining dollars could go to other state costs >> and that is in perpetuity, not just this year.
>> It would be it would be in perpetuity. in perpetuity >> um for 10 years and then so and then right now there's kind of this guarantee they're like guaranteeing right that they can project up to $2 billion of additional revenue that schools are going to receive right and so I think
>> if they're going to be giving guarantees like that if the general assembly or the bill sponsors like they need to then put it in the bill and so I think there's some amendments that we've been looking at we also talked at the last meeting about the four purposes right this money can only be used for four purposes like
decreasing class sizes, right? And so this is going to create another reporting mechanism that we're going to have to kind of figure out and then the state's going to have to have. And so we're also looking to see if there's amendments that can be made with information that's already being reported, all the information that's already being reported. Can they just
glean from that that we're using it appropriately? Right? So there's like a few amendments that have been floated out there, but by and large, you know, I don't see any reason why we wouldn't want to support a bill like this. And so Nate, which one is it? Which number is it?
>> This is on the second page on the back. Oh, I can't label this. This is really bad. This is bad. >> Bill 26135. >> Yeah. >> So, it's an O that's missing a side. >> Did a really bad job today. I'm sorry, T. >> I like that it's called the positive factor. I just feel like that's
hilarious. >> Negative factor. Now it's a positive factor. Okay, whatever. Th this brings me back again to >> they ought to call it a budget stabilization factor for for K12 that we're get finally getting stabilized
>> the K12 stabilization factor. Yeah. >> Instead of budget >> we did talk about like that this isn't guaranteed, right? It's only when Taber has surplus, right? And so like I just that's the other problemful that that it doesn't guarantee anything. Um, so,
um, but this brings me back, if we go back to the first page under school finance act, that's that little I that's properly numbered there. Um, so we noticed there have been about 50 orbital bills related to school finance act and it's just like cut this grant program,
move this one, sun like sunset this one today. And so when Miss Sponsor was bringing up digging into the couch cushions, I mean, that's really what they did to get to where they were at. and it's like a million here, half, you know, half a million there. Um, it's pretty interesting if you read through
some of the orbital bills to just see how much work they've been doing to get us to a place where we can hopefully support the school finance act. Um, so then again, just jumping around a little bit, if you look at C, uh, that's House
Bill 26141, discriminatory practices in public schools. We had talked about this. So, this bill along with the 504 bill um that would be Senate Bill 26125, disability rights protections in public schools, right? Those are those are two
bills that have a really important goal and that's to provide a mechanism for folks to bring civil rights complaints under Colorado law if OCR goes away, the Office for Civil Rights. um because these bills have such high fiscal notes attached to them, it's unlikely that
we're going to see these pieces of legislation passed this year. Who knows? It's it they it could still work out where maybe they move one of them forward, but it seems unlikely given that they've kind of really put a pause on um any bills that have a fiscal note attached to them.
Um, another one I wanted to mention to you all, if you go down to G, that is House Bill 261391, safe drinking water in child care centers in schools. So, just know in 2022, they passed legislation for K through 8 and all
childc care centers. And essentially, we had to test every single sink and every single drinking fountain in every single building to determine if there was a certain amount of lead uh in the water. And if there was a certain amount of lead in that specific, you know, drinking fountain or sink, then we had
to shut it off or provide notice or fix it. Um, and so we tested 708 um taps. Can I call them taps, Kent? Taps. 708 taps. um we got around 3.8% of
those taps were determined to have a certain amount of lead that was above the um safe limit. So a lot of those were like classroom bubblers that were against building codes anyways. So we shut those off. A few drinking fountains that we were in fixed I think and in our all of our middle schools only one of
the 110 um water taps that were tested had lead above it. So anyways I'm just kind of painting a picture. It was a significant amount of work. uh we did do all the remediation necessary. This bill is going to expand that now to high schools. So um we I will say this board
did oppose this bill in 2022 and so you know I leaving that option open to this board to oppose this bill. Not that anybody's against safe clean drinking water. Just kind of the administrative burden without the funding um is always
a challenge for us. And we have a very old historic high school that uh just one can speculate, but I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the water. Um I'm just saying that you never know. Um and so >> all of our bottle fillers
have filters. >> I was going to say let's get bottled water. >> You see a bottle filler. Those have been retrofits and those have filters, >> right? So I think the fear though is we're going to have to test another 500, you know, and it's like just like one or two, right? Then there they might not even be drinking. It might just be like
a hand sink right there. >> I'm kind of like why is education paying for this? Shouldn't it be like the Department of Public Health and Environment? You know, like >> there is some grant funding that is available. Um but yeah, that's what we would say and that's kind of why we originally opposed it in 2022. So
>> from a medical perspective, the lead makes more of a difference in the younger grades for neurodedevelopment, for their brain development. So, in high school, I'm not sure if it makes that big of a difference. >> Well, I might bring you then to the capital. Uh it got it it did get all the
way through. Uh basically, it's it's moving so quickly through the House. Um and so, you know, maybe if we get to the Senate, Dr. Kos Spency, I might bring you down for some testimony, but no. Um, so just know that that bill is kind of it's kind of interesting and and certainly something that
>> just it just creates a lot of administrative burden for us and just know that that it has all the right things, the right features to legislation that we want that ultimately um just causes a lot of work for us on the back end. Um, and then
let's see here. So, I do want to mention if you go back to the second page, there are a list of bills that have now been passed. So, we have the the new category of past legislation. Um, and so that uh protection order bill,
the uh eer the red flag bill did pass. Um, just know that that bill does have protections for staff who do or don't say anything. Like, you don't have to make a report. um you don't have to petition for a protection order, right?
Um so that's part of it. And then the we we spent some time talking about House Bill 261050, optional individualized readiness plan for school. Um and that bill did end up pass. It hasn't been signed yet. Um, and so I think
ultimately what this bill turned on, they amended it to say if a student passes all of the tests and they don't need to have this readiness plan, then schools still have to provide notice and give families the opportunity to request a plan if they want one. And so I think
that now that now that they've added that, uh, it was able to pass through both chambers. And so that is legislation. And, um, just kind of in in the interest of time, we'll stop there. if you have any questions about anything. And yes, please. >> I was um interested in B on the front
page. Little B, the off-campus courses and concurrent enrollment program. Do you mind talking a little bit more about that one? >> Yes. Um and if you wouldn't mind, let me pull up my notes on that one. >> You don't have it all memorized.
So, um, and this this is just taken from the summary. Um, so under current law, off-campus courses offered by institutions of higher ed are excluded from concurrent enrollment programs with a narrow exception for courses offered through TREP, the
teacher recruitment education and preparation program. So, this would expand concurrent enrollment eligibility to include offcampus courses from higher education institutions. Um, which I guess would include any 4-year institution like University of
Northern Colorado, for example. Um, so it would, you know, it would expand access to off-campus concurrent enrollment opportunities potentially for students earning college credit um outside of where they're kind of currently getting it. So um I think
it just would open the door to additional concurren program opportunities. >> I think that um this is a result of there are some universities that will not uh and community colleges too probably but some universities I'm
certain of that will not um develop a mechanism by where sitting high school teachers can be qualified to teach concurrent enrollment courses in district 6. So, we have many, many, many teachers qualified to teach
concurrent enrollment. So, I believe that's what this does is it opens that up to have to have a an avenue for that to occur. So, that students aren't all going to the college campus to take the college course. >> I first heard about it on Saturday at
this gayla. Um, so the president of CU was there. >> Um, yeah. And so he's I think he was the one pushing it because he spoke about it um in his they're you know one of the big sponsors and so he got some time on the podium and so he felt this was a
huge win for students to have their first two years um covered you know before going to a four-year institution. But what I was talking to Andy about it earlier today. He said it levels the playing field because right now community colleges get to get all these
concurrent enrollment dollars, but four-year universities for off-campus weren't able to. So now four-year univers this opens the door for four-year universities to do off-campus concurrent enrollment, which wasn't allowed before except if it was Tre.
