Lewis Palmer School District 38 Articles

• Mid-year budget
• Position adjustment and creation
• Bond counsel selected
• Board self-evaluation and election
• Policy update
• Highlights

By Jackie Burhans

The Monument Academy (MA) board met on Jan. 15 to adjust its mid-year budget, modify its marketing position, select a bond counsel, discuss its self-evaluation and election process, and update a policy on curriculum evaluation.

Mid-year budget

Executive Director Collin Vinchattle apologized on behalf of Finance Director Laura Polen, who couldn’t attend due to illness. Since the last presentation, there have only been a couple of changes, he said. They met with Director of Preschool Kirsti Hays to narrow the budget, lowering the salary they had budgeted for an additional stipend. They also modified the allocation of costs for stipends and staffing changes between the middle and high schools. The bottom line went from a deficit of $180,000 to a deficit of $130,000.

The board unanimously approved resolutions on the mid-year budget appropriation, use of beginning funds balance, fund balance change, and interfund borrowing for FY25-26.

Position adjustment and creation

Vinchattle said MA had reviewed its Marketing and Communications position and felt it was tough to do both jobs at the same time, so they are splitting the role into two new part-time positions for communications and marketing, to achieve better results in this high-demand time. He noted that MA has five to six events in January. The board unanimously approved the change.

Bond counsel selected

Vinchattle introduced an engagement letter for Casey Parrot LLC, a law firm that has been asked to serve as bond counsel to the Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority (CECFA) in connection with the issuance of bonds for Monument Academy during the refinance of its 2019 East Campus bonds. He said the engagement letter was with Hester Parrot and that MA had already begun working with her in good faith. He noted that the document was reviewed by MA’s legal counsel and that Tim Farmer would be taking on the bond refinance work and this was a standard agreement.

President Ryan Graham asked if Chief Financial Officer Glenn Gustafson had reviewed it. Vinchattle said Gustafson had been on vacation and hadn’t seen it yet. Graham noted that Vinchattle, Polen, and Farmer had reviewed it, and it looked like boilerplate template language, so he had no concerns but wanted Gustafson to have a chance to look at it. He noted that the fees and expenses were contingent on bond funding.

The board unanimously approved the engagement letter.

Board self-evaluation and election

Graham said each board member should have received a self-evaluation form from Director of People Operations Krista Pelley. The idea is that the board will review the results at the work session on Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m. Vinchattle asked that board members complete and return the form on Feb. 20, so Pelley has time to put it into a presentation.

Vice President Lindsay Clinton reviewed the board election process, noting that two positions would be open as both Graham’s and board member Matt Ross’ terms would end on June 30, 2026. Graham is term-limited and will not be on the ballot. The application process runs from Feb. 1 to March 31.

Applicants will have the opportunity to meet with one or two board members to ask about the position, confirm their intent to run, and attend as many board meetings as possible. They will get information about the time commitment and see if it is a fit. If there are more than two applicants, the board will schedule a community Q&A, and there will be a formal five-day election in the last week of April. Winners will be announced in May and sworn in at the June board meetings. There will be a background check and board training. The three-year board terms begin on July 1.

Policy update

Board member Jilinda Dygert introduced the IJ-MA Selection of Instructional Material Textbook and Policies Procedure and its related exhibit. She explained that the policy goes through the process of how primary instructional material and textbooks are reviewed and approved. The Governance Committee wanted to tweak it and add community feedback. One key area was the procedure for out-of-cycle needs, so that when a publisher releases a new edition, the administration may conduct an abbreviated review to see if there are substantive changes. Non-substantive changes can be approved without board approval. Dygert said the policy clarified that any change in curriculum needs to be communicated to parents.

IJ-MA(E) is the related exhibit to the above policy. Dygert said the exhibit is the form that the curriculum committee uses to evaluate curriculum, and only editorial changes had been made.

The board unanimously approved both the policy and its exhibit. Board policies can be found at https://tinyurl.com/ma-policies.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

• Executive Director. Vinchattle noted the impact of snow on finals, projects, and concerts. NWEA testing was going well and would be input into bond refinancing reports. High school and elementary information nights were rescheduled, and there would be kindergarten, homeschool, preschool, and high performance program nights to come.
• Finance Director. Vinchattle reported on behalf of Polen that November financials represent 41.55% of the budget, and the total loss was $155,000 because of $708,000 in deficit spending. He reviewed general, facility, foundation, and student activity fund balances. MA continues to work on capital construction of the track and field area, refinancing the 2019 bonds for the East Campus and will be mailing W2s and 1099s shortly.
• Curriculum East. Clinton reported the committee met on Jan. 8 to review the draft proposal for field trips and to review progress on curriculum mapping.
• Student Accountability and Advisory Committee (SAAC) West. Clinton reported 128 survey respondents, not enough to get participation rewards. Results were being reviewed, she said.
• SAAC East. Dygert reported that the survey was released in December with the most effort to advertise it, but it did not meet the participation threshold. She said the committee would meet Jan. 26 to review results.
• Resources and Development. Clinton said that gala tickets were on sale and the theme is a “Going All In for MA” casino night.

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The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next regular board meeting will be on Feb. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. The agenda and packet are available at tinyurl.com/ma-boarddocs.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Monument Academy articles

• Monument Academy School Board, Jan. 15 – Board passes mid-year budget, selects bond counsel (2/4/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Dec. 11 – MA retains BB- credit rating (1/1/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Nov. 13 – Board hears audit, marketing updates (12/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Oct. 16 and 23 – Board appropriates ERTC funds (10/30/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Sept. 11 – Board selects marketing firm, transfers funds (10/2/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 14 and 25 – Board moves forward on facility plans, hears marketing proposal (9/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, July 17 – Board prioritizes marketing plan, passes policy on religious opt-outs (8/1/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, June 12, 27 – Board passes sports fairness policy, joins in suit against CHSAA (7/3/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, May 8, 9 and 29 – Board adjusts budget for low enrollment, anticipates tax credit revenue (6/7/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, April 10 and 24 – Proposed high school dress code draws concerns (5/3/2025)

• No change to credit rating
• CRP contract proposal
• Capturing Kids Hearts presentation
• Board recognizes high school club
• Policy updates
• Highlights

By Jackie Burhans

The Monument Academy (MA) board met on Dec. 11 and heard an update on its S&P credit rating, approved a contract for its Track & Field project, heard a presentation on Capturing Kids Hearts (CKH), recognized a high school club, and updated policies.

No change to credit rating

Finance Director Laura Polen reported that she had heard back from Standard & Poor’s (S&P) on the school’s credit rating and took that information back to MA’s bond counsel. She said the BB- rating was due, in part, to the lack of refinancing but that MA had been waiting to refinance until it got its new credit rating, describing it as a chicken-and-egg situation. MA’s enrollment numbers also played a factor in keeping the bond rating at BB-, she said. S&P describes BB- as being below investment grade, in the speculative category, noting that it is less vulnerable in the near term than lower-rated entities but faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse conditions (see https://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/credit-ratings/about/understanding-credit-ratings). Credit ratings can impact borrowing costs and limit the investor base and the strictness of bond covenants.

In the Finance Committee meeting report, board member Craig Carle said that in talking to other charter schools, a BB- rating was becoming common in their growth phase. He said that MA doesn’t want to lose steam of its momentum. Carle said that there are a lot of good, positive things happening, and MA is making strong progress.

Board President Ryan Graham said that MA will be refinancing its 2019 bonds and should pull the trigger in the next 30 to 60 days if not sooner. He also said MA would be breaking ground soon on its new Track & Field.

CRP contract proposal

Graham introduced RJ LaForge of Wember Inc. as the owner’s representative, while Brian Risley of CRP Architects would be the architect for the new Track & Field. Graham reminded the board that it had previously approved a schematic design. LaForge said he was seeking approval of a contract to take the design into the construction phase and was available to answer questions about funding.

Polen said the funds for the contract would come from the refinancing. Graham said that the board had some revisions that were brought back to the committee that would be implemented and that the project would be done in two tiers. The first tier would include the track, field, and a press box that meets CHSAA criteria. The second tier would work on a capital campaign to raise money for bleachers and lights.

The board voted unanimously to approve the contract with CRP for the final design.

Capturing Kids Hearts presentation

Mark McKinney, senior leadership strategist from CKH, gave a presentation about the program and how it aligns with Monument Academy. CKH is a program used at MA and D38 schools that equips teachers, coaches, administrators, and district leaders to improve school culture and academic performance. McKinney said that everything CKH teaches is in the context of leadership, and MA wants to build leaders, not followers.

CKH uses the initialism EXCEL to describe its framework: E for Engage, X for eXplore; C for Communicate, E for Empower, and L for Launch. McKinney said public schools with CKH experienced 17% more connection and 40% growth as well as a 22% reduction in discipline referrals and 18% higher teacher retention rate than the national average. McKinney said that these statistics came from surveys at the beginning and middle of the school year. Surveys go to teachers, staff, students, and families.

McKinney explained that CKH’s discipline model asks: What are you doing? What are you supposed to be doing, and what are you doing about it? MA’s vision statement talks about valuing security, character, connection, growth, and excellence, all of which fall in line with CKH, he said. A lot of programs tell teachers you need to have good relationships with your students—CKH gives specific tools, McKinney noted.

Vinchattle said CKH was brought to MA before he started and is fully implemented at the elementary and middle school levels. MA’s middle school was named CKH national showcase school in 2025. Vinchattle said that implementation was underway at the high school. Graham asked if there was board training, saying he’d like to sit through a staff presentation.Note: For more information, see www.capturingkidshearts.com.

Board recognizes high school club

Vice President Lindsay Clinton said that in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, a group of high school students at MA began forming a Turning Point USA Club America chapter. They were the first in D38 to complete the process and sponsored a 5K that had 250 participants to honor Kirk, she said. Club America’s program educates young people about the importance of limited governments, free markets, and freedom, she said, encouraging students to be leaders in their communities. Clinton said this student-led club meets after school and includes students from eighth to 12th grade. She said the board wanted to honor the group of students and thank their teacher supervisor.

Clinton called up the students in attendance and presented them each with certificates and a group photo. The students included Joshua Deniston, Grace Dunston, Serena Krell, Kainoa Smith, and Aneliese Verones.

Policy updates

The board tabled policy IJ-MA Selection of Instruction Materials and Textbook Policy and Procedures at its related exhibit after hearing from Vinchattle that there was confusion during the feedback period. Reviewers wanted a deeper discussion on pacing and the process of adopting a new textbook edition, he said. The board will discuss this policy at its January meeting.

The board unanimously approved the following policy updates as described by Vinchattle:

• GBB-MA Staff Involvement in Decision-Making describes the system in place for teachers to communicate during the decision-making process stated in plain terms.
• GCBA-MA Instructional Staff Contracts/Compensation/Salary Schedules speaks to how MA approaches contracts, compensations, and salary schedules. Vinchattle said that MA does not have a true salary schedule.
• GCBC-MA Professional Staff Supplementary Pay Plans/Overtime describes how MA approaches overtime for hourly and salary staff. MA primarily uses stipends, a different approach than D38 uses for coaches.
• GCBD-MA Professional Staff Fringe Benefits speaks to the benefits MA provides its staff, which is a little different than D38. Some benefits are mandated by the state, Vinchattle noted.
• GCBDA-MA Licensed Staff Meet and Confer Process, which states that MA does not meet and confer, because it doesn’t have a union.

Note: Board policies can be found at https://tinyurl.com/ma-policies.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

• Executive director. Vinchattle noted that Intent to Return forms had been sent to families asking that they fill them out, because it helps with the planning process. Enrollment was underway, he said, with some full elementary grades on a waitlist. He reported on holiday goings-on, including craft fairs, concerts, and spirit week.
• Finance Director Polen reviewed the October financials, noting that they represented 33% of the school year. She noted that there were large dollar expenditures, which were purposeful deficit spending, which would use its Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) funds, including preconstruction expenses that would be recouped when MA refinances its East Campus bonds, staff bonuses, and revenue losses due to enrollment differences from the budgeted amount. On a year-to-date basis, MA is at a net loss of $591,000 but after adjusting for the ERTC fund usage, it is at $89,400 in net income overall.
• Student Accountability and Advisory Committee (SAAC) West. Clinton said the school survey is live until Jan. 12, and MA is seeking responses from West Campus families. There will be rewards by grade level for 50% or higher participation, she noted.
• Resources and Development. Clinton said save-the-date cards for MA’s annual fundraising gala went home, and ticket sales will open in January. She thanked Operations Manager Jake Dicus for his assistance in applying to the Charter School Facility Assistance Program (CSFAP) through the Colorado Department of Education.
• Pre-School Handbook and tuition. Director Kristy Hayes said the handbook added a visitor’s policy in line with the elementary school and added information about the Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program. She also proposed a small increase in monthly tuition of $100 per month. She noted that families who qualified for 15 or 30 hours of free UPK tuition would not have to pay unless they exceeded those hours. Families signing up for the Friday enrichment program would see an increase from $50 to $100 per month. The board unanimously approved the increase in tuition.
• Mid-year budget. Polen provided an initial presentation showing a $40 increase in per-pupil revenue and a decrease of 29 in enrollment projections. The income was also adjusted for instructional fees, donations, the mill levy override (MLO), payments for Walden, and the state CSFAP grant, as well as staff bonuses. She transferred $15,000 to the preschool fund and added interest from UMB bank. The net income will be $144,000 less than the original budget. Expense changes include bonuses, staffing changes, $75,000 for the Inkyma marketing contract for the year, stipends for after-school clubs, class trips, West Campus building repair, back taxes, modulars, etc. The bottom line shows $184,000 in deficit spending, which is less than the $580,000 projected. Polen said she would bring this budget back for approval at the January meeting

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The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next regular board meeting will be on Jan. 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. The agenda and packet are available at tinyurl.com/ma-boarddocs.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Monument Academy articles

• Monument Academy School Board, Jan. 15 – Board passes mid-year budget, selects bond counsel (2/4/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Dec. 11 – MA retains BB- credit rating (1/1/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Nov. 13 – Board hears audit, marketing updates (12/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Oct. 16 and 23 – Board appropriates ERTC funds (10/30/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Sept. 11 – Board selects marketing firm, transfers funds (10/2/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 14 and 25 – Board moves forward on facility plans, hears marketing proposal (9/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, July 17 – Board prioritizes marketing plan, passes policy on religious opt-outs (8/1/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, June 12, 27 – Board passes sports fairness policy, joins in suit against CHSAA (7/3/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, May 8, 9 and 29 – Board adjusts budget for low enrollment, anticipates tax credit revenue (6/7/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, April 10 and 24 – Proposed high school dress code draws concerns (5/3/2025)

• Financial audit
• Update on marketing
• PTOs spotlighted
• Policy updates
• Highlights

By Jackie Burhans

The Monument Academy (MA) School Board met on Nov. 13 to hear about its financial audit and a marketing update, spotlight its Parent Teacher Organizations (PTO), and revise policies.

Financial audit

Finance Director Laura Polen introduced Jessie Seibert, an audit manager with Hoelting & Co., who reviewed MA’s 2024-25 fiscal year audit. Seibert said that the firm has given MA an unmodified or clean opinion again this year. She noted that the work had begun in August with Polen and interim Chief Financial Officer Glenn Gustafson providing the necessary items, which ensured a smooth process. The audit has two formats: government-wide and fund statements, which include capital assets and long-term debt, as well as statements reflecting the day-to-day operations of the school.

Seibert noted that the report compares the net position year on year, highlighting an increase in cash investments of $2.1 million and an increase in capital assets. She also noted a $32 million loan balance and $937,000 paid in debt services. The school’s share of $14.9 million unfunded Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) liability had decreased by $1.3 million, she said. Overall, there was a $3.1 million increase in MA’s net position.

A prior period adjustment of $481,250 for unreported capital assets net of depreciation (the value of a company’s long-term tangible assets after subtracting accumulated depreciation) and $550,000 unreported debt was made related to the new building. MA also implemented GASB 101 as required and restated its absence liability based on what was earned by employees. These changes affected the government-wide statements rather than the budget or day-to-day finances.

Looking at the General Fund balance, Seifert said that the percentage of fund balance to expenditures went from 22% to 39%, resulting in an increase in days of cash on hand from 80 to 140. She noted that charter schools generally maintained 90 to 120 days cash on hand. Revenue increased by 14% due to donations and increased state per pupil revenue, and expenses increased by 12% leading to $2.9 million increase in the fund balance, which was larger than the budgeted increase.

Seibert ended by saying that Hoelting had found no internal control deficiencies again this year.

Update on marketing

Executive Director Collin Vinchattle updated the board on marketing projects by Inkyma Marketing, the firm they contracted with in September 2025. He noted that Inkyma was close to refreshing the website with a new home page, pages for each campus, and a revamped enrollment page. There will also be a rewards and recognition section for teachers and students. There are also Google ads, Facebook, and Instagram accounts ready to launch, he said.

Vinchattle said that videographers would be on campus in December for parent testimonials and a day at MA. Inkyma is looking to place ads with QR codes leading to a landing page at ACTV Digital Marketing Network (see http://home.activ.digital) locations such as doctors’ offices. MA will also send automated emails to follow up on school tours and is in discussions on creating student-led TikTok and YouTube shorts.

The launch of the new marketing efforts is slated for late November to early December.

PTOs spotlighted

Board President Ryan Graham spotlighted the East and West Campus Parent-Teacher Organizations (PTOs), whose commitment and energy have had a significant impact on school culture. The PTOs create memorable experiences and build stronger connections among families, staff, and students, he said. He recognized Andrea Howard, Kristy Davis, Sarah Dorman, Jessica Paulucci, Melody Pautzke, Susanne Hoffman, Mary Varma, and Katie Campbell.

West Campus PTO President Howard thanked the board for inviting them, saying the mission of the PTO is to support teachers, enrich student experience, and strengthen the school community. She noted that the Lynx on the Run event had achieved 190% of its goal. She thanked the volunteers, event chairs, generous donors, and the supportive and encouraging administration, saying that PTO officers are grateful to be part of the team.

Pautzke said that East Campus PTO officers were unable to attend and noted that the West Campus PTO has been very collaborative. She said it was fun to do homecoming together with West Campus and she was excited for the monthly teacher meals and the upcoming Christmas party. Pautzke said she was grateful to the board and parents.

Policy updates

The board heard a first reading of policy IJ Selection of Instructional Materials Policy and Procedures, which will be brought back in December for approval. Board member Jilinda Dygert explained that the changes clarified the curriculum committee’s intent to communicate changes or additions to primary curriculum. The policy includes the newly created educational philosophy to be used to evaluate curriculum. Curriculum is approved on a six-year cycle, and any updates must be reviewed, she said. Director of Academics Tina Leone provided input to help simplify the rubric used to score the curriculum, which should be added as an exhibit to this policy, Dygert said.

The board unanimously approved the following policy updates, which were reviewed by MA’s legal counsel:

• 1514A MA Board Code of Conduct was renamed to BC-MA with an updated reference to Colorado Revised Statute, more specific language on offenses of misconduct, a new area specifying consequences for failure to disclose misconduct, and additional points of contact.
• 1514B MA Board of Directors New Members Election Process was renamed BDE-MA and modified to make the voting process more specific on which votes count and what to do if there is a violation. Record retention was extended to three to seven years, and the point of contact was updated to the executive director.
• 1522 Donating to Monument Academy was changed to DDF-MA with updated language honoring donors’ wishes so long as they are legal and fit with MA’s direction, or giving the option to withdraw the donation or direct it elsewhere. The policy language was updated as to tax receipts, specifying that donors are responsible for tax information on their end.
• 1525 State Assessment Refusal Policy was changed to ISA-MA, updating the timeline to submit the opt-out form and adding language to counsel parents about a new state law that penalizes MA if a parent opts out after testing has started.
• 1525 State Assessments Administrative was changed to CSA-MA, updating the timeline to publish the assessment calendar and communicate to parents. It was also updated to reflect the title of executive director.

