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OCN > 2602 > Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, Jan. 26 – Reports on Home School Enrichment Academy structure, Transition program location

Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, Jan. 26 – Reports on Home School Enrichment Academy structure, Transition program location

Highlights

  • The district announced progress on the Home School Enrichment Academy pod structure, with final plan approvals completed in December and a targeted start for the 2026-27 school year, though weather could delay concrete pour due to needing over 100 piers.
  • The Grace Best Education Center demolition necessitates a new HSEA location, and a $46,525 playground grant was received in December with equipment ordered.
  • The Transition Services program, currently 15 participants, may relocate to the renovated Enterprise building on the district campus, with a permanent site hoped for 2027-28; enrollment is expected to vary between 10 and 15 over the next five years.
  • For Strategic Priority 2, the district aims to maintain 85th percentile achievement in ELA and Math with a 50th percentile median growth, plus ongoing literacy and writing initiatives and SAT skills practice for secondary students.
  • Career and Technology initiatives target a 95% matriculation rate by 2027, with the district nearing that level (local figure 99%, state methodology differs), and a 2029 goal for all graduates to earn an industry certificate, have 12 college credits, or engage in work-based learning.
  • Pathways at the Careers and Innovation Center include business, marketing, skilled trades, engineering, and junior-year health, computer science, and cybersecurity coursework, with 267 students in work study programs aligned to ICAP.
  • The January meeting highlighted ongoing community engagement efforts, enrollment promotion, and the distribution of an Annual Report to the Community, plus recognition of seventh-grader Max Hawkins named to the U-15 U.S. National Youth Soccer Team and recognition of eleven former D38 school board members as part of National School Board Recognition Month.

By Harriet Halbig

The Lewis-Palmer D 38 Board of Education received reports on construction projects and actions in support of the district’s strategic plan at its Jan. 26 meeting.

Home School Enrichment and Transition update

Director of Planning, Facilities, and Grounds Melissa Andrews reported on progress on the new pod structure for the Home School Enrichment Academy (HSEA). HSEA is currently housed in Grace Best Education Center, which is slated for demolition.

Building plans for a new location in the form of a pod structure were submitted to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs in September 2025. The drawings received their final stamp of approval in December. Also in December, a matching grant of $46,525 for a playground was received and equipment ordered.

Andrews showed a site plan and floor plan for the pod structure, which should be ready for use at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year.

When asked if there are potential obstacles to completion on time, Andrews replied that the structure requires over 100 concrete piers, and a problem could arise if the weather is too cold to pour concrete.

For detailed information about the project, please see boarddocs under the board of education tab on lewispalmer.org. Select the meeting date and view the agenda.

The Transition Services program was also housed in Grace Best, and numerous options for its future location were discussed. Primary considerations included the potential number of participants in the program and the cost of new construction versus renovation of existing structures. Renovation of the Enterprise building on the campus of the administration building is a favored solution.

The number of participants in the program is currently 15, and it is anticipated to vary between 10 and15 for the upcoming five years.

The program is currently housed in the Career and Innovation Center in the area that will house the healthcare pathway in the future.

It is hoped that Transitions will be in its permanent location beginning in the 2027-28 school year.

Strategic Priority 2: Academic Excellence

Executive Director of Education Alicia Welch, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessments Dr. Michael Brom, and Director of Innovative Programs Amy Sienkowski reported on district actions to improve academic excellence in the district.

In the areas of English Language Arts and Math, the goal is to maintain academic achievement at the 85th percentile and at least a median growth percentile of 50. Students in grades K to 3 are tested on DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy), those in grades 3 to 6 have a writing workshop, and the program implementing the seven steps to a language-rich classroom is in use. Training on The New Classroom Instruction that Works is now in use, and SAT skills practice is offered to secondary school students.

In the area of math, goals are the same, and Master Manager training for teachers is in place.

A third goal is to maintain a rolling average local matriculation rate of at least 95% by 2027. The matriculation rate reflects the number of students who go on to college, community college, vocational, or technical trade schools.

Sienkowski reported on Career and Technology programs in support of increasing the matriculation rate. The district is nearing the 95% level now. The local figure is 99%, but the state figures the total differently.

The goal by 2029 is to have all graduates earn an industry-certified certificate, have 12 college credits, or have work-based learning. In the past school year, 360 certifications were earned.