>> So I'm hoping UNC reaches out about off-campus >> enrollment. Yeah, we do it now, >> right? That's too but but CU does not or did not when I was in down there. So we do that now. >> So I don't know. >> Maybe it was more for CU because maybe
though what it allows UNCC to access dollars is maybe what it does and which they're not allowed to do right now because that person is not employed by UNCC. >> So maybe that's what the difference is. >> We'll we'll do some more research on it and see. Yeah, it's an opportunity fit
with the what we've just heard about um our our um teachers going to teachers going to UNC to get uh credit for becoming a teacher. That got taken away. >> Not funded anymore. >> That got not funded.
>> That's TR. That doesn't have anything to do with this. >> Okay, that's a different >> Not really. I mean, they could overlap, but Tre is a program um that was paying tuition for ed for folks going into education. Okay. >> So, that was the only avenue a 4-year university could take from a K through
12 prep, >> like could get dollars from D6 into UNCC. The only way was through TRE and we wouldn't get the same amount that we would if the kid was like it was a dis at a discounted rate, but that was the only mechanism. So, now yeah, Tre is
going away, but now they're saying now four-year universities can partner with K through 12 and and get those concurrent enrollment dollars. Okay. And so why is TREP going away? I think >> it's one of these finding budget dollars.
>> That was a question from this board at the last meeting. Was Trip Sun setting and and the answer is yes. It's going away unfortunately. So there was a pretty interesting article by was that Chalkbeat they >> I sent you guys an article from Chalkbeat. Yeah. >> Yeah. too bad because some folks that are already invested in in it might not
be able to continue on and it's like >> so we can still offer those 24 credits at the CTE pathway which is two 12 units. >> Yeah. Something you're close. Yeah. >> Like a year. >> Yeah. >> 24 credits teacher. So, I I the other
thing that's really important for this board to remember and for our staff to remember, the um amount of concurrent enrollment that we provide for in district 6 is is very unique to district
6. Most school districts do not let students go take college courses unless they have completely exhausted that line of curriculum in the home high school. So, um, and we just don't do that. I mean, if you want to take college
courses, we're going to work with you to do that. But, but most school districts, uh, for example, will will you can't go take um an art history class at or h and earn
concurrent enrollment where the district pays for it unless you've exhausted all of the art curriculum at the home high school. And in some cases, I'll even say you have to have exhausted all of the elective curriculum at the home high school. So, you're almost never
accessing electives in some school districts. So, I wonder if this concurrent enrollment bill had something to do with that, too. Um, so many districts it's just really those only higher level math classes and
higher level um well really just higher level math classes that aren't available at the home high school that have typically been accessed and then anything through a career and technical education center. >> Um just an up I'm reading this update.
So, aside from TR, which was teacher focused, um the Ascent program is also suns setting. >> Yeah. Which we've known for a while. That's not a new cut. Um we've known that ascent was going away. >> Yeah. June 20 June 30th, 2026 is when it is effective. And what a ascent was was
it allowed a student to actually finish all of their high school requirements and graduate and come back for another year and and remain uh our enrolled it as one of our students and take college courses.
goes away. It's they're they're all ways to try to save kids from having to pay full four years for college, >> which is sad that these have gone away, but maybe I don't know. Maybe it gives more money to K through 12, which I'm fine with, too.
>> Well, I don't know that it really does because the home district had was paying the, you know, the tuition anyway. So, I don't know. I think it hurts both. K12 and higher ed. Quite frankly,
>> just balancing the budget >> when it's not allowed. Yeah. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> It's a busy time of year. >> Yeah. My goodness. All right, let's debrief the work session and get some dinner and maybe start a meeting on
time. Fine. Either way, uh we'll start with director. uh just appreciate the learning experience just of a just all the the budget stuff is really overwhelming um but challenging and I'm just it's good
to see the work and understanding what's going on in our state. So we'll just um I just hope to be part of the solution and not part of the problem I guess. >> Good question. Uh, same. I just appreciate
the updates for the budget and the legislative update. Um, so much information, but so well needed. So, I appreciate the updates. >> Sorry. >> Yeah, the that slide presentation on the
budget was one of the better ones I've seen, Megan. It's very clear >> and I really appreciated that because it's it is really confusing. Uh, so it's it's nice to to see clearly what we need
to do as a district and I have full faith in the district staff um that will that will operate in the best interests of the kids uh in the district as we go through this. And then Nate, your presentation was great as well, although
I do question the the letters uh on the sheet. But uh no, it was it was super and again >> uh very valuable to me. Thank you, >> Director Campbi. >> Yep. Same. Um thank you, Megan. Uh the
budget is is still hard for me to wrap my head around, but you definitely make it easier to understand and and for making it clear why. Unfortunately, we have to adjust ratios and things that aren't fun. Um, but it's really nice to
know the why so we can explain the why to our community. Um, and yeah, thank you Nate for keeping us updated and and just kind of giving us guidance and and your perspective not just on what's the right thing to do, but what can we actually afford to do? Um, and yeah, I'm
optimistic. I'm so grateful for a JBC that values K through 12 and who decided to be wildly optimistic and um, and help us out that way. Yeah, continue the echoes. Thank you, Megan and Nate. Um, I do just have to
say that it is really sad to see that we're not going to have Nate much much longer. um just having these updates and knowing that you're doing all this hard work that we can we can let some of the the organization slip because even just going through this fast democracy and
seeing all the things that are out there. It's a lot a lot of a lot of stuff that's not on this sheet. Um and it it breaks my heart to know that we have to always be faced with these budget cuts. Um because ultimately at the end of the day
it's it's about the students. But I know that we want to try to provide the best district, not only for our students, but also our educators. So, I just also hope anyone out there that's watching this meeting at home or if the word gets out that we still have an amazing district. I know we're talking about all these cuts and these things we have to look
at, but like we have so many well-performing schools and dedicated teachers and and hardworking students and this is a district that I want people to be a part of. So, I'd love to see that declining enrollment take a turnaround because they can see all the different opportunities that they have
to get 24 credits to be a teacher, to have the opportunity to be a welder, to have a district that doesn't that does offer these concurrent enrollments that you don't get at other districts. And I I think part of that is just because we do have people that love our community and they love our students. And so, um,
hats off to you guys. I know you got cabinet meeting tomorrow that you're you're really doing the hard work of trying to find that 10 to12 million that's short. Um but ultimately I'm optimistic that we are still on the right trajectory to to be one of the best school districts if not the best
school district not just in northern Colorado but Colorado that people want to be a part of. So I'm just still excited for what we have ahead of us as well. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, Ditto. Um, thank you guys for all
that hard work. I know it's a excruciatingly huge job that Megan and her team do deal with a budget that size. Um, uh, just, you know, kind of, you know, as a business owner postco has been, you
know, very challenging. And so in a in a public education world where we're publicly funded, it's those dollars are are going, you know, a a shorter and shorter distance just like in the real world and just like our constituents and our families are facing too. So, um,
really just boils down to elections have consequences and it matters who you elect and when and and it it just I would encourage everybody to pay pay as close attention as you can and get involved cuz they uh, you know, inflation is a real thing and
it's it's very damaging to our to our, you know, low-income families. The percentage of groceries going up to their overall budget is way bigger than um, those even the middle class. So, um, yeah, thank you guys again for all your hard work.
