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OCN > 2604 > Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, March 16 – Music in Our Schools recognitions; athletic complex resolution; financial analysis

Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, March 16 – Music in Our Schools recognitions; athletic complex resolution; financial analysis

Highlights

  • The board opened with music recognitions, highlighting Sam Anderson as Outstanding Young Music Educator and noting multiple students named to All-State Jazz Choir, Regional Honor Band, and Western Slope Honor Choir, with performances and plaques/certificates for honorees.
  • A multi-use athletic complex proposal for the Grace Best site was reviewed, proposing a joint district foundation venture to secure grants and oversee construction, demolition/remediation of Grace Best, and long-term lease of the site.
  • The March 16 meeting advanced the plans for the athletic complex plan with a resolution to explore the partnership, while clarifying plans remain subject to approvals, community input, and appropriate processes; no commitment was made yet.
  • Funding and budget details were presented for 2026-27, with projected enrollment decline of 164 students and flat $11,125 per-pupil revenue, signaling about a $2 million funding reduction.
  • Capital investments are planned at about $2.5 million, and health-benefit costs could rise up to 17%, prompting staffing and program reductions of roughly 30 to 35 positions district-wide.
  • Student representatives Keegan Mallory and Claire Monroe reported on activities and organizations at Palmer Ridge High School, with their presentations available on boarddocs.

By Harriet Halbig

The Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education recognized staff and students’ achievements during Music in Our Schools Month, discussed a proposal to build a multi-purpose athletic complex at the Grace Best location, and received a financial analysis update during its March 16 meeting.

Music recognitions

Sam Anderson, band teacher at Lewis-Palmer High School, was named Outstanding Young Music Educator by the Colorado Music Educators Association.

Benton Miles, a senior at Palmer Ridge High School, was recognized for being selected for the Colorado All-State Jazz Choir. He performed for the board.

Caption: In honor of Music in the Schools month, at its March 16 meeting the Board of Education recognized Palmer Ridge High School Senior Benton Miles who was selected for the Colorado All-State Jazz Choir. In the photo, front row from left to right, are Palmer Ridge High School Principal Dr. Adam Frank, Board Vice President Dr. Patti Shank, Superintendent Amber Whetstine, and choir teacher Madeline Douthit. In the second row are Board Treasurer Todd Brown, Board Secretary Ginger Schaaf, Benton Miles, Board director Tim Bennet, and Board President Ron Schwarz. Photos courtesy of D38.

Four students from Lewis-Palmer Middle School were selected for the Regional Honor Band. They are Zeke Rhinesmith, Benjamin Bloomfield, Jack Wittenborn, and Tristan Mendoza.

Caption: Four students from Lewis-Palmer Middle School were recognized for being selected for the Regional Honor Band. In the front row from left to right are Board Vice President Dr. Patti Shank, Band Teacher Sarah Loyer, Benjamin Bloomfield, Tristan Mendoza, Zeke Rhinesmith, and Superintendent Amber Whetstine. In the back row, left to right, are Board Treasurer Todd Brown, Board Secretary Ginger Schaaf, Lewis-Palmer Middle School Principal Courtney Harrell, Board Director Tim Bennet, and Board President Ron Schwarz. Student Jack Wittenborn was unable to attend the meeting. Photo courtesy of D38.

Lewis-Palmer Middle School student Zander Billings performed a selection on his guitar.

Caption: Lewis-Palmer Middle School student Zander Billings performed a selection for the board on his guitar. Photo courtesy of D38.

Several high school students were selected for the Western Slope Honor Choir, hosted by Western Colorado University in Gunnison. From Palmer Ridge High School, they are Sidney Black, Lucy Cavin, Benton Miles, Hadley Miles, Krew Sloan, and Shandi Soper. From Lewis-Palmer High School, they are Finn Clark, Noelle Garcia, Bernadette Korty, Seyana Schaffer, Joella Streeter, Amelia Whetstine, and Jane White. The group performed an a capella selection.

