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Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, March 16 – Music in Our Schools recognitions; athletic complex resolution; financial analysis

Highlights

  • The board opened with music recognitions, highlighting Sam Anderson as Outstanding Young Music Educator and noting multiple students named to All-State Jazz Choir, Regional Honor Band, and Western Slope Honor Choir, with performances and plaques/certificates for honorees.
  • A multi-use athletic complex proposal for the Grace Best site was reviewed, proposing a joint district foundation venture to secure grants and oversee construction, demolition/remediation of Grace Best, and long-term lease of the site.
  • The March 16 meeting advanced the plans for the athletic complex plan with a resolution to explore the partnership, while clarifying plans remain subject to approvals, community input, and appropriate processes; no commitment was made yet.
  • Funding and budget details were presented for 2026-27, with projected enrollment decline of 164 students and flat $11,125 per-pupil revenue, signaling about a $2 million funding reduction.
  • Capital investments are planned at about $2.5 million, and health-benefit costs could rise up to 17%, prompting staffing and program reductions of roughly 30 to 35 positions district-wide.
  • Student representatives Keegan Mallory and Claire Monroe reported on activities and organizations at Palmer Ridge High School, with their presentations available on boarddocs.

By Harriet Halbig

The Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education recognized staff and students’ achievements during Music in Our Schools Month, discussed a proposal to build a multi-purpose athletic complex at the Grace Best location, and received a financial analysis update during its March 16 meeting.

Music recognitions

Sam Anderson, band teacher at Lewis-Palmer High School, was named Outstanding Young Music Educator by the Colorado Music Educators Association.

Benton Miles, a senior at Palmer Ridge High School, was recognized for being selected for the Colorado All-State Jazz Choir. He performed for the board.

Caption: In honor of Music in the Schools month, at its March 16 meeting the Board of Education recognized Palmer Ridge High School Senior Benton Miles who was selected for the Colorado All-State Jazz Choir. In the photo, front row from left to right, are Palmer Ridge High School Principal Dr. Adam Frank, Board Vice President Dr. Patti Shank, Superintendent Amber Whetstine, and choir teacher Madeline Douthit. In the second row are Board Treasurer Todd Brown, Board Secretary Ginger Schaaf, Benton Miles, Board director Tim Bennet, and Board President Ron Schwarz. Photos courtesy of D38.

Four students from Lewis-Palmer Middle School were selected for the Regional Honor Band. They are Zeke Rhinesmith, Benjamin Bloomfield, Jack Wittenborn, and Tristan Mendoza.

Caption: Four students from Lewis-Palmer Middle School were recognized for being selected for the Regional Honor Band. In the front row from left to right are Board Vice President Dr. Patti Shank, Band Teacher Sarah Loyer, Benjamin Bloomfield, Tristan Mendoza, Zeke Rhinesmith, and Superintendent Amber Whetstine. In the back row, left to right, are Board Treasurer Todd Brown, Board Secretary Ginger Schaaf, Lewis-Palmer Middle School Principal Courtney Harrell, Board Director Tim Bennet, and Board President Ron Schwarz. Student Jack Wittenborn was unable to attend the meeting. Photo courtesy of D38.

Lewis-Palmer Middle School student Zander Billings performed a selection on his guitar.

Caption: Lewis-Palmer Middle School student Zander Billings performed a selection for the board on his guitar. Photo courtesy of D38.

Several high school students were selected for the Western Slope Honor Choir, hosted by Western Colorado University in Gunnison. From Palmer Ridge High School, they are Sidney Black, Lucy Cavin, Benton Miles, Hadley Miles, Krew Sloan, and Shandi Soper. From Lewis-Palmer High School, they are Finn Clark, Noelle Garcia, Bernadette Korty, Seyana Schaffer, Joella Streeter, Amelia Whetstine, and Jane White. The group performed an a capella selection.

Caption: Several students from Lewis-Palmer and Palmer Ridge High schools were selected for the Western Slope Honor Choir. In the front row, left to right, are Amelia Whetstine. Noelle Garcia, Shandi Soper, Joella Streeter and Hadley Miles. In the second row are Palmer Ridge High School Principal Dr. Adam Frank, (unidentified), Superintendent Amber Whetstine, Choir Teacher Madeline Douthit and (unidentified). In the back row are Board President Ron Schwarz, Benton Miles, (unidentified), and (unidentified). Additional students pictured or absent: Sidney Black, Lucy Cavin, Krew Sloan, Finn Clark, Bernadette Korty, Seyana Schaffer, and Jane White Photo courtesy of D38.