>> Thank you very much, Miss Bonsler. Um, you're all getting to know Megan, but she is just very, very well attuned to what every line item is, that it's a person, it's a program. Um, so very much appreciate that there's so much thought
going into every every shaking of the cushions. Um, so thank you very much and thank you, Mr. fall for continuing to monitor all of this and um advise us how we can help move these things forward.
All right, this meeting is adjourned. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Part: 2
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Heat. Heat. [music] [music] [music] >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] Good evening and welcome to the business meeting for the board of education of Gley Evans School District 6. This
meeting will now come to order. Please stand and join us for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Miss Lemon, will you please call the role? >> Director, >> present. >> Director Bentley, >> present. >> Director Campos Spitzy, >> present. Director Edmonds, >> present. >> Director Lamos Garcia, >> present. >> Director Mash,
>> present. >> Director Roi, >> present. all board members present. >> Thank you. And I'd also like to welcome our student representatives from our council of representatives, um Sarah Venegas and Abby Tovar. And I believe we only have like two more meetings with
you guys, but we'll look forward to the next the next wave of students that you bring up. Um well, we have spent our uh work session looking at our budget uh projections for next school year and
also looking at the very many um pieces of legislation that are before um our Colorado Congress that may affect education. So, um as you may know, one of the primary roles of the board of education is to approve the the budget
for the school district. And we're um you know we have all the confidence in our team um Miss Megan Sponsler and Dr. Pilch and her team to um try to make any cuts that we need to make this year as strategic as possible and as far away from the classroom and our teachers. Um
so that is a very big task. Um we really appreciate um we got a little school finance 101 which is always um sort of changing at the legislative level. Um, so we are are learning more and more
about that. Um, just want to encourage all of our students, especially our seniors as you're entering the last few weeks and um, as I tell my own senior, you got to finish hard, straight through that finish line. Um, you've all been working so hard. So, best wishes.
And now we will approve the agenda for the evening, which is an action item. I move that the board of education of Gley Evans School District 6 approves the agenda as presented. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion on the motion?
>> Seeing none, Miss Lemonoy, please give us a vote. >> Director Zari, >> I. >> Director Bentley, >> I. >> Director Campos Spitzy, >> I. >> Director Edmonds, >> I. >> Director Lamos Garcia, >> I. >> Director Mash, >> I. >> Director Roi, >> I. Motion carries 70.
All right. Um it is now um time to hear from Dr. Pilch with her superintendent's um honor role. >> Thank you, President Mash. Um it is an honor tonight to introduce some new
hires that we have here in the district as part of my um honor >> honorable not comments that I just have one item for tonight. Um, we are going to recognize uh a very prestigious honor. Um, and I'm I'm excited to
announce that we do have a Betcher Scholar here in District 6. And so, um, I think some of you know that since 1952, the Beter Scholarship Program has existed to keep Colorado's most talented students here rather than leaving the state of Colorado. Um, and so scholars
receive this award based on academic service, leadership, and character. So, in addition to receiving 80,000 in scholarship awards, um scholars are also assisted with other institutional and merit or needs-based rewards once they
select their campus here in Colorado. It's a very comprehensive scholarship and it's very competitive. hundreds of students throughout Colorado apply and um we're just so lucky to have Sophia Vasquez here tonight as our Betcher
Scholar and so um we be we will be honoring her and congratulating her. Sophia is a senior at Gley West High School. Um she ha she was selected for having a heart for giving back to those around her and has created a nonprofit
named the supply box initiative which provides hygiene products, clothing, shoes, feminine products and backpacks to the homeless population. Sophia plans to attend the University of Denver or the University of Colorado for uh social
legal studies and she plans to eventually pursue a degree in law. So, I want to congratulate you, Sophia, and invite you up to the podium with me. >> Thank you. >> Okay, good.
Um, first off, I want to thank you guys so much uh for recognizing a silent leader like me. And um I'm very proud to represent uh District 6. I also want to give a special shout out to Maplewood and Heath Middle School as well as Girly
West because those are all places that have shaped who I am as a person and have um just just shaped all the involvements um that I'm in. So, thank you guys so much. >> Well, congratulations Sophia and best
wishes. Um, continuing on with our celebrations, we have a proclamation. Um, sorry, keep losing my place. Proclamation for educator appreciation days. This is an action item which
requires a motion. All right, I'll I'll go ahead and move [laughter] I move that the board of education of Gley Evans School District 6 adopts the honorary proclamation declaring that educator appreciation days be celebrated
in the district during spring 2026. >> Second. >> Thank you both. And I will ask Director Lamos Garcia if she would read that proclamation for us. >> Yes. Honorary proclamation of the board of education of well county school district
6 educator appreciation days. Whereas a well-educated public is essential to preservation of our national freedom and our dem democratic system of government. And whereas the people of the United
States have recognized that free access to public education for all children is a vital component of a strong and vibrant country. And whereas the board of education recognizes and honors the important impact that teachers and staff
have on our children's education. And whereas a rich and well-rounded education includes curriculum, instruction, and support for the physical health and well-being of our children. And whereas children's education and the success of their
schools is also dependent upon exceptional and dedicated leadership at the school and district level. And whereas it is appropriate that teachers, staff, and educational leaders be publicly recognized for their dedication and commitment to educating and
supporting all students. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the board of education of Well County School District 6 proclaims the following national recognition dates to be celebrated and recognized in our local schools and communities of Gley and Evans, Colorado
during the spring of 2026. Assistant Principles Week, April 6th through 10th, 2026. Administrative Professionals Day, April 22nd, 2026.
School Lunch Hero Day, May 1st, 2026. School Principal Day, May 1st, 2026. Physical Education and Sport Week, May 1st through 7th, 2026. Teacher Appreciation Week May 4th
through the 8th 2026 and School Nurse Day May 6th, 2026. Thank you very much. Um, is there any discussion on the motion? Doc, Director Campos Fitzy.