The board unanimously voted to rescind policy 1524 Longevity Bonus Pay, noting that the amounts don’t make a huge difference, and the administration is looking for other avenues to support teachers and bring in a better approach to retention. Graham noted that the policy hadn’t been used in years and affirmed that this decision simply cleaned up the policies and would not have a negative impact on staff.

Note: Board policies can be found at https://tinyurl.com/ma-policies.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

• Executive Director. Vinchattle reported on the well-attended Trunk and Treat event put on by the PTO and lauded the boys’ cross-country team for its state championship. He also noted the veterans’ breakfast and assemblies at both campuses. Upcoming events included “Get the Scoop” with ice cream and tours for families new to MA and “Let’s Taco ‘bout High School” with dinner and presentations to seventh- and eighth-graders on internships, leadership opportunities, clubs, athletics, and academic programming for college credits such as Advanced Placement (AP) classes.
• Finance Director Polen reviewed the September financials by school and fund, which showed a loss of $236,246 for the high school but a net income of $98,400 across all schools. She said that MA had a rating call with S&P on Nov. 3 that went well and was awaiting results. The audit went well and had few clarifying journal entries. There have been several design and pricing meetings on the new track and field, and she is working with principals on the mid-year budget, Polen said.
• Curriculum. Vice President Lindsay Clinton reported that Curriculum East reviewed campus field trips. The big project, she said, was a communication plan in five phases over a year to guide teachers toward a full implementation of core knowledge. This relates to policy IJ-MA which was given a first reading.
• Student Accountability and Advisory Committee (SAAC) West. Clinton said the committee received a presentation on marketing and communications from Kendra Kuhlman and reviewed questions for the mid-year survey to be sent out on Dec. 5 with a deadline of Jan. 5. She noted there would be rewards for classes with more than 50% participation, such as a free dress day. Clinton also noted that MA hosted the Nov. 18 meeting of D38’s Parent and Community Advisory Committee (PCAC) at the west campus.
• SAAC East. Dygert reported that the committee heard about the hiring process from Director of People Operations Krista Pelley. The committee reviewed a handout on how to make survey questions statistically relevant in anticipation of the upcoming mid-year survey. It also heard from Samantha Caputo on Gifted and Talented (GT) programs and funding, including a comparison with D38’s programs.

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The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next regular board meeting will be on Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. The agenda and packet are available at tinyurl.com/ma-boarddocs.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Monument Academy articles

• Monument Academy School Board, Jan. 15 – Board passes mid-year budget, selects bond counsel (2/4/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Dec. 11 – MA retains BB- credit rating (1/1/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Nov. 13 – Board hears audit, marketing updates (12/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Oct. 16 and 23 – Board appropriates ERTC funds (10/30/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Sept. 11 – Board selects marketing firm, transfers funds (10/2/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 14 and 25 – Board moves forward on facility plans, hears marketing proposal (9/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, July 17 – Board prioritizes marketing plan, passes policy on religious opt-outs (8/1/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, June 12, 27 – Board passes sports fairness policy, joins in suit against CHSAA (7/3/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, May 8, 9 and 29 – Board adjusts budget for low enrollment, anticipates tax credit revenue (6/7/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, April 10 and 24 – Proposed high school dress code draws concerns (5/3/2025)

• Finance director recognized
• Funds appropriated for academic proposal
• Athletic proposal detailed
• Staff bonus approved
• October Count report
• Policy updates
• Highlights

By Jackie Burhans

The Monument Academy (MA) School Board met twice in October to appropriate money from the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) funds it received, spotlight Finance Director Laura Polen, hear the October Count report, and revise policies.

Finance director recognized

Board President Ryan Graham recognized Polen, who recently achieved her Certified Administrator of School Finance and Operations from the Association for School Business Officials International. The certification is granted to highly qualified individuals and has multiple requirements, from work experience to education, as well as a comprehensive exam that tests competency in business management topics and a commitment to high ethical standards. Recipients commit to ongoing professional development and recertification every three years. Graham congratulated Polen on this significant accomplishment.

Funds appropriated for academic proposal

MA received a total of $2.2 million in non-recurring ERTC funds available to certain employers for payroll taxes paid during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although public schools were not included since they are governmental entities, MA was eligible through its building corporations, which are 501(c)(3) organizations.

At its Oct. 16 meeting, the board unanimously approved appropriating ERTC funds for the academic proposal that had been previously presented at a special meeting on Aug. 25 with financial costs submitted later.

The academic proposal totaled $19,650 and included:

• Class trips to help attract and retain middle and high school students – $6,000
• Stipends for 10 after-school clubs to attract and retain students – $10,000
• Digital message board for communications, ads, and events – $3,000
• High school information day for eighth-grade students – $650

Athletic proposal detailed

The athletic proposal generated additional questions at the Oct. 16 meeting, and the decision was postponed until the Oct. 23 special meeting. Questions covered the possible inclusion of a 15-person bus, the cost of uniforms and helmets, facility rental costs, coaches’ stipends, as well as a discussion of which sports programs might be added.

Executive Director Collin Vinchattle said the team had drilled down into the data and refined the proposal with survey data, program information, and a budget. Athletics are expensive, he said, but are important to families and students. Although MA is more of an arts school, athletics make a difference, he said.

Athletic Director Lannie Vance summarized the survey, which received 152 responses on four questions: student grade level, current sports involvement, desired sports to add, and influence on family decisions to stay at MA. For the 73 families with students in eighth grade or higher, 62% indicated adding athletics would make at least a slight difference in their decision.

The top high school sports requested were Boys Golf, Football, Girls Golf, Girls Soccer, and Lacrosse. Vance reviewed each sport, showing team size, equipment costs, pros, cons, and other items of consideration. She also showed how many athletes were currently participating in sports at the middle and high school level, as well as the number of males and females by grade level.

Vance said the recommended high school sport additions were broken into Tier 1: cheer, eight-man football, boys and girls golf, and Tier 2: boys’ and girls’ soccer, girls flag football, and boys volleyball. There was a lot of discussion with the board about eight- vs. 11-man football, varsity vs. junior varsity, and the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) cycles. The board also talked about grants, having the only boys volleyball team in the district, having enough practice space, and a concern about pulling students from other sports due to seasonal schedules.

Graham asked about startup costs such as equipment versus recurring costs, such as stipends and tournament fees. For 2026-27, the total costs would be about $92,000 with recurring costs of around $60,000, Graham said. Vance noted that some sports do more fundraising and pay for their own personalized equipment and uniforms, while others are provided by the school. She said she was waiting to hear details on costs for golf practice facility usage. Graham asked about increases in liability insurance due to sports like football; Operations Manager Jake Dicus said he would reach out to MA’s representative.

Graham said MA needed to move forward with athletics because they have promised families to build an athletic field. He asked Polen about MA’s ability to cover recurring costs after the first year. Polen said ERTC funds would cover the first year, but recurring costs might impact other items and decrease interest income. It would depend on the debt service resulting from refinancing MA’s East Campus bonds and the results of MA’s investment in marketing on enrollment.

Graham suggested appropriating funds for fiscal year 2026-27 to start, so MA can get more information on insurance and course costs for golf. He moved to approve appropriating funds for Tier 1 sports (cheer, eight-man football, boys and girls golf) from the ERTC funds, not to exceed $125,000. The board unanimously approved the motion.

Staff bonus approved

Vinchattle noted that MA could not increase salaries for staff this year due to concerns about enrollment and state budget shortfalls. He said the windfall of ERTC funds and other budget aspects allowed MA to propose a 5% bonus for returning staff that would be excluded from the Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) plan.

Graham noted that Vinchattle had asked to be excluded from the bonus but proposed that he be included. The board unanimously agreed to approve the staff bonus pool capped at $250,000. The board then unanimously approved the corresponding resolution authorizing bonus pay for fiscal year 2025-26 for eligible staff. The bonuses were paid on Oct. 26 so that the monies are available ahead of Christmas.

October Count report

Registrar Lena Gross presented the October Count report to the board, showing final numbers for the schools and discussing trends for the 2025-26 school year. She said MA met its goals of increased communication to enhance the understanding of parents and families of the importance of October Count, saying it ties into the state plan for funding schools. MA was able to account for every fully enrolled student and had a 98% attendance rate on Oct. 1, with additional students documented as attending during the two-week count window.

Gross said that East Campus has 451 full-time-equivalent (FTE) students, including 16 High Performance Program (HPP) students, and West Campus has about 564 students, noting that students participating in the Monument Academy Homeschool Partnership (MAHP) program and half-day kindergarten students are counted as ½ FTE. The 2025-26 budget had called for 476 at East Campus, including 25 HPP students, and about 569 students at West Campus.

Gross said MA’s decline in enrollment was consistent with state enrollment trends, noting that Colorado’s birth rate was declining faster than the national average. One report showed that K-12 enrollment has fallen for the last five years and is at its lowest since 2014.

Gross said that 25.84% of MA’s students reside outside of the D38 district, including Cheyenne Mountain School District, showing MA’s regional appeal. Graham said that people were leaving Colorado because of legislation against parental rights.

Policy updates

The board unanimously approved the following policy updates, which were reviewed by MA’s legal counsel:

• 1512 – Open Records Policy. Renamed to KEC-MA with updated language, job title, and hourly charge.
• 1513 – Staff File Access Policy. Renamed to BHC-MA with more technical language, changes in procurement, more specificity, allowing only relevant portions, and a confidentiality statement as well as a job title change.
• 1516 – Personal and Property Search. Renamed to JIHS-MA with updated language on cell phones, interrogation by law enforcement, and notification of parents. Parts C2 and C3 were combined.
• 1529 – Non-Smokable Marijuana Administration. Renamed to JLCDB-MA with updated technical language and a change to the role of the school nurse. Board member Jilinda Dygert noted that non-smokable marijuana is not kept on school grounds, so a parent or medical professional would come to campus to administer the substance.
• 1530 – Parent Notification of Alleged Criminal Conduct by a School Employee. Renamed to KDBA-MA with new technical language and changed format to include bullet points.

Board policies can be found at https://tinyurl.com/ma-policies.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

• Executive Director. Vinchattle reported on homecoming, concerts, athletics, and parent-teacher conferences, along with updates on Phase 2 expansion of East Campus.
• Finance Director Polen reviewed the August financials by school and fund and said MA has final audit papers that it will present next month to D38. She said MA is waiting for a meeting with S&P to get its financial rating.
• Curriculum. Vice President Lindsay Clinton combined the report for both the East and West Campus, which had a similar agenda. The committees reviewed board policies, examined proposed edits to the core curriculum and rubric, and discussed pacing, scope and sequence, supplemental curriculum requests, and field trip evaluations.
• Student Accountability and Advisory Committee (SAAC) West. Clinton said the committee received a human resources presentation from Director of People Operations Krista Pelley and was reviewing edits to its bylaws.
• SAAC East. Dygert reported that the committee is looking for a vice chair, heard from D38 about the budget, saw a presentation on gifted and talented, and brainstormed how to increase participation in the mid-year survey.

**********

The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next regular board meeting was moved to Thursday, Nov. 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. The agenda and packet are available at tinyurl.com/ma-boarddocs.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Monument Academy School Board articles

• Monument Academy School Board, Jan. 15 – Board passes mid-year budget, selects bond counsel (2/4/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Dec. 11 – MA retains BB- credit rating (1/1/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Nov. 13 – Board hears audit, marketing updates (12/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Oct. 16 and 23 – Board appropriates ERTC funds (10/30/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Sept. 11 – Board selects marketing firm, transfers funds (10/2/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 14 and 25 – Board moves forward on facility plans, hears marketing proposal (9/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, July 17 – Board prioritizes marketing plan, passes policy on religious opt-outs (8/1/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, June 12, 27 – Board passes sports fairness policy, joins in suit against CHSAA (7/3/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, May 8, 9 and 29 – Board adjusts budget for low enrollment, anticipates tax credit revenue (6/7/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, April 10 and 24 – Proposed high school dress code draws concerns (5/3/2025)

• Marketing firm selected
• Equity transfer between campuses approved
• Academic Achievement
• Elementary carline
• Policy updates
• Highlights

By Jackie Burhans

At its regular board meeting in September, the Monument Academy (MA) board heard a proposal from a second marketing firm and voted to transfer residual equity between its campuses.

In addition, the board heard updates on Academic Achievement and the West Campus carline.

Marketing firm selected

Audrey Kerchner, chief marketing strategist for Inkyma, presented a marketing proposal for services in the 2025-26 school year. Kerchner discussed the strategic plan her team put together for MA, which includes goals to enroll 125 students by 2027 focused on the high school, to invest in athletics and a new gymnasium, to describe MA’s unique program edge, and to take this strategy across multiple channels.

Kerchner further spoke on developing a brand identity and messaging using StoryBrand so MA’s message stays unified. Multi-channel campaigns would include Facebook and Instagram toward parents, and Google, YouTube, and TikTok for students, she said. She anticipated seasonal campaigns around open enrollment, open houses, breaking ground, and opening the new facilities. Campaigns would include ads, email, social media, and placement on TV screens inside waiting areas, doctors’ offices, coffee shops, etc.

Inkyma’s content strategy would be video-based with parent testimonials and student spotlights, Kerchner said. She suggested student ambassadors for TikTok or YouTube shorts to allow sharing of the student perspective. The website would be updated with the brand identity to highlight how MA prepares students with a call to action to schedule a tour. Inkyma will boost visibility and usability via search engine optimization (SEO) and answer engine optimization (AEO), which uses artificial intelligence platforms.

Kerchner said that Inkyma was results-oriented and would report on key strategic outcomes while offering ongoing oversight and optimization. She said that Inkyma was ready to move and set up a kickoff and implementation dates within 30 days.

The board asked questions about the implementation timeline, noting the importance of the October count window, five days before and after Oct. 1, and the school choice decision timeframe. Funding depends on enrollment figures.

Kerchner addressed questions about the feasibility of meeting the 125-student goal by 2027 and noted that the biggest challenge was the newness of the high school and the need to demystify charter schools.

At the end of the regular meeting, the board went into executive session for negotiations regarding selection of a marketing contract. When it returned, the board voted unanimously to move forward with Inkyma. Vice President Lindsay Clinton expanded on the comment about social media content and student involvement, saying the board would further clarify the need for parent authorization and would respect the “no media” option some parents had selected.

Equity transfer between campuses approved

Chief Financial Officer Glen Gustafson told the board that government accounting allows for residual equity transfer. Gustafson said he had used this method in District 11 to transfer funds between accounts but had never seen a charter school use it to transfer funds from one school to another inside the general fund. He consulted with general counsel Brad Miller and bond counsel to ensure this was a legal maneuver, and they confirmed that they believed it was. He proposed that the board transfer $1.8 million in reserves from West Campus to East Campus by resolution, noting that the board could reverse it at any time and ensure that MA stays in compliance with all bond covenants.

Gustafson added that a couple of years ago, West Campus had lent the East Campus $300,000, and this transaction would undo that as it was a temporary loan, reiterating that both the bond counsel and general counsel had approved this. He said that this would be an important piece of the puzzle when MA refinances its bonds in about six to seven months. He thought it would buy MA one year or more to increase enrollment to meet the additional debt service related to the refinancing of bonds.

Board President Ryan Graham confirmed he had reviewed the proposal, asked about counsel input, and had no objections. He moved to approve the resolution, and the board passed it unanimously.

Academic Achievement

Executive Director Collin Vinchattle provided an overview of the fall academic assessment data, which used data from the beginning of the year DIBELS and NWEA assessments. Vinchattle highlighted positive results at the elementary level, with 68% of students on grade level, noting that those grades are when kids are learning to read.

He noted that NWEA and SAT tests had both changed the goalposts. The bar was raised for reading and language and lowered for math and science to adjust to national norms. He said that reading and math were both at 68% achievement.

Vinchattle said this was a new baseline of data, and goals will be created and reviewed in the winter assessment.

Elementary carline

Elementary Principal Jessie Davis noted that safety is the number one priority and asked that carline drivers remain attentive, pull all the way forward, follow directions for an orderly and efficient flow, and use the merge zone to avoid backups.

Davis emphasized that MA families should not use the church driveway as an exit and encouraged students to exit the school through the main doors rather than the gym entrance to avoid congestion. She noted that the biggest day for carline is Tuesday, which sees an average carline time of 38 minutes. In the best conditions, carline wait times have decreased to 33 minutes.

Davis said she was working on having people park in the dirt lot and walk to pick up their students to avoid creating congestion. Vinchattle said he had heard feedback that some people don’t feel comfortable using that lot since there is no sidewalk, and offered to research costs.

Davis said she used ParentSquare and letters to parents and teachers to communicate about carline. If anyone has suggestions or questions, they should contact Davis directly.

Policy updates

The board unanimously approved the following policy updates:

1517—Internet Use. Minimal changes after tech team feedback, added that use is a privilege and can be revoked, changing a job title, and renaming the policy to GBEE-MA.

1519 – Advertising. Updating mediums, changing a job title, legal wording about not creating contractual obligations, ability to reject ad at discretion, and renaming policy to KHB-MA.

1520 – Public Comment to the Board. Minimal changes in the signup sheet, changing a job title, consolidating some language, and renaming policy BEDH-MA.

1521 – Student Fees. Updating forms of payment, changing a job title, adding waiver information, and renaming policy to JQ-MA.

Board policies can be found at https://tinyurl.com/ma-policies.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

• Executive Director. Vinchattle reported on Back to School Night, athletics, and homecoming events, including the Powder Puff game.
• Finance Director Laura Polen reviewed the July financials by school and fund, saying that total income for all three schools was $170,000 in its first month. She confirmed that audited financials would be needed for the S&P rating.
• Student Accountability and Advisory Committee—West Campus. Clinton reported that the SAAC had met on Sept. 4 to review its bylaws and suggest edits to bring to the board.
• Buildings and Facilities. Graham reported that the noisy HVAC unit had been fixed thanks to Operations Manager Jake Dicus.
• Resources and Development. Clinton said the committee met on Sept. 3 to review last year’s measures, analyze the purpose of the committee, and brainstorm areas to focus on for the current year.

**********

The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next regular board meeting was moved to Thursday, Oct. 16, at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. The agenda and packet are available at tinyurl.com/ma-boarddocs.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Monument Academy School Board articles

• Monument Academy School Board, Jan. 15 – Board passes mid-year budget, selects bond counsel (2/4/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Dec. 11 – MA retains BB- credit rating (1/1/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Nov. 13 – Board hears audit, marketing updates (12/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Oct. 16 and 23 – Board appropriates ERTC funds (10/30/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Sept. 11 – Board selects marketing firm, transfers funds (10/2/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 14 and 25 – Board moves forward on facility plans, hears marketing proposal (9/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, July 17 – Board prioritizes marketing plan, passes policy on religious opt-outs (8/1/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, June 12, 27 – Board passes sports fairness policy, joins in suit against CHSAA (7/3/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, May 8, 9 and 29 – Board adjusts budget for low enrollment, anticipates tax credit revenue (6/7/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, April 10 and 24 – Proposed high school dress code draws concerns (5/3/2025)

• East Campus expansion strategy
• Partners present expansion master plan
• Presentations on arts, athletics, and academics
• Academics
• Fine Arts
• Athletics
• Marketing proposal
• Universal Pre-Kindergarten
• Board decisions
• Highlights

By Jackie Burhans

The Monument Academy (MA) school board held two meetings in August to advance planning for East Campus facility upgrades and review proposals to expand high school programming. The board also heard an external marketing presentation and considered joining Colorado’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program.

In addition, the board approved decisions related to partnerships, policies, waivers, stipends, and other operational matters.

East Campus expansion strategy

President Ryan Graham opened the meeting by highlighting his five-year involvement with MA’s facility planning. He said MA is pursuing a phased build-out at East Campus, including track and field, a regulation-size gym, classrooms, library, an 800-seat auditorium, and expanded student common areas.

Graham noted MA cannot complete all projects at once but is preparing for a multi-year campaign. He reminded the board of a $29 million balloon payment due in June 2026 and said MA is working with a bond advisor to restructure its debt.

