- Monument Academy annual report
- The rate of teacher retention is high
- Home School Enrichment Academy and Transitions update
- Recognitions
By Harriet Halbig
The Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education received the annual report of the district’s charter school, Monument Academy, discussed a timeline and options for location of the Home School Enrichment Academy and Transitions programs, and recognized principals, business officials and former Superintendent Ted Bauman at its Oct. 20 meeting.
Monument Academy annual report
Monument Academy Executive Director Collin Vinchattle reported on test scores and activities at both the west (elementary) and east (secondary) campuses of the school.
Vinchattle referred to the school website for the school mission statement and said that while participation in Colorado Measurement of Academic Success (CMAS) was low, alternative test results indicated that schools at both levels performed above average.
He reported on test scores in various subjects at all levels. Please refer to boarddocs for detailed information by going to lewispalmer.org, board of education, boarddocs.
MA began offering a homeschool enrichment program last year with 32 students. Participation has doubled this year.
MA was recognized as a National Showcase School on the middle school level for the Capturing Kids Hearts Program.
At the middle school level, MA offers a high-performance program for students whose participation in athletics or drama impacts their ability to attend regular classes. This program exposes them to regular school experiences when possible.
The rate of teacher retention is high
Chief Financial Officer Glenn Gustafson reported on MA financial activities in the last year.
MA restructured its finances, including the hiring of a new finance director, Laura Polen. Payroll and accounts payable have been outsourced, and attention is focused on the refinance of $27 million in bonds for the construction of the east campus, which will require a balloon payment in June 2026.
Gustafson said the two campuses of MA are separate business entities. In response to a question, he said that a bond issued by a school district will be serviced by taxpayers, while a bond issued by a charter school must be serviced by school revenues. Charter schools in Colorado are nonprofits.
When asked why MA chose to have a 10-year bond rather than 25 or 30, Gustafson replied that, unlike a mortgage, a bond cannot be refinanced during its lifetime. It was hoped that interest rates would decline by 2026. The current bond is at 4% and current interest rates are at 6%.
Financial highlights of the year include the purchase of a parking lot on the west campus and modulars for the east campus. MA received a donation of $1.4 million to support these purchases. The school received an IRS Employee Retention Tax Credit of $2.3 million. This program recognized employee retention during the pandemic years.
Due to the anticipated balloon payment in June, several projects have been postponed, including building an auditorium and an academic wing.
Board President Tiffiney Upchurch commented that it is fortunate that MA students can participate in athletic and other programs in the district as needed.
Gustafson said that MA will concentrate on marketing in the coming year in an effort to stop the decline in enrollment. He said that having a crest and uniforms makes some think that MA is a private school.
Home School Enrichment Academy and Transitions update
Director of Planning, Facilities, and Grounds Melissa Andrews presented an update on the Home School Enrichment Academy (HSEA) facility and provision of a facility for the district Transitions program.
Six alternatives were provided, including new construction at the Career and Innovation Center (CIC) or the central campus, purchase of an existing building requiring renovation to meet code and requirements for education purposes, and shared space between Transitions and HSEA.
HSEA is currently housed in the Grace Best Education Center and may remain there for the near future, as long as it is understood which portions of the building are safe for students. Transitions is currently housed in the Career and Innovation Center (CIC) in the area planned for health science instruction.
Considerations included proximity to emergency services (less available at CIC), expense of purchase, and potential lack of available existing buildings, and time from planning to occupancy.
The Enterprise building on the central campus is seen as a possible solution for Transitions because it is centrally located, has security features like cameras and fencing, and is in a familiar area. The building includes a kitchen and outlets to support a dryer, aiding in teaching life skills. However, de-escalation and sensory areas are not currently available, and restrooms and other features may not be ADA compliant.
Enterprise can easily be relocated to CIC and continue to support the Innovative Learning Opportunities program (ILOP). Enterprise students can take advantage of the CIC shuttle buses.
A lengthy discussion involved questions about the number of alternatives that should be considered, such as timing, current use of locations under consideration, and possible partnerships with community resources such as Tri-Lakes Cares.
