Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 14 and 25 – Board moves forward on facility plans, hears marketing proposal

East Campus expansion strategy
Partners present expansion master plan
Presentations on arts, athletics, and academics
Academics
Fine Arts
Athletics
Marketing proposal
Universal Pre-Kindergarten
Board decisions
Highlights

By Jackie Burhans

The Monument Academy (MA) school board held two meetings in August to advance planning for East Campus facility upgrades and review proposals to expand high school programming. The board also heard an external marketing presentation and considered joining Colorado’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program.

In addition, the board approved decisions related to partnerships, policies, waivers, stipends, and other operational matters.

East Campus expansion strategy

President Ryan Graham opened the meeting by highlighting his five-year involvement with MA’s facility planning. He said MA is pursuing a phased build-out at East Campus, including track and field, a regulation-size gym, classrooms, library, an 800-seat auditorium, and expanded student common areas.

Graham noted MA cannot complete all projects at once but is preparing for a multi-year campaign. He reminded the board of a $29 million balloon payment due in June 2026 and said MA is working with a bond advisor to restructure its debt.

CRP Architects President Brian Risley and Wember Inc. Vice President Dusty Black were available to present the Phase II design. Graham said MA formed a Design Advisory Group last month, including board members, staff, parents, and project partners, to gather stakeholder input.

MA has received $200,000 in donations toward the track and field project. Graham said the school is exploring financial options to prioritize the new gym and convert the practice gym into a performing arts black box. That would allow time to raise funds for the auditorium.

MA will continue working with its bond advisor and will launch a capital campaign targeting high-net-worth individuals. Graham said naming rights and other recognition opportunities will be available.

Graham introduced a proposed contract with CRP Architects for a schematic design package to clarify project costs and support donor outreach. He said the blueprint would help MA engage donors. The board voted unanimously to approve the contract.

Partners present expansion master plan

Black said Wember Project Manager RJ LaForge led planning efforts for MA’s East Campus expansion, coordinating with the board and CRP Architects to set priorities and align budgets with cash flow. The team is moving quickly through schematic designs to support contractor engagement.

LaForge is preparing a request for qualifications for general contractors (GC) that’s expected to go public soon. Black said MA aims to onboard a GC by mid-September to provide accurate cost estimates. Surveying and soil testing are underway to confirm site feasibility.

The school plans to break ground on track and field in spring, with phased additions including bleachers, restrooms, press box, and concessions to bring it into Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) compliance. Bleachers would hold up to 1,000 spectators, and there is room around the track for jumping and throwing pits. In the future, overflow parking could be built where the current field is located.

Risley said the master plan includes three expansion zones—north, east, and west—originally anticipated in the campus design. Existing utility access and building openings will support phased construction.

The revised layout proposes a 13,000-square-foot gym on the east side, featuring locker rooms, a main court, two cross courts, and seating for 800. The gym would have its own restrooms so it could operate independently for after-school events.

West of the gym, MA plans to expand common space by 3,000 square feet, connecting to an 835-seat auditorium with full stage and backstage facilities.

Classrooms and a media center would shift west to maximize views. The two-story wing with a central gathering space would support academic growth.

If the auditorium is deferred, MA might convert the current gym into a black box theater, offering a flexible performance venue with seating in the round, which could flex from 249 to 286 occupants. Black said the team is excited to help shape a campus that reflects the school’s long-term vision.

Presentations on arts, athletics, and academics

Department heads’ ideas for building out their high school programs and estimating the costs involved were presented at the Aug. 25 special meeting.

Academics

Secondary campus Principal Angela Duca reviewed academic programs with a focus on student retention. Her team surveyed eighth-graders and high school students about why they stay or leave, especially after middle school.

Students who stay cited strong relationships with teachers, internship opportunities, upcoming new facilities, student council, and a sense of community. Middle school students often leave to attend high school with friends and teammates, join sports teams not offered at MA, or follow siblings to other schools for easier transportation.

High school students leave due to limited class options, few electives, a small number of AP courses, and the lack of an auditorium. Some seek a different experience. Students also face scheduling conflicts that prevent them from taking preferred classes. They requested a library, more after-school clubs, and greater separation between middle and high school programs. Upperclassmen asked for off-campus lunch privileges, especially for student drivers, and supported a block schedule and expanded foreign language offerings, including American Sign Language.

Duca outlined immediate steps to improve retention, including educating middle-schoolers about high school offerings and planning senior class trips. She proposed stipends for staff to organize trips and lead fundraising, starting with domestic travel and expanding to international options tied to curriculum. She encouraged parent volunteer involvement.