CRP Architects President Brian Risley and Wember Inc. Vice President Dusty Black were available to present the Phase II design. Graham said MA formed a Design Advisory Group last month, including board members, staff, parents, and project partners, to gather stakeholder input.

MA has received $200,000 in donations toward the track and field project. Graham said the school is exploring financial options to prioritize the new gym and convert the practice gym into a performing arts black box. That would allow time to raise funds for the auditorium.

MA will continue working with its bond advisor and will launch a capital campaign targeting high-net-worth individuals. Graham said naming rights and other recognition opportunities will be available.

Graham introduced a proposed contract with CRP Architects for a schematic design package to clarify project costs and support donor outreach. He said the blueprint would help MA engage donors. The board voted unanimously to approve the contract.

Partners present expansion master plan

Black said Wember Project Manager RJ LaForge led planning efforts for MA’s East Campus expansion, coordinating with the board and CRP Architects to set priorities and align budgets with cash flow. The team is moving quickly through schematic designs to support contractor engagement.

LaForge is preparing a request for qualifications for general contractors (GC) that’s expected to go public soon. Black said MA aims to onboard a GC by mid-September to provide accurate cost estimates. Surveying and soil testing are underway to confirm site feasibility.

The school plans to break ground on track and field in spring, with phased additions including bleachers, restrooms, press box, and concessions to bring it into Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) compliance. Bleachers would hold up to 1,000 spectators, and there is room around the track for jumping and throwing pits. In the future, overflow parking could be built where the current field is located.

Risley said the master plan includes three expansion zones—north, east, and west—originally anticipated in the campus design. Existing utility access and building openings will support phased construction.

The revised layout proposes a 13,000-square-foot gym on the east side, featuring locker rooms, a main court, two cross courts, and seating for 800. The gym would have its own restrooms so it could operate independently for after-school events.

West of the gym, MA plans to expand common space by 3,000 square feet, connecting to an 835-seat auditorium with full stage and backstage facilities.

Classrooms and a media center would shift west to maximize views. The two-story wing with a central gathering space would support academic growth.

If the auditorium is deferred, MA might convert the current gym into a black box theater, offering a flexible performance venue with seating in the round, which could flex from 249 to 286 occupants. Black said the team is excited to help shape a campus that reflects the school’s long-term vision.

Presentations on arts, athletics, and academics

Department heads’ ideas for building out their high school programs and estimating the costs involved were presented at the Aug. 25 special meeting.

Academics

Secondary campus Principal Angela Duca reviewed academic programs with a focus on student retention. Her team surveyed eighth-graders and high school students about why they stay or leave, especially after middle school.

Students who stay cited strong relationships with teachers, internship opportunities, upcoming new facilities, student council, and a sense of community. Middle school students often leave to attend high school with friends and teammates, join sports teams not offered at MA, or follow siblings to other schools for easier transportation.

High school students leave due to limited class options, few electives, a small number of AP courses, and the lack of an auditorium. Some seek a different experience. Students also face scheduling conflicts that prevent them from taking preferred classes. They requested a library, more after-school clubs, and greater separation between middle and high school programs. Upperclassmen asked for off-campus lunch privileges, especially for student drivers, and supported a block schedule and expanded foreign language offerings, including American Sign Language.

Duca outlined immediate steps to improve retention, including educating middle-schoolers about high school offerings and planning senior class trips. She proposed stipends for staff to organize trips and lead fundraising, starting with domestic travel and expanding to international options tied to curriculum. She encouraged parent volunteer involvement.

She also recommended launching after-school clubs immediately, with stipends for teacher sponsors. If a teacher volunteers to lead a club, MA would be obligated to offer it, she noted.

Duca suggested reviewing MA’s four-year math graduation requirement, noting that some students may not need it. Expanding beyond the current five AP classes would be costly, but students can still take AP exams independently. She proposed educating students about the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and encouraging enrollment during Academy Time. She also recommended exploring a scholarship program to support post-secondary education.

For long-term improvements, Duca supported adding sports and arts facilities, hiring more teachers for AP and electives, and building a separate high school academic wing. She also suggested collaborating with District 38 to expand AP offerings and explore opportunities at its new Career Innovation Center.

Fine Arts

Strings teacher Cristin Patterson proposed that MA consider offering biennial European trips through the College Ambassadors of Music program. She reviewed MA’s current arts offerings, which include 2D and 3D Visual Arts, Drama, Theater, Film Study, and Theater Tech.

Patterson recommended organizing the arts program into three dedicated rooms: ceramics in the Kiln Room, digital multimedia in the Tech Room, and visual arts in the current Choir Room. To support the expansion, MA would need to hire an additional art teacher, purchase supplies and digital applications, update curriculum, and build a new choir room.

She cited past strategic plans that identified fine arts, music, and drama as MA’s strengths, but noted the lack of a performance space as a weakness. MA currently uses the East Campus practice gym for some performances.

Patterson said the school’s greatest need is an auditorium with space for set construction and storage, a music pit, dedicated sound and lighting, and comfortable seating. She estimated a new auditorium would cost $15 million, while converting the practice gym into a black box theater would cost $1 million-$2 million, plus staffing and utility expenses.

She praised the quality of MA’s arts classes and faculty but said the school needs more students to form a band and more programs to retain students. MA hosts the only strings program in the district but currently rents space at district-operated high schools for concerts and choir performances.

Athletics

Secondary school Athletic Director Lannie Vance said MA must invest in its own athletic facilities to retain eighth-grade students, noting that Palmer Ridge and Lewis-Palmer High Schools offer strong programs. MA’s high school identity is underdeveloped, and students lack a dedicated field and gym, she said.

Vance called athletics a magnet for retention, saying it builds pride, leadership, and community. She said MA could offer a personalized, character-first sports experience focused on agility and culture rather than program size. Without athletics, MA risks losing a key cultural anchor.

Now in her second year on staff and third year coaching, Vance helped grow the girls’ basketball program and unify boys’ and girls’ team culture to increase parent engagement. She is working to launch Matchwits and Speech and Debate teams and is exploring six- or eight-man football, a high school cheer program, and varsity boys’ volleyball. MA has some of the needed equipment and would fundraise to reduce costs.

Vance’s mission centers on putting students first, with athletics as a tool for character development. Her vision is for MA to be recognized statewide by 2030, develop leaders, and win with integrity. She said MA’s small size allows for high leadership potential and greater varsity opportunities. The program is character-first, agile, and community-driven, with an integrated K–12 pipeline. Expected outcomes include a 20%-30% increase in high school retention within three years, stronger student engagement, leadership development, and enrollment growth.

She recommended using social media to highlight teams and engaging students and parents to identify interests. She urged investment in facility upgrades, coaching staff recruitment and training, digital infrastructure for visibility, and scholarship and sponsorship programs. A Booster Club could support fundraising and manage scholarships.

Board Treasurer Craig Carle asked about D38 contributions to coaching stipends for CHSAA-sanctioned sports, noting that District 11 pays him to coach at Coronado High School. Executive Director Collin Vinchattle said MA must fund its own programs or contract with the district. He added that, as the only boys’ volleyball program in the district, MA might qualify for additional funding.

Marketing proposal

At the Aug. 14 meeting, Carle said he and Vice President Lindsay Clinton have a goal to increase enrollment by 125 students by 2027 and would need to partner with a third-party firm on a multi-year basis to achieve this target. He described a recent meeting with MA’s internal marketing team as energizing and said the team is aligned with the goals. He emphasized the importance of investing in the current team while leveraging external expertise and said he would present more details at the upcoming special meeting.

At the Aug. 25 meeting, the board heard a presentation from principal consultant Josh Yancey of the Yancey Group, who partnered with Jesse Lange of Fish Bite Creative and Bill Roberson of MyCommTeam to develop a marketing proposal. Lange attended to answer questions.

Yancey said MA faces brand confusion, digital gaps, and inconsistent messaging, which hinder enrollment. Competing schools tell clearer stories, while MA’s value remains unclear to families. He emphasized that clarity would drive enrollment growth and strengthen the pipeline.

He described his team as culturally aligned professionals with local parental insight and traditional values, experienced in StoryBrand marketing for education and nonprofits. Proposed deliverables include discovery sessions, a messaging playbook, digital audit, opportunity map, and strategic roadmap.

Phase 1, a 9-to-12-week discovery process, would cost $20,000. Phase 2 implementation would cost $35,000, with timing based on deliverables. Phase 3 ongoing support did not include a defined cost.

Carle said MA’s internal marketing team would focus on retention, while the external team would target new enrollment. Clinton asked about timeline flexibility and the use of AI in content creation. Yancey and Lange said several of their tools leverage AI as an assistant and emphasized the iterative nature of their process.

Graham asked if the timeline could be shortened to four to six weeks. Clinton noted that other schools are already active on social media, and MA aims for December “intent to return” commitments. Yancey and Lange said they would explore a faster timeline with Roberson.

Universal Pre-Kindergarten

Director of Preschool Kristi Hays proposed MA opt in to Colorado’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program, which funds 15 hours per week for all 4-year-olds at $608.56 per month, or 30 hours for qualifying children at $1,080.71. Parents of non-qualifying children may choose 30 hours but must pay the cost difference.

MA currently charges $450 per month for half-day preschool, increasing to $500 with enrichment. Full-day preschool costs $950, or $1,000 with enrichment. Thirty-four MA students qualify for UPK, which would generate $240,000 in funding. Hays noted UPK is funded by a sin tax on cigarettes and is not subject to federal or state education cuts.

Clinton said parents have expressed strong interest in MA joining UPK. Hays reported four UPK sites in D38 and additional providers nearby, including Bright Start, Hope Montessori, Antelope Trails Elementary in D20, and Tri-Lakes Community Preschool. El Paso County has 237 UPK providers: 74 school-based, 57 home-based, and 105 community-based.

MA has faced declining preschool enrollment and staffing shortages, resulting in limited breaks and no lunch coverage. Clinton said the program is not meeting its revenue goals this year.

MA previously opted out of UPK due to curriculum concerns. Hays confirmed MA’s curriculum currently meets UPK standards, and commitment would be limited to one year, allowing flexibility if future changes conflict with MA’s philosophy.

The board unanimously approved MA’s immediate participation in UPK.

Board decisions

The board unanimously approved an updated organizational chart that reverts to a more traditional format showing the chain of command. It also approved the middle and high school athletic handbooks along with the 2025-26 school board meeting calendar.

The board approved a Kindergarten School Readiness Waiver that allows MA to opt out students from six to eight required assessments in the first 60 days. Vinchattle said the assessments took away from instruction time, and MA already has its own tools that are more concise.

The board approved its yearly memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Pikes Peak Business and Education Alliance (PPBEA) for career exploration and training. It also approved a one-time stipend for an employee who put in extra duty due to extenuating circumstances.

The board unanimously passed policy IJRB-MA Parental Notification and Opt-Out for Curriculum Materials Potentially Conflicting with Religious Beliefs after making some minor changes based on parental feedback.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

• Expulsion upheld. The Aug. 14 meeting started with an executive session to conduct a student expulsion appeal hearing. Upon return, Graham moved to affirm the decision of the administration regarding the expulsion, and the board unanimously voted to do so.
• Executive Director. Vinchattle thanked the Design Advisory Committee for its ideas, discussion points, and tough decisions that helped to guide the discussion with CRP Architects. He also thanked the board for supporting the staff breakfast and board member Jilinda Dygert for training on foundational points like core knowledge and MA’s educational philosophy.
• Financial. Graham announced that MA had received a $1.375-million anonymous donation, which was used to buy the parking lot at the West Campus and to pay for the modulars at East Campus. He also noted that MA would receive $2.2 million from the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) and would use some of that money to pay returning teachers a one-time bonus since they had had to freeze salaries.
• Finance Director Laura Polen reviewed the June financials by school and fund, saying that total income for all three schools was $2.9 million. The preschool fund had a slight loss of $64,000 for the year.

**********

The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Sep. 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. The agenda and packet are available at bit.ly/ma-boarddocs.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Monument Academy articles

• Monument Academy School Board, Jan. 15 – Board passes mid-year budget, selects bond counsel (2/4/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Dec. 11 – MA retains BB- credit rating (1/1/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Nov. 13 – Board hears audit, marketing updates (12/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Oct. 16 and 23 – Board appropriates ERTC funds (10/30/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Sept. 11 – Board selects marketing firm, transfers funds (10/2/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 14 and 25 – Board moves forward on facility plans, hears marketing proposal (9/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, July 17 – Board prioritizes marketing plan, passes policy on religious opt-outs (8/1/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, June 12, 27 – Board passes sports fairness policy, joins in suit against CHSAA (7/3/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, May 8, 9 and 29 – Board adjusts budget for low enrollment, anticipates tax credit revenue (6/7/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, April 10 and 24 – Proposed high school dress code draws concerns (5/3/2025)

• Board organization
• Swift action urged on marketing plan
• First read of religious opt-out policy
• Highlights

By Jackie Burhans

The Monument Academy (MA) school board met in July to elect officers, and appoint committees, urge the creation of a marketing plan, and pass a policy to allow for religious opt outs to curriculum, take other board actions and hear reports. There were no committee updates.

Board organization

Board member Craig Carle was sworn in for his second term and the board voted to retain its leadership positions with President Ryan Graham, Vice President Lindsay Clinton, Secretary Jilinda Dygert, and Treasurer Carle.

The board confirmed the following committee assignments:

• Curriculum West – Clinton
• Curriculum East – Matt Ross
• SAAC West – Clinton
• SAAC East – Dygert
• Governance – Dygert, Graham
• Finance – Carle, Graham
• Building and Facilities – Graham
• Resource Development Committee – Carle, Clinton

Swift action urged on marketing plan

Clinton pressed Executive Director Collin Vinchattle to act urgently on a long-delayed marketing plan, citing concerns about upcoming refinancing decisions and declining enrollment.

Vinchattle said the team has been evaluating data, identifying top-performing channels such as social media and Google banner ads, and developing a plan following a three-hour strategy session earlier that day. Some initiatives are expected to launch with the new school year.

Clinton expressed concern over the lack of visible progress, pointing out that marketing was identified as a top need at the board’s retreat over a year ago. Clinton also questioned whether any external marketing firms were evaluated. Vinchattle confirmed that while pricing had been researched for social media content creators, no full-service marketing firm had been considered, citing budget constraints.

Current marketing efforts are handled primarily by the school’s marketing director, who oversees social media, tours, events, the website, and more, he said.

Graham supported a more aggressive approach, urging collaboration between Vinchattle and board members Clinton and Carle over the next 30 days. “We cannot get to August and then punt to September,” Graham said. “We are at a very critical juncture.”

The board discussed reallocating Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) funds to bolster the marketing budget, which currently includes $10,000 for content creation.

Board members agreed to reconvene in August to review a revised marketing plan and updated budget, with input from Clinton and Carle. The plan is expected to guide outreach ahead of key fall events and MA’s upcoming thirty-year anniversary.

Dygert said she appreciated the foundational work Vinchattle had done on the seven tenets and educational philosophy that could go into the marketing plan.

First read of religious opt-out policy

Graham introduced and read policy IRJB-MA Parental Notification and Opt-Out for Curriculum Materials Potentially Conflicting with Religious Beliefs in its entirety.

The policy allows parents to opt their children out of any curriculum that may conflict with their religious beliefs per a recent Supreme Court ruling. Schools must notify parents in advance when instructional materials pose “a very real threat of undermining” the religious beliefs parents wish to instill in their children. Teachers must identify sensitive content and provide alternative assignments. The policy lays out guidelines, training, and processes, saying it will be implemented neutrally for any religious or secular perspective. The policy says the school will continue to comply with Colorado anti-discrimination laws and ensure that all students feel safe and supported. The draft policy is available at bit.ly/ma-boarddocs for the July 17 meeting.

Graham noted that some of the wording needed to be revised as it said “district” and should say “school.” He also said it should be explicit that kids who are opted out will be taken to a different classroom. Clinton expressed concern that it had an exception for spontaneous selection of curriculum, saying that there were processes for curriculum selection and review. Carle asked if teachers were being trained on what topics might raise concerns and Vinchattle said he was working with lawyer Brad Miller to explore what the guidelines might look like. Dygert asked if there was a list of current curricula available for parents. Vinchattle noted that there were documents on the scope and sequence for core knowledge, and some loose documents on what High School students read but said those could be formalized.

Graham said the topic would come back to the board in August.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

• Executive Director. Vinchattle updated the board on his action plan that resulted from the organizational audit that was performed in the past year, highlighting accomplishments in academics, budgeting, professional development, educational philosophy, job descriptions, and curriculum.
• Finance. Director Laura Polen reviewed May numbers by school and fund, saying that total income for all three schools is $707,000 less the cost of the modulars and the parking lot purchase. There was a loss of $58,000 overall for May, but MA is still ahead on a year-to-date basis. Polen is preparing for the 2024 audit.
• Staff Welcome Breakfast. The board unanimously voted to authorize up to $2,000 to provide breakfast to the staff on the first full day of work on Aug. 7. Vinchattle invited the board to come in and introduce themselves to new and returning staff at the West Campus.
• AeroLab Contract. The board approved a contract with AeroLab, pending legal review, to provide programming for MA’s homeschool enrichment program for middle and high schoolers. See www.falconaerolab.org for information.
• Design Advisory Committee. In anticipation of the build-out of phase 2 facilities at the East Campus, the board approved the creation of a committee to include two board members, Carle and Graham, two executive administrative members, two staff members and two parents.
• Executive Session: The board ended its meeting with an executive session for negotiations and advice to negotiators regarding the legal engagement and fee structure for a lawsuit in support of girls safety and equal opportunity. No action was taken after the executive session.

**********

The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. The agenda and packet are available at bit.ly/ma-boarddocs.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Monument Academy School Board articles

• Monument Academy School Board, Jan. 15 – Board passes mid-year budget, selects bond counsel (2/4/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Dec. 11 – MA retains BB- credit rating (1/1/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Nov. 13 – Board hears audit, marketing updates (12/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Oct. 16 and 23 – Board appropriates ERTC funds (10/30/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Sept. 11 – Board selects marketing firm, transfers funds (10/2/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 14 and 25 – Board moves forward on facility plans, hears marketing proposal (9/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, July 17 – Board prioritizes marketing plan, passes policy on religious opt-outs (8/1/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, June 12, 27 – Board passes sports fairness policy, joins in suit against CHSAA (7/3/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, May 8, 9 and 29 – Board adjusts budget for low enrollment, anticipates tax credit revenue (6/7/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, April 10 and 24 – Proposed high school dress code draws concerns (5/3/2025)

• Sports policy
• MA joins lawsuit
• Insurance increases
• Highlights

By Jackie Burhans

The Monument Academy (MA) School Board met twice in June to pass a policy and join a lawsuit related to gender in sports, discuss increasing roof insurance costs, take actions, and hear committee reports.

Sports policy

Board member Karen Hoida presented a proposed policy along the lines of parental rights and protection. Identical to policies passed in several other districts and charter schools, JBA-MA Preserving Fairness and Safety in Schools asserts that boys have physical advantage over most girls that are significant enough that they would displace girls if permitted to compete.

It also cites safety and privacy concerns, access to scholarships, and a presidential executive order threatening to rescind educational funds. The policy asserts that genetics are determined at birth. The policy forbids boys from playing on girls’ teams and girls from playing on boys’ teams. It also forbids sharing locker rooms or hotel rooms.

The board voted unanimously to pass policy JBA-MA. Board policies are available at bit.ly/ma-policies.

MA joins lawsuit

Board President Ryan Graham provided background on the D49 lawsuit against the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA), saying that MA has observed increasing tension between Title 9 and CHSAA bylaws. He also noted that the Colorado Anti-Discriminatory Act (CADA) says that students must be allowed to participate in sports teams based on their gender identity. MA believes those requirements violate Title 9 and therefore has implemented the policy JBA-MA, and he suggested adding MA’s name as a plaintiff noting that this might bring federal scrutiny.