Sienkowski enumerated the pathways currently available at the Careers and Innovation Center (CIC), which include studies in business, marketing, and public information, skilled trades (construction, carpentry), and engineering.

At the high school level, a number of students are enrolled in classes in engineering, computer, science (especially cybersecurity), and health sciences, pathways that will be at the CIC in the future.

In addition, 267 students are participating in work study programs, which involve a contract between student and employer and a form regarding alignment with the student’s Individual Careers and Academic Program (ICAP).

Strategic Priority 6: Relationships and Communication

Director of Communications Amy Matisek reported on efforts in her department to improve relationships within the community, make the district website more effective internally and externally, develop partnerships in the community, and increase the participation of local retirees in the district.

She said that a new Annual Report to the Community would be mailed out to local ZIP codes by the end of the week. This report would include information on district cultural activities, academic achievements, and sports achievements.

Matisek said copies of the report would be available at the Chamber of Commerce, and each board member would receive copies to distribute.

The district will continue to promote itself as an exceptional district through such media as Monument Living, Palmer Divide Living, and the Tribune. Efforts to improve enrollment include sponsoring FOX 21’s We are Tri-Lakes campaign and supporting HSEA. An enhanced enrollment webpage is also in development.

Additional efforts are to improve the net promoter score (NPS) for response to questionnaires asking whether D38 is a good place to work, and whether D38 is a good place for learning.

Efforts continue to develop community partnerships, provide up-to-date information on snow day availability, promote enrollment through Choice Nights at the schools, and implement Room, a two-way communication tool for schools and families.

She said the district will also maintain attendance at Chamber events and collaborate with faith-based and community leaders.

The district will increase knowledge about the D38 Foundation by making presentations at schools and clarifying the application process for grants.

Student recognition

Max Hawkins, a seventh-grade student at Lewis-Palmer Middle School, was recognized for being selected to try out for the U-15 U.S. National Youth Soccer Team. This places him in contention to represent the United States in the U-15 World Cup and other international competitions later this year.

Above: At the School District 38 board meeting on Jan. 26, Max Hawkins, a seventh-grader at Lewis-Palmer Middle School was recognized for being selected to attend the U.S. Soccer National Training Camp in California next month. He’ll also represent the U.S. in Belgium, where he will face top youth club athletes from around the world. Front row, from left, are board member Tim Bennet, Superintendent Amber Whetstine, Hawkins, board Vice President Patti Shank, and board President Ron Schwarz. Back row, from left, are board Treasurer Todd Brown, board Secretary Ginger Schaaf, and Lewis-Palmer Middle School Principal Courtney Harrell.Photo courtesy of D38

Max will attend the national training camp in California this February.

Lewis-Palmer Middle School Principal Courtney Harrell and Max’s parents were present. The board presented Max with a plaque in honor of his achievement.

National School Board Recognition Month

In honor of National School Board Recognition Month, 11 former members of the board were invited to attend this meeting. See the photo above. Each was presented with a gift bag.

Above: Above: At the School District 38 board meeting on Jan. 26, Max Hawkins, a seventh-grader at Lewis-Palmer Middle School was recognized for being selected to attend the U.S. Soccer National Training Camp in California next month. He’ll also represent the U.S. in Belgium, where he will face top youth club athletes from around the world. Front row, from left, are board member Tim Bennet, Superintendent Amber Whetstine, Hawkins, board Vice President Patti Shank, and board President Ron Schwarz. Back row, from left, are board Treasurer Todd Brown, board Secretary Ginger Schaaf, and Lewis-Palmer Middle School Principal Courtney Harrell.Photo courtesy of D38

Board Vice President Dr. Patti Shank thanked Vicki Wood for her many hours of effort to locate the former members and invite them.

Current board members were also acknowledged with gifts.

Student representatives

Lewis-Palmer Middle School students Paisley Florquist, Reagan Call, and Aadya Mohan attended the meeting and offered a presentation about activities at their school.

Later in the meeting, they also said which classes they had attended in the pathways leading to CIC.

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The Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education usually meets at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of the month at the district’s Bauman Learning Center, 146 Jefferson St. in Monument. The Feb. 10 meeting will be a combination work session and regular meeting at 9 a.m. at the Bauman Learning Center.

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

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