Caption: Several students from Lewis-Palmer and Palmer Ridge High schools were selected for the Western Slope Honor Choir. In the front row, left to right, are Amelia Whetstine. Noelle Garcia, Shandi Soper, Joella Streeter and Hadley Miles. In the second row are Palmer Ridge High School Principal Dr. Adam Frank, (unidentified), Superintendent Amber Whetstine, Choir Teacher Madeline Douthit and (unidentified). In the back row are Board President Ron Schwarz, Benton Miles, (unidentified), and (unidentified). Additional students pictured or absent: Sidney Black, Lucy Cavin, Krew Sloan, Finn Clark, Bernadette Korty, Seyana Schaffer, and Jane White Photo courtesy of D38.

All recognized individuals received a plaque or certificate and were photographed with members of the board and the principal of their school.

Athletic complex

At its March 3 work session, the board viewed a presentation by community members Scott and Jill Bradley proposing a joint venture between the district and the Monument Athletic Foundation, a nonprofit entity, to build and administer an indoor athletic complex on the site of Grace Best Education Center and adjoining property.

The complex would include an ice rink, multi-use outdoor turf area for soccer, lacrosse, and baseball, and multi-use courts for basketball, volleyball, wrestling, and such uses as robotics competitions.

The Bradleys said that the advantage of forming the foundation is that it would allow for applying for grants and other funding, which would not be available to the district.

The agreement sought would require the district to demolish Grace Best and remediate asbestos on the site, providing a shovel-ready location. The land would remain the property of the district and be leased by the foundation, which would administer and maintain it.

The components of the complex would be available for district use as a priority and could be rented to other local leagues and entities.

To view the presentation, please go to the district website, lewispalmer.org. Under the Board of Education tab, select boarddocs and select the March 3 meeting. Click on view the agenda and click on the presentations.

At the end of the March 16 meeting, the board passed a resolution to explore the partnership with the foundation with the understanding that all plans would be subject to appropriate approval processes and include community involvement, which may include the Town of Monument.

The resolution delegates authority to the district’s administration to evaluate site suitability. design, benefits, and developing a plan for the project, including lease negotiations and site preparation.

Any development is contingent upon further review, funding, compliance with legal requirements, and approval by the Board of Education.

Board President Ron Schwarz stated that this resolution does not represent a commitment but a willingness to further explore the project.

Financial planning and analysis

Chief Business Officer Brett Ridgway reported to the board on the development of the district’s 2026-27 budget. A draft budget will be presented to the board at its May meeting.

Ridgway said that assumptions are being made regarding funding from the School Finance Act, which provides a large portion of the district’s revenue. At present, actual enrollment is expected to decline by 164 students across the district, with the largest decline at the elementary level. Revenue is expected to remain flat at $11,125 per pupil, which would result in a reduction of funding of about $2 million.

Investment in capital projects is projected to be $2.5 million. The increase in the cost of health benefits is unknown but could be as much as 17%. This year it was 16%.

Ridgway said that in response to this decrease in funding, it will be vital to “right-size” staffing and programming across the district. This could mean a reduction of 30 to 35 staff members and staffing adjustments at the elementary level. Some adjustments would also be needed at the secondary and administrative levels.

To view Ridgway’s presentation, please see boarddocs as described above.

Student representatives

Each month, the board welcomes two student representatives who can report on activities at their school, ask questions, and participate in board discussions. They may not vote.

March’s representatives were Keegan Mallory and Claire Monroe from Palmer Ridge High School, who spoke about the Future Business Leaders of America and the Distributive Education Clubs of America.

To view their presentations, please see boarddocs.

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The Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education meets at 6 p.m. in the Bauman Learning Center at 146 Jefferson St. in Monument. The next regular meeting will be on April 20. For information, please contact Vicki Wood at vwood@lewispalmer.org.

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

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