So, one of my favorite proclamations of the year is recognizing our educators from all aspects of the building from leadership down to um our nurse who I know my daughter visits frequently, probably too frequently. I think she makes up reasons to go see the nurse. Um
but just wanted to uh there's a quote that Dr. Dear Pilch uses often and it's um lead from the seat you're in. And I see our from our administrators down to our teachers. You all lead from the seat you're in. Especially our our classroom teachers who can, you know, control a
classroom and and have that type of classroom management and not just keep our kids safe, but teach them and and uh teach them to to read and to write. Um, as as the teachers and the building administrators know, we hired Weststead, a consulting firm, um, to talk about how
we might do better in our foundational skills. And I the video that Dr. Pilt shared with staff was also shared with the board um, including uh, the consultants comments and I just wrote some of them because they were beautiful. And one is that teachers know
from their vast years of expertise what it takes to teach children to read. and she's talking about teachers here like teachers in district 6 know um she talked about how the classroom structures and routines are strong and in place and she said in every classroom
in which we visited teachers were teaching children were engaged and she said she saw some of the strongest routines she'd ever seen in her career um in our classrooms and so it was a proud moment for me to see that video and to know that uh we have masters of
of our craft in this district and um you know, we can always improve, but it it was wonderful to hear uh our educators being recognized. Um I just took a picture of all the different weeks because that's a lot of different gift cards to buy, but I [laughter] would
encourage uh parents and fans of District 6 to to go out and get some gift cards from local businesses and um shower our educators with gratitude that way. Um, I know it is a demanding job that you all have. Um, but I hope it's
as rewarding as as you make it look. Uh, so thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. >> Miss Venegas, thank you, President Mash. I just want to give a little student point of view, right? And say thank you
to all of our wonderful teachers, professors, staff, every single person who's in that building helping students be better people. Cuz not only do teachers, yes, they teach you how to read and they teach you how to get a higher education, right? They teach you how to be good people. They teach you
how to be better and bigger than you maybe ever imagined you would be. And so our teachers are just amazing. And I like how you mentioned your daughter visiting the nurse very often. That's me, too. Our nurse at UCA is also named Sarah with no H. And so we call each
other Miss Sarah. That's a little joke we have. And so our teachers are just so amazing and they truly teach us students as much as we teach them, too. Thank you. [snorts] [clears throat] >> Thank you, Director Edmonds. Yeah, I um
listening through this proclamation, I think the the one piece that really stuck out to me was the very first line, which is a well- educated public is essential to the preservation of our national freedom and our democratic system of government that that may make it sound like it's a, you know, bigger
than it is, but it's actually a huge deal. Like what what public education does for our communities, what it does for our country, but also what it does for the kids in the [laughter] classroom. just to know that having the ability to read um gives such a a a better chance of success in life, the
ability to understand math when they're going about their day-to-day lives, but also the opportunity to be a part of a community and be a part of something bigger uh than themselves. Uh it just is so many important foundational things that I know what I didn't recognize it when I was in school. You know, I was
just ready to get to that senior year. But just knowing what all these these people go through every day to make sure their kids are they're well our administrative professionals who have to, you know, make sure everything's good in the front office and let and let people in the building and be that that
first face that a lot of people see or the assistant principles that have to step in when the principal is is juggling seven different things and the assistant principles are juggling themselves and and our our lunch hero uh workers that making sure that 22 22,000
meals are fed every single day for our students. It's just it's just incredible to see. And so I'm so appreciative as a parent of students in this district, but also a member of this community to know that we have something really special here. And it's because of the people that are taking or choosing to make
District 6 their their place where they work, where they where they they call their community. And so just thank you um for that day in and day out uh commitment, but also um you're almost to to summer break, so I know that these days are a little tough and so these
obviously come during the the crunch of the the school year, but um we really do appreciate all that you do for for district 6. >> Well, thank you all. I think we're excited to pass this proclamation and this will be my last one of these. um as
a parent of a student in the district. So, I also want to just thank all of the adults who have touched my two children's lives over the past I guess 14 years now, right? Or 15. Anyway, um thank you all so much. We are very pleased to honor you in this way. Miss
Lemon, will you please give us a role? Director Zari, >> I. >> Director Bentley, >> I. >> Director Campos Spitzy, >> I. >> Director Edmonds, [clears throat] >> I. >> Director Lamos Garcia, >> I. >> Director Mash, >> I. Director Roi I. Motion carries 70. >> For dinner this evening, we were served
by our nutrition specialists here at District 6. We had fabulous fish and beef tacos. Many of the um sauces were made in-house. And so I would like to invite our um kitchen managers and specialists, D Mesa, Claudia Fernandez,
Maria Salavar, Maline Roachcha, and Jennifer Klein Bullock to come and receive this Anyone wants to get the answer? optional. Okay, thank you so much. [snorts] >> Okay. All right. And now, Dr. Pilt, you may
give us your superintendent's report. Thank you, President Mash. I have I first want to report that uh dinner was delicious provided by our nutrition services. And isn't it perfect that they fed us tonight and then we get to honor them um as part of the the proclamation.
And I also get to recommend some new assistant principal hires to you. And so know that although you're not in the role yet, well, some of you are, but although you're not in your new role yet, uh that we honor you and and we see you and um I I am am excited to
introduce some folks who are moving jobs here in District 6 and some who are uh new to their position. So, first I want to introduce Cassie Gonzalez, who is the current assistant principal of our online academy, and I'm recommending her for hire as the assistant principal at
Jackson Elementary School. Hi, Kathy. Thanks, Kathy. And thank you for serving here. And then I want to introduce to you uh Kendra Mueller, who you all may know is the current assistant principal at Centennial Middle School. and she had
applied and competed to go over to Anne Kheimman Elementary as an assistant principal. And so, uh, we we're excited to have Kendra go. It's it's unusual to for an assistant principal to move to another assistant principal role, but Kendra wanted another experience, uh,
and wanted to to learn from the famous Anne Ramirez. So, thank you, Kendra. And then coming new to our district is Ransom Gates. Ransom, you can stand up. Let them see you. He will be our new assistant principal at Maplewood
Elementary School. Uh Ransom comes to us having been a teacher and an instructional coach uh in Weld RE1 and uh he has also served in Adams 12. So welcome Ransom. [applause] And then finally, uh, we have a new assistant principal, athletic
director recommendation for you for Gley West High School. I'm pleased to introduce Jacob Perez. Hi, Jacob. Um, so Jacob has just been at Winterrad uh, this past year as the dean of students, so we haven't had a chance to work with him a lot of years, but prior to that,
he was a a middle school English and language arts and journalism teacher in another district. He also served in the United States Marine Corps uh, reserve. So, welcome, Jacob. We're we're excited to have you as the new APA ad West. Um and then I'll just share a couple
more things real quickly. One, just a reminder that to to everyone that assuming we cancel the June the second June board meeting, we just have two school board meetings left this school year. Our May and our our June meeting. So wait, do we have another April one? >> We have three. We have April, May, and
June. I was getting ahead of myself. Okay, two more months after this month though. Um, and then I wanted just to remind you all I I didn't mention it in the work session that uh the celebration of life for Bob and Betty Twiton is April 23rd at 1:30 in the afternoon at
Union Colony Civic Center and then following that will be a reception at the Double Tree. So, um I know that many of us in the education community will want to come out to honor Bob and Betty's passing. Um and then finally, Dr. Dr. Campos Spitzy mentioned the the
literacy work and the literacy video. Um I was just going to to remind staff that if you haven't taken a look at that video, it's an update from Misty from West and and me on the video and we uh we are kind of wrapping up this first
part and this first phase of of the literacy uh initiative and then we're getting ready to launch into the next phase of that. And so what we'll be doing next is working with a core t team of us who are the decision makers um who
will be taking advice from four other teams that are doing work uh in this initiative and then they'll give us some advice and then we'll make some decisions about which things to prioritize first. We did make the decision to to do some work across the system rather than picking a few schools
to pilot some of the work. We felt like we'd go broader first and then go deeper because I I think everybody is ready. I see lots of excitement and and energy around staff being ready to do this work and wanting to do this work and so uh we need we need to do it now and and take
care of everybody in the system. So, um we're looking forward to that and and I'll have more for you before the end of the school year before that last June meeting. I'll have more for you to update you on that and then we'll of course keep you updated just as we will staff as we go forward. So, thank you very much.
>> Thank you. The next item on our agenda is our innovation 2030 update student learning and achievement goal one concurrent enrollment opportunities. [laughter] And I will invite Mr. Osman to turn the podium. Thank you. Good evening, President Mash,
members of the board, Dr. Pelch, and our council of student reps. It's our pleasure tonight to give you an update on concurrent enrollment in our district. Um, it's a high priority to get our students college and career ready, and concurrent enrollment is is a very important part of that work.
Essentially, concurrent enrollment means you are taking classes and receiving both high school credit and college credit. And Jordan will talk a little bit more about that in his part of the presentation. Jenny Shenny Shellane, our director of career and technical education, could not be here tonight, but we do have Jordan Carlberg, our
career pathway specialist, and two amazing students that will share their journey with us tonight. This work is grounded in our mission and our vision that both supports students and families in their college and career readiness journey. As a result, we have
moved our on-time graduation to over 90% where we now have many more students that are ready for their college and career path. Let me walk you through where this lives in our strategic plan. Our strategic plan has four focus areas and captures
all of the major work in our district. Providing concurrent enrollment opportunities is found in the student learning and achievement focus area where we engage all students in a challenging and personalized learning plan to prepare our students to be college and career ready.