All recognized individuals received a plaque or certificate and were photographed with members of the board and the principal of their school.

Athletic complex

At its March 3 work session, the board viewed a presentation by community members Scott and Jill Bradley proposing a joint venture between the district and the Monument Athletic Foundation, a nonprofit entity, to build and administer an indoor athletic complex on the site of Grace Best Education Center and adjoining property.

The complex would include an ice rink, multi-use outdoor turf area for soccer, lacrosse, and baseball, and multi-use courts for basketball, volleyball, wrestling, and such uses as robotics competitions.

The Bradleys said that the advantage of forming the foundation is that it would allow for applying for grants and other funding, which would not be available to the district.

The agreement sought would require the district to demolish Grace Best and remediate asbestos on the site, providing a shovel-ready location. The land would remain the property of the district and be leased by the foundation, which would administer and maintain it.

The components of the complex would be available for district use as a priority and could be rented to other local leagues and entities.

To view the presentation, please go to the district website, lewispalmer.org. Under the Board of Education tab, select boarddocs and select the March 3 meeting. Click on view the agenda and click on the presentations.

At the end of the March 16 meeting, the board passed a resolution to explore the partnership with the foundation with the understanding that all plans would be subject to appropriate approval processes and include community involvement, which may include the Town of Monument.

The resolution delegates authority to the district’s administration to evaluate site suitability. design, benefits, and developing a plan for the project, including lease negotiations and site preparation.

Any development is contingent upon further review, funding, compliance with legal requirements, and approval by the Board of Education.

Board President Ron Schwarz stated that this resolution does not represent a commitment but a willingness to further explore the project.

Financial planning and analysis

Chief Business Officer Brett Ridgway reported to the board on the development of the district’s 2026-27 budget. A draft budget will be presented to the board at its May meeting.

Ridgway said that assumptions are being made regarding funding from the School Finance Act, which provides a large portion of the district’s revenue. At present, actual enrollment is expected to decline by 164 students across the district, with the largest decline at the elementary level. Revenue is expected to remain flat at $11,125 per pupil, which would result in a reduction of funding of about $2 million.

Investment in capital projects is projected to be $2.5 million. The increase in the cost of health benefits is unknown but could be as much as 17%. This year it was 16%.

Ridgway said that in response to this decrease in funding, it will be vital to “right-size” staffing and programming across the district. This could mean a reduction of 30 to 35 staff members and staffing adjustments at the elementary level. Some adjustments would also be needed at the secondary and administrative levels.

To view Ridgway’s presentation, please see boarddocs as described above.

Student representatives

Each month, the board welcomes two student representatives who can report on activities at their school, ask questions, and participate in board discussions. They may not vote.

March’s representatives were Keegan Mallory and Claire Monroe from Palmer Ridge High School, who spoke about the Future Business Leaders of America and the Distributive Education Clubs of America.

To view their presentations, please see boarddocs.

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The Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education meets at 6 p.m. in the Bauman Learning Center at 146 Jefferson St. in Monument. The next regular meeting will be on April 20. For information, please contact Vicki Wood at vwood@lewispalmer.org.

Harriet Halbig may be reached at harriethalbig@ocn.me.

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Monument Academy School Board, March 12 – Board approves bond refinancing plan

Highlights

  • The Monument Academy board moved to refinance up to $50 million in bonds, reducing the max interest rate from 8% to 6% and aiming to issue at investment-grade rates based on ratings expected by end of March.
  • The refinancing would refund about $44.8 million in 2014 and 2019 bonds and generate an estimated $4.65 million for construction at the secondary campus, with closing targeted for late April ahead of a June 1 maturity.
  • If not rated investment grade, MA may choose a 10-year fixed rate with 30-year amortization; whereas if investment grade is achieved, a 30- to 35-year structure is anticipated.
  • Ownership of both East and West campuses would be placed under a single building corporation to simplify leases and strengthen bondholder collateral, with new covenants tied to cash reserves and debt coverage ratios.
  • The board recessed to approve related actions with Monument Academy Building Corp. and Monument Academy Foundation, which passed resolutions on refunding bonds and transferring property between entities.
  • Progress on the 2025-26 strategic plan was reported, including professional development framework completion, induction processes, and ongoing curriculum alignment efforts, with policy updates and upcoming actions noted.

By Jackie Burhans

The Monument Academy (MA) board met on March 12 to unanimously approve a plan to refinance existing bonds and fund future campus improvements, hear an update on its strategic plan, update several policies, and review other highlights from the administration and committees.