Vice President Lindsay Clinton moved to approve joining the lawsuit saying that doing so codifies MA’s conviction. She encouraged parents to ask questions, send emails, and make public comments if they are unsure where their school stands. Treasurer Craig Carle said that, as a father of two daughters who are athletes, he is deeply concerned with CHSAA’s policy. He fully supports the inclusion of all students but feels that women’s sports were created so they could train, compete, and excel without being at a biological disadvantage.

The board voted unanimously to add MA’s name as a plaintiff to the lawsuit, which names CHSAA, the Colorado Civil Rights Division, and the state attorney general.

Insurance increases

At the June 10 meeting, the board heard about hail coverage changes in MA’s building insurance policy and reviewed a presentation of coverage options for the following year. Finance Director Laura Polen presented options from HUB International insurance brokers noting that the policy would change from a $25,000 deductible to 5%, which would be an increase to over $2 million. There was an option to buy down the deductible to 3% at a cost of $53,627 she said would save them $800,000 or to buy it down to 2% at the cost of $83,537 and savings of $1.2 million. Polen asked for the board’s guidance. Graham asked if MA could exclude some insurance due to the rubber membrane roof. The board agreed to set a special meeting to discuss this and asked for more information on the current condition of the roofs, and a history of claims over the last 20 years.

The board met again on June 27 to discuss insurance options.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

• Spotlight. Executive Director Collin Vinchattle spotlighted outgoing board member Karen Hoida, whose term ends on June 30. Vinchattle cited Hoida’s dedicated service and valuable contributions, saying that she saw beyond the conventional and sparked meaningful discussions that led to innovative solutions
• Executive director. Vinchattle reviewed the year’s accomplishments, which included the organizational audit, development of the education philosophy statement, forging community partnerships, and financial improvements.
• Finance. Polen said MA completed its budget and shared with D38. She reported that MA had received five quarters of the requested Employee Retention Tax Credit funds and deposited that money into its high-interest COLOTRUST accounts. The board approved removing Glenn Gustafson from the Integrity Bank signature process, leaving Graham, Polen, Carle, and Finance Assistant Dawn Bartlett.
• Curriculum East. Clinton shared that the committee met on May 20 to review supplemental literature for the high school ethics and morals class, reminding the board that material that is less than 25% of the curriculum does not come to the board for approval. The board approved the Colorado History curriculum.
• Facilities: The board accepted a proposal from E&K Paving for $37,500 to grade and compact asphalt millings on the West Campus parking lot.
• Contracts: The board approved a contract with Elevate Education, a company that works with Program Manager Janyse Skalla on the homeschool enrichment program.
• Handbook updates: The board unanimously approved the modified 2025-26 combined Student Handbook, added a workplace bullying section to the Staff Handbook, and heard the first read of the proposal to modify the Athletic Handbook for middle and high school.
• Compensation. The board approved a stipend for homeschool enrichment staff who developed the program curriculum and activities. It also increased half-day/Friday pay to $80.
• Board planning: The board set its retreat date for July 15 from 9 to 3 at MA’s East Campus and moved its regular meeting to Thursday, July 17.
• Executive session: The board ended its June 10 meeting with an executive session for negotiations regarding contracted financial services. The board ended its June 27 meeting with an executive session to discuss contract negotiations regarding the executive director.

**********

The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next regular board meeting has moved to Thursday, July 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. The agenda and packet are available at bit.ly/ma-boarddocs.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Monument Academy School Board articles

• Monument Academy School Board, Jan. 15 – Board passes mid-year budget, selects bond counsel (2/4/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Dec. 11 – MA retains BB- credit rating (1/1/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Nov. 13 – Board hears audit, marketing updates (12/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Oct. 16 and 23 – Board appropriates ERTC funds (10/30/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Sept. 11 – Board selects marketing firm, transfers funds (10/2/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 14 and 25 – Board moves forward on facility plans, hears marketing proposal (9/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, July 17 – Board prioritizes marketing plan, passes policy on religious opt-outs (8/1/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, June 12, 27 – Board passes sports fairness policy, joins in suit against CHSAA (7/3/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, May 8, 9 and 29 – Board adjusts budget for low enrollment, anticipates tax credit revenue (6/7/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, April 10 and 24 – Proposed high school dress code draws concerns (5/3/2025)

• Budget
• Employee Retention Tax Credit approved
• Curriculum
• Policies
• Highlights

By Jackie Burhans

The Monument Academy (MA) School Board met on May 8 to review the 2025-26 budget, advisory committee recommendations, curriculum, and policies. The board held a special meeting on May 9 to approve its adjusted budget and hear about its Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) claim and hold an executive session.

Budget

At the May 8 meeting, Finance Director Laura Polen presented the proposed 2025-26 budget, based on the Colorado Department of Education’s confirmation that the School Finance Act set per pupil revenue (PPR) at $11,080. The budget assumed a projected enrollment of 1,090.12 full-time equivalent (FTE) students.

Polen reported that General Fund revenues increased by $156,000 due to donations and fundraising, while expenses dropped by $1.4 million following completion of dirt lot and modular purchases. The budget allocates $13 million in local, state, and federal funds, balancing expenses across schools, programs, and object codes. By campus, West Campus shows $178,000 in income, the middle school reports a $183,000 loss due to a large student bubble moving through, and the high school shows $4,798 in income.

At the May 29 meeting, Polen presented an adjusted budget, lowering projected enrollment to 1,075 FTE, reflecting two fewer students in homeschool enrichment, two additional middle school students, and 15 fewer high school students. The high school donation budget was increased to offset PPR, instructional fees, and mill levy override share decreases. She said current full-time equivalent FTE stands at 1,052, with additional enrollment needed to meet projections: 20 more students for the High Performance Program, 8.5 (17 students) for homeschool enrichment, and preschool tuition revenue of $25,000 to balance its budget. Elementary and middle school enrollment exceed projections by five students each, while high school is under by four.

Interim Chief Financial Officer Glenn Gustafson said this year’s budget was tight with the decline in enrollment. He said he knew the board would have liked to give bigger compensation increases and that there were other tight spots in the budget, but he was hopeful that the enrollment would come in as projected. With other things in the hopper, he thinks the budget will work out and he noted that this adopted budget can be modified in December or January after the final enrollment counts.

The board unanimously approved three resolutions:

• Interfund borrowing to loan funds to the preschool for payroll.
• Use of beginning fund balances to disclose deficit spending for preschool.
• Appropriation resolution setting maximum expenditures by fund.

Once signed, MA will post the budget on its website and submit it to District 38, its charter authorizer. Gustafson emphasized the need to develop a sustainable financial model for preschool, as it is currently subsidized by the academy.

Employee Retention Tax Credit approved

Gustafson announced that MA’s ERTC claim was approved for the first of five quarters. The IRS approved $450,000 for the first quarter, plus $150,000 in interest due to processing delays, for a total of $600,000 expected by the end of June. The remaining quarters were smaller, but the total payment could range between $1.8 million and $1.9 million.

He noted the appropriation resolution did not include ERTC funds since approval was uncertain. MA spent $100,000 working with a consultant to submit the claim. He suggested the board prepare for a supplemental appropriation in an upcoming meeting, work session, or retreat.

For short-term management, he recommended placing the funds in a segregated account at COLOTRUST, an investment fund for government entities, to earn interest. Long-term, the board will determine potential uses, such as adding gravel to the West Campus dirt parking lot, increasing staff bonuses, or supporting capital construction efforts. He urged prudence, emphasizing the funds are a one-time resource.

Gustafson stressed that next year will be a critical time for MA as it prepares to refinance its bonds by June 2026. He noted the current unfavorable interest rates and uncertainty about future improvements. He plans to work with Polen to draft a supplemental budget amendment for the fall.

Curriculum

Executive Director Collin Vinchattle introduced two new curriculum proposals for Colorado History and High School Leadership.

For history, he directed the board to documents outlining the course structure, its alignment with state academic standards, and a recommendation from the East Campus Curriculum Committee. A high school teacher proposed the two new courses. The Colorado History course will be available at the West Campus library for parental review over the next three weeks before returning to the board for a vote.

Vinchattle noted that the High School Leadership course will follow a similar review process. While it lacks a specific textbook, a teacher developed a collegiate-level syllabus as a foundation for an emerging leadership program. He said information will be shared through the board’s Simbli platform, where stakeholders can submit feedback via an online form.

Policies

The board reviewed and unanimously approved the following policies:

• 1501HS High School Dress Code: Updated from a previous proposal after feedback from parents and students. It will be renamed later when other dress code policies are updated.
• AEP Educational Philosophy: a statement of philosophy as noted in previous discussions.

The board held the first reading of AE-MA Penmanship policy emphasizing MA’s cursive-first approach.

MA’s approved board policies can be found at http://bit.ly/ma-boarddocs

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

• Spotlight: Board member Craig Carle recognized the process champions team, announcing Monument Academy Middle School as a national showcase school for the Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH) program. Team members include Thomas Herndon, Lisa Rich, Jesse Davis, and Angela Duca.
• Executive Director: Vinchattle celebrated the CKH recognition, student capstone presentations on truth and beauty, the high school information night, and the fourth-grade visit to the Colorado History Museum.
• Finance: Polen reported on March financials noting all three schools had positive income and MA remains on track to meet bond requirements.
• SAAC East: Board member Jilinda Dygert shared that the Student Accountability and Advisory Committee (SAAC) for East Campus submitted recommendations after reviewing survey results. Priorities include hiring, training, and mentoring staff, improving communication, encouraging consistent Canvas use, directing funds toward infrastructure, and expanding academic offerings.
• Operational Audit: Vinchattle reviewed completed goals and outlined remaining objectives.
• Contracts approved: The board finalized its food services agreement with D38 for the 2025-26 school year and approved its Memorandum of Understanding with Monument Police Department for school resource officers.
• Handbook updates: Vinchattle proposed adding a workplace-bullying section to the staff handbook and will present revisions after legal review. He also led a first reading of a combined student handbook to streamline policies, with a final vote set for June.
• Campus expansion: The board unanimously approved an Owner’s Representation Agreement with Wember Owner’s Representation as MA prepares for phase two additions at East Campus.
• Board planning: Members will complete a self-assessment survey ahead of their July retreat, following operational audit recommendations.
• Executive session: The board closed its May 29 meeting with a session to receive legal advice on HP25-1312, Protecting Transgender Individual Rights, and potential policy decisions regarding girls’ sports.

**********

The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next regular board meeting will be on Thursday, June 12, at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. The agenda and packet are available at bit.ly/ma-boarddocs.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Monument Academy School Board articles

• Monument Academy School Board, Jan. 15 – Board passes mid-year budget, selects bond counsel (2/4/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Dec. 11 – MA retains BB- credit rating (1/1/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Nov. 13 – Board hears audit, marketing updates (12/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Oct. 16 and 23 – Board appropriates ERTC funds (10/30/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Sept. 11 – Board selects marketing firm, transfers funds (10/2/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 14 and 25 – Board moves forward on facility plans, hears marketing proposal (9/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, July 17 – Board prioritizes marketing plan, passes policy on religious opt-outs (8/1/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, June 12, 27 – Board passes sports fairness policy, joins in suit against CHSAA (7/3/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, May 8, 9 and 29 – Board adjusts budget for low enrollment, anticipates tax credit revenue (6/7/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, April 10 and 24 – Proposed high school dress code draws concerns (5/3/2025)

• High school dress code changes debated
• Library Review Committee report
• Additional policies discussed
• Highlights

By Jackie Burhans

The Monument Academy (MA) School Board received student and parent feedback on proposed high school dress code changes at its regular meeting on April 10 and returned to the discussion at a special meeting on April 24. The board also heard a report from its Library Review Committee and approved numerous other policies.

High school dress code changes debated

During Citizens’ Comment, students voiced concerns about proposed dress code changes. While praising MA’s community and academics, they opposed the changes, citing financial burdens, loss of self-expression, and blurred distinctions between middle and high school. They feared the uniform-like code could hurt enrollment or lead to student departures. Others suggested better enforcement of the current code and urged the board to reconsider. Board President Ryan Graham commended the students for speaking.

Executive Director Collin Vinchattle announced the first reading of the proposed policy, noting that the board could consider changes in future meetings. He shared results from 100 responses to the dress code survey sent to students and families and acknowledged students’ strong interest, demonstrated by their attendance and comments. Vinchattle proposed collaborating with Principal Angela Duca to engage students further.

The proposed policy refines the structure and wording, acknowledging the Colorado CROWN Act and outlining a process for applicable cases. It removes gender-specific annotations, stating that students must wear attire aligned with their gender. A new section on tattoos and markings prohibits drawing on skin, requires tattoos to meet respect guidelines, and prefers that they remain covered. Pajama bottoms are explicitly banned.

The survey asked students and parents about removing sweats and hoodies from the high school dress code. Comments echoed concerns raised at the meeting, noting that “smart casual” mentioned in other communication felt more restrictive and punitive.

Vice President Lindsay Clinton questioned whether parents understood the differences among prior communications, the survey, and the proposed wording. Vinchattle explained that “smart casual” was introduced at a “new high school” event. Clinton also expressed concerns about removing gender annotations, especially around makeup. Vinchattle acknowledged that dress codes often feel more punitive toward females and noted some respondents preferred business casual.

Board President Ryan Graham highlighted the policy’s ambiguity and requested changing “gender” to “sex” in the first paragraph, removing markup, and itemizing changes in a clean draft. Board Member Jilinda Dygert suggested discussing the changes with students, which Vinchattle agreed could be done during study hall, and the board could review the policy again in two weeks.

Library Review Committee report

Secondary Assistant Principal Jesse Davis reported that the Library Review Committee held initial meetings to review the form submission process and book scoring rubric. With seven books queued before its formation, the committee has reviewed three so far. The following books were examined:

• A parent, citing Facebook groups focused on children’s innocence, deemed Smile by Reina Teigemeier inappropriate for elementary students due to topics like attracting boys, bras, puberty, and kissing. They argued it conflicted with MA’s classical philosophy and noted that hygiene discussions for fifth-graders require parental permission. The committee removed the book from West Campus, placing it at East Campus for better alignment with middle school audiences.
  
• A parent found Cat Kid on Purpose by Dave Pilkey inappropriate for a third-grader after her sixth-grader raised concerns. She cited sections showing characters screaming and appearing on stage in underwear. She argued it conflicted with MA’s character-building values. The committee retained the book at West Campus, citing its positive teamwork, conflict resolution, and perseverance themes.
  
• A parent reviewed Cat Kid Collaboration by Dave Pilkey after reading Cat Kid on Purpose, citing similar concerns about detrimental character-building themes, including characters and parents screaming. The reviewer labeled the author’s message on “global sameness” and references to the deaths of Batman’s and Superman’s parents and Spider-Man’s uncle as adult topics. The committee retained the book at West Campus, highlighting its alignment with MA’s moral vision and positive themes.
  

Vice President Lindsay Clinton noted all the books were graphic novels and asked about future purchasing priorities. Librarian Kelly Huffman emphasized supporting teacher curriculum while addressing gaps in graphic novel series and ensuring balance. Graham clarified that the board votes only to override the committee’s recommendations, with a two-year wait before a book can be challenged again.

Additional policies discussed

The board reviewed and unanimously approved the following policies:

• 1500A Board of Directors Governance Policy renamed BA-MA; 1500B executive director renamed to CED-MA.
  
• JG-MA Enrollment and Placement: added a lottery process and aligned with D38’s proof of residency requirements.
  
• IKE-MA Promotion, Retention and Acceleration of Student: merged IKE and 1527 policies, added definitions, and aligned with MA’s mission and vision.
  
• KE-MA-E(1) Promotion, Retention and Acceleration of Student: retention form used in the IKE-MA policy.
  
• 1527 Student Retention: rescinded, as it merged with IKE-MA.
  
• IJ-MA Selection of Instructional Materials & Textbook Policy & Procedures: removed the statement requiring alignment with federal and state standards but emphasized monitoring standards through state/national assessments.
  
• IJ-MA-E Selection of Instructional Materials & Textbook Policy & Procedures: Governance Committee flagged rubric “Eduspeak” for clarification and requested an additional, parent-friendly rubric.
  

MA’s board policies can be found at http://bit.ly/ma-boarddocs

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

• Board member Craig Carle spotlighted the Monument Academy Gala team for their contributions.
  
• Finance Director Laura Polen reported that the February financials show that MA is well-positioned to meet bond ratios. She credited People Operations Director Krista Pelley for staffing projections and noted collaboration with the registrar on FTE enrollment tracking for budgeting.
  
• Graham requested the removal of the Highway 105 Committee report, as the work around West Campus is complete.
  
• Clinton reported that the Curriculum East Committee reviewed last month’s approved policy and proposed edits for a vote. It will present the History and Leadership rubrics to the board in May.
  
• Board member Jilinda Dygert said the Student Accountability and Advisory Committee (SAAC) for East Campus reviewed survey results and will share recommendations at the May board meeting. She urged parents to attend the final meeting on May 5, 3:30-5 p.m., or email saacsecondary@monumentacademy.net for details.
  
• The board heard a presentation on the upcoming graduation activities, reviewed the gala and other fundraising activities, got an update on the enrollment numbers, and reviewed progress on academic goals.
  
• The board approved a Reimbursement Resolution to reimburse itself for $15 million in capital expenses ahead of bond refinancing. Interim CFO Glenn Gustafson highlighted a $26 million balloon payment due June 2026 and plans to refinance $60 million in bonds to consolidate campus debt and fund East Campus projects.
  
• The board unanimously signed a letter to the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) demanding rules barring boys from competing in girls’ sports, warning of escalation to state and federal authorities if demands are unmet.
  
• After an executive session on property acquisition, the board approved a Letter of Intent to purchase Grace Best Education Center for $100,000, directing Vinchattle to present it to D38 Interim Superintendent Amber Whetstine.
  
• The board approved an updated Staff Handbook, incorporating audit-recommended wording on the Seven Tenets, revising Title IX and leave policies, and updating renamed policy references.
  
• Clinton announced that board applications closed in March with only one applicant, Craig Carle, eliminating the need for an election. The board unanimously re-elected Carle by acclamation.
  
• Graham shared a community letter on House Bill 25-1213, which mandates that MA accommodate students’ chosen names, pronouns, and cross-dressing, while defining misgendering and dead-naming as discriminatory. He urged families to engage by signing petitions, contacting officials, and preparing to testify. Graham stated that if Gov. Jared Polis signs the bill, the board will discuss next steps, but he encouraged a veto if Polis plans a presidential run.
  
• Vinchattle provided the board with a first draft of policy AEP-MA Educational Philosophy for its review. It describes MA’s philosophy and instructional approach and emphasizes parental involvement. The policy references several supporting documents.
  

**********

The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next regular board meeting will be on Thursday, May 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. The agenda and packet are available at bit.ly/ma-boarddocs.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Monument Academy School Board articles

• Monument Academy School Board, Jan. 15 – Board passes mid-year budget, selects bond counsel (2/4/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Dec. 11 – MA retains BB- credit rating (1/1/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Nov. 13 – Board hears audit, marketing updates (12/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Oct. 16 and 23 – Board appropriates ERTC funds (10/30/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Sept. 11 – Board selects marketing firm, transfers funds (10/2/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 14 and 25 – Board moves forward on facility plans, hears marketing proposal (9/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, July 17 – Board prioritizes marketing plan, passes policy on religious opt-outs (8/1/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, June 12, 27 – Board passes sports fairness policy, joins in suit against CHSAA (7/3/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, May 8, 9 and 29 – Board adjusts budget for low enrollment, anticipates tax credit revenue (6/7/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, April 10 and 24 – Proposed high school dress code draws concerns (5/3/2025)

• Board directs review to ferret out gender ideology
• Educational program update
• Discipline concerns
• Additional policies passed
• Highlights

By Jackie Burhans

The Monument Academy (MA) School Board held a special meeting on Feb. 26 to make another resolution on gender and hear from its consultant on its educational program. At its regular meeting on March 15, the board heard a parent’s concern about discipline and approved updated policies.