Our main goal in this work is to provide a personalized learning experience so all students graduate on time and are college and career ready. The outcome that we set for this work is that by 2028, 90% of students in grades
6 through 12 will include a college and career path and an academic course of study in their personalized learning plan. We track this progress in Zello and we are on track to achieving this goal. When students take concurrent enrollment,
three things happen. First, this reduces financial barriers to higher education. College can be expensive and taking and earning credits while you're in high school makes a difference. We have students coming out of our high schools with many credits under their belt. We
also know that taking concurrent enrollment classes builds confidence and college readiness. Many students may not see themselves as college material due to lack of exposure and support. Concurrent enroll concurrent enrollment gives our students the opportunity to experience college level coursework in a
supportive high school setting. And lastly, concurrent enrollment accelerates career pathways and workforce readiness for students who may not pursue a traditional four-year college experience. Concurren concurrent enrollment can provide access to career and technical education courses or CTE
and IND industry certifications. This early exposure gives students a clear pathway for a career. And finally, one of our major action steps is to increase the opportunities for students to take concurrent courses by discussing these with students and
parents. Uh training on how to enroll in these courses and then also create stronger relationships with our postsecary institutions to increase the number of students that attend college after high school. This
year we've intentionally worked with worked to to strengthen our partnerships between district 6 as UNCC to get students directly admitted to college during their senior year. For this first year, we committed to two things. One, removing any barriers such as
application fees and paperwork to get early notification and financial aid packages. And the second was to increase equity and access by targeting students who may not see themselves as college material. [snorts] All in all, students in District 6 are
very fortunate to have the opportunity to earn college credits while in high school and have both AS and UNC right here in our backyard. To share more about our programs and our data, here is Jordan Carlberg. That [clears throat]
uh thank you, Mr. Asmus, and good evening. Um here are concurrent enrollment highlights from this school year. There were 1,248 students that participated in concurrent enrollment who registered for over 4,000 individual college courses earning approximately 12,714
college credits. This is a cost savings of over $900,000 for our students and families. And additionally 52% of our concurrent enrollment offered within district 6 is within the career and technical education pathways. Concurrent enrollment provides high school students the opportunity to
enroll and guarantee transfer or CTE pathway courses um to earn college credit. Students can participate in enrolling in courses at their high school on the college campus or online. What is extremely unique to District 6 is the financial support provided through the Milvie override that allows
this opportunity at no cost to students or family. Um, across our high schools, there are 12 technical education programs that have embedded college credit within the scope and sequence of the classes. Those pathways are advanced manufacturing, health science, construction, prostart,
business marketing, vet science, welding, cosmetology, cyber security, electrical, teacher prep, and engineering. We have 13 of our 29 CT teachers that are endorsed at this post-secary level, making offering concurrent enrollment possible in these pathways.
Additionally, there are 13 core teachers who are also endorsed in to teach post-secary classes that offer 12 unique academic classes um within our high schools. A few examples of these are math for liberal arts, intro to Mexican-American studies, college composition, calculus one, art appreciation, and intro to environmental
studies. Ames has been a outstanding partner in providing two instructors that report to Girley West High School this fall to offer additional sections of math for liberal arts and is willing to offer additional five designated sections for district 6 students of college algebra on the Ames campus next
school year. We are thankful for our long out a longstanding partnership with Ames Community College and the University of Northern Colorado. District 6 also partners with four additional post-secary partners um listed here which provides the opportunity for to
offer college credit within our CTE pathways um as evident by the growth of student participation in the last few years um which continues into this year there were over 1,248 individual students participating in concurrent enrollment that shows that our students are valuing
the post-secary opportunities available to them as they become career and college ready. This also shows the emphasis placed on concurrent enrollment within our I2030 strategic plan. This slide shows the number of individual concurrent enrollment courses students have enrolled in this school
year. On average, there's approximately two courses per semester per student at our local high school or our comprehensive high high schools and four courses per semester at the D6CT center. In addition to college earning college credit, many of our high school students
also earned industry certificates. By the end of this last school year, students had earned 229 certificates as and we're on track for for those same numbers this school year. Current students are actively sitting for um certificate exams um as we finish the
school year. So final industry cert numbers will be finalized and compiled in June of 26. Within the concurrent enrollment legislation, there's a unique educational model called PEK or Pathways to Technology Early College High School, allowing high school students to earn um
high school diploma as well as an associates of applied science while gaining relevant work experience. Courses are taken for both high school and college credit at no cost to families. PEK programs are offered in construction pathway at Griley West and advanced manufacturing at Griley Central. PEK students have the
opportunity to earn between 19 and 37 college credits within their degree plan and have the opportunity to complete their associates degree at AS for two additional years after completing high school at no cost. Additionally, Ames Community College has partnered with the University of Wyoming, allowing students for a onetoone credit transfer directly
into their construction management program. Tonight I am joined um by Titus Jenkins who participated in the construction management program um will graduate with his associates degree in in construction management this May and has some exciting news um to provide the board.
Okay. >> Hello everybody. My name is Titus Jenkins and I am in my last year in the PEK program, meaning I'm going to graduate with my associates degree in construction management next month. Before I talk to you about my amazing experience I have had with PEK and the
opportunities it has provided for me, I would like to say thank you to Dr. Pilch and the school board for allowing this program to help students like me. >> [snorts] >> PEK has done so much for me from introducing me to friends that are like family members to me to giving me a ton of job opportunities that takes an
amazing amount of stress off my shoulders. About 2 to three years ago, the PEK program provided me an internship with a company named Adoffson and Peterson Construction. Over the last few years, I have worked as an estimator, surveyor, and project
engineer intern for this company. I have learned so many different skills that I will be able to utilize throughout my career and I owe it all to the PEK program. Over the last year, I have worked as an intern at the UNCC College of Osteopath Osteopathic Medicine
project for Adoffson and Peterson Construction. This project has been one of the most rewarding and knowledgebuilding experiences I have ever had. I remember one day on this project I was with one of my mentors at the time and they needed to complete some surveying
tasks while laying out sidewalks. I had taken a surveying class through the PEK program. So I asked if I could help. Since then, that employee has been sent to a different job site and now I am in charge of all surveying and site layout on the project as a college intern. I
have found a passion for this work while working for Adoffson and Peterson Construction and I am very excited to continue. When I graduate in May, Adoffson and Peterson has already offered me a full-time position as one of their youngest project field
engineers they have ever employed. I got a little more. Not having to worry about the pressure of what am I what am I going to do after school is a huge privilege and I have PEK to thank for that. Thank you. >> Thank you Titus. Our second student
guest tonight is Sole Aafui. Um I practiced and so if I'm wrong correct me. Um she is a junior at Northridge High School and a student in our cyber security program at the District 6 CT center. Sole has served as a student board on the success foundation and is
in the process of earning her CompTIA A+ certificate by the end of this school year. She's also earned 12 concurrent enrollment credits through the cyber security program. >> Hi. Hi. My name is sorry. Hi, my name is Celeles and I'm currently a junior and I I'll be talking
about my experience over at CTE Center. I truly didn't know what I wanted to do when I got over. I just know it was a STEM school and overly I went even though it was a difficulty in transportation but I still wanted to do something in STEM and learning about the
CTE center has made me into a uh gave me a new perspective and what I want to do in the future. I knew I wanted to do something with uh engineering but learn getting the email of uh CTE center and seeing what different pathways they had gave me the opportunity to learn about
cyber security which currently I'm more interested in getting into which I plan to go to further my education in uh over at CTE currently I'm going to take uh two certificates that will get me into directly into the industry which is a
great opportunity I think every student should every incoming student uh high schooler should have the opportunity to get to because they have various um pathways that I think many of us complain that many math classes or
English classes that we're never going to use if we're on the road we're going to use all these equations but being over at CTE and actually being in a class where the you're learning it from a person from the industry and they tell you about the actual industry and some people over from the for example example