Board Treasurer Ron Schwarz asked how many individuals are involved with the Transitions program. The program has been in place for decades and now involves 23 students with 15 expected next year. The common number is 10 to 15 students with seven to 10 staff members.
Board Secretary Dr. Patti Shank asked what Tri-Lakes Cares (TLC) is offering to do to participate in the Transitions program. TLC has offered to share a greenhouse and to potentially provide employment to program participants.
To conclude the discussion, board members requested that the number of alternatives be reduced to two or three and that the discussion would continue at the November board work session. It was also suggested that family members of the current Transitions program and family members of former participants be included in the discussion.
Shank pointed out that there will be two new members to the board in the near future, and therefore, decisions should not be made now.
Andrews reported on progress on the new structure for HSEA. It was originally hoped that the structure would be ready for occupancy by now, but the company building the structure in Texas required stamped engineering drawings before the structure could be moved. There are additional state requirements as well.
Consequently, students will not be in the building until February or later in the spring.
Recognitions
In honor of National Principals Month, Superintendent Amber Whetstine said that principals are among the hardest-working and least recognized of school leaders. She contacted staff at all district schools and asked for a few descriptive words to describe a specific principal and had these words inscribed on a plaque for each.
The board recognized Chief Business Officer Brett Ridgway and other business officials for receiving the Summit Award from the Colorado Association of School Business Officers in September. This award honors success in school business management driven by collaboration, leadership, and strategic problem-solving to develop and implement innovative, effective solutions that positively influence students, staff, and communities.
Ridgway was honored for his creation of legislation that made additional funds available each year as a result of restructuring tax revenue timing. Andrews was recognized for her contributions to renovating the CIC building on time and under budget, and Director of Innovation Amy Sienkowski was recognized for opening CIC and preparing for more advanced course offerings.
The $1,000 award check was donated to the D38 Foundation.
Board President Tiffiney Upchurch recognized Dwight “Ted” Bauman for his contributions to the district over the 17 years when he was a principal, assistant superintendent, superintendent, and interim superintendent.
Upchurch praised Bauman for his heart of compassion and dedication, and the fact that he championed the arts and community participation. He spoke with employees, retirees, and volunteers, always retaining personal connections.
Bauman spoke of his mentors in the district and said that he heard from colleges and universities that recruit our students. He thanked his wife for her patience during the many nights he spent at meetings and other events.
He mentioned that leadership should not be defined as power, but as building relationships and connections.
Bauman’s family, including grandsons, were in attendance, as were past board members.
The board passed a resolution dedicating the Learning Center to the legacy of Bauman. He received a plaque and commented that it was ironic that the Kiwanis Club, of which he is a member, would see it each time they met in that space.
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The Lewis-Palmer D 38 Board of Education meets at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of the month in the Bauman Learning Center, 146 N. Jefferson St., Monument. The next meeting will be on Nov. 17. For further information, contact vwood@lewispalmer.org
Harriet Halbig may be reached at harriethalbig@ocn.me.
Other D38 Board of Education articles
- Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, Sept. 15 – State assessment results; school accreditation; Career and Innovation Center update (10/2/2025)
- Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, Aug.18 – Board discusses facilities planning, Career and Innovation Center, budget (9/4/2025)
- Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, June 16 – Board finalizes plans for HSEA structure, approves 2025-26 budget (7/3/2025)
- Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, May 19 – Whetstine named superintendent; board receives annual committee reports (6/7/2025)
- Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, April 22 – Board announces finalists for superintendent, approves construction and location of Home School Enrichment Academy (5/3/2025)
- Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, March 17 – Board posts superintendent position internally, receives updates on Home School Enrichment Academy and Transitions Services (4/5/2025)
- Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, Feb. 18 – Board recognizes achievements, hears about Arts Education and Career and Innovation Center (3/1/2025)
- Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, Jan. 21 – Superintendent resigns; Grace Best School to be demolished (2/1/2025)
- Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, Dec. 16 – Board learns about Information Technology Department; Career and Innovation Center update; annual mill levy certification (1/4/2025)
- Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, Nov. 18 – Board reviews revision of district boundaries, approves lease/purchase agreement for Career and Innovation Center (12/5/2024)
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