001Can I go? >> All right. I'm going to call the out of Soy board of education meeting to order for December 1st, 2025. Director Assad Lucas I. Director Batiselli I. >> Director Goldstein >> here. >> Director Marsh Holen. [laughter] >> Oh, here. >> Here. >> Present. >> Director Goldstein. You are here. Director Marsh Holen >> here. Director Potter >> here. >> All right. I will now I will entertain a motion to approve the agenda. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Director Assad Lucas. >> Now it's I. >> Director Battiselli. >> I. >> Director Goldstein. >> I. >> Director Marsh Holen. >> I. >> Director Potter. >> I. >> Okay. I'm going to recommend an motion to recess for an executive Oh, recommend. Yeah. to recess for an executive session to discuss the acquisition of real
002estate near the Thornton High School campus known as 9201 Washington Street and to receive legal advice regarding the condemnation process pursuant to board policies 2.0 0 General Operating Limitations and 2.5 Asset Protection Colorado Revised Statute 24-6-4024A and B and 2 to receive legal advice regarding executive sessions and the Colorado Open Records Act Kora pursuant to board policy 401 governing style and Colorado Revised Statute 24.6.424B. >> So moved. Second. >> Director Assad Lucas. >> Hi. >> Director Batistelli. >> Hi. >> Director Goldstein. >> Hi. >> Director Marsh Hol. >> Hi. >> Director Potter. >> I. >> Okay. We are in executive session. >> You're talking like Hello. Hello. Looking sharp. Got a good back to school picture today. >> Really? roasted real good. So, don't trip. All this machine >> I don't want any I got
003so much to eat when I get home. Where's Katie? Yeah. >> I don't think the real I don't know where >> question What are they doing? >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. He's first like >> no when I was at car pool with my roommate and um the night before of jeans and cararts. Car [clears throat] >> had like one of those like >> are those overalls >> bibs. My brother Gotcha. >> Oh, drywall. No, this is I went louder than anyone >> like the entire cabin. >> Yeah, like the beds over here. Just one room. No electricity. >> Oh, that's great. >> I told he said there's a picture he sent a picture of like people I was like, "This looks like restaurant." >> Yeah. [laughter] >> And then drove home. Dude, there's a blizzard in
004Iowa. I drove home. Yeah. Had to drive home yesterday >> with a boat. They're towing a boat. >> Towing a boat. >> They towed a boat. >> My roommate's dad gave him a boat. >> It's a dinghy. It's like a little motorboat. >> Okay. That's >> between De Mo and which is >> couple miles between Denver versus [clears throat] two and a half hour drive something like that. There was 30 cars >> cars and semiis. >> They should figure it out. 30 people didn't >> first pass out. >> We got to close out everybody's just closing out, but we're working on um uh doing signatures for >> all the all of the midterm stuff, all next year. January, March as soon as you >> position Brian's 100,000 like crazy. >> So you submit to 50
005>> Huh? Remember when we did this petition? >> Remember when you had people sign it? It was 50. >> It was because for this we did the same thing. We tried to get 100. >> Yeah. So um and then people are going to start. So the drugs I think everybody else's in January. Hopefully people March assembly [laughter] assembly caucuses. So basically'll be I'm Brian. Nice to meet you. >> Hi, I'm Katie W. Nice to meet you. >> Which one? Thank you so much. >> You're the one that got that thing across the finish line. [laughter] >> Oh, um he had a C leader yada yada and then he's got his kiddo and then no had another Did you say I mean, >> so what happened? I heard nothing. Governor >> I said I like >>
006[laughter] >> No, that's that's You just Yeah. One minute. Yes. I know >> [clears throat] >> some snacks. It's all chemistry. >> Did you know I sure Right. >> Just do >> Yeah. went. >> Oh yeah. So what was the general like annoyed? I can't take a while. Yeah, I will All right. Let me see if I can test it. All right. Appreciate it. Thanks, All right. You close. Is it nice? South [clears throat] I guess he put it underneath. Right. You said the job when the job starts. for your business. >> I think two seconds. Your record house. I mean, look, I mean, you said I mean [clears throat] >> [snorts] >> It's not like you see >> it. Is it true? talking. Anyway, my point is >> we'll do everything we can here
007[clears throat] and then start. >> Let's see how much to do. That's the advantage to island. Yes. Is it every day? [clears throat] >> [snorts] >> Oh, we I talked to her. right? >> Yeah. I don't want this. This is >> [clears throat] >> That's not [clears throat] As weird as it is, That's right. possibly. We have What's her call? I'm trying to call It's hard to see. Crack a beard. This is I don't care. Now she's like This is very special. It should mean it should [snorts] I'm pretty sure That's right. This [snorts] is too much. CEO. [clears throat] >> Just a second. How's your Everybody talk about what was my Yeah. So I went to Seattle and brother came in Seattle. No, the bridge is wide open. >> It was raw a couple
008of days. Well, that's not true. Then it stops rains. But Saturday we got weather. So relaxing I'm not Brian Hallelujah. Easy. compensation. We were all Well, she got it. How Christmas. That's got to get Oh, I do. I took it off. >> How are you? How was everything? So first Alex Christmas. What? It's not second birthday. We are negotiations. Yeah, not bad. I Oh, I like that. Oh my gosh. Tell us about What's that? [laughter] You know, they never will. >> I was going to ask you. for a black I don't really want to travel with this. I'm sure How was your meeting? Yes, it can't be treasure. So either I gonna have to stop or I cannot take on one more thing. [laughter] >> Oh, I think we turned up the heat from where
009it was first when we came here. >> Yeah. Where's this? Because I'm wearing a sweater. I saw Gina shivering before they called the meeting in the order. I can find a way to get the heat. So, I got to crawl. >> Gina's always shivering. >> Yeah, she is. >> My water. Just don't >> know. What's this? >> Oh. while you're down there. >> Thanks, >> No. I messed up all these papers, so I have no idea what >> No, the president said this. Okay. >> World's fastest. World's fastest. >> Was it really? I was in heels. I don't do heels. >> Is everybody's microphone off? Mine's off. Oh, >> mine's on. right now. All right, we are reconvened in public on board business. First thing is the oath of office. We have with us tonight
010Judge Tony Weman and the oath of office will be administered to Ike Anan Wu Ibu, director of district 3 and Ammerisad Lucas, director District 4. Adams and Bfield counties official abstracts of votes cast for the 2025 coordinate elections were certified as of November 25th, 2025. Ike Anan Wu Ibu received the greatest number of combined votes for any one person for the office of Adams 12 five-star schools director district number three Lucas received the greater number of combined votes cast for any one person for the office of Adams 12 five-star school director district 4 okay you want to grab I don't Oh, >> yeah. >> I think we can all go. I know. No worries. And how I'd like to hear? >> It's close. It's going to be spelled the way it is. Well, exactly way
011it's spelled. >> Okay, I will do my best. No problem. >> All right. If you would wouldn't mind raising your right hand. Yep. I, Ike Anyanua Abu do solemnly swear >> I, Ike Anyangua do solemnly swear >> that I will faithfully perform the duties of the office of school director >> that I will dutifully perform the >> duties of the office >> of duties of the office of >> school direct >> director >> as required by law >> and will support the constitution >> of the United States, >> the Constitution of the State of Colorado, >> the Constitution of the State of Colorado, >> and the laws made pursuant there too. >> and the laws made pursuant there, too. >> All right. >> You're officially sworn in. [applause] Thank you very much. Thank you. hiding
012on purpose. [applause] >> All right. All right. Ready? Yes. >> All right. If you would raise your right hand. I, Amara Assad Lucas, >> I, Amara Assad Lucas, >> do solemnly swear >> that I will faithfully perform >> the duties of the office of school director >> the duties of the office of school director >> as required by law >> and will support the constitution >> will support the constitution >> of the United States >> and the constitution >> in the constitution >> of the state of Colorado. >> The state of Colorado >> and the laws made pursuant there too. >> and and the laws made pursuant there too. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. [applause] >> [applause] >> Thank you for being here. If you can take a group picture of you all. Good. Okay,
