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OCN > 2605 > Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, April 20 – 2026-27 budget, transportation fees, curriculum adoption among topics

Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, April 20 – 2026-27 budget, transportation fees, curriculum adoption among topics

Highlights*

  • The district is finalizing the 2026-27 budget amid an expected ongoing per-pupil operating revenue funding holdup, with enrollment declines anticipated to reduce operating revenue by about $1.8 million while Monument Academy gains about $120,000; a proposed budget submission is due at the May board meeting.
  • Compensation is planned to rise, with an average 2.06% increase across about 770 planned regular employees (down from 803), prioritizing smaller raises for higher earners and step increases for administrators; total compensation increases are projected around $813,000.
  • The district currently ranks 14th of 16 in compensation relative to nearby districts, and the district projects issuing employment contracts in early May.
  • New English Language Arts materials, Into Literature for grades 6-10, were reviewed publicly (April 1-14) and are proposed for board approval in May, including digital access and teacher training components.
  • Transportation fees were set at $300 for an annual pass for 2026-27, up from $275 this year, with special education transportation legally required and free/reduced lunch students transported at no cost; district transportation serves about 20-25% of students.
  • A master capital list with a $2.5 million budget identifies 39 priority issues from 75 submissions; 17 proposals were funded, and a Prairie Winds Elementary security project was discussed but not funded, to be revisited in a future session.
*AI-generated

By Harriet Halbig

The Lewis-Palmer District 38 Board of Education discussed the 2026-27 budget, determined transportation fees for 2026-27, and approved a list of capital investments for the upcoming school year.

Financial planning

Chief Business Officer Brett Ridgway outlined plans for the district’s 2026-27 budget.

Ridgway said that the School Finance Act, which provides the bulk of the district’s revenue through per-pupil operating revenue (PPOR), has not yet been passed by the state Legislature. It was expected to pass at the end of April or very early May. The district must submit a proposed budget at the board’s May meeting. Current PPOR is $11,120, and the district is seeing a decline in enrollment.

Ridgway said that there is not expected to be a change in PPOR for the coming year, requiring the district to adjust its planning by “right-sizing” staffing and programs to accommodate the decline in revenue because of the drop in enrollment.

It is expected that the operating schools will see a decline of $1.8 million in revenue, while Monument Academy will see an increase of $120,000.

In his explanation of financial planning, Ridgway detailed his approach to such aspects as compensation, capital investments, and fees for transportation, which will be detailed later in this article.

Note: To view his presentation on the subject, please go to the district website, lewispalmer.org, board of education, boarddocs, select the meeting date, view the agenda, and click on the agenda item to view the PowerPoint and school finance act projections.

Regarding compensation, Ridgway said the district currently has 803 regular employees. He anticipates a decrease in this number to about 770. This would allow for an average 2.06% increase in compensation, with the percentage increase varying. Those who are relatively low paid will receive a higher percentage increase, while those who are at the top of the scale, such as administrators and principals, will receive a step increase.

When asked how the district compares to others in the area in regard to compensation, Ridgway said that D38 ranks 14th of 16 in compensation. He said it is sometimes difficult to determine where D38 ranks because some districts claim to give “non-recurring” increases, which basically are bonuses, while others can offer larger increases due to mill levy overrides and other revenue sources.

Superintendent Amber Whetstine commented that a few small, rural districts are able to offer 4%.

Ridgway anticipates that the district will have about $813,000 for compensation increases.

Employment contracts will be issued in early May.

Note: The detailed proposed pay scale is included in the presentation in boarddocs.

Curriculum discussion

Executive Director of Education Services Alicia Welch and Curriculum and Instructional Specialist Janna Strahan reported on proposed new materials in English Language Arts.

The proposed curriculum includes Into Literature by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for grades 6 to 8 and grades 9 to 10.

These materials were available for public review and comment from April 1 to April 14 and were generally rated as acceptable or superior.

Welch said that these materials include digital access and teacher training.

The board will be asked to approve their use at the May meeting.

Transportation fees

Ridgway reported that school districts are not required by law to provide transportation, but District 38, because of its size, has chosen to do so. Transportation of special education students is required by law, and those students who qualify for free/reduced lunch are provided transportation at no cost.

The problem is to determine what percentage of a student’s PPOR should be devoted to providing transportation and what percentage should be provided by those who use the service. In this district, about 20-25% of students use the service.