Board directs review to ferret out gender ideology

Board President Ryan Graham moved to adopt a resolution recognizing only two sexes and rejecting gender ideology. The resolution reiterates that the board supports natural law, moral truth, and protecting the innocence and safety of every student at MA. It also believes that there is a clear distinction between “sex” and “gender expression” or “gender identity.”

The resolution notes that the president of the United States, on Jan. 20, signed an executive order “defending women from gender ideology extremism and restoring biological truth to the federal government” and “Federal funds shall not be used to promote gender ideology” which puts at risk federal funding to this school should policy or practice fail to recognize and honor biological sex. Another executive order, signed on Jan. 29, titled “Ending radical indoctrination in K-12 schooling” declared the intent to eliminate federal funding for K-12 curriculum, instruction, programs, or activities in schools that even indirectly support the advancement of gender ideology or social transition of students.

Therefore, the resolution authorizes and directs the executive director (ED) to update any relevant administrative policy, procedures, facility agreements, and usage guidelines to be consistent with the knowledge that there are only two sexes and consistent with the right to privacy and security in restrooms and locker rooms and consistent with the right to fair competition in sports. It further directs that the ED ensure restrooms and locker rooms separate males and females and that males are not competing as females in sporting events and to decline to participate in sporting events when males may be competing as females for competing teams.

Graham then explained that this resolution rendered the JRT-MA Parental Rights policy null and void. The board unanimously approved the removal of this policy.

Parent Kristy Davis, who serves as vice president of the MA West PTO and serves on other MA committees and is the chapter chair for Moms for Liberty of El Paso County, expressed gratitude to MA for its continued dedication to upholding its mission statement and valuing parental rights.

Educational program update

Lis Richard of Helping Schools Thrive (HST) provided a training presentation on education principles, patterns, programs, and protection. MA hired HST in April 2024 to provide an operational audit, which resulted in a special meeting in October of the same year to share the results and to recommend that MA return to its charter foundations. See the November 2024 issue of OCN at https://wp.ocn.me/v24n11d38ma/.

Richard spoke of the seven tenets of education that MA should follow: Traditional, Classical, Character in Action, Caretakers of the language, American and Patriotic, Caretakers of the Mind, and School for the Arts. She said these are principles MA should stand on; if it didn’t, she had covered that in her audit. Richard noted that it broke her heart that MA’s secondary campus did not have a library, saying it was necessary to support a classical education with literature. She said she knew it was on MA’s radar.

She stated that the goal is to produce virtuous citizens with the ability and tools to think for themselves rather than robots who know rote memory facts. Richard said these principles are what MA should discuss rather than the lack of a gym or other things. She asserted, “There has been such a revival of classical education recently, and even Moms for Liberty and groups who stand for the past ideas of our country and embedding that into our young people—that is what all these groups are so passionate about because we have lost so much of the past.”

Richard spoke about the educational patterns that follow the principles. Referred to as trivium and assigned to grade levels since MA must conform to the public education system, she lists them as:

• Grammar—elementary school—the facts a student needs to be successful, including parts of speech, pronouns, nouns, spelling rules, and math facts.

• Logic—middle school—connecting knowledge to the world around them and engaging in narrative.

• Rhetoric—high school —thinking analytically and critically about the world, internalizing and synthesizing to determine where they might fit.

She said that MA wanted to develop an appreciation for truth, beauty, and goodness through field trips, community involvement, and literature and ideas that have stood the test of time. Libraries should not worry about the most popular contemporary author, as they may not align with MA’s principles, she said.

Richard noted that annual state assessments would monitor and measure objective standards, though MA would not teach to the standards or tests. She then described the education programs for preschool through eighth grade with its core knowledge sequence and ninth through 12th grade as a liberal arts program with vibrant leadership emphasis. She spoke of the benefits of vertical alignment.

Finally, she discussed education protection as being the responsibility of the School Board and executive director who needed to emphasize teaching how to learn rather than what to learn, ensuring teachers are held accountable for good instructional practices, keeping the target on core virtue implementation, supporting the library needs of each campus, protecting policies supporting education at MA, providing funding, and enabling annual staff training.

Discipline concerns

Justin Kaminsky, the spouse of an MA substitute teacher and the father of three MA students, said he was proud of the community and MA and what it stands for. He said that children come to MA for the fundamental purpose of transitioning them from their happy homes to the expanses of the real world. He noted that MA buildings are training centers for challenged thinking, broadening experiences, and the realization of accountability they will be held to.

In light of recent events that allege serious physical harm to students, Kaminsky stated that the majority of parents supported and encouraged discipline. There are consequences when discipline is not maintained. He urged those in charge of disciplinary hearings, including the executive director, to enforce parental expectations and honor MA’s handbook rules, which say that qualifying for expulsion includes behavior on- or off-property detrimental to the welfare or safety of students or school personnel. Likewise, he noted that the handbook says that the commission of one of these offenses, if committed by an adult, would qualify as assault under Colorado Statutes and should be direct grounds for expulsion.

Kaminsky stated that parents do not want MA to continue using resources for undue charity toward people threatening the growth and transition he alluded to earlier. He said if MA continues to hold young women and men accountable as children, they will stay children and that one day they will all hopefully be accountable men and women.

Additional policies passed

The following policies, reviewed at the Feb. 26 meeting, were brought back for a second reading on March 13 and were unanimously approved by the board:

• IJ-MA Selection of Instructional Materials and Textbook Policy and Procedures.

• IJ-MA-E Selection of Instructional Materials and Textbook Policy and Procedures.

Executive Director Collin Vinchattle said the previous rubric was too broad and he had sought feedback from the community on improving the tiers.

• GBK-MA-E Staff Grievance and Conflict Resolution. This is a form to be filled out by the employee presenting the grievance.

• KE-MA Student/Family Conflict Resolution. This was formerly policy 1518B.

• KE-MA-E Student/Family Conflict Resolution. This is a form to be filled out by the complainant.

MA’s board policies can be found at http://bit.ly/ma-boarddocs.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

• Board member Craig Carle spotlighted MA’s registrar, Lena Gross, and assistant registrar, Amanda Bennett, for their hard work registering families for the upcoming school year. Bennett created streamlined processes, he said, supporting families with questions and making MA a welcoming place.
• Finance Director Laura Polen highlighted January financials, showing positive income across all three schools and detailed reports for each campus and fund. She expressed optimism about receiving Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) funds. Interim Chief Financial Officer Glenn Gustafson shared that while he sought Rep. Jeff Crank’s assistance, progress with the IRS might remain slow.
• Gustafson described the state budget as gloomy, citing voter-approved reallocation of $300 million to law enforcement without new taxes, forcing cuts in other areas. Proposed reductions include reducing enrollment averaging for schools with declining numbers, and cutting optional state grants, fifth-year programs, and homeschool enrichment funding. He plans to present a draft budget in April when there’s more clarity.
• Board member Matt Ross shared recommendations from the West Campus School Advisory and Accountability Committee parent survey. Parents raised concerns about fifth-grade academic rigor, requested greater club involvement, and questioned the effectiveness of the Capturing Kids’ Hearts program. They urged the board to implement urgent text notifications and expressed strong interest in enhancing lunch options.
• Vinchattle announced updates to the staff handbook, incorporating MA’s operational audit recommendations and details on its educational philosophy. Revisions include policy numbers, personal appearance guidelines, and field trip language. Awaiting legal review, he requested the board delay approval until the April meeting.
• The board unanimously approved changes to the 2024-25 calendar, extending half-day Fridays in April to full days to compensate for snow days and a plumbing issue. If more days are needed, eLearning days will be considered. It also approved updates to the 2024-25 and 2025-26 calendars, finalizing the last day for staff.
• The board unanimously approved hiring a leadership teacher and revising the secondary school administrative assistant job description. Vinchattle acknowledged he had overlooked these changes, which aim to enhance principal support.
• The board unanimously approved an hourly payment proposal for HST to train the board and staff and evaluate MA’s progress on its audit recommendations.
• Graham reported that the board’s legal counsel was still drafting a letter of intent to D38 for the potential purchase of the Grace Best Education Center. He noted community questions and assured that, if D38 accepted the letter, MA would have time to conduct due diligence with its inspectors.

**********

The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next regular board meeting will be on Thursday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/ma-boe;; for the agenda and packet, see https://bit.ly/ma-boarddocs.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Monument Academy School Board articles

• Monument Academy School Board, Jan. 15 – Board passes mid-year budget, selects bond counsel (2/4/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Dec. 11 – MA retains BB- credit rating (1/1/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Nov. 13 – Board hears audit, marketing updates (12/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Oct. 16 and 23 – Board appropriates ERTC funds (10/30/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Sept. 11 – Board selects marketing firm, transfers funds (10/2/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 14 and 25 – Board moves forward on facility plans, hears marketing proposal (9/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, July 17 – Board prioritizes marketing plan, passes policy on religious opt-outs (8/1/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, June 12, 27 – Board passes sports fairness policy, joins in suit against CHSAA (7/3/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, May 8, 9 and 29 – Board adjusts budget for low enrollment, anticipates tax credit revenue (6/7/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, April 10 and 24 – Proposed high school dress code draws concerns (5/3/2025)

• Intent to purchase Grace Best
• Homeschool enrichment program update
• Proposed aerospace program
• Additional modulars approved
• Highlights

By Jackie Burhans

At the Monument Academy (MA) board meeting on Feb. 13, the board agreed to draft a letter of intent to purchase the Grace Best Education Center building. It heard an update on its Homeschool Enrichment Program, learned about a proposed aerospace program, and approved new modular buildings.

Intent to purchase Grace Best

At the beginning of its regular meeting, the board amended its agenda to add an item for “negotiations for real property” to the executive session. When the board returned from the executive session, board President Ryan Graham said the board saw an incredible opportunity to potentially partner with D38 and utilize Grace Best for some of MA’s programs. He moved that the board direct legal counsel to draft a letter of intent to purchase Grace Best and have Executive Director Collin Vinchattle contact the D38 administration team to advise it of MA’s interest.

The board unanimously passed the motion, and Graham said that MA would still have a due diligence opportunity to inspect and review the findings with Grace Best but would like to use the facility for MA programs. See the PCAC article on page < 6 >.

Homeschool enrichment program update

At the beginning of the meeting, Graham read two public comments submitted electronically from parents who praised the Monument Academy Homeschool Partnership (MAHP) program. They said it provided the opportunity to socialize, gave access to reading and math tests and field trips, and was a great supplement to homeschooling.

Vinchattle said they had been planning for 15 students in the first year of MAHP and were currently at 35 and looking to grow next year. He said MA had adjusted so it could accommodate 108 students at the K-5 grade levels. MA has been marketing at events like the school choice fair and was looking to create relationships to offer classes at small businesses. Graham said he had the opportunity to meet with Program Manager Janyse Skalla to catch up.

For more information on MA’s homeschool enrichment program, see https://www.monumentacademy.net/homeschool/.

Proposed aerospace program

Vinchattle introduced the Falcon Aerolab Program for preliminary discussion, saying that he hoped to bring a contract to the board in March. He said the program focuses on flying and aeronautical offerings such as drones, mechanics, and understanding flight. MA is looking to bring the program to high school students. More information on the program can be found at https://www.falconaerolab.org/.

Additional modulars approved

Vinchattle reviewed the opportunity to acquire up to three modular units from D20, noting they could be used for High Performance Program (HPP) students or other new or existing programs and storage for athletic or drama equipment.

Interim Chief Financial Officer Glenn Gustafson said the cost for each modular would be $1, but they would cost $15,000 to $20,000 to move and would need carpet, paint, ramps, and electricity. Vinchattle said that it had cost $120,000 to $150,000 for the infrastructure for the existing modulars but that it should be a little less for this new set.

Gustafson said portables provide schools with flexibility and that it was critical that MA could expand as it builds programs for the school. This would give new program capacity and provide temporary space during capital construction. He said that if MA refinances its bond and starts construction in summer 2025, it would take one year to 15 months to complete. MA would need space to accommodate kids since it would need additional students to pay for the debt on the bond refinancing.

Vinchattle said the work would start in the next fiscal year, and he would designate Operations Manager Jake Dicus to take the lead on the project and secure bids.

The board unanimously approved the budget to acquire and set up three modular units.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

• Board member Craig Carle spotlighted MA’s preschool team, including preschool teachers and assistants Anaya Hagger, Asha Nada, Sydney Heher, Stephanie Pontius, Brittany Robertson, Jeanette Tanguma, and Dyann Wenckus. Carle said a fellow staff member nominated the group, noting that the preschool had just completed its annual Colorado Department of Education licensing. He said the teachers use daily checklists and had worked hard to build enrollment, recently completing an inspection with zero violations.
• Vinchattle said that MA was starting to run low on snow days, with only 2.5 left at secondary school. His first choice would be to transition to full days on Fridays, then to e-learning days.
• Finance Director Laura Polen reported that net income was positive at elementary, middle, and high school.
• Board member Jilinda Dygert reported for the East Campus School Accountability and Advisory Committee (SAAC) that MA had hosted Dr. Michael Brom, the D38 assessment coordinator, for a presentation on student assessments. Parents reported feeling more prepared to help their students prepare for a college career. She said SAAC East hopes to offer more informational nights.
• Vice President Lindsay Clinton reported that the Resources and Development Committee was focused on the upcoming gala event, which would raise funds for a field for athletes, field day, and community events.
• The board unanimously approved the 2025-26 school calendar and the proposed 2026-27 school calendar for preschool, elementary, and high school.
• The board approved the BTR-MA Teacher Representative to the Board. It was renamed from policy 1515, and the reference from chief executive officer to executive director was changed. Graham asked if there were any incentives for teachers to participate; Vinchattle said no, it was optional.
• The board unanimously approved policy JCS-MA (formerly 1523) Class Size, adding a limit of 15 students for half-day kindergarten and 18 for full-day kindergarten.
• The board unanimously approved changing JG-MA Enrollment and Placement policy to move the cutoff date to Oct. 1 from Aug. 15 to match D38. Bryce Carlson of Miller Farmer Carlson Law, the school’s law firm, added proof of residency requirements and additional reasons for enrollment denial.
• The board unanimously approved modifications to MA’s Bylaws in section 2.1, defining members to include each parent of a child currently enrolled in MA’s traditional brick-and-mortar program.
• Vinchattle reported that the HPP oversight committee had met twice and was focused on better understanding but was leaning toward a flexible model that would have the opportunity to gain the greatest number of students.
• Clinton noted that the School Board election applications would remain open until the end of March.

**********

The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next regular board meeting will be on Thursday, March 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/ma-boe;; for the agenda and packet, see https://bit.ly/ma-boarddocs.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Monument Academy School Board articles

• Monument Academy School Board, Jan. 15 – Board passes mid-year budget, selects bond counsel (2/4/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Dec. 11 – MA retains BB- credit rating (1/1/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Nov. 13 – Board hears audit, marketing updates (12/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Oct. 16 and 23 – Board appropriates ERTC funds (10/30/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Sept. 11 – Board selects marketing firm, transfers funds (10/2/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 14 and 25 – Board moves forward on facility plans, hears marketing proposal (9/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, July 17 – Board prioritizes marketing plan, passes policy on religious opt-outs (8/1/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, June 12, 27 – Board passes sports fairness policy, joins in suit against CHSAA (7/3/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, May 8, 9 and 29 – Board adjusts budget for low enrollment, anticipates tax credit revenue (6/7/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, April 10 and 24 – Proposed high school dress code draws concerns (5/3/2025)

• Bond refinancing discussed
• High-Performance Plan revisited
• Action plan
• Highlights

By Jackie Burhans

Monument Academy (MA) held a work session on Jan. 6 where it discussed bond refinancing, the proposed high-performance program, and board bylaws. At the Monument Academy (MA) regular meeting on Jan. 9, the board voted on the High-Performance Program (HPP) and heard from the executive director about his action plan.

Bond refinancing discussed

At its Jan. 6 work session, Interim Chief Financial Officer Glenn Gustafson reminded the board that MA has a $27.7 million balloon payment or “bullet” coming due in April 2026 for its 2019 bonds for the East Campus and that it would have to refinance that debt. Although he was initially very critical of this financing, bond underwriters told him it was a very common structure because entities are reluctant to issue 30-year bonds when unsure if a school will succeed. He said this financing structure was an industry norm, although no one anticipated that the market would go from low to high interest as it has.

Gustafson noted that the 2014 bonds cover the West Campus while the 2019 bonds cover the East Campus, and MA is required to account for them separately. Each school is responsible for its own bond. He noted that MA has a couple of alternatives.

MA could pay off the 2019 bond with a longer-term issue of up to 40 years to lower debt service. However, this would not yield much in the way of construction funds. Gustafson noted that MA’s West Campus has a lot of equity. MA could cross-collateralize and use that equity to subsidize the East Campus. MA would not have two sets of bond compliance rules, as only one bond issue would exist. He liked that idea because it fits the “One MA” notion.

MA asked the firm that initially built the East Campus to cost out a new academic wing, athletic facilities, fine arts facilities, and additional cafeteria space. Gustafson noted that the total cost would depend on what MA picked but that it could not afford everything. He said that once MA issued bonds it was locked in for 10 years and could not go back to the market for more money.

Timing-wise, Gustafson said MA was in a high-stakes game of poker and needed to hit its bond ratios as of June 30. He said MA had always had the required 45 days of cash on hand but had never hit its debt service ratios based on the East Campus’s net income. He said that the finance team has been targeting these two ratios and was on track, but MA can’t spend more money. He said it is a pass/fail test, and the budget is built to achieve that depending on the amount of fundraising from the gala and other efforts. The better MA’s financial position, the lower the interest rates would be, he said. Although the state has a moral obligation program that would guarantee the loan, MA’s finances would have to be much better to qualify.

Gustafson referred to the packet that analyzed eight scenarios with various interest rates and terms, the impact on debt service, and the number of students MA would need to add to pay the debt service. He noted that the board would have the moral obligation to pay the bondholders whether or not they have the students, even if they have to cut staff or pay. If MA were to default on the bond, he said, they would never again be able to issue bonds. He noted that MA needs 12 more kids at the West Campus, which should be no problem. He said that, depending on the amortization schedule, MA might be able to raise $25 million for construction, but its capital plan is $32 million, so it would need to come up with grants or fundraising. If MA could raise $25 million, it would need to add 213 kids to East Campus. He said the new facilities could attract kids, and they would have to do a lot of marketing. The proposed HPP could help to add kids, but they would be counted as 0.7 full-time equivalent students.

Gustafson said MA had about 13 months to pull the trigger. Interest rates should fall in the spring, and the fall audit would show whether MA had met its bond ratios. This timing would allow MA to issue bonds and begin construction to open the new facilities in August 2027, he said.

High-Performance Plan revisited

At the Jan. 6 work session, the board returned to the proposed HPP they had discussed in November. See https://wp.ocn.me/v24n12d38ma. The HPP is a program to educate students developing athletic and creative skills at the highest levels who need more flexibility.

Vladislav “Izzy” Izboinikov, the program’s founder, returned to provide additional information and answer questions. He felt the timing was perfect and could generate numbers to offset the additional students needed. He offered to commit to between 50 and 75 kids, depending on how committed MA is to making the program grow.

The board discussed the size of the pool of students who might be interested, the concern that this might distract from MA’s efforts to return to its charter, and the impact on teachers, among other concerns. Izboinikov said the pool was smaller than Denver but not too small. Executive Director Collin Vinchattle noted that his action plan focused on the academic vision and the curriculum, which would be the same for HPP with some added flexibility. Izboinikov said there would be a learning curve, but he didn’t see a huge spike in what teachers must do. Vinchattle said MA had foundational pieces in place and that teachers already work with the Canvas system that HPP uses and already are flexible with students who take long vacations or miss classes for athletics.

After additional discussion about whether equipment would be needed, getting feedback from teachers, the need for more portables, and adjusting the proposed agreement, the board directed Vinchattle to bring the topic back to the regular meeting with the requested information.