013>> officer. Let them see if I can scan them over there. [laughter] Okay. Uh rise if you are able for the pledge of >> allegiance. Vice President, >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [snorts] >> Okay. First order, next order of business is election of board officers, the president and the vice president. So the board will elect officers for the position of board president and board vice president. Okay. I have been directed to preside over the election of board president until the next president is chosen. So I will say now um you each have pieces of paper. This is this this is secret. So nominations are now in order for
014the office of board president. Please write your nominee for the office of president on the nomination of board president's ballot and you may only nominate one and then fold them in half and Stephanie will collect them. We have one nominee. Lori Goldstein. Director Goldstein. >> Thank you. Um I accept the nomination. And because there's only one nominee, um I can entertain a motion to elect by acclamation. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. So we don't have to do a roll call, do we? Okay. Thank you. [laughter] I appreciate your support in me of continuing doing this this role of president. And I will then ask now for um nominations for vice president. You have a piece of paper here. Nomination for vice president. Please write your nominee on here. Oops. Oops. We have one
015nominee for vice president, Director Assad Lucas. >> Director Assad Lucas, do you accept the nomination? >> I do accept the nomination. >> So, Lori, on this piece, uh, I know that Phil's absent right now. I've just had been playing through my head that the last action about the motion and the second uh for you to be president. But I think if Phil were in the room, he'd recommend that there be a roll call vote to approve um the election of Lori Goldstein as president and Amir Assad Lucas as vice president and then to do a roll call vote in support of that. >> Okay. Should we back it up first before we >> go any further? Do the president? >> Okay. Um, >> or you could do a combo. I think since you could make
016a motion that I hereby move that Lori Goldstein uh be elected to the office of president and that Amira Lucas be elected to the office of vice president and have everyone just vote yes or no on that. >> Okay. I'll entertain a motion to elect Lori Goldstein as president and Ammeris Lucas as vice president. By acclamation, >> I hereby move that Lori Goldstein be elected as president and Amamir Assat Lucas elected as vice president by um what was the word? >> Acclamation. >> Is there a second? >> I second. Sorry. >> Okay. Roll call vote. Stephanie, >> director Anan Wubo. >> I, >> Director Assad Lucas, >> I, >> Director Batistelli, >> I, >> Director Goldstein, >> I, >> Director Marsh Holen, >> I. >> Okay, congratulations, Director Assad Lucas, you have been reelected as
017vice president. >> And congratulations, President Goldstein. >> Sometimes the simple things are the most complicated. All right. >> What about board secretaries next? >> Um, >> it's not secret. >> It's not a secret ballot. >> Okay. Is there any nominations for the position of board secretary? I nominate uh Paula Batistelli for being uh secretary or continuing duties of secretary. >> Second. >> Okay. >> I accept but I was hoping to pass the book. [laughter] [gasps] >> All right. So then the recommended action here is to appoint uh Paula Bastelli to the office of secretary to Okay, that's the wrong one. Sorry. Okay, roll call vote. >> Yes, but you have to read this because >> Oh, I see. Okay, we're Wait a second. One more thing. And I would also entertain a motion to appoint
018uh Miss Stephanie Hicks as the assistant secretary. >> So moved. second. Okay. Now, what >> I'm going to encourage you to pull back that motion and uh read it as it's presented in the agend agenda because part of the benefit is that it refers uh to Stephanie's position instead of to her by name. And if you were to have uh a change in the incumbency in that role, there's benefit in just having the senior executive assistant by title be designated. >> See, I've only done do this every two years. Uh, okay. I will in recommend a motion to appoint Stephanie Hicks to the office of No, back up. To appoint Paula Batistelli to the office of secretary and to appoint the senior executive assistant to the board as assistant secretary for Adams 12 five-star schools
019board of education. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. Director Anan Wubo. >> I. Director Assad Lucas. >> I. >> Director Bastelli. >> I. >> Director Goldstein. >> Hi. >> Director Marsh Holen. >> I. >> Okay. Now, the appointment of the treasurer. I will recommend a motion to appoint superintendent Gdowski to the office of treasurer for the Adams 12 five-star schools board of education. >> So move. >> Second. And I just would like to to clarify for the audience that uh not all boards appoint an administrator or superintendent to the office of treasure. I think it's most common to appoint a board member to that office as well. But the practice in Adams 12 for about the last 20 years has been to appoint the superintendent largely because of the more sophisticated detailed knowledge the
020superintendent should have about the district's finances and to protect board members from uh improper liability. if there's something about our finances that would be discovered. There have been some other districts in the state where the board treasurer role has been singled out for greater responsibility if something emerges. So that's the why behind that different practice than you may hear about in some other districts. >> Any other discussion? Director Anan Wubo >> I. >> Director Assad Lucas I. >> Director Badestelli I. Director Goldstein. >> I. >> Director Marsh Holen. >> Hi. >> Okay. On to reports, updates, and information. Superintendent update. >> So, not a lengthy update for me tonight. There's not much that's transpired since the last meeting. It was nice to have a lengthy holiday break for Thanksgiving and a short 3-w week stretch
021for us to work hard and efficiently and finish up first semester strong with our students. I'll note something that I'm sure that most board members will be speaking about tonight, which was the really distressing news that we received on the eve of Thanksgiving that state senator Faith Winter had passed away in a car accident. And obviously, as one of our elected officials with whom many of us have worked for many years, that's a painful, painful loss. I do understand that there's going to be a memorial service later this week at the state capitol and we'll certainly have some staff present to pass on our regards to her loved ones and others. Um and hopefully we'll find somebody soon to take on the important work of serving that part of our community in the state senate.
022That's it for me. >> Thank you. So typically what I do I is I start down on that end and work my way this way. And it's okay. Um, you take what you want, take time you need. So I can you give us an update or recognition or vision? >> Don't have an update yet. Um, but I did [clears throat] want to thank everyone who supported our campaign. Um, really proud of the work that we did. Um and and at the end of the day, uh we're we're here to number one make sure that we support the mission of ensuring our kids have an inclusive, equitable, and safe learning environment. Our teachers have the resources they need to perform that task. And we as a community pull together around that mission. Um I'm reminded of
023former Congressman and civil rights icon John C. Lewis one time said or coined the term good trouble. And I I think that uh we're going to get into good trouble, but it's worth it because it's for our kids. So with that in mind, we have a lot of work to do. Let's get into some good trouble. Thank you again for the support and thank you for your attention and for your time. >> Thank you, Alexis. Thank you. Um, and I wanted to note my absences. I apologize. Um, I was on a family vacation for the first one. Um, and then the National League of Cities um, for work for the second, which is, um, I usually end up going to these conferences for work and end up talking about Adams 12 school board most of
024the time anyway. Um, to all of our elected officials and bragging about it. But um I just wanted to say happy holidays to everyone and I hope you had a great Thanksgiving break and I too um wanted to share my condolences um to Senator Winter and her family and her loved ones. Um I've known her for most of my career and um she just really worked extremely hard for the community and stuck by what she believed and I know she'll be a voice um that is very missed at the capital. So thanks. >> Thank you Paula. >> I do have an update but first welcome to the board director Anan Wu Ebo. Um we really enjoy having you here. Um and also uh another farewell to Director Potter. Um and thank you for your service.
