Lewis-Palmer D 38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee, Nov. 18 – Accreditation discussion; post-election report

• Accreditation discussion
• Post-election report

By Harriet Halbig

The Lewis-Palmer D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee (PCAC) met on Nov. 18 at the west campus of Monument Academy.

Monument Academy (MA) Principal Jesse Davis gave a brief introductory presentation on the school. Founded in 1986, it has relocated twice and is currently serving grades pre-K through 5. Monument Academy stresses character development, and each student signs a social contract each year. MA also stresses teaching cursive writing throughout students’ tenure.

The current student count is 660. The MA School Board is made up of parents.

Accreditation discussion

Dr. Michael Brom, Assessment and Accountability coordinator for the district, led a discussion on accreditation, beginning with a true/false quiz addressing participation in state and national assessments.

For the past several years, parents could opt out students from participating in the CMAS (Colorado Measures of Academic Success), PSAT, and SAT tests. Brom said it’s difficult to reach individual families to encourage participation. General announcements and notes are not effective, and it is impractical to contact each family individually. By law, the district cannot punish or incentivize participation.

Many students simply do not attend the assessments. At the middle school level, Brom said, families are encouraged to use the official form to opt out.

A member of the committee who is a third-grade teacher, the first year in which students participate, said that she makes students feel that it is a privilege to participate and show their maturity.

Superintendent Amber Whetstine commented that it would be useful to know whether the community pays attention to accreditation.

Committee Co-Chair Kirsten Zook suggested creating a questionnaire asking why families opt out.

Special Education Family Liaison Michele Nay commented that special education families may not be comfortable sharing their reasons for not participating.

CMAS testing covers language arts, math, and science. Science is included only in grades 5, 8, and 11.

Brom said that students have been participating in the assessments at various rates depending on location. The state requires 95% participation, and at some locations the rate is much lower.

The quiz addressed the significance of participation by saying that results are more useful as the rate of participation increases, but that funding and the rate of district achievement are not affected.

Charter school results are included in the district’s overall District Performance Framework accreditation ratings.

The criteria for accreditation with distinction will change in the 2027-28 school year, directed by HB25-1278. Under the new criteria, D38 would not have earned accreditation with distinction in the past due to a lack of participation.

Post-election report

Board of Education Secretary Dr. Patti Shank reported that it appears that Tim Bennett won the election for District 1, replacing Vice President Kris Norris, who is leaving the area. District 3 was won by Ginger Schaaf, replacing board President Tiffney Upchurch, who has reached her term limit.

Co-chairs Renee Butler and Zook presented Upchurch with a large bouquet to thank her for her participation on the committee and the board. Upchurch said that she would continue to attend committee meetings.

Shank reported that election results would be certified on Nov. 29, at which time the board would meet to elect officers.

Board Treasurer Ron Schwarz asked how much time PCAC would like allotted on the board’s agenda. Butler said that 30 minutes would be appropriate.

A compilation of the results of the previous month’s discussion on accreditation was distributed, including comments from committee members on each aspect of the discussion. To view this document, please go to lewispalmer.org, family resources, community, district committees, and click on meeting content.

There were a few brief sub-committee reports:

• The Early Childhood Task Force is discussing the feasibility of full-time preschool.
• The Special Education Advisory Committee has circulated a survey to parents and discussed progressions from grade to grade and school to school.
• The Financial Transparency Committee is discussing mill levy overrides and the impact of a decrease in student count of 187.

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The Lewis-Palmer Parent and Community Advisory Committee meets six times per year. Locations vary. There will not be a meeting in December. The next meeting will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Jan.13 at Palmer Lake Elementary School, 115 Upper Glenway in Palmer Lake. For information, contact tmckee@lewispalmer.org.

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

Other D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee articles

• D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee, Feb. 10 – Update on Priority 3, Valuing Our People; introduction to Lewis-Palmer High School; discussion about report to board (3/4/2026)
• Parent and Community Advisory Committee, Jan. 13 – Continued discussion of board Priority 2, Academic Excellence, report from Monument Academy (2/4/2026)
• D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee, Oct. 14 – Board goals feedback; work toward maintaining academic excellence (10/30/2025)
• Lewis-Palmer D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee, Sept. 9 – Committee discusses plans for relationship with Board of Education in upcoming school year (10/2/2025)
• D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee, May 13 – Budget priorities, 2025-26 committee goals discussed (6/7/2025)
• D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee, April 8 – Discussion of Priority 2 academic excellence, superintendent search (5/3/2025)
• D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee, Feb. 11 – Selection of new superintendent, treatment of Grace Best Elementary School, budget process discussed (3/1/2025)
• D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee, Nov. 12 – Reports on school year calendar, safety and security, and social and emotional wellness (12/5/2024)
• D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee, Oct. 8 – Grace Best Elementary School, Career-Innovation Center plans discussed (11/2/2024)
• D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee, Sept. 10 – Committee discusses strategic plan, assessment results, bylaws change (10/5/2024)