from the district uh IT department. They come over to our classes, they tell us about the industry. I think it's a great opportunity for us and learn just learn from them because they're the IT professionals and they're the experts. So, I think it it has been a truly a great experience for me and I would
recommend it to any incoming high schooler. And yeah, also being in CTE, you don't even though it's a difficulty in scheduling, you only get four classes at your main school, which most students might see as
a problem because many of us are in uh sports, different activities you do after school. I'm currently in soccer and basketball van Northridge and it was a difficult thing to schedule because I have practice every after school and
class ends at 3 uh 3:35 and being having able have a a great mentors and just opportunity of h having different teachers who understand and just give you the opportunity to be all to still be involved in your admin school. It has
been a great thing for me because I have a trouble in transportation. I use public transportation and they have allowed me to uh go out of class early and just make sure I I still on my task early. I I did finish all my cl my classwork and and still participate in
my man school. So I think anybody who's being recommended over at CTE, you should take they should take it because even though you might think there are some going to be some struggles, they will be but you can work with the teachers and different people who are
over ICT. And thank you. >> Those are amazing stories and there are so many more. And so next steps for this work. Um, you know, first I just want to thank the board and thank Dr. Pelch for funding this and I know when budgets are tight it's easy to say we could go a different way but but you're not and you
recognize the importance of this work and we want to make sure that career and college readiness is in the forefront of everything we do. You know that we've started this work now with Zello. So kindergarten through 12th grade we'll start having conversations about what they want to do um with their career whether it's collegebound or careerbound or both right you could go you can have
be career oriented and go to college for that so we'll also uh continue to share the opportunities available to the students and their families um we are busy right now with FASA nights and CASSA nights um the direct admission work making sure that we um remove the barriers for any student to attend
college in district 6 with our amazing partners um we have many information nights. We're happy with the numbers, but we just don't feel like we're there yet. So, we have many um parent information nights where parents still come to us and we still have many meetings. I was telling Dr. Pelch, we still go to meetings and we talk about
this. He say, "Oh, I had no idea." So, we are not there yet. So, we still have a lot of work to do around the communication. Um the you're seeing more and more our discovery lab, our mobile discovery lab. And so, that's been a great addition. We'll continue with that. and then also um con continue to
connect our career and college readiness work through Zello in our district. And with that, we'd love to to take any questions that you might have. >> Wow. Thank you very much for this presentation and thank you students for being here. I my board is lighting up so
if you don't mind answering a few questions. Uh Director Edmonds. >> Uh I first want to just take I know Anthony you thank the board and Dr. Pilch, but I want to extend a thank you to the community. Um because mil levy
override is 100% reason why we're able to do this to did you say it was $900,000 worth of college credits that we're able to provide for our students? I mean, we're in a we're in a district where 70% of our families are free and
reduced lunches. That means that they can barely afford to feed their families. And so, you think higher education is not something that's at the top of the list. And so the fact that we can make this available to our students to see a wonderful success story that Titus gets a job after high school. I
mean, and not just not just a job like entry level, go grab us coffee, but like in charge. I mean, that's that's because of that's because of our taxpayers. That's also because of the wonderful programs that are provided through the CTE center. And so I'm just grateful for
for that opportunity for our students. And um I thank you both for coming here and sharing your story. I know it's not always easy to talk to a bunch of strangers, but I appreciate you giving this perspective to know that there's even I I didn't know until I was on the board that cyber security was an option, but I mean everyone needs cyber
security. We're all walking around with something right now that we need that cyber security. So, thank you for being willing to do that as it becomes a bigger and bigger field and and uh yeah, again, just appreciate you being here. Director Lamos Garcia.
>> Yes. Um, I want to reiterate and thank you for the stories that you shared. It really gives us a view of what students go through and your experiences and they're so positive and I'm sure they're all not positive, right? But we appreciate you sharing the positive components. I'm a huge proponent for
concurrent enrollment. Um Anthony, not only did you talk about um the pathways, but helping the bar across, you know, barriers or figure out how to complete those barriers for our students. I think the other piece too for me is as a firstgen, it really gives our students
an opportunity to explore what college looks like even without not going into college, but gives them an idea of what that looks like in a place in a space that they feel comfortable to when they get to that next step or when they finish their two-year degree that it is easier to go and complete that at a
university because they already know. It's a it's a known quantity. It's a known experience. And so I think for me that's also valuable. Um, and then the next just the last piece that I just wanted to talk about is certainly having students be able to take classes at no
cost. That is just amazing. And I know I'm going to piggyback on what um, somebody one of my other directors said here is is the ability to be able to fund that in our district is just so amazing. So, um, reiterating thanking
the community as well for all that they do and that they care about the districts and our students is just amazing and and I'm just so proud to be a part of it. >> Thank you, Miss Venegas. >> Thank you, President Mash. I just wanted
to give a shout out to the students. You guys are so awesome. I know like being a student's like, "Oh my gosh, I'm dreading these classes." But it's really the help that we need, [clears throat] right? It's to further our higher education and further our work
experience. And so I go to a school that revolves around concurrent enrollment early college academy and we have the opportunity to earn our associates degree of liberal arts and newly implemented our associates degree of science
with Ames. And so we have Ames professors teaching us from the Ames campus. They come and teach us at ECA and students are able to earn 60 credits college credits, therefore earning their associates degree, saving tons of money cuz they're getting two-year degree.
And it's just an amazing opportunity every time I think about the privilege I have to be at Early College Academy. And it's such a privilege to take classes on the main campus as well. And learning how to be a college student while still
being in high school. They have those expectations and it just kind of prepares you for the real world. I put that in quotes because we are in the real world always, but in the grownup world. And so it's just an amazing opportunity to offer so many different
classes. And within ECA, we also offer degrees of designation. And within those degrees, they can it's kind of an add-on to your associates degree. So, you're still allowed to take those college classes and college courses with Ames. And that degree of designation is just a little blip of, oh, guess what? I'm also
a pro at this, by the way. And so, we have degrees of designation in psychology, sociology, Spanish, political science, I believe. And so, those students who wish to go into those specific fields can just get more experience. And once again, that's to
all no cost, which is amazing. We're saving so much money. These students, our students are getting so many fun opportunities for absolutely no cost, which I think is amazing. And it definitely lifts a huge burden off of not only students, but families as well.
So, thank you so much. >> Thank you, Director Kempo Spitzy. Steve, so I want to harp on on the cost savings because I think um just nationally there's a conversation that post-secary education is unaffordable and that there is no return on
investment and that student loans are so overwhelming that um nobody should get a four-year degree anymore. Um so to me concurrent enrollment is such a solution um to that narrative where you can get how many 60 credits that you're getting
um or the other you know we can get credits from all the other programs and not just that so that's for towards four-year degrees but the ind the industry certificates and so I know uh the Colorado Department of Education recently um merged their uh their office
of post-secary education with post-secary education and workforce readiness. So, their new acronym is PWR power. And so, the PAR's big three that they want high school students to come out with um in the state of Colorado um
are 12 college credits or an industry recognized credential or a work-based learning experience. And I feel like through CE, through our CTE, we are meeting our students uh our students needs and our our state's workforce
need, right? Um by meeting those big three. Um I am just kind of floored by the fact that we by 2028 we want to make sure 90% of our 6th through 12th graders have a a career pathway that they've
kind of decided on or or have expressed more interest in. I think that's a an amazing goal. Um, and I was also impressed to see that 229 uh in our last school year, we gave out 229 industry certificates. Um, so I think the
percentages out there for Colorado's workforce needs is that um about 70% by 2031, 70% of their workforce need will need some level of post-secary education, whether that's an industry certificate, an associates degree, etc.
or a four-year degree. Well, of that 70%, only about 30% will need a bachelor's degree or higher. Um, but I feel like we are well on our way. I love our um commitment to getting to 50% post-secary uh by 2030. Uh, so I did
have some questions. One was whether PEK funding was in jeopardy at all. I know Ascent and Tre are kind of gone, but is PEK safe? Um so far yes. Um there was a I was part of
a a subtask force um that reported to the main task force or reported to the joint budget committee and we submitted a lot of data as well as stories like Titus and stories um from our industry partners like AMP and Roach and um all the partners that help our PEK programs.