025Um, I visited the Cherry Drive um, uh, anniversary and I was able to help take some pictures. The theme was come wearing something from the ' 70s, but I was born in the 70s, so I just brought myself. I'm not going to tell you what year, but it was the same year Cherry Drive was built. Um, so it's very ironic and uh, I think the building's holding showing uh, aging better than I am. Let's just put it that way. Um, but that's okay. Um, I also want to uh take time to sort of express my condolences to Senator Winter's family. Um, I met her I only met her one time. She was a very lovely lady and my heart goes out to her to her fiance and to to her children. Um, it was heartbreaking
026news. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, uh, Mera. Good evening everyone. Thank you for being here. Um I also want to share my condolences to Senator um Wyinners, her family, friends, community. Um I've also known uh Faith for at least a decade now. She reached out to me when I was running for the school board the first time in 2015. and so um known [clears throat] her many many years. Um it's a huge loss to our community. Uh I hope everyone had a nice break. Um and if you celebrate Thanksgiving, hope you had a nice Thanksgiving. Obviously, not much has happened since our last board meeting, but I do want to share um an event I was able to attend Thornton Elementary. Um and I attended it as a parent, but um they peak put
027on a they called it peaks peak Thanksgiving or thanks peak. I can't remember the exact title of it, but anyway, it was a big potluck that some of the parents came together, cooked um different dishes. They didn't have to be Thanksgiving theme, but just whatever they uh could bring. And there were over a there were at least probablyund60 170 people jammed into that cafeteria um celebrating eating. It was it was a really really fabulous event. Uh, and I've been a parent there for a gazillion years. And um, that was one of the first I think they might have done it before CO, but definitely since CO um, it was a it was really great. So, thank you to our peak community and um, staff because they do great things for our kids and um, community.
028So, other than that, that's all I really have. Um, welcome, Ike. And I hope everyone has a nice nice evening. Thank you. Welcome, Ike. Courtney, thank you for your service. Um, I hope it I did have a great break even though it was marred a little bit by the by the news of Senator Winter, which you know is kind of hard for me in a lot of ways. Um, I've known her since she ran for city council for Westminster. She's been my city councelor. She's been my representative and she was now my senator and she was my friend and um she she was one she's always a champion for me to push me to do the things that I do and um yeah so I'm definitely going to have a hard time with this one
029but uh my heart goes out to those that were even closer to her and her family and Matt her fiance Matt Gray and and all the people um that we interact with. And I mean, she was just a force to be reckoned with. And I'll never forget she um she wore this cape, a Wonder Woman cape, because she really was a Wonder Woman. And she was a fighter. She really was. and um and reading all the comments on social media, you know, one of the things you like to say to somebody, you know, in recognition of somebody passing away is rest in peace. But one thing I noticed that a lot of people said rest in power and she was powerful. So anyway, [sighs] keep her family and her in your thoughts. Uh on to
030general public comment. Good [snorts] evening. The board welcomes public comment to learn about the preferences and concerns of the Adams 12 five-star community. Each speaker will have three minutes. Please use the microphone and state your name and city of residents before beginning your comments. Please give any handouts or information you would like to share with the board to Lee Kok. A threeminut timer will be will be set for each speaker. Please keep an eye on the timer and kindly conclude your remarks when your time has expired. Our uh first and only speaker tonight is Jessica Sandrren. >> Thank you. I'm actually uh here on two different uh hats I guess I'll wear. One is city council member Jessica Sandrren and then Jessica Sandrren, city of Thornton resident. Um I do want to just welcome the
031two well welcome the one new uh director and welcome back to Amamira. Um uh it's we were planning to actually come here a couple weeks ago, but as you heard, National League of Cities was going on and so some of us were out of town at your last meeting. So I'm here um on behalf of city council just wanted to read a proclamation that the mayor had put out for um Courtney Potter for her service on the school board. So I'm just going to share that proclamation. So this is a proclamation recognizing Courtney Potter for her distinguished service of the Adams 12 board of education. Whereas the city of Thornton and the Adams 12 five-star schools rely on dedicated public servants who devote their time, energy, and expertise to improving educational opportunities for our community's
032children. And whereas Miss Courtourtney Potter has served the district with distinction as a member of the board of education, representing district three, district 3 with steadfast commitment to raising standards, promoting accountability, and ensuring that every student has access to a highquality education. And whereas Miss Potter has championed teacher accountability by ensuring leadership presence in the classrooms each week, providing written feedback to educators to support professional growth and continuous improvement. And whereas she has been instrumental in shifting the district's focus from lowering expectations to lifting students up, advocating for student accountability, increased rigor, and expanded academic pathways that challenge and inspire learners. And whereas, Miss Potter supported a new district-wide elementary literacy curriculum that has improved reading scores and expanded support for students with diverse learning needs, including English language learners, and those with dyslexia. And
033whereas, she played a key role initiating a review of compensation for critical support staff, including bus drivers, nurses, and custodians, ensuring that all employees who contribute to student success are valued and fairly compensated. And whereas Miss Potter has served as a reliable and compassionate resource for parents, listening to concerns, helping families navigate complex challenges, and connecting them with meaningful solutions. And whereas her leadership extended beyond board meetings, advocating for expanded middle school sports, mental health resources, and safe learning environments that nurture both academic and emotional well-being. And whereas through her thoughtful leadership, tireless advocacy, and commitment to transparency, Miss Potter has left a positive impact on the Adams 12 fivecar schools community and the families it serves. Now, therefore, and this was from the mayor, proclamation is from the mayor, not from the city council.
034I, Jan Coleman, mayor of the city of Thornton, Colorado, do hereby recognize and honor Courtney Potter for her outstanding service and dedication as a member of the Adams 12 five-star schools board of education and for her enduring contributions to student success, teacher excellence, and community partnership. So, thank you, Courtney, for your service um for Ike for you joining the board. You know, the city of Thornton has four school districts, but Adams 12 is by far our largest district. And so, we rely on the partnership with the directors, the city council members. we have new council members being sworn in on the 9th. So, I um look forward to that continued partnership and appreciate the um work that the board has done. So, thank you very much for letting me speak. Thank you. [applause] All right.