At the Jan. 9 regular meeting, Vinchattle said he was in favor of HPP, feeling that it would be beneficial to MA and aligned with its vision by providing a high level of education to marginalized students who, because they were pursuing their skill in one area were being limited in their education. He reported that he spoke to high school teachers who said it was work they do for all students who miss class and thought it was a neat program. They did express that science labs might take more work, as would Socratic discussions, but teachers felt they could make it work. Vinchattle noted that the program would have a liaison, and that MA would dictate how the program was structured. He said that MA would create an oversight committee and asked the board to provide direction to proceed with building the program model.

The board unanimously voted to approve the HPP direction and creation of an oversight committee.

Action plan

At its Jan. 6 work session and again on Jan. 9, the board heard from Vinchattle about his action plan to address issues raised by MA’s organizational audit. See previous articles at https://wp.ocn.me/v24n11d38ma/ and https://wp.ocn.me/v24n12d38ma.

Board President Ryan Graham said this had been in the works and had been created by Vinchattle and the leadership forum. Vinchattle noted that the leadership forum came together after the organization audit performed by Lis Richard and created an action plan with action steps. Graham said the board had discussed using this as the strategic plan and asked if it would be uploaded to the website. Vinchattle said it would be uploaded to the board page.

The board unanimously voted to approve the action plan as presented to be the strategic plan.

The strategic plan and action steps can be found https://www.monumentacademy.net/school-board/.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

• Board member Jilinda Dygert reported that the School Accountability and Advisory Committee for East Campus met on Dec. 16 and discussed the parent survey, which closed on Jan. 21. The next meeting on Feb. 3 will focus on survey results and teacher evaluations. Dr. Michael Brom, Lewis-Palmer District 38 Coordinator of Assessment and Accountability, presented on Jan. 28 about the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS).
• The board unanimously approved minor edits to its bylaws to update the title of chief operating officer to executive director and to add the Simbli platform where MA hosts its board documents as a location for record storage. MA board documents can be found at https://bit.ly/ma-boarddocs.
• The board unanimously voted to change the number of voting directors from 7 to 5, which means the board election will have one position to fill.
• The board modified its calendar to remove a proposed retreat on Jan. 17 and set 6 p.m. as its start time for the work session on Feb. 27 at the East Campus. Board Vice President Lindsay Clinton said she would start pushing out information about eligibility requirement and the application deadline.

**********

The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next regular board meeting will be on Thursday, Feb. 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/ma-boe;; for the agenda and packet, see https://bit.ly/ma-boarddocs.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Monument Academy articles

• Monument Academy School Board, Jan. 15 – Board passes mid-year budget, selects bond counsel (2/4/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Dec. 11 – MA retains BB- credit rating (1/1/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Nov. 13 – Board hears audit, marketing updates (12/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Oct. 16 and 23 – Board appropriates ERTC funds (10/30/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Sept. 11 – Board selects marketing firm, transfers funds (10/2/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 14 and 25 – Board moves forward on facility plans, hears marketing proposal (9/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, July 17 – Board prioritizes marketing plan, passes policy on religious opt-outs (8/1/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, June 12, 27 – Board passes sports fairness policy, joins in suit against CHSAA (7/3/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, May 8, 9 and 29 – Board adjusts budget for low enrollment, anticipates tax credit revenue (6/7/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, April 10 and 24 – Proposed high school dress code draws concerns (5/3/2025)

• Dashboard presentation
• Board signs agreement with PPBEA
• Updated policies
• Mid-year budget
• Highlights

By Jackie Burhans

At the Monument Academy (MA) regular meeting on Dec. 17, the board heard an academic dashboard presentation, updated board policies, signed an agreement on career-connected learning, and discussed the mid-year budget.

Dashboard presentation

Jennifer Strawbridge of Analytical Discoveries connected remotely to present two quarters of academic dashboards. She reviewed data from the fourth quarter of the 2023-24 school year because they didn’t get to it last year, followed by the first quarter of the 2024-25 school year. She expressed appreciation to all the staff.

Strawbridge covered the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) results for first through fifth grade, indicating that the goal was to see a larger percentage of students at or above benchmarks. She noted that, even though it had plateaued, there was an improvement for fifth grade at the end of the year. She noted that third through eighth grade reading scores were much improved from the beginning of the 2023-24 school year and that math was very similar, although there was a lot of catching up to do from the COVID impact on a national basis.

She also covered the North West Evaluation Association (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) results, looking at growth target attainment and pointing out that eighth grade looked really good.

For behavior data, the unduplicated behavior counts were too low to be publicly reportable for elementary, middle, and high school. This, she said, was reflective of a school with a strong culture of positive behavior.

For the 2024-25 school year, she reported on both DIBELS and the NWEA MAP results. Board President Ryan Graham asked about the cause for low second-grade scores. Strawbridge noted that she did not have a national comparison and that COVID would not have impacted these students, so she wasn’t exactly sure. Still, she said that the NWEA exams change in second grade from what was seen in kindergarten and first grade. She noted that behavior data was too low to be publicly reportable again.

Executive Director Collin Vinchattle said there would be dashboard reports after each quarter, with testing in January and the next presentation in February. Graham asked him his opinion on reading and math scores. Vinchattle said that different issues come up. First grade will see a dip in scores due to new tests and skills. The second-grade scores indicated that focusing on reading took away from focusing on testing. He suggested that the transition between first and second grade would be an area to focus on, and the same is true at the fifth-grade level.

Board signs agreement with PPBEA

Graham introduced a proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Pikes Peak Business and Education Alliance (PPBEA). PPBEA provides services in the El Paso County region to work with schools by supporting career-connected learning through tools, resources, and opportunities for internships.

Vinchattle noted that providing internships was part of the original charter for high school juniors. Board member Craig Carle connected them with this resource, he said. PPBEA has partnerships with over 500 area businesses and has an intern program. The MOU was reviewed by Brad Miller, MA’s legal counsel, who had some comments on background checks and dealing with personal information.

Board member Karen Hoida asked if MA needed additional insurance; Vinchattle said students could be added to the MA’s worker compensation plan and that the businesses would also carry insurance. Vinchattle said there would be three years to investigate the details of internships for juniors. However, in the next two years, the focus would be on understanding what colleges seek regarding work experience connections and bringing community members into the school. He noted that PPBEA had partnered with Districts 11, 20, and 49 for some time.

The board unanimously approved the MOU.

Updated policies

The board considered and approved a number of policies as follows:

• DB-MA annual budget—Chief Financial Officer Glenn Gustafson noted that this was an approved policy with proposed additions of small contingency funds for each school, which will be reported monthly.
• GBJA-MA disclosure of information to prospective employees—Vinchattle forwarded the policy to Bryce Carlson of the Miller Carlson law firm who rewrote the policy to indicate that MA would refrain from providing information to employers or anyone requesting teacher records as much as possible unless it was about a safety issue for students.

Monument Academy board policies can be found once they are posted at www.monumentacademy.net/school-board/ by selecting the Board Policies link.

Mid-year budget

Gustafson provided a brief presentation of the mid-year budget for approval, noting that there had been a line-by-line discussion in the previous board meeting. He said the Colorado Department of Education has lowered the per pupil revenue by $43; therefore, he reduced the projected revenue by $11,000 while increasing other fundraising and interest line items to bring the budget back in balance. Gustafson said there was still a possibility for a supplemental appropriation but was not optimistic as the state budget is tight.

Gustafson reviewed his experience with MA’s budget since he started in 2023, saying that this is a budget MA can be proud of, which is resourcing MA’s mission and taking care of students and staff.

The board unanimously approved the mid-year budget.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

• Board member Craig Carle spotlighted Librarian Kelly Huffman and Assistant Librarian Linh Kuo for enriching the library resources available to students and staff, implementing a successful book fair with a new company, fostering a love of learning, and providing input into the new library review process meant to increase the alignment between the library and MA’s educational pursuits.
• Vinchattle provided an updated action plan to address MA’s recent operational audit recommendations. He thanked the leadership team who helped expand the action steps, focusing on resources, barriers, timelines, and responsibilities. Graham suggested the board review the plan and bring it back to the proposed workshop and regular meetings in January.
• Finance Director Laura Polen presented the October financials using a new template, saying the information would be posted on MA’s financial transparency page. She indicated that the Internal Revenue Service is processing the Employee Retention Tax Credit, but there is a backlog of 1 million claims. Gustafson said MA had filed a request with Rep. Doug Lamborn, who responded immediately and said he will investigate this and turn it over to incoming Rep. Jeff Crank.
• Board Vice President Lindsay Clinton said the Curriculum East Committee had discussed the curriculum map and pacing guide.
• Board member Matt Ross said the School Accountability and Advisory Committee (SAAC) West committee held a well-attended meeting where Polen presented a budget update and Operations Manager Jake Dicus presented on security.
• Board member Jilinda Dygert said that SAAC East met to finalize the mid-year survey questions, noting there would only be one survey this year, which will be distributed electronically.
• Clinton reported that the Resource and Development Committee was moving full steam ahead with gala planning and marketing. Sponsors are confirmed, and ticket sales are going up, she said. She also noted that Dicus was spending a lot of time researching grants.

**********

The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next board workshop will be on Monday, Jan. 6, at 4 p.m. at the East Campus. The next regular board meeting will be on Thursday, Jan. 9, at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/ma-boe.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Monument Academy articles

• Monument Academy School Board, Jan. 15 – Board passes mid-year budget, selects bond counsel (2/4/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Dec. 11 – MA retains BB- credit rating (1/1/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Nov. 13 – Board hears audit, marketing updates (12/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Oct. 16 and 23 – Board appropriates ERTC funds (10/30/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Sept. 11 – Board selects marketing firm, transfers funds (10/2/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 14 and 25 – Board moves forward on facility plans, hears marketing proposal (9/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, July 17 – Board prioritizes marketing plan, passes policy on religious opt-outs (8/1/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, June 12, 27 – Board passes sports fairness policy, joins in suit against CHSAA (7/3/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, May 8, 9 and 29 – Board adjusts budget for low enrollment, anticipates tax credit revenue (6/7/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, April 10 and 24 – Proposed high school dress code draws concerns (5/3/2025)

• Organizational audit context
• Detailed organizational audit
• Executive director action plan
• High performance program described
• Highlights

By Jackie Burhans

The Monument Academy (MA) board held two meetings in November. Its first meeting on Nov. 18 consisted solely of an executive session for legal advice regarding matters related to contract compliance, policies, and human resources matters regarding administrator roles and responsibilities of school and central office leaders. No action was taken on return from the executive session.

At its regular meeting on Nov. 21, the board set the context of its organization audit, heard a more detailed presentation, and discussed the executive director’s action plan. The board also listened to a proposal for a proposed high-performance program.

Organizational audit context

Board President Ryan Graham read a prepared narrative explaining that after hiring Collin Vinchattle as executive director (ED) in May of this year, the MA board contracted with Helping Schools Thrive LLC (HST) to provide an extensive audit of the school’s academics, operations, and governance based on the school’s charter and philosophy documents.

The goal, he said, was to help the board and the ED to have a clear understanding of where the school finds success and to identify areas to improve. This information is invaluable to creating a strategic plan, and it’s worth noting, he said, that placing blame has never been the focus or goal of this audit.

He quoted Jim Collins, author of From Good to Great, saying the difference comes from avoiding complacency and loss of identity and instead remaining laser-focused on an organization’s foundational core or center. Graham noted that MA’s academic and philosophical components were, in essence, its constitution as described in its charter application. The documents put forth MA’s values and distinguishing attributes; all MA policies and practices should stem from it, he said. As a result of the audit, MA has a call to action, Graham said.

He said that moving forward, MA’s goal is to realign the school in every way with its foundational academic and philosophical components. Graham noted that MA will re-establish and maintain proper order within its organization, ensuring that any proposed changes are supported by the direction outlined in its charter and that current practices not in alignment will be removed. He acknowledged that MA has seen at least nine turnovers in top leadership positions in the past seven years, which has caused unease, confusion, a lack of consistency, and a lack of trust.

Graham acknowledged the need for a renewed focus on academic achievement and philosophical alignment, which the board had not clearly understood. There has been a sense of the “tyranny of the urgent” in recent years with a focus on protecting MA from legislative attacks as well as financial burdens, Graham claimed.

Graham declared that MA would achieve a charter and educational philosophy alignment on both campuses, prioritize academic achievement and excellence, and return to clearly defining what distinguishes and makes MA different. MA will build a culture of trust and leadership, he said, focusing on measures to retain and build on its current and future student body and bring clarity and simplicity back to MA’s traditional and classical approach. Graham said that MA is in a solid and stable position as it approaches its 30th year but has the potential to achieve excellence. He thanked everyone who participated in the audit.

Detailed organizational audit

Graham then introduced Lis Richard, lead consultant for HST, and reviewed her extensive experience in education. Richard, who previously served as the principal of Monument Academy, was chosen, Graham said, because of her background and knowledge of MA.

At a special meeting on Oct. 24, Richard delivered a summary of her internal review audit. See https://wp.ocn.me/v24n11d38ma/ for more information.

Richard thanked the board, noting that it had had comfortable and uncomfortable discussions. She said the board had genuine hearts and a deep desire to understand. She gave kudos to Vinchattle, who she called a special leader, and expressed gratitude that the board picked a leader from within. Richard said she would cover history, lessons learned, and the purpose of the audit and then delve into academics, operations, and governance, ending with concluding remarks.

MA was started in 1995 by a group of parents. It had humble beginnings and a pioneer spirit, Richard noted. Over time, MA moved from a dentist-owned building to its West Campus and added clubs, sports, football, cheerleading, dance, drama, and orchestra. Those were exciting times, and enrollment kept moving forward. She said what was unique about MA was parent participation, input, and trust. The curriculum was the choice of the school rather than the district, and MA chose the Core Knowledge (CK) sequence with an emphasis on core virtues. There were high expectations for students and staff, class size was small, and student achievement was notably higher than MA’s counterparts, Richard recalled.

Regarding lessons learned, Richard said that a great education does not require first-class facilities or new textbooks. She said that magic happens in the classroom with the right curriculum, teaching method, and relationships at home. It requires that staff have ongoing professional development that excites and energizes them in the mission and philosophy, she said. Success brings hope, and hope brings new students, Richard said. She noted that MA had some wonderful leaders but has struggled with leadership turnover that is higher than the state average. She said that the charter environment is very challenging and underpaid.

Richard said the audit aimed to examine academics, operations, and governance, comparing current practices and policies to the original intent of the charter and philosophy documents and offering the board and leadership some tangible reflection and resources. In addition to Richard, the audit team included HST employee Barbara Montoya as the evaluator on site and Andy Franko of the Minga Education Group who focused on operations.

For academics, Richard focused on philosophy, instructional policies, curriculum, and discipline. She reiterated that staff and leadership have only a basic understanding of MA’s philosophy and did not receive annual training. Grades 6 through 12 have a core method of instructional practice, and teachers are evaluated and expected to improve. High school staff are new to the program, and elementary school is in the adoption phase. For curriculum, her greatest area of concern was pre-kindergarten through fifth grade where many supplemental materials do not align with CK. There is strong CK implementation at the secondary level, she said, but the arts program could better follow the CK sequence and needs more budgetary support.

There is no annual training on CK for new teachers and leadership, she noted. For discipline, MA has adopted Capturing Kids Hearts, which has the support of school leadership, but it is not fully supported by all staff, and parents question its effectiveness.

Richard touched on teacher support, student achievement, and character development. Teacher support is critical to retention, professional development is lacking, teaching teams are functional but siloed, and there is no solid method for teacher improvement and ongoing coaching, she said. It is a work in progress, she said, noting that there is no instructional coaching and that while collegiality and teamwork are great, teachers do not make enough money, earning 20% less than their peers. For student achievement, Richard recommended student assessments be given once students are admitted and given to their incoming teacher. She said there is no accountability method for using assessment data with students and parents, and its purpose is unclear in preschool.

MA’s elementary school is no longer competitive with other district schools, but they are working on it, she noted. The middle school is in the upper quadrant of success but has room to improve, while the high school has performed very well in the few years it has existed.

Finally, while character development was called out as MA’s most distinguishing trait, Richard noted that most schools have a program for this. MA uses Character First in elementary school, while the secondary school has the Peak System (like Harry Potter houses) to build camaraderie and uses the Leadworthy program from Capturing Kids Hearts. It would benefit all stakeholders to see the character of the month, have parent resources posted online, and have a method of accountability for teacher implementation, she said.

Concerning Operations, Richard reported that MA has more than adequate space for Pre-K through fifth grade, with lots of empty, unused space at the West Campus. Space is needed at the secondary level. MA should consider staffing for kindergarten support, fine arts at the secondary level, and content-specific teachers at the high school. Class size needs to be addressed, especially in kindergarten and core classes; MA is very aware of this and is working on it, she said. Richard noted that Monument and Palmer Lake saw a 67% population growth from 2010 to 2021, while MA saw a 34.5% increase in those 10 years primarily by adding more grades. However, the average grade size had dipped. Adding grades also adds expenses in teachers, infrastructure, and debt, she noted.

Richard encouraged parents to support staff as they focus on MA’s foundations and move from good to excellent. She said MA is on a path to becoming the best school in the state. All stakeholders should learn to articulate MA’s programs, philosophy, and core virtues, she said. Richard recommended that MA focus on enrollment, highlight MA’s distinguishing traits, and stabilize its leadership.

Governance is about the board, Richard noted, saying that the board is made up of parents who are dedicated to the success of the school. They are willing to learn and have been doing their best, she said. Richard said that when she left MA, she left thumb drives and notebooks with information, but her mistake was not getting the school philosophy into policy. She said board responsibilities should be reviewed annually, new member training should be consistent, and the board needs a better understanding of governing by policy and setting direction. She noted that specific policies need addressing, and there should be a standard procedure for reviewing policies, which is underway. An academic philosophy policy that includes penmanship is needed, and teacher representatives to the board should be inducted, she said. The board is firmly committed to stabilizing the right leadership, which is now in place, Richard said.

Overall, Richard noted that academics has some red (bad), governance has a little red, and operations is green (good) and yellow (needs work). The MA board is aware of the audit results and is working on addressing all the issues, she said. The next steps are in place. She encouraged the stakeholders to tap into the pioneer spirit and support all efforts to move forward.

Executive director action plan

Vinchattle thanked HST and all who participated in the audit. He provided a preliminary action plan to the board for approval, changes, and adjustments. He proposed that 12 stakeholders, staff, parents, administrators, and student advisors meet in early December to create action steps, which he will bring to the board. The initial focus would be on educational philosophy and implementing policies to inform training and curriculum decisions, he said.

The board expressed support for the audit and for MA’s leadership and unanimously approved tonight’s action steps and directed Vinchattle to present the final action plan in December.

High performance program described

Franko, who, through his company Minga Education Group, provides services to charters and the choice sector, introduced Vladislav “Izzy” Izboinikov as instrumental in founding and developing the High Performance Program (HPP). The program started in D49 in the Springs Studio for Academic Excellence (SSAE), a blended learning environment. SSAE offers HPP, a hybrid program to educate students developing athletic and creative skills at the highest level. Izboinikov serves as the program coordinator. For more information, see https://ssae.d49.org/school-info/high-performance-program-hpp.

Franko explained that HPP is looking to expand into brick-and-mortar schools and that MA has some unique characteristics that make this an opportune time to consider the program. HPP shares its name with a program at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) program that provides resources and funding to national sports governing bodies to ensure competitiveness.

Franko said new opportunities within Colorado public education funding allow for an alternative instruction model. This allows the school to provide online or hybrid education without going to the state Board of Education to achieve multi- or single-district online certifications. Franko said Vinchattle noted that several students at MA fit this model.

Franko proposed developing the program by working with organizations like USA Wrestling, USA Boxing, USA Hockey, and others to bring whole teams into it. MA is unique, he said, because the Tri-Lakes area has many club sports and different opportunities for students to achieve at a high level, requiring a lot of travel and training during the school day.