And so when that when that report went to the joint budget committee there was a lot of data and a lot of support behind PEK. there wasn't quite the same momentum around TRE or TREP. And so, um, we're not seeing, um, I'm not hearing and I'm not seeing the same kind of direction that they're going with PEK,
which is good. >> That's really good. >> Yeah. >> Um, and I wanted to give a special thank you to Titus for helping build our College of Osteopathic Medicine. I get to drive by it on my way to work every day and I'm like, it's so pretty and it's on time and on budget is what I
hear, you know, for a June a June uh, deadline there. Um, another question I had was there's a slide where it talked about guarantee transfer or or CTE pathway course credits. I just what's the difference between those?
>> Um, a guaranteed transfer course would be um anything that the state of Colorado um department of higher ed has deemed as something that if a student takes it at a community college will transfer for that same credit at a university or a college. And so those are examples of like college algebra,
English comp, um art appreciation is one. Um we're working through some foreign language stuff at some of our um comprehensive high schools currently to where the CTE side may not be direct transfers to a four-year, but they are the classes like like what Titus participated in like surveying, blueprint reading, um welding, um more
of those technical skills um at the college level. So >> got it. Um couple more things. one. Uh, I love that you want to be an engineer. So, and I'm not sure if I'm pronouncing your name right, but I'm so impressed that you researched which of our schools
has the STEM pathway, which of our high schools, and that you made the decision to go, it sounds like, further from home, and um, not the most conveniently located high school, but you chose your secondary school uh, based on your interest. So, so impressed to hear that.
and that now you're crossing crossing the city back east to do to take advantage of the Cyprius security pathway is is just admirable. Um so you're an impressive person. Um I thought I had one more and I lost it. So
I think I'm done. >> Miss Tovar just >> just to go back on the CTE center appreciation. And I just wanted to say thank you to the district of course for like making that a thing. But I've spent
two days at the Colorado State Capital now for like uh CASBY and things like that. Um talking about the school budgeting and like finance situation. And I just think it's really cool that you guys still prioritize like the CTE center and um different programs like that and like funding them because they
truly have made a impact on like at least the student body at Gly Central and obviously the entire student body. I really think the CTE center is contributing to the 90.1% graduation rate because I remember being in my fashion and design class my sophomore year and uh my friends like some of them
weren't too motivated to be at school and things like that and they would be ditching classes but as soon as the CTE center and that pathway was introduced and they found out they could do cosmetology or welding cyber security all these different things it's like something switched within them like it was like classes that um actually
interested them and it was no longer oh I have to go to school for just like my math class like I think it was so what you were saying about like oh when am I going to use this in my life and it's like I think the CTE center really gave our students some of our students like a reason to go to school and a purpose and
um it's going to help them outside of uh graduation too. So I just appreciate you guys continuing to prioritize um the CT center and funding that. So, thank you, >> Director Roi. >> I just wanted to express my appreciation
for uh you coming this evening and sharing your stories with us just because it's we hear about concurrent enrollment and we hear about the CTE and but to actually see how you have worked to make that work for you has been
really significant to put um kind of faces to that that program. So, thank you so much for your time and it's just exciting the things that you are working for for your future. >> Director Campos Fitzy, >> I remembered my last question.
[laughter] Um, so I was curious if you guys look at the the state puts out that talent pipeline report. I don't know if you're familiar with it. I'm sure you are. and they, you know, it's it lists the top 10 skills that employers are looking for
and and how that plays into the work, the district work. Curious. >> Um, so usually on those reports, the top 10 skills are usually those technical or the soft skills, if you will. Um, is that the skills you're referring to? Um,
the employability skills. Um, as a district, we're we're starting those early. Those are um in our discovery labs, formerly known as smart labs, um we're really doubling down on um having students through hands-on like technical skills. They are learning those collaboration, communication, teamwork
skills um as early as those those early middle um developing through their middle years. And then um really our CTSOs are studentled organizations at the high school level with like for example FFA, DECA, FCCLA. um all those organizations then continue to um build that foundation for students and in
leadership and then again in communication and professionalism um and we're growing. We're getting there. Um I'm excited to see where we're going especially as we're as we're moving um this transition into Discovery Lab and um really kind of putting a big umbrella
under under the that those essential skills um for our younger students. So >> well thank you all for coming. Thank you for sharing your personal experiences and I know that your word of mouth is worth so much. So, please tell your your
friends and your your younger siblings, you know, that these are the things they can look forward to as they as they come up in the in the district. Um, I was curious, do these numbers reflect our ECA students or is this kind of like concurrent enrollment outside of
>> Um, this is outside of ECA. Okay. Um, so the concurrent enrollment um what Mr. Dasmus and I I support and and Miss Schilling is the concurrent enrollment throughout the whole district and then uh Mr. Bill Fern does all of ECA. So these are all outside of ECA numbers. >> That's awesome. All right. Thank you so
much and best wishes in your last few weeks of school. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Um the next item on our agenda is our public participation. As a board, we welcome the comments of community members and we dedicate a portion of each business meeting to
provide an opportunity for the community community to present brief comments. All speakers are limited to two minutes for comments. Our board members typically will not respond, but we may ask our district staff to do so. All written testimony or handouts must be submitted to the board secretary, Miss Amy Lemon.
We ask all speakers and those in attendance to conduct themselves in a dignified and non-disruptive manner. Cheering, snapping, clapping, and other distractions are not permitted. Anyone who disturbs order may be required to sit down or to leave the boardroom. Speakers are responsible for their own speech and should refrain from profane
or obscene remarks. All remarks must be suitable for an audience that includes kindergarten through 12th grade students. This board is committed to providing a safe environment where all members of the school community are treated with dignity and respect, and we expect all speakers to exercise their speech rights responsibly.
This evening we have one speaker, Miss Nvea Kyle. Thank you for being here, Miss Kyle. And you will have two minutes. Okay. Good evening. My name is Huh. >> Get your >> Oh, thank you so much. Okay. Good
evening, board members. My name is Na Kyle. I a junior at Gley Central High School. I'm here to talk to you about advocating for our SAT and AP scores by returning our tests back to paper. I'm here because I know that Dr. Pilch is a widely um known and respected across a
superintendent across our state. You are all board members of an important district in the fastest growing city of Colorado. I know that you can inspire state leaders to join us in this call. I know my own struggles within testing on a device and I know many others are
struggling alongside me. As you know, our district scores have been dropping steadily since CO. As a student who has taken the PSAT twice a year on a school device, I have been surprised and disappointed in my scores. You are aware of the students detailings, the studies
detailing the negative effects of online reading. I know when I take the test on paper, I will always get a higher score than I do online. You may believe that the SAT to paper, getting the SAT to paper may be out of your control, but we can be advocating for our district and our students who take these tests
online. Imagine how the College Board increases its profits every year when it does not have m how when it does not have to print exams, ships exams to schools, ship them to scoring sites, and then ship them back to and then ship them back. Mr. Dr. Fasure explained to
me that for scoring one AP exam, they flew 2,000 teachers across the country, put them in hotels, and fed them three meals a day for a week. The scoring is now all done online. The College Board has passed none of these savings along to schools. They have they could at
least resume shipping copies of the questions to benefit students like those in District 6. Thank you for advocating for the students of our district. >> Thank you for being here, Miss Kyle. Thank you. Thank you for sharing. >> The next item on our agenda is our
consent agenda, which is an action item item and requires a motion. >> I move that the board of education of Gley Evans School District 6 approves items as presented on the consent agenda and authorizes the officers to sign any and all contracts. >> Second.