035Board business on overview of re-imagine monitoring report 2.9 charters report. >> Do we have anything about fact before that? >> Yes. >> Sorry. Sorry. So, fact met um totally >> dispopulated >> and um first discussed the 2.52 um new policy wording which I know um LRPAC had been discussed and had been brought up in um work study um for the board as well. And this goes to LRPAC having a vote um unanimously allowing the name change and um FAC um also agreeing that uh it gets changed to deferred maintenance um and that that changes from um uh changes from data driven to go into data informed when looking at uh the priorities. And this is to the 10% that the district is allowed um to carry. So I know that um Margie and Molly Brandt
036reported on that and they'll be coming uh to the board with um some updated language. Uh they also got a um monitoring report from Aaron on reserves and unassigned funds and then a um report from Phil Spare on the superintendent's contract. Thank you. Now on to monitoring report 2.9. I see Miss Monaco. >> They're missing out Audrey. There we go. >> There we go. >> Okay, they definitely are missing out. This is going to be some very riveting stuff, so get ready. Um, I'm Audrey Monaco. I am the director of charter partnerships, and I also invited our uh charter school special populations liaison, Kellyanne Scott, to join me here today. Um, in case anyone has any questions, I have been in this role a little over a year now and I received a lot of
037feedback last year about our charter monitoring systems, mostly from our charter leaders as well as our renewal reviewers and also board members who asked during monitoring report 2.9 for a little more information about our charter schools. uh we looked at that feedback and we decided we needed some changes to our current charter monitoring system which will impact monitoring report 2.9. So we really wanted to go over what that would look like and how it is different from our current processes. Currently we track schoolwide trends and accountability for our charter schools through these following processes. In our non-renewal years, we obviously have monitoring report 2.9, which includes our annual report with those looks. Um, we also have our annual work between our office and the schools as part of that body of evidence and our compliance
038monitoring through our web-based system, report well. For schools in their renewal year, we have all of those pieces plus our renewal application that the school submits. And to go along with that renewal application, we do a site visit uh with indicators that are rated by our atoms 12 content specialists. The pain points that came across in that feedback um for renewal reviewers, they really wanted more touch points with the school instead of just a one-time site visit where they were going in and making ratings based on what they saw from one specific point in time. Um there were notes that maybe these observations could be skewed um and that it felt very brief. they wanted more of a body of evidence. Uh, additionally, in the current process, it's very difficult to identify those trends for
039our schools and really work proactively with them for improvement. We really wanted a formal way of documenting the work that we're doing with them from year to year. Our current annual review feels very subjective and anecdotal. Um, this was some feedback from our charter leaders. Uh there was in our current annual report there is a stoplight rubric. Um and it includes light green, dark green, yellow, orange, a variety of colors. Uh and sometimes our schools didn't understand why they were rated maybe dark green versus light green. Our reviewers kind of wavered between. So, we really wanted to have our annual report or our annual review be transparent and based in data um and really be able to give feedback on our schools that was transparent and not confusing. We wanted to use the same pieces
040of evidence and the same criteria across our schools as well. Uh, and like I mentioned before at our monitoring report 2.9 last year, I believe it was Secretary Badestelli asked for some more specific information in that monitoring report 2.9 about our charter schools and how they are performing. So, taking all this feedback, we decided to create a yearly review process, which is what we're calling our schoolwide trends and accountability review. uh the star which is fitting for Adam's 12 five-star schools. And along with this star, we also uh reimagined the annual report that will be linked into our monitoring report 2.9. These together would be our continuous cycle of monitoring support and improvement. Starting with that star, we would look at a yearly set of indicators um that are really based in policy, contractual requirements,
041and state and federal statute. Any areas of concern that are identified, the schools would address through action plans. Um it would really be the document that would drive the work between our office of charter partnerships and the schools. This is meant to be an internal document to give the schools some time to work on any uh pain points that are in indicated um and really give them time to put into um put in action plan and process. This would inform our annual report which we are imagining as a yearly slide deck focusing on the previous school year. So this document is really a year in a rears. Um it would focus on the school model, their academic achievement and growth as well as their operational health and their financial health. Um any star concerns that
042have not been addressed would rise to the annual report and become public as a slide deck attached to monitoring report 2.9. Both of these documents would then inform our renewal decisions. Um, our application for renewal would include those history of star ratings as well as their annual reports. Um, and the intensive renewal year star site visit would also happen during this time. And what does that mean? Uh, linked here is our full overview framework for our schoolwide trends and accountability review. We really separated this into non-renewal years and renewal years. So for our schools that are in non-renewal, we would look at a set of indicators. These are really the areas that are the most critical for maintaining an educational program that is successful. It also is we looked at the areas that we want
043to touch base yearly because they are more complex and really do need multiple data points and touch points to really get an idea of how the school is performing. for the renewal year. We wanted to look at all of those as well as some of the areas where it might not change as often such as mission and vision or their nutrition services. We don't need to look at those things every single year, but we want to make sure that we are touching on them for their renewal. So, what does a star section look like? Here's a sample. This one is curriculum and programming. This is an area where our schools have some autonomy in what they choose for their curriculum. So we really wanted our indicators to be based on that state statute, federal statute,
044contract and district policy. We are asking are these policies and procedures in place? Are they legally compliant and being followed? So you can see here, for example, we're looking a lot at the ReadAct. We're looking a lot at differentiated instructions, scientifically based research, um, and grounded in Colorado state standards. Uh, we're also looking at that college and career readiness piece. And in addition to our indicators, we are looking at specific pieces of evidence. A lot of these pieces are things that we are already um collecting from the schools. So we're not asking them to go above and beyond. We're not trying to put any more undue burden on the schools from year to year. [snorts] Uh it's also important to note that these indicators are not just rated by myself and Kelly an we are
045um having our Adams 12 content specialists look at these as well to really say is there a concern here or is there not any concern here. So we are rating them as concern no concern instead of the stoplight. Anything that has a concern rating would trigger what we're calling an action plan. So, this would require the schools to really create a plan to make sure that they are addressing the concern rating. It would be a plan that would include what they're going to do to correct the issue. And that could include incremental steps, especially for some um concerns that may not be a quick fix. So, incremental steps aligned with um trajectory timelines. Um they may also give us additional information that could change a concern rating to a no concern. Um and if that
046happens, we would be able to go back and update our report. Uh and then some examples of acceptable action plans would be they're going to host some professional development to create alignment across courses and grade levels. Um, they're going to update their staff and student handbooks with additional content, updating student plans that we're looking at yearly and making sure everyone is in compliance and then providing clarification and documentation if there were misconceptions. And like I mentioned before, we would uh um be rating these indicators on a concerns or no concern basis. So the way we're differentiating between the two is that if there's an issue or gap, it would become a concern if the school has declined support from our office or and has not looked elsewhere for support. Um, additionally, the school maybe did
047not create an action plan or the action plan was not implemented. um documented evidence of failed compliance over time, lack of communication or audits of special education, gifted and talented plans are continuing to not pass. Um areas that would not be a concern is if we might be providing them support already or they're already in process for something that they're working through. Um it could also be that they are accepting support from our office or they've found support elsewhere. The school also has already developed an action plan and they are um implementing it currently or the issue is not compliance related. So we really wanted to come up with some indicators that are very much based in our office's perview and not so much on best practice. So we honor their autonomy and again the
048concern ratings would trigger those action plans. So our year for the star would look most of the uh work would take place in the fall with the goal of um releasing these to the schools in December. They would have a chance in December to review the report and then in the spring they would be working on their action plans and finalizing those action plans. They can also start implementing that. We wanted to make sure we got this out to them quick enough that they could make some changes during that same school year. Um at the end of the school year, we would finalize the report uh with all of their action plans and any changed ratings. This also aligns very well with the renewal process the way it is currently um that the uh star
049would take place at the same time as our renewal site visit does currently. So our star would then um inform our annual report and I believe you received our draft annual reports in your board uh materials. They're not public yet because we wanted to make sure that we're not putting our draft out there. We're still working on those. It should be linked in monitoring report 2.9 that will come in January. So our annual report the purpose is that by statute we are required to put out a annual report of our charter schools um that really provides timely information on their performance. um we identify their strengths and any needs or immediate needs of improvement and we enable the community and public to understand their performance and their fulfillment of their public obligations and legal requirements.
050So we really wanted to focus on three main buckets which are academic per performance is the academic program meeting the needs of all students their operational performance. are they fulfilling their legal and contractual obligations and then their overall financial health. Um how does the charter school's financial performance affect its current health and future viability? So focusing on these three sections and the way that we would do that is by looking at some uh a rubric and being able to say is there any causes of concern in these areas. So for academic performance, we would be looking at three big questions. Um, are they implementing the material terms of their educational program as defined in their contract? Are they complying with applicable education requirements? And are they protecting the rights of all students? For operational performance,
051we really wanted to look at governance reporting and staff. We wanted to make sure they were complying with their governance requirements, holding management accountable, complying with their reporting requirements, and making sure that they are holding their teachers and other staff to credentiing requirements. Uh along with that, we wanted to look at the school environment, mostly their facilities and transportation requirements as well as health and safety requirements. And then for overall financial health, we wanted to look at any findings that they received from their audit. Um, are these findings acted on or are they still coming up year after year? Um, have they been addressed and resolved? We also wanted to look at um their reporting and compliance with finance mostly. Are they maintaining Tabor? Um, are they meeting their financial reporting and compliance requirements? And
052then we wanted to take a look at their health in the short term and the long term to make sure that they are um healthy financially for that long-term and short term using the metrics that you see um up on the slide. So in conclusion, we really wanted to make sure that we were looking at all of those identified pain points and creating a system that would really address each one of those. uh and make a very clear transparent process that is really rooted in data and um statute policy and their contracts. Uh I would love to hear any feedback or any questions that you might have. Um we can I will take feedback or questions now or you can take some time to look at the materials and send questions and feedback to B.