Bond refinancing

Board President Ryan Graham led a discussion on the resolution authorizing up to $50 million in bonds, with the maximum interest rate reduced from 8% to 6% to reflect current market conditions while maintaining flexibility. The resolution was approved unanimously following a motion by Graham and a second by Vice President Lindsay Clinton.

Executive Director Collin Vinchattle reported that meetings held earlier that day with Moody’s and Fitch credit rating agencies went “extremely well,” highlighting MA’s financial performance, enrollment processes, and academic outcomes. Vinchattle said the school expects to receive ratings by the end of March, which could allow the bonds to be issued at investment-grade rates.

MA’s municipal bond advisor Paul Jason told the board that the refinancing would refund the school’s 2014 and 2019 bonds—about $44.8 million in total and generate an estimated $4.65 million for construction improvements at the secondary campus. Jason said current projections show interest rates near 5%, with closing expected in late April, ahead of a June 1 bond maturity. If MA is not rated at investment grade, they may go with a 10-year fixed rate and a 30-year amortization, so that MA could refinance in a couple of years with a final maturity of 40 years. If MA does achieve investment grade, it would be looking at a 30- to 35-year structure.

MA’s legal counsel for bond and disclosure Hester Parrot explained that the plan also restructures facility ownership by placing both the East and West campuses under a single building corporation, simplifying leases and strengthening collateral for bondholders. Parrot outlined new financial covenants tied to cash reserves and debt coverage ratios, noting that compliance improves the school’s standing with investors.

The MA board members recessed to meet with the boards of Monument Academy Building Corp. (MABC) and Monument Academy Foundation (MAF), which respectively are the bondholders for MA’s West and East Campus. MABC and MAF board members who were present include Chris Dole, Mark McWilliams, and Melanie Strop, who are all former MA board members. Each organization passed a resolution related to the refunding of current bonds and property transfer from MAF to MABC.

Strategic plan update

Vinchattle told the board that MA has made measurable progress on its 2025-26 Strategic Plan, reporting that the school has completed its professional development framework, established new induction processes, and continues work comparing Core Knowledge and partner curriculum data to guide instructional decisions. Vinchattle said the administration has shifted several leadership and governance goals to “in progress,” with a focus on documenting board training to ensure consistency for elections and new members, while also advancing marketing and enrollment efforts through MA’s marketing partnership with Inkyman.

Policy updates

The board unanimously approved multiple policy updates, including:

  • Continuing disclosure requirements related to bond accountability (DCD-MA).
  • Professional staff calendars (GCL-MA).
  • Evaluation processes (GCOE-MA).
  • Resignation procedures (GCQC/GCQD-MA and MA-R).
  • Evaluation of Licensed Personnel (GCO-MA and MA-R).

Board member Jilinda Dygert raised clarifying questions during policy discussions, while Graham emphasized accountability and statutory compliance.

Note: MA’s board policies are available at http://www.tinyurl.com/ma-policies.

Highlights

Caption: At its March 12 meeting, the Monument Academy board recognized departing School Resource Officer (SRO) Max Ellis for his dedication and leadership at the school since 2022. Board President Ryan Graham expressed the heartfelt gratitude of the board for the work Ellis had done to establish a sound foundation for the SRO program and his dedication to a safe environment. He also noted his effort to build strong relationships with staff and students, wishing him well in his future endeavors. From left are board members Jilinda Dygert, Lindsay Clinton, Matt Ross, Ellis, Graham, and board member Craig Carle. Photo courtesy of Monument Academy.

Board meeting highlights include:

  • Spotlight. The meeting opened with a Community Spotlight recognizing School Resource Officer (SRO) Max Ellis for his service to Monument Academy. Graham thanked Ellis for his role in establishing a strong foundation for campus safety and building positive relationships with students and staff. Ellis is leaving MA to take a position in Florida.
  • Executive director. Vinchattle also reported on recent schoolwide initiatives, including Read Across America activities, Core Knowledge Day for kindergarten students, and the imminent start of track and field construction pending final permitting.
  • Finance director. Laura Polen presented a detailed financial report showing the school operating largely on track across campuses. Polen noted that year-to-date losses were primarily the result of one-time expenses, including staff bonuses and construction-related costs, and said most programs would be near break-even without those non-recurring items.
  • Curriculum West. Clinton said the committee met to review a writing and grammar curriculum and hopes to bring it to the board in April.
  • Curriculum East. Clinton said Secondary School Principal Angela Duca provided an update on curriculum alignment, which is on track. Duca said there are three new AP math courses for which they are gauging interest before looking at the curriculum to review.
  • Student Accountability and Advisory Committee (SAAC) West. Clinton said the committee heard from Operations Manager Jake Dicus on how facilities use open ticket processes and procedures and security topics. The committee finalized a recommendation letter to the board, which expressed appreciation for the opportunity to volunteer and for the curriculum, staff, challenging academics, and character teaching. The greatest concern is regarding teacher retention because of its effect on student learning and the amount of homework.
  • SAAC East. Dygert said the committee was finalizing analysis of survey results and would bring its letter of recommendation soon. She encouraged families to attend future SAAC meetings.
  • Buildings and Facilities. Graham noted that the new school resource officer has been in place undergoing training.
  • Resources and Development. Clinton noted that tickets for the April 17 gala are available now and can be purchased using a QR code on signs outside the building.

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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 April 9 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.

Above: At its March 12 meeting, the Monument Academy board recognized departing School Resource Officer (SRO) Max Ellis for his dedication and leadership at the school since 2022. Board President Ryan Graham expressed the heartfelt gratitude of the board for the work Ellis had done to establish a sound foundation for the SRO program and his dedication to a safe environment. He also noted his effort to build strong relationships with staff and students, wishing him well in his future endeavors. From left are board members Jilinda Dygert, Lindsay Clinton, Matt Ross, Ellis, Graham, and board member Craig Carle. Photo courtesy of Monument Academy.

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Monument Academy, March 18 – MA announces anonymous $17 million donation for performing arts auditorium

Highlights

  • At its March 12 meeting, Monument Academy announced a special unveiling event for March 18 at the East Campus gym to showcase fine arts performances.
  • The unveiling included performances from Shakespeare and Newsies, highlighting the school's commitment to arts education as part of the Legacy in Motion campaign.
  • A donor gift fully funding the auditorium was announced by Executive Director Collin Vinchattle, identifying the Lundeen family and Lis Richard as contributors and signaling support for an East Campus expansion.
  • Board President Ryan Graham reported via the MA Facebook page that anonymous donors contributed a $17 million gift to build a 750-seat Performing Arts Center at the East Campus.
  • The $17 million donation is noted as the largest publicly recorded private gift to a K-12 Colorado public school.
  • The Legacy in Motion campaign is also pursuing an academic wing and gymnasium.
  • MA aims to complete track and field facilities to match the new theater and will be ready to break ground once the final permit is received.

By Jackie Burhans

At its March 12 meeting, the Monument Academy (MA) board teased a special unveiling event to be held on Wednesday, March 18, at its East Campus gym.

At its unveiling event, students performed excerpts from Shakespeare and the musical Newsies to showcase the school’s commitment to fine arts. This donation, which fully funds the auditorium, is part of a broader capital campaign called “Legacy in Motion” that seeks donations to build a track and field facility, a gymnasium, and a new high school academic wing.

Caption: Artist’s rendering of the exterior of the proposed Performing Arts Center. Courtesy of Monument Academy.

Executive Director Collin Vinchattle recognized the Lundeen family and Lis Richard, who has a long history with MA. He noted that next year is MA’s 30th year. Vinchattle was emotional as he announced this gift that he said would slingshot the MA Legacy in Motion capital campaign to build out the East Campus with an athletic field, an academic wing, and a gymnasium, as well as the Performing Arts Center.

Board President Ryan Graham announced via the MA Facebook page that due to the unbelievable generosity of anonymous donors, MA had received a $17 million gift to build a 750-seat Performing Arts Center at its East Campus. That kind of generosity changes lives and creates a legacy, he said. He expressed his gratitude and asked the community to partner with MA in raising funds to complete its track and field to match the theater that will be built.

This $17 million gift is the largest publicly recorded private donation to a K-12 Colorado public school; the previous record was $6 million. Students spoke about the impact of both the arts education program and the athletic programs, which, they said, fostered a growth mindset and built character through discipline, humility, and resilience.

Caption: Artist’s rendering of the interior of the proposed Performing Arts Center. Courtesy of Monument Academy.

MA announced that it is ready to break ground on a new track and field facility as soon as the final permit is received. The event finished with a finale by the school choir performing Walking on Sunshine and Mr. Blue Sky.

Note: More information on MA’s capital campaign can be found at https://www.monumentacademy.net/legacy-in-motion/.

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

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