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Across the Board
January 23, 2024
Regular Meeting
The Regular Meeting of the DCSD Board of Education was called to order at 5:00 p.m. The meeting was broadcast live through the DCSDK12 YouTube Channel and on Comcast Channel 54 (also recorded and archived here).
The following are some highlights from the meeting.
DCSD Spotlight
Superintendent Updates
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DCSD employees recently received pay increases that were made possible thanks to our community who said yes to 5A. Per the Board Resolution from August, the pay raises were made retroactive back to the start of the school year. We were so happy to see this come to fruition and for our staff to receive the compensation increases they so greatly deserve!
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DCSD staff now have access to the DCSD Perks program where they can receive discounts on a variety of goods and services across our community. Thank you to our Staff Wellness Department for making this possible.
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All across the school district our feeder areas are amping up to support our Wish Week kids. Assemblies, movie nights, dances, sporting events, and a full array of incredibly unique and fun events have been purposefully planned to bring entire feeder areas together for a common cause to make wishes come true for some incredibly special children.
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DCSD saw a 90.8% graduation rate in the 2022-2023 school year – one of the highest rates in the Front Range.
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Cimarron Middle School recently won the 8th grade girls district basketball championship and Mountain Ridge Middle School won the 7th grade girls tournament.
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Kindergarten registration is open for the 2023-2024 school year. Learn more and enroll at www.dcsdk12.org/Kindergarten.
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The Foundation for Douglas County Schools hostedis hosting its annual mid-year Lend A Hand School supply drive for our teachers. This time of year our classroom teachers need a refresh of commonly used supplies such as Kleenex, markers, glue sticks and more. Donate to the drive at any Douglas County Library or Douglas County Office Depot through Friday, January 26.
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Superintendent Kane had the privilege of attending the Continental League Musical Festival on January 16 at Boettcher Hall in Denver. As usual it was incredible. Our students are so talented!
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On January 24, Chaparral High School hosted a parent event called “The Dangerous Truth About Today’s Marijuana” featuring author Laura Stack.
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DCSD’s next Parent University takes place on Wednesday, January 31 at 5:30 pm. The topic will be how students can best leverage their school counselor. The session takes place online and will be led by our very own Dr. Kelli Smith, Director of Health, Wellness and Prevention and DCSD Lead Counselors Renee Cawley and Kambi Crabb.
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The Douglas County Youth Initiative is accepting nominations for Outstanding Youth Award. This recognizes teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19 who have overcome personal adversity and created positive change in their lives. The Youth Awards focus on teenagers who have triumphed over great odds and serve as inspirations and role models. If you know young people who would be good candidates for the Youth Awards, please help identify them by completing the nomination form.
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Our very own Diane Shuck-Grey, the Assistant Principal and Activities and Athletics Director at Douglas County High School was recently spotlighted in an article on the CHSAA website.
Public Comment
Student Advisory Group (SAG) Co-President Jake Oliver from ThunderRidge High School provided an update from the SAG. The SAG discussed the issue of whether DCSD should join litigation against social media companies. SAG suggested that the Board consider developing tools for students on how to interact with social media platforms in a healthy manner. Mark Blair, Chief Technology Officer joined the SAG as the liaison/advisor from the Superintendent’s Cabinet. SAG is working towards its mid-year update to the Board of Education.
Public commenters spoke on topics including: the DCSD Educational Equity policy, the Board Director vacancy, Sterling Ranch charter school RFP, and potential social media litigation.
Approval of MOU between Leman and DCSD regarding SPED services at Leman Bayou Gulch Campus
This item was pulled off the consent agenda for further discussion. Board directors asked a variety of questions about the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Leman School of Excellence and DCSD regarding special education services to be provided at the Leman Bayou Gulch Campus (this campus is currently under construction). A motion to approve the MOU between Leman and DCSD regarding special education services at the Leman Bayou Gulch Campus passed 6-0.
Selection of Director to Fill Board of Education Director District B Vacancy
The Board discussed the three finalists for the Board of Education Director District B vacancy. Finalists were interviewed during a special meeting prior to the regular meeting. The Board thanked the many community members who provided feedback about the finalists. The Board voted on each candidate and ended up with a tie vote between Tim Moore and Sandra Brownrigg.
Because the Board remained in a tie vote, a special meeting will be scheduled where the Board President will make an appointment.
Newly Selected School Board Director - Oath of Office
This agenda item did not take place due to the tie vote (see above).
Charter RFP Proposal
Superintendent Kane discussed the challenges associated with not passing the Bond (5B) in November 2023. Click here to view the presentation slides.
Next steps include continuing to educate the community about the need; using reserves and available resources for emergency capital needs; and being unable to address overcrowding with new neighborhood schools.
There will be a need to go back to voters again to ask for a Bond at some point. Capital needs and significant capital maintenance needs must be paid via a Bond. These needs continue to increase and will only become more costly to make over time.
Superintendent Kane explained that the Board has a few strategic options for building new schools in quickly growing neighborhoods (specifically the Sterling Ranch/Solstice developments). One option would be to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to build a charter school. Issuing an RFP would be non-binding, meaning it could be withdrawn by the school district at any time. Issuing an RFP versus waiting for charter school applications to come in would allow DCSD to dictate school location and require the school to show demand specifically from the Sterling Ranch and Solstice neighborhoods versus surrounding areas. The other option for building new schools would be to place a Bond on the ballot for an upcoming election.
A motion to approve the issuance of an RFP to call for qualified charter schools to submit a proposal to build a new school to serve the Sterling Ranch/Solstice area was defeated on a 3-3 vote.
Revised FY 2023-2024 Financial Plan and Budget and Budget Resolutions
Chief Financial Officer Jana Schleusner provided an overview of the school district’s revised fiscal year 2023-2024 Financial Plan and Budget and Budget Resolutions. Click here to view the presentation slides.
A motion to approve an Appropriation Resolution and the Resolution Authorizing the Use of a Portion of Beginning Fund Balance as Authorized by Colorado Statutes passed 6-0.
Social Media Litigation Discussion
Lawsuits have been brought by over 700 school districts across the country against social media companies. This is in response to the negative impact social media has on the mental health of students. District staff recommended that DCSD join in this national effort.
Assistant Superintendent Danny Winsor and Cimarron Middle School Principal Chris Zimmerman provided perspectives from school leaders regarding challenges they face regarding student use of social media. Click here to view the presentation slides. The Board also heard from attorneys from Wagstaff & Cartmell who would represent DCSD on a contingency basis should DCSD decide to move forward with litigation.
A motion to authorize the Superintendent and her designees to take the action necessary for DCSD to join the lawsuit against social media companies was passed on a 6-0 vote.
Adjournment
At 11:44 p.m. a motion to adjourn the regular meeting passed 6-0.
Upcoming Meeting
The next study session of the DCSD Board of Education is scheduled for Tuesday, February 13 at 5:00 p.m. The meeting will take place at the DCSD administration building, 620 Wilcox Street in Castle Rock, and will be available to view on the DCSDK12 YouTube Channel and will be broadcast on Comcast Channel 54.