053questions, comments. I can't remember what I said a year ago, but I love the outcome. >> I remember. [laughter] >> I I guess I just need a little bit of clarification. So, right now we do the annual report in January. >> Mhm. >> Would we still do it in January? >> Yes, the star would inform the annual report. So, we really the star is happening in the current year. Um, so the annual report is looking at the previous year. So the previous year's STAR would already be done and be able to inform the annual report which would still go out in January with monitoring report 2.9 >> and our leaders and our charter schools are on board with this. >> We proposed the store or the star to them um and asked them for their
054feedback as well. Um we we wanted to make sure that they understood that it wasn't any additional uh ask from them that we really were using the things that we already are collecting. They are excited about having something that's more based in data and gives them some an actual road map for their work with us. uh and it holds both us accountable in our office for our support as well as them accountable to their action plans. Um we didn't get a lot of feedback um positive or negative. They I will share that they were maybe wondering if potentially this could be an expedited renewal basis. Um, it's something to think about, but it would be something that we could look at year after year and it would be a very comprehensive body of evidence for
055a renewal decision. I envision this is that it could be used for our purposes in making renewal decisions as well as the school can use it to show um that they've been compliant for a number of years. it could be a really good body of evidence for them and for us. [snorts] >> You might have said this during the thing because I was trying to multitask and listen to you and look at all the tabs. Um but with a with the assessment that would only be considered during the renewal like the assessment tab um of the star. >> Yes. the the ones that are in renewal have the renewal. It's noted. >> Mhm. >> Is there a reason that that isn't considered yearly assessment and only during the renewal and with the renewal then would
056that be reflected all five years or two whatever that renewal period was? We really looked at the non-renewal versus renewal on the most the the areas that might change the most often. Um we are open to feedback on if if you feel that some of the ones that we have decided for renewal might be better to look at yearly. Um we were really trying to look at the ones that were the most critical and the most complex. Um and which ones change more often depending on staffing. Um also which ones are the most likely to potentially rise to bigger issues. Um, and I think we came to the conclusion that assessments might be more of a renewal, but if there is feedback otherwise, I'm willing to open that. >> I was just wondering like that
057thought process. >> And I think it's important to note that the school performance framework is part of the annual report every single year. That is something that we're always looking at. Um, I think under that assessment tab, those indicators are really about like what assessment the school has chosen. That tends to be a longer term decision, not just a single year. >> Got it. >> Yep. And if when you look at the annual report drafts, you will see the first couple uh slides are all based on the SPF in that academic section. Um so that will always be part of the annual report. >> Thank you. >> Can I jump in there real fast? I just want to say two things. One is I appreciate the move from more anecdotal and subjective uh evaluation to
058more data and criterion based review. I just know in my experience that our executive directors that supervise elementary, middle, and high schools, sometimes over the period of years, as you have changes in those assignments and the people sitting in those roles, you can often get very different perceptions about what's going on in the school with building leadership, the culture, the effectiveness of instruction, all the rest. And so getting that criterias based, databased things helps take out the eye of the beholder dynamic a little bit. So, I think that's a huge step in the right direction. And the second thought uh that's going through my head and I think it's in part a a board of ed thing to reflect on further as well as a staff thing. I I just think for a long time
059I've struggled with having different expectations or different processes for our charter schools compared to our traditional schools. And I've spent some time up here thinking uh are there ways for us to perhaps do something similar to the STAR review for traditional district managed schools? Doing all 48 to 50 every year would probably be mind-numbing and overwhelming for staff and the board, but there might be ways uh for us to do something that feels like we're bringing this comparable level of scrutiny and transparency um to all of our schools and not just our charters. So, I'm going to be looking to my colleague Bo to tee this up uh for some further discussion at a cabinet meeting down the road. And I'd invite board members to think more about that, too, because it's um I think
060accountability, transparency, and uh and a lot of scrutiny to what you're doing periodically can help you get better and that's really the goal for all of our schools. So, those are my thoughts. I think this is really a positive step in the right direction. And I think too it takes it from being a hoop to jump through to being something more relevant and and authentic. >> We really wanted to build trust with the schools too. So when we were envisioning the star being an internal document that really was to build trust and to have that conversation be between our office and the school of we we recognize that not every school is going to be perfect all the time. But we can both our office and school leaders address and talk about those concerns and
061build um pathways of support as well as help them build their action plans. Um, and it's more of the road map of the actual work. Um, and only the areas that are concerning uh, and continue to be concerning would become public. It's really not meant to be a gotcha. It really is to to strengthen our partnership with the school leaders and work with them and provide that support. >> Thank you for taking us through this. this I'm I work in quality. I love data. This is great to to echo what Chris mentioned. I had a question about that's a [clears throat] bit in the weeds, but um as action plans are developed, is there a time frame for closing them out? That's first question. Number two, if they aren't closed out, do they show up
062the following year? And is there a concern regarding the workload if if audit findings, action plans aren't closed out? And how do you manage those concerns? >> Absolutely. Um we've had a lot of talks about that. Um that is sort of how we've envisioned concerns rising to the level of the annual report. uh if the star shows that the action plan hasn't been successful and the concerns still remain um we we would expect that for larger issues we may give some time and say yes we're making incremental progress. We'd expect the schools in their action plans to come up with um trajectories for the steps, the incremental steps and when they would be able to really rectify the issue. If it's a very big concern, such as out of compliance with special education, we would
063hope that that would be rectified very quickly. Um there are some larger issues that might take a little bit of time, but we're hoping that the school will have um actual end dates for when they expect for the concern to be rectified. We can hold them accountable to that action plan. And if in the following year is another concern, um that would be something that would potentially uh rise to the level of the annual report and become public. So especially in special populations where we have a lot of very sensitive um you know students rights components and legal components um you know for any action plan we would see that closed out by the end of the school year. If they have not completed that work by the end of the school year then you
064know we elevate that to that ongoing concern in the report. Um, but there are also other ways that we can address immediate really big concerns. And I just want to make sure that that's, you know, that's part of our process. If there are something that were a breach of contract, um, we can offer a a notice of concern if there was something immediate that needed addressing, you know, in a very short um short turnaround. So there there are other ways that we could address major concerns. This is really about that formative improvement cycle um that allows us to make change over time with the school. So, >> yep. >> All right. Thanks, guys. >> Yes. Thank you. And any feedback you have after reviewing the documents, feel free to send to B and or any
065questions, feel free to send our way. Thanks. >> Thank you for all your work on this. Thank you. Okay, next on the agenda, policy matters, legislative update and forecast. Looks like we have Heather and Katie, but B's gonna preempt it. [laughter] >> Oh, our technology specialist, >> a man of many talents. [laughter] All right. Hi, ladies. >> Hi. >> There we go. Hi. So nice to see you all. Um, so I'm Katie Hancock. This is Heather Rzko with Policy Matters. And we just wanted to give you all a little legislative update uh before the session starts. Um before we begin, we wanted to take a moment to echo the sentiments that Superintendent Gdowski and the board made uh regarding the passing passing of Senator Winter um who was a fierce member of our delegation. Um
066our thoughts are with her family and loved ones during this time. So, a little overview of what we'll be talking about today. Um, we'll go into uh the September revenue forecast, uh, the governor's November 1st budget request, um, and then some departmental requests that, uh, have been presented to the JBC so far, uh, before we talk about, uh, upcoming dates that are relevant to you all. So, we did have a little bit of a a shakeup in the joint budget committee this year. Um, Representative Shannon Bird uh, decided to step down from the JBC and Rep. Kyle Brown was appointed in her place. Um, so this year we have Chair Emily Ceroda and Vice Chair Bridges. We were really sad to see Rep. Bird go, but she'll continue to be a fierce advocate for us
