Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, April 17 – New director sworn in; board reorganization; Safe and Welcoming Schools discussion

Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, April 17 – New director sworn in; board reorganization; Safe and Welcoming Schools discussion

New director and reorganization
Safe, healthy, and welcoming schools update
Policy revisions
Financial planning and analysis
Health benefits update
Stars of Tomorrow

By Harriet Halbig

The Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education welcomed a new director and reorganized during its April 17 meeting. Additional business included a report on safe, healthy and welcoming schools (priority 1 in the strategic plan), employee health benefit changes, and policy revisions.

New director and reorganization

Former board President Chris Taylor resigned his position effective on the date of the February board meeting.

The board held a special meeting on April 8 to appoint a new member, Kris Norris. Norris was sworn in and signed an affidavit of confidentiality at this meeting.

As required by law, the members of the board then reorganized. Tiffiney Upchurch and Ron Schwarz were nominated as board president. Schwarz withdrew his name, commenting that he felt that his skill set was better suited to continue in another capacity.

Upchurch was then elected as president. Following a brief discussion, Norris was appointed as vice president. Schwarz will continue as treasurer, Theresa Phillips will serve as secretary, and Matthew Clawson will continue as director at large.

In their board member comments, several members welcomed Norris and thanked Upchurch for her willingness to serve as president. Clawson encouraged those who were eligible to run for office in November.

Upchurch commented that April is sexual violence recognition month and that freedom from assault is a human right. One of the public comments was made by a former student who suffered assault while in the district and objected to the district recognizing her assailant as a successful athlete.

Superintendent KC Somers stated that the district is opposed to all forms of misconduct and takes all reports seriously. All students can file a report without fear of retribution, and he commended any student for standing up for their rights.

Somers further commented that there is an effort to educate on the concept of consent and responsible use of social media.

The district involves law enforcement when necessary and is creating a district-wide safety task force.

Safe, healthy, and welcoming schools update

Executive Director of Student Services and Chief of Security Dennis Coates spoke about Priority 1 of the strategic plan: safe, healthy, and welcoming schools.

Coates said that the district’s security protocols are confidential but outlined the comprehensive approach in use. The approach is divided into four categories.

Physical infrastructure includes the construction of security vestibules in several schools, the use of 3M film to make it more difficult to break windows near entrances, addition of video cameras in many locations, and direct radio contact with first responders to allow the district to explain emergencies before their arrival.

The district has armed security on various campuses. Coates emphasized that the job of school resource officer is not just to look for troublemakers but to build relationships with all students so that they would feel comfortable confiding about things they had heard or seen that could cause a dangerous situation.

The district has active partnerships with the Monument and Palmer Lake police departments, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, and Woodmoor Security. The Woodmoor Security officers also provide traffic control at school sites. The district also participates in the Tri-Lakes Social Emotional Wellness Coalition.

The district is involved with an active risk assessment program which involves a multidisciplinary team and parents. Monthly emergency drills including lockdowns and evacuations are held, and trainings teach students and teachers to be aware of their surroundings.

The district also utilizes a filter called Gaggle, which flags the mention of certain words and images on district Google devices. Gaggle is also engaged when a student uses personal devices if signed in on their district account.

Coates commented that the use of terms such as suicide are sometimes used in the process of researching a student project. In any case, school administrators intervene when an account is flagged.

Executive Director of Student Services Rick Frampton said goals of the district are to build relationships with students, encourage teachers to offer a respectful and inclusive learning environment, exhibit an ongoing commitment to nondiscrimination, combat bullying, and promote kindness.

Frampton said that the district has increased the number of counselors available at the high school level. Counselors for elementary students are hard to find, and psychologists and social workers are sometimes used in their place.

Frampton referred to last fall’s student survey which found that at the secondary level, 76% of students felt that they knew an adult they could speak to about problems, 83% felt that teachers cared about them as an individual, and 70% felt a part of the school community. At the elementary level, 80% felt they know an adult they could confide in, 83% felt that teachers cared, and 80% felt like part of a community.

The spring student survey will be conducted soon.

Policy revisions

The board discussed changes in policy GCBA-R regarding revisions to the instructional staff contract. The primary change is to credit new hires with up to 15 years of previous experience. Previously, the district would credit up to 10 years.

Other aspects of the policy involve credit for achieving a master’s degree or other outside training.

Policy IKF involves graduation requirements. The board voted to delete the requirement of a credit in world languages. The consensus of the board was that it is difficult to find teachers of world languages, but the district will help any student who requires this to apply to the college of their choice.

Financial planning and analysis

Chief Business Officer Brett Ridgway updated the board on developments in finance. He said that for the first time in many years, interest income has become a significant revenue source, yielding $200,000 this year in the General Fund alone.

Schwarz asked how this money may be used.

Ridgway responded that this must be viewed as a one-time advantage and therefore could not be included in long-term use such as salaries. However, it could potentially be used as a bonus.

At another point in the meeting, Ridgway discussed the pay schedule for the upcoming year. The amount of income from the state has not yet been finalized, but should be available in the next week or so. At that time, Ridgway anticipates that the increase may exceed the 8% previously noted.

Because the figures are not yet final, the board did not vote to ratify the new pay schedule.

For further details on the pay schedule, please see the discussion in the April issue at www.ocn.me/v23n4.htm#d38.

Health benefits update

Human Resources Director Alicia Welch outlined the options for health benefits in the upcoming year, including the addition of Health Savings Accounts. To view the PowerPoint on this subject, please see boarddocs, on the district website lewispalmer.org, board of education, boarddocs and select the meeting date.

Stars of Tomorrow

Richard Strom, Monument Hill Kiwanis program manager for the Stars of Tomorrow talent show, spoke about the success of the program. The aim of the program was to recognize students who excelled in the performing arts.

Fifty-three participants auditioned and 20 of them performed at Palmer Ridge High School before an audience and judges.

Winners at the elementary level were Rose Helgoth of St. Peter Catholic School and Eric Lambrech of Lewis-Palmer Elementary. Secondary school winners were Raleigh Eversole of Palmer Ridge High School and Wyatt Hayden of Lewis-Palmer High School. Hayden won the grand prize.

Strom also mentioned other ways in which Kiwanis partners with the district.

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The Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education meets at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of each month in the district’s learning center, 146 Jefferson St. in Monument. The next meeting will be on May 15.

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