He said his organization, Izboinikov, and an implementation specialist would work with MA’s team to develop the program. He noted there is room for increased enrollment but a need to be flexible with the space in the school. Students in the HPP program would not have the same space obligations as a typical student. He said he had met with the Daniels Fund, a state-based nonprofit that provides opportunities for public education and amateur sports, and it is interested in partnering on this. Franko said they are seeking funding from Daniels to incubate this program at brick-and-mortar schools.

Board member Karen Hoida wondered how HPP might impact MA’s direction of realigning its curriculum to its charter. Franko said the goal is to provide the same core instruction in an alternative structure. Hoida also asked if Minga Education Group would get 10% of the per pupil revenue (PPR) for 50 students even if they only enrolled two or three. Franko said they would only get 10% of the PPR for enrolled students and confirmed that HPP students would be funded at 100% of PPR.

Board member Jilinda Dygert asked what age ranges were covered. Franko said the program doesn’t work well at the elementary level and can work at middle school, but he expects the demand to be at the high school level.

Graham expressed concern that this not add to the current teacher workload. Franko said he identified the need for on-site staffing and the cost of facilitating the program. The director role and the implementation specialist would work with the leadership team. The director would work with partner programs. These positions would be funded via the 10% of PPR.

Board member Craig Carle asked if MA could limit the number of kids accepted into the program if MA runs into space limitations. Franko said there would be lots of flexibility, and the focus would be on partners looking for organizations close to where they are training. Board Vice President Lindsay Clinton asked if Minga’s staff would also attend training in MA’s philosophy. Franko said the goal is to work closely with staff to understand the academic piece.

Graham noted that the intent was not to take action but to get consensus on whether the board would ask Vinchattle and Interim Chief Financial Officer Glenn Gustafson to look into this going forward. Hoida expressed concern that with all the changes MA was trying to implement, this might burden the already stressed system too much. Vinchattle acknowledged that it could be additional stress or an opportunity to bring the program in and grow together. Graham directed Vinchattle and Gustafson to explore this and bring information back in December or January.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

• Finance Director Laura Polen congratulated Registrar Lena Gross on winning her arbitration over two students in the October count, reducing MA from 5.1 full-time equivalent (FTE) students under budget to 2.5 FTE, thus preserving some PPR revenue.
• Vinchattle acknowledged MA’s efforts in the Harvest of Love event, collecting food and money for Tri-Lakes Cares. He thanked families for contributing and showing why MA is a special place.
• Gustafson led the discussion on the mid-year fiscal year 2024-25 budget, with a vote to come in December. There was a net income increase of $300,000, including increases in PPR, fundraising, gala, Colorado Gives campaign, athletic gate receipts, and decreases in interest and special education funding. Expenses were increased for professional development, consulting fees, bond expenses, building insurance, and initial funding of contingency reserves. Savings came from the custodial contract, parking lot, and copy machine leases. He added some money. He also added money to cover the costs of recommendations from the organization audit. Total changes netted out to $16,000, he said.
• The board unanimously approved policy GC-MA Professional staff, reflecting that MA has year-to-year contracts rather than the traditional three-year probational periods done at most schools.
• The board unanimously approved policy GBJ-NA Personnel Records and Files, which discusses the records needed for classified and unclassified staff and which parts of those files can be viewed publicly.

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The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The December meeting has been moved. The next regular board meeting will be on Thursday, Dec. 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/ma-boe.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Monument Academy articles

• Monument Academy School Board, Jan. 15 – Board passes mid-year budget, selects bond counsel (2/4/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Dec. 11 – MA retains BB- credit rating (1/1/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Nov. 13 – Board hears audit, marketing updates (12/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Oct. 16 and 23 – Board appropriates ERTC funds (10/30/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Sept. 11 – Board selects marketing firm, transfers funds (10/2/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 14 and 25 – Board moves forward on facility plans, hears marketing proposal (9/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, July 17 – Board prioritizes marketing plan, passes policy on religious opt-outs (8/1/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, June 12, 27 – Board passes sports fairness policy, joins in suit against CHSAA (7/3/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, May 8, 9 and 29 – Board adjusts budget for low enrollment, anticipates tax credit revenue (6/7/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, April 10 and 24 – Proposed high school dress code draws concerns (5/3/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Feb. 26 and March 13 – Board returns focus to gender ideology, hears concerns about discipline enforcement (4/5/2025)

• Financial audit
• Non-financial audit summarized
• Unified Improvement Plan
• October count presentation
• Policy updates
• Highlights

By Jackie Burhans

The Monument Academy (MA) board held two meetings in October. In its first meeting on the 17th, the board heard its financial audit, unified improvement plan, and October enrollment count report. It passed several policies.

At its second meeting on the 24th, the board heard an internal school review audit from a consulting firm and entered an executive session to discuss possible actions.

Financial audit

Tom Sistare of Hoelting & Co. Inc., MA’s audit firm, dialed in to remotely present a summary of the financial audit presentation, giving MA an unmodified or clean opinion. Sistare said his team had been on-site in July testing internal controls and believes MA’s financial statements are presented fairly.

He said the audit covers both fund statements, which are how the school keeps its books on a day-to-day basis, as well as government-wide statements that roll all funds together and add capital assets, debt, and other liabilities.

In the government-wide statement, the statement of net position is the balance sheet for the entire school, Sistare said, indicating that cash and investments were up, capital assets decreased due to depreciation, and grants receivables were down due to fewer grants being available. The long-term liability is $55.5 million with a $39.1 million loan balance. MA paid $922,000 in debt service through the building corporation fund which manages the bonds for the West Campus and has $16.2 million in liability due to the Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) unfunded liabilities. MA’s net position decreased by $798,000 primarily due to PERA.

For the fund statements, Sistare said the ratio of ending general fund balance to total expenditures for the year was similar to last year, maintaining a balance equal to 80 days of expenditures. For the current year’s activities, he said local revenues increased due to increases in donations and state per pupil revenue. Federal revenue fell as COVID grants wound down. Revenue was up about 4% with expenditures up 5% with a resulting $243,000 increase in fund balance. This compares favorably with a budgeted $790,000 decrease in fund balance. Sistare concluded by saying there were no findings of deficiencies on internal controls or other areas.

Interim Chief Financial Officer Glenn Gustafson added a three-year high-level comparison. He noted that for government agencies MA uses full accrual, while for day-to-day purposes it uses a modified accrual. Over three years, Gustafson said, the general fund revenues increased from $10.8 to $13.8 million due to School Finance Act revenue or per pupil revenue (PPR) while enrollment has been flat. Expenditures have grown due to hiring and raises, but the difference has gone from a $131,000 loss to a $243,000 profit. MA is trying to come into full compliance with its bond covenants, he said, and ending fund balance, which is the reserve, has increased by $653,000, which is a good position for a bond refinance.

The preschool fund had a small loss, but MA has made changes to bring it back to financial stability. It drew down the balance from $99,000 to $66,000. The building corporation and the foundation funds handle the bonds for the West and East Campus respectively and function with a fairly straight flow through from the state’s intercept program. Bank balances are invested aggressively and have seen good interest returns. Finally, the Student Activity Fund totals $125,000, has had a lot of cleanup, and is used only for Student Council expenses. He said he was very pleased with Hoelting, a local firm that has done a lot of work with charter schools.

Non-financial audit summarized

At a special meeting on Oct. 24, Lis Richard of Helping Schools Thrive LLC (HST) delivered a summary of her internal review audit which she emphasized was focused on academic, operational, and governance review rather than a financial audit. A more detailed presentation will be presented at the Nov. 21 meeting.

Richard, who served as MA’s principal until 2017, said her objective was to compare current practices and policies with the original intent of the school charter and philosophy documents and offer the board and leadership some tangible reflection and resources. For her summary, she focused on academics, philosophy, and student achievement.

For philosophy, she said PK-12 staff has only a basic understanding of the philosophy of MA and that no one could give an elevator speech explaining it. The foundational principles, practices, and virtues are not trained annually nor understood by leadership, which she found concerning. Understanding philosophy could aid in ensuring that it is a pillar of practice, she said.

Her greatest area of concern was that PK-5 did not have a solid curriculum direction and had too many supplemental materials that do not follow Core Knowledge (CK) practices. There is a strong implementation of core subjects in secondary school, which was a stellar start, she said while noting that the arts curriculum could better follow the CK sequence and work to support interdisciplinary practices. CK is spiraling and vertically aligned, Richard said. Training on curriculum is lacking for staff and leaders, she said.

Regarding student achievement, she said there are no current methods for new student assessment, which would be a good practice to provide to teachers. The assessment data has fallen to lead teachers or administration and is not used as a method of accountability for instruction and utilization with students and parents. The purpose of assessment is not clear in PK, Richard said, and MA’s elementary schools are no longer competitive with other district schools. There is a spirit of “That may be OK,” she added. Middle school achievement is in the upper quadrant but has room to improve, she said, and it was encouraging that the high school has performed well in its few years of existence.

In respect to operations, Richard said there is adequate room for PK-5, but that obviously the secondary school needs more room. Documentation of standard operating procedures are in progress, she said, and handbooks need to become cohesive across the campuses. Graduation requirements meet statutes. Enrollment has remained stable but does not reflect growth, Richard noted, displaying a screen show depicting that the Tri-Lakes area from 2010 to 2021 had grown 50%. MA’s enrollment trends show the highest growth when the school expanded to K-8 and had a large class size in 2018, after which class sizes started to go down.

This year is the lowest class size since 2013, she said. Population in the Tri-Lakes area has increased by 67% while class size at MA has dipped 7%, she said, with enrollment increases being due to adding grades. D38 saw a growth of 9% over that same time frame, she said. With an increase in full-time equivalent (FTE) students, there has been an increase in staff and debt. The greatest need for sustainability in the future is to increase student enrollment, Richard stated.

On governance, she noted that MA board members are parents dedicated to the current and future success of the school. Board roles and responsibilities should be reviewed annually, and new member training should be consistent, she said. The board needs a better understanding of governing by policy and setting direction. She noted that the board had begun reviewing policies and said that an academic policy is needed that includes penmanship. Teacher representatives should be inducted as was done in the past, Richard advised.

Overall, Richard gave academics a mixed score of green, yellow, and red while operations was mostly green with some yellow and governance was 1/3 green with the rest mostly yellow and just a little red. She recommended that leadership identify an action plan, involve staff, and establish a timeline, saying that HST has a system for developing an excellent school and could return for quarterly benchmarks or annual reviews.

The board went into executive session for one hour for advice on specific legal matters regarding the external audit report and for discussion of personnel matters arising from the report. Upon returning, it took no action.

Unified Improvement Plan

East Campus Principal Angela Duca presented a draft of MA’s secondary school Unified Improvement Plan (UIP) for the board’s approval at its Oct. 10 meeting. The intent, she said, is to create goals based on student data as required by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). The process began by attending a workshop with D38 and analyzing the data from the school performance framework to inform academic goals. By evaluating the SPF, NWEA, and Pre-Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) data, MA identified the need to improve math growth in middle and high schools. The principals met to determine priorities and challenges.

For middle school, there has been a high turnover of math teachers and therefore inconsistent implementation of curriculum Duca said. She said the major strategies to improve include teacher retention and data-informed instruction. MA plans to use mentor teachers throughout the school year and provide support through frequent check-ins and monthly instruction and revised teacher training. MA will partner with colleges to recruit highly effective teachers, and math teachers will work together to create vertically aligned curriculum.

For high school, schedule constraints and lack of access to student data before the school year mean that instruction was not tailored to student needs, Duca said. The root focus is limited math programs and placing students in the right class. MA will implement data-informed instruction and work to vertically align curriculum and content. Duca said MA will use PSAT and NSMQT scores to help and will re-evaluate its math placement tests. Executive Director Collin Vinchattle had a 13% teacher loss rate, which sounds high but is about average, she said.

Elementary Principal Kurt Walker said West Campus improved by 18 points, moving from an “improvement” to a “performance” category, which is the highest category. The school rose in all areas except for math growth where scores went down, as did all D38 elementary schools, he said. Last year’s UIP goals were two-year goals, he said, so they would continue with those. They focused so much on English and Language Arts that they neglected math. The West campus started trainings on data analysis of the math scores and had a professional development session with both campuses, which opened his eyes to what was missing, he said.

The board unanimously approved the UIP plans for MA elementary and secondary schools. The plans go to D38 to be approved and sent to the state.

October count presentation

Registrar Lena Gross presented on the final enrollment after the October count. She explained that the October count encompasses Tuesday, Sept. 24 to Tuesday, Oct 8. If a student is absent on Oct.1, the official count day, MA could review the attendance record to prove a student was in attendance for five consecutive days before or after. If that wasn’t possible, MA gathered letters on extenuating circumstances from parents or letters from teachers affirm their attendance. The following week, MA was scheduled to present its numbers to D38 for submission to the CDE.

Gross explained that the homeschool partnership had 30 students, who are counted as half of a student for a total of 15 full-time equivalent (FTE) students. West Campus was just under the budget projection of 546 at 544.5 FTE including half-day students. East Campus was seven below the projection of 547. Middle school was budgeted for 407 and had 408 while high school was budgeted for 140 students and had 132. Overall FTE is 1099.6, which is 3.9 under the budgeted target of 1103.5.

Gross said it was possible that MA would be entering arbitration and was under discussion with two other districts about two students. This would bring the final FTE to 1097.6, but MA won’t know the final CDE determination until December.

There were a lot of additions and withdrawals during the October count, Gross said, with West Campus growing by two but then losing seven, and East Campus growing by one and losing seven. She said MA had been in touch with families who left and sent them exit interviews to capture as much data as possible to understand their reasons for leaving. Gross noted that last year about 26% of K-12 students resided outside of the district, and that had increased to 27% this year with more districts being represented in MA’s population. Gross said MA would use that data to inform its marketing strategy going forward.

Gross said that MA had held its first Community Connections night at its West Campus and were encouraged that several families attended. The team was hard at work planning events for the upcoming enrollment season including moving students to middle and high school, she said.

Policy updates

The MA board unanimously adopted and updated several policies at its Oct. regular meeting:

• KECL-MA Library Policy – As discussed in previous meetings.
• GBGG-MA Staff Leave – Explains types of leave and how it can be used.
• GBGH-MA Sick Leave Bank – Placeholder as MA does not have a sick leave bank.
• GBGH-R-MA Sick Leave Bank Regulation – Placeholder as above.
• GBGI-MA Staff Military Leave – Updated to reference executive director.
• GBGJ-MA Staff Bereavement Leave – Through paid or sick leave, not separate.
• GBGK-MA Staff Legal Leave – Standard modified to suit MA.

Board President Ryan Graham said he was grateful to have a library policy in place and that, if revisions are identified during implementation, it can be brought back to the board. Board policies can be found on the MA website at http://bit.ly/ma-boe by selecting Board Policies.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

• Graham spotlighted outgoing West Campus school resource officer (SRO) Dustin Williams. He expressed gratitude for Williams ensuring safety while building impactful and heartfelt relationships.
• Vinchattle reported that the field fundraising campaign had raised over $70,000 so far.
• Gustafson said there was a $68,000 loss in August due to upfront expenses, but that year-to-date MA is $285,000 ahead with $3.5 million in the bank and investment accounts. Finances are looking good, and he feels MA has turned the corner.
• Graham reported that, with MA’s completion of its recirculation construction, parents should sign up for project updates by emailing hwy105aconstruction@gmail.com.
• Board member Matt Ross and Vice President Lindsay Clinton reported for their respective campus curriculum committees that both are looking to focus on vertical alignment after they get the results of the school audit due in November.
• Ross and board member Jilinda Dygert reported for their respective campus School Accountability and Advisory Committees (SAAC) that they were working on an annual parent survey. Dygert said the East Campus SAAC is focused on providing support on the UIP and asked that input on direction, board priorities, goals, and survey topics be emailed to saacsecondary@monumentacademy.net or communicated to Vinchattle. She asked that parents consider volunteering for lunch duty and car line to free up teachers’ time.
• The board unanimously agreed to modify its Integrity Bank signature cards due to the departure of MA’s business manager Diane Smith. They removed Smith and added Finance Assistant Dawn Bartlett, who has agreed to pitch in, picking up the financial slack in addition to her human resources duties.
• The board unanimously approved changing its November meeting from the 14th to the 21st so consultant Lis Richard can present the full non-financial audit.
• The next district Parent and Community Advisory Committee (PCAC) will be held at MA’s East Campus on Nov. 12 from 6 to 8 p.m., with an optional tour starting at 5:30 p.m.

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The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The November meeting has been moved to accommodate a detailed school audit presentation. The next regular board meeting will be on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/ma-boe.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other D38 Monument Academy articles

• Monument Academy School Board, Jan. 15 – Board passes mid-year budget, selects bond counsel (2/4/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Dec. 11 – MA retains BB- credit rating (1/1/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Nov. 13 – Board hears audit, marketing updates (12/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Oct. 16 and 23 – Board appropriates ERTC funds (10/30/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Sept. 11 – Board selects marketing firm, transfers funds (10/2/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 14 and 25 – Board moves forward on facility plans, hears marketing proposal (9/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, July 17 – Board prioritizes marketing plan, passes policy on religious opt-outs (8/1/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, June 12, 27 – Board passes sports fairness policy, joins in suit against CHSAA (7/3/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, May 8, 9 and 29 – Board adjusts budget for low enrollment, anticipates tax credit revenue (6/7/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, April 10 and 24 – Proposed high school dress code draws concerns (5/3/2025)

• Library materials parental review policy
• New board management system
• Citizen comment on discipline
• Policy updates
• Highlights

By Jackie Burhans

The Monument Academy (MA) board met on Sept. 12 to discuss its library materials parental review policy and adopt a new board management system. The board also heard a citizen comment on discipline, updated several policies, and spotlighted a teacher for her engaging and innovative lessons.

Library materials parental review policy

The board returned to discussing its policy KECL on parental review of library materials. Board member Karen Hoida said the Governance Committee had made some changes and wanted to discuss some new proposals that would allow more books to stay on shelves. She noted that the committee had received a lot of public comments, and many of the changes were related to those. Board member Jilinda Dygert said the review form and process were not yet available.

Board President Ryan Graham asked what a reasonable amount of time it would take for the Review Committee to review a book that a parent suggested. Dygert said it would depend on how often the committee meets. Executive Director Collin Vinchattle said the length would depend on how many books were submitted for review.

Dygert said that parents could volunteer for a two-year term on the Review Committee without a specified term limit as long as their kids were in school. Graham noted that the policy says parent members are appointed by Vinchattle, asking if they would have to be re-approved for an additional term. Vinchattle noted that many people are interested in the committee, saying he would have to work out the process.

Dygert added that the Governance Committee had removed item 22 because the library system cannot notify parents as their child checks out books. She said the librarian can show parents how to access the system and see their child’s checkout history. The librarian can also add a note if the parent prefers their child not access the library.

Graham said he wanted a summary of the parental feedback before approving the policy. He expressed concern that a book could not be challenged for five years and that limiting the number of books parents could challenge would limit their voice. He proposed that the board delay this approval until next month and have the opportunity to react to a redline version of the policy that shows its changes. Hoida and Dygert agreed to the delay with Hoida specifying that MA has a wonderful librarian, and she does not anticipate a large influx of books to review.

New board management system

Vinchattle and Vice President Lindsay Clinton reported that they had reviewed three options and preferred Simbli Board Management Software to help manage meetings, policies, and board documents. Vinchattle said all this information is currently on the board website but is not very well organized or easy to manage. Simbli would also host other essential documents, such as MA’s original charter and its latest charter agreement with the district. Clinton cited its security, organization, and efficiency, saying that staff and parents could find everything in one spot.

Vinchattle said that the software has different modules with different pricing. The company would prorate the costs and offer a 25% discount if purchased in September. He suggested using available funds for board professional development for this purchase.

Chief Financial Officer Glenn Gustafson confirmed that funds were available for professional development and technology. He said he came from an environment with a robust board management system and felt this was a great investment.

The board unanimously approved purchasing the Simbli meetings, policies, and documents modules. For more information on Simbli, see www.eboardsolutions.com.