067this year. So, right now we are in the middle of uh staff briefings um and starting on some hearings in front of the JBC. Briefings are where JBC staff go in front of the uh committee to um kind of explain the departmental requests that have come through. Uh and then hearings that start this month into January is where the department comes in front of the JBC uh and answers any questions they have. >> Awesome. Hi everybody. Um so in September we receive the revenue forecast that we receive every year and this is really the basis for which the governor um bases his budget on his November 1st budget that um they submit to the joint budget committee. In September the analysts told the committee that they were estimating anywhere from an $840 million shortfall potentially
068up to a billion dollar shortfall. Um in part for a few reasons. one because there's been just a structural deficit that our state has been facing over the past few years. There's been incredible rising costs in Medicaid um with the expansion um and just um the postcoid situation and so um the revenue forecast really spent a lot of time stressing that there needs to be a lot of um structural decisions made um on Medicaid. They're also anticipating with the um passage of HR1 at the federal level signific significant impacts on the state budget particularly in terms of implementation of that legislation and they're not quite sure exactly what that will look like um and how much that will add to our projected shortfall. Um some and then so fast forward to November 1, the governor
069um submitted a request to the JBC. He every year the governor has to submit a balanced budget proposal which is really just the basis for these conversations that Katie mentioned that'll start that have started happening and will continue through the end of March um and early April. The big themes that the governor's budget request focused on as anticipated were Medicaid. Um they proposed significant cuts to Medicaid including clawing back a lot of provider rate increases that they had um passed in the prior year. Um, one of the big themes, um, that they continue to talk about is protecting funding for public schools. Um, they're they're using the words, "We're wanting to hold K12 harmless." Um, the interesting thing with this budget request is that because the shortfall is so big, a lot of the recommendations
070in the in the governor's budget will require legislation to be implemented. So things like um he requested he's recommending the sale of Pinnacle um which is a workman's comp um program in our state. They they wanted to do this last year and it's just incredibly complex but they did get a valuation of the company and they're estimating it to be worth anywhere between 400 million to $450 million. So they essentially put a placeholder in the budget for that. They also are recommending um decreasing the reserve from 15% to 13%. Each percentage point in the reserve is worth about $168 million. Um that too will take legislation for us to be able to do. Um and so we just sort of stress that because those things are not guaranteed and if they don't happen then we're
071going to the state is going to look have to look at additional areas to cut and um it's possible that K12 at any point can be on the table. Um the let's see let's go to the next slide. Oh, and then they another big thing that they did was they required each department to submit requests for a 2% reduction in in overall operating. And so that's what we're seeing at the JBC play out right now is each department came up with their own recommendations for for cuts to equal 2%. Katie's going to walk us through a few um that are specific to the Department of Education. Uh yeah. So these are requests from the department of education to just meet that 2% um reduction. Um so one is the CSI mill levy equalization. So it's
072reduction of 3.9 million um based on projected utilization in fiscal year 2627. Um the best assessment IT system. So this one is a cash fund increase for software costs for this facility insight system. local accountability grant program reduction decrease uh $200,000 from the general fund and then um ongoing administrative reductions in general department admin educator effectiveness uh the read act administration and capital complex. Uh these are um additional oh these are additional requests that I just uh earmarked because they would require legislation um in order to to be implemented. So one is the readact awareness campaign and evaluation. Um so this would move the uh readact program evaluations to occur every other year. Um and the requested decrease is 950,000 cash funds from the early literacy early literacy cash fund to um eliminate the 750,000
073appropriation for the evaluation and reduce the awareness campaign appropriation by $200,000. And then the restructuring of social studies assessment. So um currently uh there's testing on a sampling basis uh assessing fourth and seventh grade students at different schools each year. Uh this would propose to test all students annually in seventh grade only. And it is a uh decrease of around $230,000 from the general fund. >> So I'm just going to jump in here. Uh, I'm mindful about Ike and I maybe all the acronym soup that's coming your way makes perfect sense to you uh now, but if not, I'll just uh reference a couple of the acronyms that I've seen in the last couple pages. So, CSI Charter School Institute. We've got four charter schools in Adams 12 that are authorized by this board of
074education. New America, Westgate, Prospect Ridge, and Stargate. We also have three within our boundaries that are chartered by the charter school institute and those include global village academy, the academy and pinnacle and that's a stateapp appointed board that the governor makes appointees to and that mil levy equalization is intended so that if you have a mill levy override like the one we recently passed, we do share it with our district authorized charters but we don't with pinnacle academy and gva and so the equalizations a way for them to have comparable milliev override support to others. The read act is all about making sure that kids in grades K12 who have significant reading deficiencies have customized plans to help them make progress and go forward. The SEF reference here at the end is the state education
075fund that has a billion dollars plus I think in it but is often the place that the legislature is pulling money out of and there's often worries about how long is it going to last? Are we leaning on it too heavily? Bottom line is I just would invite you Ike and all the rest but especially you that if the acronym soup isn't uh making sense to jump in and ask questions because there's lots of acronyms that we use in education and in the legislature that I think can just make your head spin. >> You are right, Superintendent. We often get bogged down in the uh in the acronym. So appreciate the clarity. Um, I did just want to clarify the social studies assessment is a decrease of 230,000 from the state education fund, not the
076general fund. I misspoke. >> Yes, and thank you, superintendent. That's a helpful reminder. We definitely get get stuck in our little bubble. though. [laughter] Um, one piece of good news, um, and I know the legislature and the joint budget committee was in particular grateful for the board's support of the healthy school meals, um, ballot measures. With the passage of those measures, um, the state now believes that there is sufficient funds to cover, um, the healthy school meals for all program, $254.8 million in total. Um, this is huge. this was there was a lot of worry um that if this didn't pass the general fund or the state education fund would continue to have to um support that program and it's and it's just something that would not be sustainable. Um so they're incredibly grateful uh
077for the passage of that bill rumors. Uh so some of the bill rumors we're hearing um uh local control teacher evaluations. I believe we've shared uh with with y'all and are planning to attend a stakeholder meeting that we will report out on. Um childcare licensing. Um as y'all know we are we are running a childare licensing bill and um we have heard rumors of some other members planning to to run something but we don't have any details yet and are following up on that and we'll share out with you all. Um the other bill is uh Rep. Phillips um is planning to run a 504 bill just to move some of the the processing from that to CDE. Um and so that's what we have so far and we will keep youall updated. >> Can
078we add to those rumors? >> Yes, absolutely. >> Um education deserts. >> Yeah. Yes, [laughter] >> that is that is a bill rumor and we um have actually participated in some um small group stakeholdering about you know what the plan will be if that we don't have confirmation that a bill is coming but I think it's very likely um and so we're certainly going to need to have some pretty significant strategy around that. I think the momentum for the bill is going to be much stronger this year. Um and so what that looks like and and how we engage will certainly keep you apprised and strategize with the team. >> Another one is um if uh Governor Polus decides to accept the um federal tax credit. >> Yes. >> Yeah. And then um uh Mayor
079and I knew about the local um teacher evaluation because it's it's a resolution that was passed at CASBY. Um another one is we re-uped our u mental health facility um resolution speak. >> Yeah. So just um I think it was the one that uh that originally Senator Wyinners um presented is passed. Um and then with the concerns though of who can like where they are located and whom's allowed to or who's allowed to um reside [clears throat] there or would qualify residing there um because I know that the issue that came the city of North Glenn. So we proposed to CASBY um that uh just yeah more regulation around around that and ensuring that anyone who's convicted of a sexual offense cannot reside in a you know a mental health facility. um that you know
080and this is kind of in the weeds as well I think but one of the things I talked a lot about CASBY is there's there's a difference and maybe this is something too we can talk about of um all these are is residential agencies that's literally all they are and um and so it's just the lack of regulation around that as well um and lack of supervision and so right being very thoughtful of locations within near schools. So, >> yes, thank you so much for pointing that out. We actually just connected with Representative Bird um earlier today and I think she's planning to definitely run something and is looking for assistance. She mentioned that CML is very interested in it as well. So, that's really helpful to know about CASBY um as well. So, I