>> Thank you both. Is there any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, Miss Lemon, will you give us a vote, please? >> Director Zari, >> I. >> Director Bentley, >> I. >> Director Campus Footsie, >> I. >> Director Edmonds, >> I. >> Director Lemos Garcia, >> I. >> Director Mash, >> I. >> Director Roi,
>> I. >> Motion carries 70. >> And the last item on our agenda is to approve our employee benefits renewal package. And I see Miss Sponselor approaching. Thank you, Miss Sponsor.
President Mash, before we have it, it is a motion. So, let's do that. >> I move that the board of education agree school district 6 approves the insurance renewal as presented and authorized the officers to sign any and all contracts. >> Second. >> Thank you. Now, I believe we will have
some comments for Miss Sponselor. >> Thank you. Um, thank you for having me again tonight. As you know, the employee benefits package is a very important part of the compensation package for all of our employees. And so tonight, we are
asking you to approve this package. And of course, there is a significant financial component associated with it. So, we're asking you to approve it now so that our employees have time to enroll in the benefits in which we approve.
As a reminder, uh the benefits that we offer to our employees include medical insurance. We have nice health care, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, and then we have several voluntary options that employees can
choose if they would like. And then all kind of connected to all of these is the wellness program for our medical insurance. Um, we talked during negotiations that our initial renewal was extremely high and just not
feasible. And so, thanks to our partnership with Flood and Peterson, our insurance broker, they got our plan out to market right away and we have a much better viable option for our employees. Of course, it means change and people
don't like change, but in this case, we really had no other option. Our recommendation is to move to um company called UMR which is part of the United Healthcare Company and we will continue to have two options for employees to choose from. So we'll
have the high deductible plan with an HSA and a co-ay plan. In this case the provider network will actually be better. Um, before our plan only had providers in the state of Colorado and
now this network will be a nationwide network. So that should be an improvement for people especially for people that might have students in college, out of state, um, things like that. So a a big plus I think for this change.
Uh, the pharmacy coverage will change to Optim RX. Currently our pharmacy coverage is through CVS. So the overall cost for the medical insurance is about 17%. Our first renewal was 27%. So this is
definitely an improvement, but that is still a big number. So as I mentioned earlier in the work session, we'll be asking to transfer some of the fund balance into our health insurance fund. Hopefully, we won't have to tap into that, but at least it will be there if
we have claims that require us to spend that money. And in turn, we'll be passing on 8% of an increase to employees. It is important to know that we will continue to have one plan available to
employees at no cost. Um, and then continuing this year, the district will pay a portion of the plan if people have a spouse or family uh dependence on their plan.
Nice healthcare. I've been told that we have to renew with NICE. So, I know it's incredibly popular. I know that I have found it to be extremely beneficial p personally. um the rates will be the same as they currently are and we just we have
utilization that exceeds what NICE normally sees in some of their other clients. So I think that's a great option for our employees. A dental insurance currently our dental is with um Etna. So we'll be asking to
move to UMR United Healthcare. The rates will go up a little bit. I believe it's between $2 and $5 a month depending on if you have a family on the plan or not. And there will be no change to benefits. Uh I have had some questions about
providers. And so some providers, some current dentists that people are are seeing may not be in this plan. But the way our plan is set up, we will still reimburse the dental providers at 95% of
what is called usual and customary rates. So really for most people, they won't see any change. A lot of dentists that people see right now are not in the current network either. I think people are just starting to look online and say, "Oh, my dentist isn't on there."
Don't don't panic. It's fine. You probably won't even notice a difference. Vision insurance um will continue with IMEID. We have a rate guarantee for I believe two more years and so no changes there. No change to the cost or the
benefits. Life insurance we are currently with the Hartford and we will have a slight increase in rates but no change to the plan benefits. Voluntary benefits will go to United
Healthcare. Um people can choose to add additional life coverage if they would like. They can add accident coverage, hospital indemnity, and then a new option this year is critical illness that has cancer coverage. I've had some
people ask about having some option to have cancer coverage. And I think just in our world today, I think that's nice for employees to have as some peace of mind. And then last but not least, the wellness programs. Um, as part of our
negotiation with our healthcare companies, they have been big financial supporters of our wellness programs and that will continue with UMR United Healthcare. So that's always an important thing because we have a very robust work site wellness program as you
probably know and so we want to be able to continue to financially support that. And perhaps the most important thing benefits open enrollment that is coming up April 15th. So starting Wednesday
through the 29th and all benefit eligible employees have to enroll or wave coverage. And I'd also like to thank the team, my finance team that is doing an incredible job. This is a ton of work for them to not only have open
enrollment, but then to shift carriers at the same time. It's a tremendous amount of work. So, thank you especially to Miss Haidok and Michael Ringhand and Becky Hingle. Um, they are working incredibly hard to make this happen.
So, any questions I could answer? >> Thank you for that presentation. Uh, Director Bentley, >> um, just wanted to check on the new plan. Is your your stop loss the same? Is that the $250,000? Is there any opportunity to have to to lower that to
limit your >> changing that? We decided against that right now. We just we want to see our claims kind of level out and >> hopefully had an anomaly year. Yeah. >> Yeah. Um, also I know like when I switched over to this, um, education was paramount. The
the first year we had a bad year because almost all the prescriptions, uh, the doctors are encouraged to prescribe name brand prescriptions and they're very expensive when there's also usually a lot of generic brands >> and that was our biggest expense was was
prescriptions. So, um I know that my carrier [clears throat] had options where they'd come out and actually educate and hold classes and stuff. So, hopefully, uh I'm sure you guys are doing that, but if you know employees are listening, that that's paramount to to try to check your options. And I mean, this is a crippling giant expense
for everybody in the world, um >> the district and businesses and and you know, employees included. So, um there's just a lot of opportunities to take some of that money out of the insurance company's pockets and bigiesy's pockets and keep it in our own. So,
>> right, >> um just got to be smart about it. >> We do have um numerous opportunities to educate our employees along the way and I think our team does a fantastic job. If if we don't know the answer, then we know exactly who we need to reach out to
to get support. Um, we always want to try to encourage, you know, the lower cost options, generics, or in some cases just where you might need to go to have an X-ray or something like that. Um, different different providers have
different rates and it can vary significantly. So, um, part of the insurance company's plan is to continue with that education. >> I'm not seeing any other questions. I would also like to echo your thanks to your team. I know this is a huge
undertaking when especially when changing you're getting everyone enrolled, educated and then also budget considerations and all of that. So, thank you very much. Thanks for all your hard work. Thank you. >> And I think we will take a vote now. >> Director Zari >> I.
>> Director Bentley >> I. >> Director Campos Spitzy >> I. >> Director Edmonds >> I. >> Director Lamos Garcia >> I. >> Director Mash >> I. Director Roi >> I. >> Motion carries 70. >> Thank you all for joining us this evening. Have a good week. We'll see you
in two weeks. >> This meeting is adjourned. [music] >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [bell] [music] >> Heat.
[music] [music] Hey, Heat. [music] [bell] >> [music] [music] [music]