She also recommended launching after-school clubs immediately, with stipends for teacher sponsors. If a teacher volunteers to lead a club, MA would be obligated to offer it, she noted.

Duca suggested reviewing MA’s four-year math graduation requirement, noting that some students may not need it. Expanding beyond the current five AP classes would be costly, but students can still take AP exams independently. She proposed educating students about the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and encouraging enrollment during Academy Time. She also recommended exploring a scholarship program to support post-secondary education.

For long-term improvements, Duca supported adding sports and arts facilities, hiring more teachers for AP and electives, and building a separate high school academic wing. She also suggested collaborating with District 38 to expand AP offerings and explore opportunities at its new Career Innovation Center.

Fine Arts

Strings teacher Cristin Patterson proposed that MA consider offering biennial European trips through the College Ambassadors of Music program. She reviewed MA’s current arts offerings, which include 2D and 3D Visual Arts, Drama, Theater, Film Study, and Theater Tech.

Patterson recommended organizing the arts program into three dedicated rooms: ceramics in the Kiln Room, digital multimedia in the Tech Room, and visual arts in the current Choir Room. To support the expansion, MA would need to hire an additional art teacher, purchase supplies and digital applications, update curriculum, and build a new choir room.

She cited past strategic plans that identified fine arts, music, and drama as MA’s strengths, but noted the lack of a performance space as a weakness. MA currently uses the East Campus practice gym for some performances.

Patterson said the school’s greatest need is an auditorium with space for set construction and storage, a music pit, dedicated sound and lighting, and comfortable seating. She estimated a new auditorium would cost $15 million, while converting the practice gym into a black box theater would cost $1 million-$2 million, plus staffing and utility expenses.

She praised the quality of MA’s arts classes and faculty but said the school needs more students to form a band and more programs to retain students. MA hosts the only strings program in the district but currently rents space at district-operated high schools for concerts and choir performances.

Athletics

Secondary school Athletic Director Lannie Vance said MA must invest in its own athletic facilities to retain eighth-grade students, noting that Palmer Ridge and Lewis-Palmer High Schools offer strong programs. MA’s high school identity is underdeveloped, and students lack a dedicated field and gym, she said.

Vance called athletics a magnet for retention, saying it builds pride, leadership, and community. She said MA could offer a personalized, character-first sports experience focused on agility and culture rather than program size. Without athletics, MA risks losing a key cultural anchor.

Now in her second year on staff and third year coaching, Vance helped grow the girls’ basketball program and unify boys’ and girls’ team culture to increase parent engagement. She is working to launch Matchwits and Speech and Debate teams and is exploring six- or eight-man football, a high school cheer program, and varsity boys’ volleyball. MA has some of the needed equipment and would fundraise to reduce costs.

Vance’s mission centers on putting students first, with athletics as a tool for character development. Her vision is for MA to be recognized statewide by 2030, develop leaders, and win with integrity. She said MA’s small size allows for high leadership potential and greater varsity opportunities. The program is character-first, agile, and community-driven, with an integrated K–12 pipeline. Expected outcomes include a 20%-30% increase in high school retention within three years, stronger student engagement, leadership development, and enrollment growth.

She recommended using social media to highlight teams and engaging students and parents to identify interests. She urged investment in facility upgrades, coaching staff recruitment and training, digital infrastructure for visibility, and scholarship and sponsorship programs. A Booster Club could support fundraising and manage scholarships.

Board Treasurer Craig Carle asked about D38 contributions to coaching stipends for CHSAA-sanctioned sports, noting that District 11 pays him to coach at Coronado High School. Executive Director Collin Vinchattle said MA must fund its own programs or contract with the district. He added that, as the only boys’ volleyball program in the district, MA might qualify for additional funding.

Marketing proposal

At the Aug. 14 meeting, Carle said he and Vice President Lindsay Clinton have a goal to increase enrollment by 125 students by 2027 and would need to partner with a third-party firm on a multi-year basis to achieve this target. He described a recent meeting with MA’s internal marketing team as energizing and said the team is aligned with the goals. He emphasized the importance of investing in the current team while leveraging external expertise and said he would present more details at the upcoming special meeting.

At the Aug. 25 meeting, the board heard a presentation from principal consultant Josh Yancey of the Yancey Group, who partnered with Jesse Lange of Fish Bite Creative and Bill Roberson of MyCommTeam to develop a marketing proposal. Lange attended to answer questions.

