Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, Aug. 19 – Recognitions, revised Monument Academy contract, Human Resources report

Recognitions
Monument Academy contract
Human Resources report
Superintendent update
Financial planning
Executive session

By Harriet Halbig

**Above:** At the Aug. 19 D38 Board of Education meeting, President Tiffiney Upchurch celebrated Raleigh “Butch” Eversole, retired Palmer Ridge High School band director, for receiving the Colorado Bandmasters Association’s 2024 Hall of Fame award. This award is given to just one Colorado band director each year. Eversole spoke of the people who influenced him and the support he got from students, parents, the board, and building administrators. He said he hoped that there would be continued support for the music program at D38, noting that former students were now leading the program. From left are Upchurch, board member Todd Brown, elementary music teacher Cynthia Eversole, Eversole, board members Kris Norris and Patti Shank, and Superintendent Stacie Datteri. For more information on the Colorado Bandmasters Association and its mission, see https://www.coloradobandmasters.org/. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

**Above:** At the D38 Board of Education meeting on Aug. 19, Amy Sienkowski, assistant principal at Palmer Ridge High School, recognized the Tri-Lakes Women’s Club (TLWC) for awarding eight grants totaling nearly $12,500 to support eight projects in School District 38. TWLC grants supported swim lessons, vision screening, transitions cooking classes, furniture for counselors, an automated external defibrillator (AED), science materials, and comfort bins. Sienkowski noted that the comfort bins contained age-appropriate books on loss, cushions, fidgets, and weighted blankets to help students process their grief when a tragedy arises. From left are board member Patti Shank, board president Tiffiney Upchurch, TLWC Co-President Kathy Budney, TLWC President-Elect Julie Shook, board member Kris Norris, Sienkowski, and Superintendent Stacie Datteri. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

The Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education recognized several individuals and organizations, approved a consolidated contract for Monument Academy, and received a detailed report from the Human Resources Department at its Aug. 19 meeting.

Recognitions

Former Palmer Ridge High School band teacher Raleigh “Butch” Eversole was recognized for receiving the Colorado Bandmasters’ Association 2024 Hall of Fame Award. One individual is so recognized each year.

Lewis-Palmer High School Principal Bridget O’Connor recognized Braeden Turner as the valedictorian for the class of 2024 with a grade point average of 4.545. Turner will attend the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He was presented with a special medal.

The Tri-Lakes Women’s Club was recognized for its support of the district through its donations. Of note this year is the donation of comfort bins for students experiencing tragedies. These age-appropriate bins include such items as blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, books about grieving, note cards, coloring supplies and other materials.

Monument Academy contract

Assistant Superintendent Amber Whetstine and Chief Business Officer Brett Ridgway presented a consolidated contract for the elementary and secondary campuses of Monument Academy. Although the two campuses remain separate legal entities, it was thought to be more convenient to have a contract with a single expiration date in 2029.

Some changes in the contract include information on expulsion of students and education of students with disabilities. The Monument Academy board approved the contract the previous week. The contract was approved unanimously.

Human Resources report

Director of Human Resources Alicia Welch presented a detailed report about her department’s statistics. The PowerPoint may be found on boarddocs, under the Board of Education tab on the district website, lewispalmer.org.

Some highlights are:

The primary reason for separation from the district was retirement for licensed employees (primarily teachers). The primary reason for classified employees (clerical, transportation, food service, etc.) was personal or health reasons.
The district was successful in recruiting substitute teachers. To be considered active, a substitute must work one or two times per month.
The district was successful in recruiting a number of teachers and paraprofessionals for students with special needs.
The district has hired three new bus drivers.

Welch emphasized that her goal is to make employees feel valued and welcome. She encourages employees to seek improvement in such areas as moving from paraprofessional to teacher. She said that movement between schools and among categories proves that employees view Lewis-Palmer as a destination district in their careers.

The department also has encouraged departing employees to fill out a survey stating why they are leaving and what they valued in their time at the district.

Welch said that two factors have aided in recruiting. The first is that a district gives credit for up to 16 years of previous experience in determining starting salaries for teachers. The second is that the district pays 1.2 Full Time Equivalent salaries to special education teachers. Spanish, math, and career technology positions are the most difficult to fill. A $2,000 hiring bonus is an additional incentive.

Superintendent update

Superintendent Dr. Stacie Datteri reported on the first day of school and summer activities in the district.

She rode several school buses on the first day of school and shared lunch with students at Lewis-Palmer High School and Prairie Winds Elementary School.

Over the summer, a number of sports camps were sponsored by the district, a soccer game was held between the Unified Soccer Program at Lewis-Palmer High School and the Switchbacks Unified Team, and orientation programs for incoming ninth-graders and incoming seventh-graders helped familiarize them with their new surroundings.

Datteri said that the district played a major role in the Monument Fourth of July Parade, featuring many sports teams and the board president and herself.

She reported that the new career and innovation center is also in its planning stages.

Datteri also announced the hiring of Ron Sprinz as the new Director of Finance and Purchasing.

Financial planning

Chief Business Officer Brett Ridgway reported on the status of the district budget. He said he strives to utilize 98% to 100% of the budget at any given time. At present over 98% is being used.

As a result of the passage of Senate Bill 24-017, the district is receiving its state revenues in a new timeline. The district received $4 million for July this year rather than the previous approximately $3.1 million. The state Senate bill was passed to distribute revenue more evenly over months when tax revenue is not disbursed

In answer to a question, Ridgway said that the current changes in property tax levies will not affect the budget for 2024-25 but may impact the following year.

School enrollment figures for the first day of school reflect an additional 12 students. Ridgway said that the numbers often decline slightly before the official student count on Oct. 1.

Of note is the increase of 106 students at Bear Creek Elementary School. Ridgway said the school can absorb this number but not many more. He also said it is not possible to determine whether this increase is due to nearby developments. On Oct. 1, the addresses of students will become available. Enrollment at Monument Academy increased slightly as a result of its new Home School Academy.

Ridgway said that the previous fiscal year’s budget must be amended slightly due to receipt of insurance funding resulting from the January freeze and a slight increase in funding from the mill levy override. The board unanimously approved the amended budget.

Executive session

The board met in executive session before the regular meeting. During this session, it discussed the subdivision of the central office complex and parameters for valuation of the parcels for future transactions. For further information on this subject, please see https://wp.ocn.me/v24n7d38boe...

The Board of Education of Lewis-Palmer D38 meets at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of the month at its learning center, 146 N. Jefferson St. in Monument. The next meeting will be on Sept. 16. For further information, please contact vwood@lewispalmer.org.

**Above:** At the Aug. 19 meeting of the D38 Board of Education, Lewis-Palmer High School Principal Bridget O’Connor introduced Braeden Turner to recognize his academic achievements and present a special valedictorian medal. She noted that the valedictorian process happens after seven of eight semesters. She said that after calculating final grades, Turner’s grade-point average of 4.545 moved him to the number one position by a score of .001. She noted that Turner was also involved in athletics, the Safe-to-Tell program, and student mental wellness advocacy. Turner, who was accompanied by his parents at the board meeting, will attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst and will major in computer science and a minor in food science. From left are board President Tiffiney Upchurch, Del Turner, Turner, Nancy Roberts, O’Connor. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

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