The cost of an annual pass was $200 in 2020-21 and increased to $275 this year. After offering several alternatives, Ridgway proposed a cost of $300 in 2026-27.

The board voted to approve the cost of $300 for a pass after some discussion of whether families may choose to leave the district due to the expense.

Capital project discussion

Capital projects are defined as the acquisition of land, improvements, construction of structures, additions to structures, and acquisition of equipment (such as buses).

The current process for considering such projects is to ask each school or building to submit requests, including cost, while the district also keeps a list of buildings and equipment reaching the end of their useful life and provides a cushion for emergencies such as boiler failures, ADA compliance issues, and write-ups from the Fire Department and other agencies.

The district maintains a master list of capital needs with a budget of $2.5 million for this year. To view this list, please see boarddocs.

Ridgway reported that of 75 issues that were submitted, 39 were considered a priority and 17 were proposed for funding. Of 29 issues involving the lifespan of a project, four were proposed for funding.

A project involving security concerns at Prairie Winds Elementary School was discussed at the April 7 work session and was not funded. A separate meeting involving staff and community members addressed the issue. Vice President Dr. Patti Shank said that the subject will be discussed in a future executive session due to the security concerns.

Recognitions

The board recognized students and athletes from the D38 Unified Basketball Team, which includes athletes of many ages and schools, for taking first place in their division at the spring’s Special Olympics state championship

Above: The board recognized the Lewis-Palmer D38 Unified basketball team for its success at a recent statewide Special Olympics event. The team came in first in their division, defending their championship. Members of the team are students from Palmer Ridge and Lewis-Palmer High Schools and the district’s Transitions program. On the far left are Palmer Ridge High School special education teacher Brandy Doan and Superintendent Amber Whetstine. In the center of the front row is coach Joan Peterson. In the back row, third from right, is coach Amanda Huckstep with coach Sue Temmer to her left. On the far right is board Vice President Dr. Patti Shank. Photo courtesy of D38

The board recognized the staff and adviser of the Palmer Ridge High School Yearbook, the Epilogue, for being among 62 of the best yearbooks in the country from among 900 submissions. Art Teacher Mallory Bonsall was the adviser for the 2025 issue. Palmer Ridge Principal Dr. Adam Frank was also in attendance.

Above: The Palmer Ridge High School yearbook, Epilogue, was selected as one of the 62 best yearbooks out of 900 submitted nationwide. The recognition acknowledged the yearbook class and program for extraordinary leadership, creativity, and journalistic excellence. Pictured are, from left, Board of Education Secretary Ginger Schaaf, Palmer Ridge High School Principal Dr. Adam Frank, three members of the yearbook staff, faculty advisor Mallory Bonsall, and Superintendent Amber Whetstine. Photo courtesy District 38.

The board recognized D38 Chess Director Steve Waldmann and his wife, Cindy, for organizing the tournament that took place in Bear Creek Elementary School in March. Waldmann said that it was the 19th annual event and thanked the Bear Creek principal, Key Club members, and members of the National Honor Society for their help. With 119 participants, this is the second-largest chess tournament in the state.

Above: The 19th annual Lewis-Palmer School District 38 Chess Tournament was held at Bear Creek Elementary School on March 7. Tournament Director Steve Waldmann introduced several trophy winners and thanked the school and volunteers for their help in hosting the second-largest chess tournament in the state. A complete list of participants can be found in boarddocs under the Board of Education tab on the district website. Trophies were presented to students placing in the top three at their grade level. In the photo are, from left, back row, Board of Education Director Tim Bennett, Robbie Collier (Lewis-Palmer High School), Waldmann, Superintendent Amber Whetstine, and board Treasurer Todd Brown. The trophy winners in attendance (including Collier) were Theo Gonzalez-Smith, Chason Pace, Bode Scally, Simon Gonzalez-Smith, and Hanvi Santhamathi. Photo courtesy of District 38.

The student representative attending the meeting was Julianna Wainwright of Lewis-Palmer High School. Wainwright offered a presentation about her school’s activities and achievements, including the success of its speech/debate team, which saw two state champions and 11 state placers, and the creation of The Vital Vote, an organization promoting political activism among students. To view her presentation, please see boarddocs.

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The Lewis-Palmer D 38 Board of Education meets on the third Monday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Bauman Learning Center, 146 Jefferson St. in Monument. The next meeting will be on May 18. For information, please contact vwood@lewispalmer.org.

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

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