Yancey said MA faces brand confusion, digital gaps, and inconsistent messaging, which hinder enrollment. Competing schools tell clearer stories, while MA’s value remains unclear to families. He emphasized that clarity would drive enrollment growth and strengthen the pipeline.

He described his team as culturally aligned professionals with local parental insight and traditional values, experienced in StoryBrand marketing for education and nonprofits. Proposed deliverables include discovery sessions, a messaging playbook, digital audit, opportunity map, and strategic roadmap.

Phase 1, a 9-to-12-week discovery process, would cost $20,000. Phase 2 implementation would cost $35,000, with timing based on deliverables. Phase 3 ongoing support did not include a defined cost.

Carle said MA’s internal marketing team would focus on retention, while the external team would target new enrollment. Clinton asked about timeline flexibility and the use of AI in content creation. Yancey and Lange said several of their tools leverage AI as an assistant and emphasized the iterative nature of their process.

Graham asked if the timeline could be shortened to four to six weeks. Clinton noted that other schools are already active on social media, and MA aims for December “intent to return” commitments. Yancey and Lange said they would explore a faster timeline with Roberson.

Universal Pre-Kindergarten

Director of Preschool Kristi Hays proposed MA opt in to Colorado’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program, which funds 15 hours per week for all 4-year-olds at $608.56 per month, or 30 hours for qualifying children at $1,080.71. Parents of non-qualifying children may choose 30 hours but must pay the cost difference.

MA currently charges $450 per month for half-day preschool, increasing to $500 with enrichment. Full-day preschool costs $950, or $1,000 with enrichment. Thirty-four MA students qualify for UPK, which would generate $240,000 in funding. Hays noted UPK is funded by a sin tax on cigarettes and is not subject to federal or state education cuts.

Clinton said parents have expressed strong interest in MA joining UPK. Hays reported four UPK sites in D38 and additional providers nearby, including Bright Start, Hope Montessori, Antelope Trails Elementary in D20, and Tri-Lakes Community Preschool. El Paso County has 237 UPK providers: 74 school-based, 57 home-based, and 105 community-based.

MA has faced declining preschool enrollment and staffing shortages, resulting in limited breaks and no lunch coverage. Clinton said the program is not meeting its revenue goals this year.

MA previously opted out of UPK due to curriculum concerns. Hays confirmed MA’s curriculum currently meets UPK standards, and commitment would be limited to one year, allowing flexibility if future changes conflict with MA’s philosophy.

The board unanimously approved MA’s immediate participation in UPK.

Board decisions

The board unanimously approved an updated organizational chart that reverts to a more traditional format showing the chain of command. It also approved the middle and high school athletic handbooks along with the 2025-26 school board meeting calendar.

The board approved a Kindergarten School Readiness Waiver that allows MA to opt out students from six to eight required assessments in the first 60 days. Vinchattle said the assessments took away from instruction time, and MA already has its own tools that are more concise.

The board approved its yearly memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Pikes Peak Business and Education Alliance (PPBEA) for career exploration and training. It also approved a one-time stipend for an employee who put in extra duty due to extenuating circumstances.

The board unanimously passed policy IJRB-MA Parental Notification and Opt-Out for Curriculum Materials Potentially Conflicting with Religious Beliefs after making some minor changes based on parental feedback.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

Expulsion upheld. The Aug. 14 meeting started with an executive session to conduct a student expulsion appeal hearing. Upon return, Graham moved to affirm the decision of the administration regarding the expulsion, and the board unanimously voted to do so.
Executive Director. Vinchattle thanked the Design Advisory Committee for its ideas, discussion points, and tough decisions that helped to guide the discussion with CRP Architects. He also thanked the board for supporting the staff breakfast and board member Jilinda Dygert for training on foundational points like core knowledge and MA’s educational philosophy.
Financial. Graham announced that MA had received a $1.375-million anonymous donation, which was used to buy the parking lot at the West Campus and to pay for the modulars at East Campus. He also noted that MA would receive $2.2 million from the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) and would use some of that money to pay returning teachers a one-time bonus since they had had to freeze salaries.
Finance Director Laura Polen reviewed the June financials by school and fund, saying that total income for all three schools was $2.9 million. The preschool fund had a slight loss of $64,000 for the year.

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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 is scheduled for Thursday, Sep. 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. The agenda and packet are available at bit.ly/ma-boarddocs.

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