081think all of these um the the bill titles were just due today, like all of the sponsors were just due today. And so I think after today we'll start seeing a lot more actual drafting of legislation that we can actually look at and respond to and put some strategy to. So we'll certainly send that all your way as soon as we receive them. I'll just do a quick touch on one other uh that I know another district in the metro area has interest in moving forward and it's changing the existing requirement that you evaluate every kind in incoming kindergarten kindergartener uh in terms of the readiness for kindergartener and how for kindergarten gosh I better stop spike speaking and then have a plan about how to support that child and doing it for all kids
082is often a waste of effort there's lots of kids that are amply ready and probably ready for second grade when they're starting kindergarten and to have a a student specific plan for that student doesn't serve a lot of interest or doesn't provide a lot of benefit. It's frankly the same sort of concern our staff has about teacher evaluations. Right now, state law requires that you evaluate every teacher every year. And once upon a time, maybe 15 years ago, there are lots of teachers you evaluated who were four years plus in theirh service once every three years. And right now there's just a lot of wasted time and effort and uh check boxmanship that goes on by doing every teacher every year. They're probably could still be triggers if you change that to say if somebody's
083showing different kinds of uh production in the classroom or different behavior than in the past you could take them in off cycle but doing everyone every year, every student in kindergarten with a big plan. Those are the kinds of things that just don't make a lot of sense given all the things that we just continue to pile on to staff uh in our schools. >> And while we're at it, I know that the governor has said that he's going to increase per pupil funding set amount, but what it's kind of almost we're declining enrollment. >> Right. Right. And so, you know, call it what it is. We're really not increasing education funding. >> Yeah, I it's such an excellent point. I think um getting control of that narrative is going to be really important. I
084think you all did such a great job at the delegation um dinner and Superintendent Gdowski really kind of walking the members through those detail. I think as much as we can continue to get them to rally around um the truth in the narrative um you know the better the better off we will be. Um so I think we're certainly going to need to rely on the members of the delegation and the JBC members who really do get it. Um but I think you're right. It's important that the public, it's important that everybody understands exactly what this is and you know we're in a budget crisis and so let's call it what it is. So absolutely agree. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Um one more and then we just have some upcoming dates. Uh so tomorrow
085there's a briefing uh for the department of education where they will discuss um school finance. Um and so we will report uh out to you all uh regarding that. And then uh hearings for the department of education and early and department of um early uh childhood will continue throughout the month of uh December and we will keep you all uh updated on that information >> and then the session begins in January and we're off to the recesses. Yeah. [laughter] >> And CASBY does do lobby days and so any of you interested in going down for that or any other time >> Yeah. >> Um we're happy to and >> absolutely >> Katie and Heather and their crew is always happy to help us um navigate it and uh set us up for conversations. >> Absolutely.
086I think we're going to need it this year more than ever. So yeah, >> we would love to have you. >> Those are usually on Thursdays, right? They are in February. Um, I think it is at the end of January this year. >> We're going to be gone. >> You won't be gone yet. It's right before that. It's before we go DC. You go to DC. >> Um, and go to the Hill. Um, yeah. But anytime you want to go. >> Yeah. >> And I'm happy to help, too. >> Thank you. >> We appreciate it. That's all we had for you, unless there's any other questions for us. Wonderful. Well, thank you all so much. >> Thank you and thanks for being here. >> Yeah, thanks ladies. >> Okay, which leads us to the governance
087process, the legislative platform. And what you have in your packet is the existing legislative platform. And every year about this time, right before the session starts, we take a look at it. we think about what we might want to take off and we think about what we might want to add. So, um I think maybe some of you might have some suggestions. >> I do have a couple of well, a couple of asks because I think um you know it's important that everyone gets to weigh in. Uh, ironically enough, I was trying to look up [laughter] I had written down my suggestions and my um email and this is a Greg thing. He should be here so I could say, "Come on, Greg. What's up?" Um, I had to change my password and I can't
088remember my new password because I had it for a year. Okay. Um, but anyway, I can remember the gist of the suggestions that I had made or the let's phrase them as questions for the group to consider. Um, one of the items I would like to ask the group to consider is that in that platform on the second page, it's the fifth bullet, could we potentially add language to it about protecting all students access to um, rightful education. So um I know there are things going on in the world where it feels less certain that some kids will have the access that they deserve and that's one thing that I would ask us to consider adding language or phrasing it in such a way that we could accomplish that and the other thing is around
089making sure that the physical spaces of schools um are maintained both in perception and in actuality as safe spaces. Um so and again in and around schools. Um, the third thing that I would like to ask the group to consider is um potentially something around legislation on how title one schools are evaluated by the Colorado Department of Education because I think in the past when we we've had conversations about this, it seems that the um metrics we use to evaluate title one schools are off or the metrics we use to evaluate all schools are particularly punitive to title one schools. And so one of the asks I have for the group is whether or not we would like to support any sort of legislative action that might revise that evaluative process to use a more
090and I don't want to say a more positive approach, but a more nuanced and contextual approach that takes into some of the factors that kids in title one schools bring with them to the to their classroom. So, for example, we've talked a lot about high mobility and there's only so much a teacher can do if they have a student in the classroom for two months. Um, but the current way that we evaluate uh districts using the standards from the CDE don't take that into account. So, that's what I wanted to ask that we consider um around those bullet points. I apologize that I forgot my password. I was sitting here trying to remember it and listen to the legislative update at the same time. Um, but no luck. I'll just have to reset it later.
091And I want to put out there um the bullet under um adequacy and equity the I think it's like the seventh one. It talks about um help the districts address long-term impacts from the COVID pandemic. Um, I'm wondering if we can preserve the items in there without mentioning the COVID pandemic. I think we've kind of gotten through that. I don't know what your thoughts are. >> Yeah, I mean I >> Yeah, I agree. I think that is a very important item to keep in here, but making it relevant that's not related to CO is kind of easy to add it. >> I'm fine removing it from it so long as we still understand that we're trying to address a long-term problem, >> right? >> But there's a lot of other things that contribute to that
092long-term problem now, just not just co So, at least given the conversation thus far, and there might be more coming, one of my suggestions would be that if you have specific language that you'd like to substitute um or add to or delete, that you send that individually on to Joe, who's uh the administrator over our platform work and liaison liazing with policy matters, and to Steph and to me, just so if you send your specific language to the three of us, we can uh develop a new draft for the next discussion that you all have. And there might be some parts that uh would also benefit from having some u staff insight. I think a lot of what you're talking about are valuesoriented things that aren't so much data driven or technical. The one possible
093exception that I've heard thus far is around accountability. Um, but the accountability stuff, it might be helpful for Dave just to uh look at whatever you're proposing, Paula, and to provide perspective. I think historically what I've heard is frustrations about the accountability system are most severe in title schools because there are students who might be a multilingual learner, who are also a free and reduced lunch pupil, who are also um a student with a disability. you can be in like three or four different subgroups that are all getting counted. And if that student is struggling to make growth and to achieve, you're often having that single student in your data analysis three or four times. Some would say, well, if they're doing really great, then you get three or four, you know, really good things
094happening. But just given the realities of the circumstances those students are facing, it's more often the case that that student has a number of places where their performance is is still struggling to overcome some things. So if you put things into this document, if you can get things onto staff, um >> I can get it I I have I do have some stuff crafted out. >> Uhhuh. >> As soon as I remember my password, I'll be sure to share it with you all. Yeah, but I'll give that to you Joe and Stephanie >> maybe by the end of the week. That would be great. Uh and then we can start to get a draft in place and do some research with some other data from staff if that's helpful. >> We'll see because the password