Citizen comment on discipline

A parent spoke, first thanking the board and school for their efforts, about a growing concern with school discipline, especially the difference between West and East Campus. He said parents were aware of physical altercations involving teachers, paraprofessionals, and substitute teachers. He noted that children knew the limits of discipline and consequences of breaking the rules and that he knew certain teachers who felt helpless.

He said that as a parent, it’s unnerving to know that children may be entering situations where adult intervention does not solve the problem. He said he wasn’t looking for strictness or authoritarianism, but if there was any decision-maker concerned about the impact on budgets or lawsuits, the school should know it had the support of parents whose kids wanted to attend the school.

He pointed out that losing one child because of discipline meant the loss of one child’s funding, but not defending the other children could result in losing the other 22 students. He noted that homeschooling had become much easier since COVID-19 but asked what parents could do better in their homes to align with classroom expectations.

Graham said he would share the parent’s email with Vinchattle to follow up.

Policy updates

The MA board unanimously adopted and updated several policies at the regular meeting. Vinchattle said new policies were adopted so they could be modified to fit MA. Hoida said any legal questions were brought to counsel for review. She said the Governance Committee would bring five policies to each monthly board meeting:

• GBEB-MA Staff Conduct – new policy concerning rules of conduct.
• GBGA-MA Staff Heath – speaks to how MA would cover the cost of required special physical exams.
• GBGA-R-MA Staff Health regulation – placeholder in case MA wants to vary from the district policy.
• GDE/GDF-MA Support Staff Recruiting/Hiring – minor edit on hiring guidelines such as non-discrimination and finalization.
• GDE/GDF-R-MA Support Staff Recruiting/Hiring regulation – covers procedures for hiring, including background checks, credit reports, fingerprinting, and state reporting.

Board policies can be found on the MA website at http://bit.ly/ma-boe by selecting Board Policies.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

• Board member Craig Carle spotlighted eighth-grade history teacher Casey Heinbuch for creating engaging lessons and finding an opportunity to work with the El Paso County judicial system for students to participate in a mock trial.
• Vinchattle said he had received the school performance framework for both schools and congratulated principals and teachers for increasing the schools’ ratings.
• Vinchattle read a letter that was sent out to parents kicking off fundraising for a new field with a track to enhance students’ athletic experience. Families are invited to participate in fundraising; the initial goal is $100,000 to win a matching grant from the Daniels Fund. The initial bid totals $3.5 million broken out as $1.5 million for the field, $500,000 for the track and another $1.5 million for concessions, lights, and stands.
• The board unanimously approved awarding a contract to Abacas LLC for accounts payable processing as requested by Gustafson, who noted that MA’s business manager would be retiring at the end of the month.
• Vinchattle asked the board if there was additional information it wanted to ask in the Student Accountability Advisory Committee (SAAC) surveys. Vice President Lindsay Clinton suggested asking how parents feel about fundraising efforts and how they prefer to give.
• Dygert suggested a combined presentation to East and West Campus SAACs on the Unified Improvement Plan (UIP). She said the two SAACs could review their bylaws separately and come together to make modifications, or they could do that in the reverse order.
• The board unanimously agreed to revise the staff handbook to specify that classroom displays and decorations must have a connection to the curriculum or content of the coursework being taught. Any potentially divisive material must have a curricular purpose, be balanced, and be approved by an administrator in advance.
• Vinchattle asked the board to perform its yearly review of the Emergency Operating Procedures and provide feedback, noting that it had minor modifications around school resource officers and the Fire Department.
• The board approved a special meeting on Oct. 24 at 6:30 p.m. to have consultant Lis Richard of Helping Schools Thrive present to the board.
• The board held a short executive session to discuss specialized details of security arrangements and returned without acting.

**********

The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next regular board meeting will be on Thursday, Oct. 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/ma-boe.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Monument Academy articles

• Monument Academy School Board, Jan. 15 – Board passes mid-year budget, selects bond counsel (2/4/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Dec. 11 – MA retains BB- credit rating (1/1/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Nov. 13 – Board hears audit, marketing updates (12/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Oct. 16 and 23 – Board appropriates ERTC funds (10/30/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Sept. 11 – Board selects marketing firm, transfers funds (10/2/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 14 and 25 – Board moves forward on facility plans, hears marketing proposal (9/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, July 17 – Board prioritizes marketing plan, passes policy on religious opt-outs (8/1/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, June 12, 27 – Board passes sports fairness policy, joins in suit against CHSAA (7/3/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, May 8, 9 and 29 – Board adjusts budget for low enrollment, anticipates tax credit revenue (6/7/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, April 10 and 24 – Proposed high school dress code draws concerns (5/3/2025)

• Non-legal name change
• Library policy
• Highlights

By Jackie Burhans

The Monument Academy (MA) board held one regular meeting and two special meetings in August. At its regular meeting on Aug. 8, the board discussed non-legal name changes, reviewed a proposed library policy, and accepted a board resignation. At its online special meeting on Aug. 16, the board met to discuss its charter contract with D38, which was subsequently approved by the district at its Aug. 29 meeting. See D38 board article on page < 12 >.

Finally, at its online special meeting on Aug. 29, the board authorized President Ryan Graham to execute documents related to acquisition of property next to its West Campus to be used for a parking lot.

Non-legal name change

Graham noted that MA must comply with recently passed legislation he disagrees with, known as HB24-1039 Non-Legal Name Changes. He noted that section five says that a local education provider shall implement a written policy outlining how [it] will honor a student’s request to use a chosen name and may include a process for including [that] on school records while complying with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974.

The law defines “chosen name” as any name that a student requests to be known as that differs from the student’s legal name to reflect the student’s gender identity. Graham said that MA’s policy, JNR-MA Non-Legal Name Change for Students, would ensure that parents are included. The corresponding regulation, JNR-R, lays out the procedure for appealing to the executive director should the name change be denied and includes a notice of nondiscrimination.

Executive Director Colin Vinchattle said he had communicated with the administrative team regarding this policy and that the regulation would be included in the student handbook so families would have access. Board member Matt Ross noted that the policy limited name changes to once per semester and required that students have the mental capacity and intent to forgo their legal name. Vinchattle said School District 11 had had an enormous number of name changes that impacted staff and that any concerns about capacity would require communication with the legal team.

The board unanimously approved these new policies, which can be found on the MA website at http://bit.ly/ma-policies. Read the House bill at https://bit.ly/co-hb24-1039.

Library policy

Board member Karen Hoida led the discussion of the new policy KECL Library Materials Parental Review, noting that a draft was in the board packet. The policy briefly outlines the process for reviewing library materials if a parent or legal guardian of a current MA student has an objection or concern. She said the librarian would make a review form available.

Materials would be removed from shelves or blocked while under review by a Library Review Committee (LRC). The LRC would consist of three parents or legal guardians of a current student (excluding board members) and serve a two-year term. One teacher of the appropriate grade level and one appointed administration member would also serve on the committee. The LRC would report to the board.

Parents and legal guardians may submit no more than three requests for review; after a book is reviewed, it will not be reviewed again for five years. The MA board also reserves the right to exclude books, magazines, or other papers they deem inappropriate.

Graham asked the board to take time to review the policy, send comments to Vinchattle, and be prepared to take action at the September meeting.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

• Board member Emily Belisle resigned because her family is moving out of state. She thanked the board, staff, teachers, and parents, saying that representing them was an honor. The board unanimously agreed to run as a six-member board rather than replace Belisle and reorganized its board duties and committee memberships.
• The board unanimously approved the East and West Campus Student/Parent Handbooks with minor edits to the bullying policy and parent communication.
• The board approved the Athletic Handbook for Middle School and High School.
• Vinchattle reported that Operations Manager Jake Dicus had recommended purchase of wireless microphones, an easily managed video recorder, and a visual board per the approved budget.
• Vinchattle led a discussion about the new position of major gifts officer, noting the pros and cons of incentive-based, salaried, or hybrid compensation models. The position would report to the Dicus, as they both work on fundraising. The board asked Vinchattle to return with a tiered approach to compensation and a detailed description of the job duties to be voted on at the September meeting.
• The board set its board retreat and meeting dates for fiscal year 24-25, maintaining the second Thursday of each month with some exceptions for conflicts and holidays.
• After an executive session on Aug. 8, the board unanimously voted to replace its security training partnership with FASTER Colorado from Able Shepherd.

**********

The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month.

The next regular board meeting will be on Thursday, Sept. 12, at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/ma-boe.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Monument Academy articles

• Monument Academy School Board, Jan. 15 – Board passes mid-year budget, selects bond counsel (2/4/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Dec. 11 – MA retains BB- credit rating (1/1/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Nov. 13 – Board hears audit, marketing updates (12/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Oct. 16 and 23 – Board appropriates ERTC funds (10/30/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Sept. 11 – Board selects marketing firm, transfers funds (10/2/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 14 and 25 – Board moves forward on facility plans, hears marketing proposal (9/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, July 17 – Board prioritizes marketing plan, passes policy on religious opt-outs (8/1/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, June 12, 27 – Board passes sports fairness policy, joins in suit against CHSAA (7/3/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, May 8, 9 and 29 – Board adjusts budget for low enrollment, anticipates tax credit revenue (6/7/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, April 10 and 24 – Proposed high school dress code draws concerns (5/3/2025)

• Board responds to Title IX changes
• Finance update
• Committee assignments
• Highlights

By Jackie Burhans

Monument Academy (MA) held its regular meeting in July to consider its response to changes in Title IX, to receive an update on finances, set board committee assignments, and hear committee reports.

Board responds to Title IX changes

The July 11 meeting started with a short executive session for legal advice regarding Title IX policy options. Board President Ryan Graham noted that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) had released its final rule changes to Title IX and indicated he had a resolution that was being used in multiple school districts.

The resolution, which can be found in its entirety at bit.ly/ma-title-ix-res, specifies in part that the board believes parents, not schools, have the fundamental responsibility for their children’s education, supports natural law and moral truth, believes the ED’s changes run afoul of federal and state laws, and that Title IX refers to biological sex, which is “an immutable characteristic that cannot be changed, fluid, or altered.” The resolution says that the ED’s unlawful attempt to change the definition would have disastrous emotional and safety impacts to girls and women.

Therefore, the document resolves that “sex” is determined at birth and is an immutable characteristic that cannot be changed, fluid, or altered; commits to protecting female sports and ensuring the safety, privacy, and protection of all students, acknowledging the importance of single-sex facilities.

Finally, the board values and condones the numerous legal challenges to ED’s rule changes to Title IX and commits to making no policy or procedural changes while legal challenges ensue.

Graham moved to approve the resolution; Vice President Lindsay Clinton seconded it, and without discussion, the board passed the resolution unanimously.

Finance update

Acting Chief Financial Officer Glenn Gustafson reported that D38 had unexpectedly qualified for a state mill levy override matching program, which yielded an additional $30,000 for MA.

Gustafson said he had convinced MA’s auditor not to accrue the cost of seeking the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC). The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is supposed to process applications within six months, but it’s taking a long time due to concerns about program fraud. Some entities are suing the IRS due to the delay.

Gustafson said the payroll system he inherited has a mix of pay dates for employees, but he decided to get everyone synced up to the end of the month for payment. He is also moving the pay date to the 26th to align with payments to MA from D38. Some staff will see a double paycheck initially. That will not incur an additional expense but will simply reduce the liability accrual. Gustafson said he had made a lot of fixes and would be communicating and reminding staff of this change.

Committee assignments

The board agreed to add a separate East Campus curriculum committee, similar to the separate School Advisory and Accountability (SAAC) committees, and stand down the Human Resources committee. The board discussed and agreed upon the following committee assignments for board members:

• Highway 105 – Graham; the project should end in about a month.
• Curriculum West – Emily Belisle.
• Curriculum East – Clinton.
• SAAC West – Matt Ross.
• SAAC East – Jelinda Dygert.
• Governance – Karen Hoida, Belisle.
• Finance – Craig Carle, Graham.
• Building and Facilities – Hoida, Graham.
• Resource Development Committee – Carle, Clinton.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

• Graham reported that curbs and gutters were installed on the new road on the south side of the West Campus and that Executive Director Collin Vinchattle and Principal Kurt Walker would communicate the new plan for the car line.
• Clinton reported on the SAAC East recommendations, noting that two new questions about summer workbooks were added to the survey, but only 60 responses were received. SAAC East recommended the board continue to think outside the box regarding electives, school spirit, and streamlining communication.
• Registrar Lena Gross reported on enrollment, including retention numbers, noting that exit interview data was pending. Kindergarten enrollment is slightly down, she said, due to the birth rate and the impact of universal preschool in the state. Gustafson noted the preschool fund would have a loss and should be reviewed for viability during the mid-year budget discussion.
• Hoida reported that the Governance Committee was working on the library policy and expected to have a draft by the next board meeting.
• The board unanimously approved removing leggings as approved wear for free dress days.
• The board unanimously approved minor formatting changes to the staff handbook.
• After discussion, the board unanimously approved Vinchattle’s request to modify MA’s graduation requirements to provide additional state-approved options for math. He noted that MA would still require students to pass the capstone requirement.
• The board unanimously approved using $1,000 in board funds to put on a Staff Breakfast on Aug. 6.

**********

The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month.

The next regular board meeting will be on Thursday, Aug. 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. For more information, visit bit.ly/ma-boe.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Monument Academy (MA) articles

• Monument Academy School Board, Jan. 15 – Board passes mid-year budget, selects bond counsel (2/4/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Dec. 11 – MA retains BB- credit rating (1/1/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Nov. 13 – Board hears audit, marketing updates (12/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Oct. 16 and 23 – Board appropriates ERTC funds (10/30/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Sept. 11 – Board selects marketing firm, transfers funds (10/2/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 14 and 25 – Board moves forward on facility plans, hears marketing proposal (9/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, July 17 – Board prioritizes marketing plan, passes policy on religious opt-outs (8/1/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, June 12, 27 – Board passes sports fairness policy, joins in suit against CHSAA (7/3/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, May 8, 9 and 29 – Board adjusts budget for low enrollment, anticipates tax credit revenue (6/7/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, April 10 and 24 – Proposed high school dress code draws concerns (5/3/2025)

By Jackie Burhans

• Board members sworn in, positions assigned
• 2024-25 budget re-adopted
• Modular purchase
• Major Gifts and Corporate Sponsorships program
• Highlights

Monument Academy (MA) held its regular meeting in June to swear in board members and assign board positions, re-adopt the 2024-25 budget, approve the purchase of its East Campus modulars, and update policies.

Board members sworn in, positions assigned

Board President Ryan Graham swore in returning board member Lindsay Clinton and incoming board member Jelinda Dygert. Clinton’s second term and Dygert’s initial term begin on July 1. The board discussed, nominated, and confirmed members for the following positions:

• President Ryan Graham
• Vice President Lindsay Clinton
• Treasurer Craig Carle
• Secretary Jelina Dygert

2024-25 budget re-adopted

Acting Chief Financial Officer Glenn Gustafson requested that the board re-adopt the 2024-25 budget. This was not an amendment, he said, but a replacement for the budget they adopted last month. He said he had the final information on staffing for the Home School Enrichment program and wanted to appropriate the money to buy out the modular units. Finally, given that MA has adopted new health benefits he wanted to put the Health Reimbursement Agreement money into the right account. Although he had already posted the budget and submitted it to D38, he let Chief Business Officer Brett Ridgway know there would be changes.

Graham made the three standard budget motions for appropriating funds, inter-fund borrowing, and using beginning balances, which the board unanimously approved.

Modular purchase

Gustafson noted that MA had entered into a lease agreement rather than a lease-purchase agreement for four modular units. The units are essential, he said, and are combined to make four classrooms. The lease conditions are not favorable, Gustafson noted, saying that the rental cost of $52,000 per year was significant and could increase annually and there was no option to buy. The space will always be used, he said, even after the expansion of the campus. After negotiations, he came to an agreement with the vendor to purchase the modular units for $175,000, which would take three years to pay off.

Graham said that when the lease was approved in 2022, it was supposed to be short-term while they refinanced to do the buildout, but that had not happened. Though he understands it’s a lot of money, even when MA breaks ground it would take 12-18 months to complete construction.

Gustafson said his goal was to cut a check in the first week of July so that MA would have no lease payments in FY24-25. The board unanimously approved the purchase of modulars.

Major Gifts and Corporate Sponsorships program

Executive Director Collin Vinchattle said he received a lot of feedback that the MA community would like to expand facilities, high school programs, and electives. He and Gustafson are working with the administration on a five-year capital improvement plan. He said that bond refinancing would not be able to cover all projects.

Vinchattle requested the board consider a donation coordinator position to focus on large gifts to MA. This person would reach out to donors, keep legacy donations moving forward, and possibly run a capital campaign. He noted that MA could consider different compensation structures from a percentage to a base salary plus percentage and the position could be evaluated semi-annually. He said things to consider include the initial cost, role clarification, definition of a major gift, and end goals.

Graham asked Vinchattle and Gustafson to explore this and bring back a proposal. He expressed appreciation for Operations Manager Jake Dicus and all he has done over the years and appreciates that these two roles would work collaboratively. Vinchattle said he would touch base with each board member to gather their input.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

• Carle and the entire board recognized outgoing interim Executive Director Kim McClelland. Carle presented McClelland with a certificate and gift. McClelland thanked the board for the opportunity to serve in her own backyard.
• Vinchattle reported on the excitement of the first graduation from Monument Academy’s East Campus, which included 21 high school students. He noted that it was a beautiful day on the school’s front lawn, with speeches by Graham and valedictorian Scott Kohlhase.
• Vinchattle reported that the secondary school administrative team was in place with Angela Duca as principal and Jessie Davis as assistant principal.
• The board approved changes to Policy 1500B Executive Director to update the position title, noting it would not be renumbering the policy. It also approved Policy 1500C Chief Financial Officer, removing the information on procurement, which has been moved to a separate policy.
• Finance Director Laura Polen presented the April financials, highlighting three streams of revenue that are still outstanding. She reviewed expenses and revenues highlighting the general fund, bond repayment funds for each campus, and the student activity fund.
• Graham confirmed that construction on Highway 105 and around the West Campus should be completed by the time school starts in August. However, construction on Highway 105 itself will continue.
• The board unanimously approved a resolution to change the authorized signatures for its ColoTrust account to add Polen. It also approved signature authorizations for its Integrity Bank accounts to add Polen and Business Manager Diane Smith.
• The board unanimously approved a contract with Gustafson as interim CFO for fiscal year 24-25.
• The board unanimously approved a contract with the Monument Police Department for school resource officers with a small price increase and other changes to reflect the makeup of each campus.
• Vinchattle asked to delay the vote on the MA/D38 contract until the July board meeting to give him more time to review the contract since he was new in his position. The board agreed to wait for the vote.
• The board voted unanimously to approve a contract with All Copiers, its current company, upon the recommendation of Dicus based on the negotiated cost per copy and the relationship established with the company.
• The MA board will hold a retreat on July 12 at 9 a.m. in the Platinum Group conference room.

**********

The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next regular board meeting will be on Thursday, July 11, at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. For more information, visit bit.ly/ma-boe.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Monument Academy articles

• Monument Academy School Board, Jan. 15 – Board passes mid-year budget, selects bond counsel (2/4/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Dec. 11 – MA retains BB- credit rating (1/1/2026)
• Monument Academy School Board, Nov. 13 – Board hears audit, marketing updates (12/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Oct. 16 and 23 – Board appropriates ERTC funds (10/30/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Sept. 11 – Board selects marketing firm, transfers funds (10/2/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 14 and 25 – Board moves forward on facility plans, hears marketing proposal (9/4/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, July 17 – Board prioritizes marketing plan, passes policy on religious opt-outs (8/1/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, June 12, 27 – Board passes sports fairness policy, joins in suit against CHSAA (7/3/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, May 8, 9 and 29 – Board adjusts budget for low enrollment, anticipates tax credit revenue (6/7/2025)
• Monument Academy School Board, April 10 and 24 – Proposed high school dress code draws concerns (5/3/2025)