095questions are asking me things that I also don't know the answers to, like where I had my wedding reception. >> If you were there, let me know. [laughter] >> I was having a similar problem. I had to remember my childhood phone number and I couldn't remember if they put a dash in it or not. I mean, that's how picky it is. Um, okay. Is there a way that that we can get a word document to edit since because what happens here is it just goes directly to the website, but if we could get a word document to mark up and then yeah, it's great to have it by the end of the week so we can bring it back to the next board meeting. Um, because we want to do this before the session. Um,
096is it possible we can vote on it in two weeks or do we like vote on it as amended? I mean, how does that work? Do we have to vote on each amendment? Phil, >> you asked several questions. What's your first one? >> Okay. Can we have it? If we have all the edits in, can we vote on it next time? >> Yes. >> Okay. If we amend it, do we have to vote on each amendment or can we just vote to accept all the amendments? >> You could vote to accept all the amendments at once >> and then if there's any dissension, we can discuss it and >> could be tweaked at that meeting. >> Okay. All right. So, that's the game plan here. Okay. That way, like I said, we'll have it done
097when the session starts. Um because we do take this and give this to our um electeds and we do take it to our Congress folks, too. I also wasn't super reading this. Um, when it says current com I I assumed that was um are we going to have our updated mill numbers in here from or do we get when will we get those on what past? So on the on the fourth page it's um [snorts] assessed mill and assessed of the ranking of the districts. >> Oh, I see what you're saying. >> That's not reflective of the mill that just passed. Correct. >> That's that's from previous years. So when we put together the brochure, once you adopt the new legislative platform, all that information will be updated. >> Okay. So it is looking at
098the brochure. >> Got it. >> The brochure will be updated from what we put forth. Okay. All right, on to number nine. Establish fiscal year 2025 2026 tax revenue and mill levy. Hi Gina, this is something that we do every year. Um Gina will uh give us the rundown. Good evening. That was loud. Good evening, board. Um, as you mentioned, this is something the board does every year. And so we're going to cover the legal compliance and policy, critical dates, the mills that we're certifying, a comparison by counties, um impact to homeowners, and then the 5-year trend. What's important to note is sometimes for this board meeting, we have the final assessed valuations from the counties. In tonight's we're using preliminary and so we'll talk about that a little bit more as we go through
099but I wanted to start with that so I don't forget to tell you that. [clears throat] So the board is required each year to certify our mills that go to each of the counties where they apply those tax rates to property owners. The [snorts] certification has to be completed by December 15th. And the reason we don't have final right now is our counties have until December 10th to get us the final numbers. So knowing this board meeting was the Monday right after Thanksgiving, we went into tonight knowing we are not going to have the final numbers for this meeting. Once we have them, we will prepare prepare an update that shows what we are sharing with you this evening and then what the final numbers came in and how it tweaks some of the values.
100[snorts] So critical dates by August 25th we are required to receive the preliminary values from each of the counties. October 10th, the um state board this year had to approve the new residential assessment rate for school districts. And so it could have it could have gone down to 6.95% if the statewide actual value growth was above 5%. It came in at 4.27% from 24 to 25. That's what the the um statewide actual value growth was. If it had gone to 5%, that number would be 6.95%. And then December 10th, I already mentioned the 10th and 15th dates. And then just for your information, the counties mail the tax bills out starting in January with payments due by April 30th or February 28th and June 15th. And so when we talk about when we get the
101bulk of our property tax revenue, that's the reason why. So, the mills that we're going to talk about certifying tonight, we have our total program mills of 27. That is statutoily required. And we are estimating that it's going to generate about, excuse [clears throat] me, about $121 million towards our local share of the total program funding that we get. The voter approved mills, we are estimating right now that they're going to be at 24.429 429 to generate just over 109.4 million. The first [clears throat] four mills are fixed dollar mills, meaning that as property values go up, our actual assessment rate goes down because we can only legally collect $35.4 million. Our 2018 mill gets to grow by inflation each year. So from last year to this year that number was 2.3% and we are
102looking to collect about 34.7 million and yay our brand new mill that voters graciously approved um for 2025 we can collect the greater of 8.795 mills or 39,420,000 this year and then next year we can collect the the dollar amount that we earn from the 8.795 mills. So, a little confusing there. So, we will not collect more than 39,420,000. And depending on what these actual numbers come in, it could be a little bit less because the best we can do is the 8.795 or the 39 million. So, I know it's a little confusing and that's a this year problem only. Um in this year the embatement mills we're estimating those to be at 0862 to generate 3.9 million. And the abatements are um a way to make us whole for disputes that happened last collection
103year where we certified our mills to collect a certain amount of money and people disputed didn't have to pay that much. So we get to we get a second chance at collecting those revenues in the next school year. And so that number does change every year depending on what happens in that dispute process. Usually we see it more in assessment years and not in the non-assessment years though it can happen in both. And then we're estimating our bond redemption mill. We're not changing the the number of mills at 18.665. That's what we levied last year and we believe it'll collect about $83.7 million. >> Gina, I'm just going to add two points on what you shared uh for the benefit of um Ike and and perhaps others. One is you said at on the top
104end that the Millvia 27 mills is statutoily required. It's true, but it's also helpful to know that not all school districts in the state are levying 27 mills. We've always been levying that amount uh throughout my time here. some districts uh some have been less than 10 mills to support their part of total program and there's a statutory fix that gets scaled in over time where people have to increase theirs a little bit over time until they get to 27 but just know not everyone's at 27. I think some of uh there might even be a few districts in the metro that are not all the way to 27 now. It's more of a common issue in some of the rural districts. Just helpful background information. And then at the back tail end of this
105thing, the mill levy uh for the bond redemption o um piece has uh actually come down from where it was years ago. I think it used to be 21 point something uh two or three years ago. And our uh long-term philosophy has been to keep that constant, ideally in a way that allows us to recover money that will exceed the amount necessary in any particular year to pay bond interest and and principal and maintain a reasonable reserve and also allow us uh every six or so years to be able to go forward with a new bond request without a tax rate increase. But there are times that uh what we found is when you have big property tax increases, you start to recover more money than you can reasonably hold back under federal tax guidelines.
106And so within the last year or two, we've reduced that down, which actually I think has been helpful in terms of overall tax liability with this more recent MIV override. So just want to add more background there that I think is helpful and and I think is accurate given that I see Gina nodding. >> Yes. And we have a slide that will show um I think it's four years of what the rates have been so that um you all can see that. And then a quick little disclaimer is all the numbers you have on here obviously are going to change when we use the final values and what we give to you can change a little bit because of rounding. All right. So real quick, we're just going to do a quick walkthrough of that
107total program piece. And so I'm not going to go through all of this with you, but here is a a nice picture of what the new school finance act looks like. Um it is this looks more complicated than it is. It's way more simplified than the old school finance act. Um but basically we we um go through and add each of these areas together and that gives us our total program funding for the old school finance act. And [snorts] then we um know that it's being phased in. So for this year, we're getting 15% of that new school finance act. And so, and I'm embarrassed that I have this backwards. I did not my brain did not catch it until right before I walked up here and Aaron said, "Can you change it really quick?"
108And I said, "No, it's a PowerPoint." So, I would have to be up here changing it. So you take the fully implemented total of the new school finance act less the old school finance act multiply that by 15% and then you add that to the old school finance act and that's our fiscal year 2526 total program number. So and the reason we're sharing that is because we're talking about that difference between local share and state share which the 27 mills gets us our our local share. And so another um nice graphic of how this works where we take the property tax rate specific ownership taxes that gets us our local share. We don't talk a lot about that specific ownership piece because you saw 27 mills was I already forgot the number 121 millionish specific
109ownership tax for this is roughly I'm estimating about 7 to 8 million. So, it's obviously not a huge number in the whole scheme of things, but it does come into um play with that. So, then we have our total program funding, that local share, and then the rest is what the state backfills. So, I feel like you guys probably think I I share that too much, but I think it's so important for um everyone to understand that it does our 27 mills, regardless of what it generates, we will only get our state equalization number. We will not get a dollar more. So, um, in our budget plan, we proposed a budget back in May that included, um, what was already approved for mil levy override. We obviously did not include the the hopeful 2025 mill.
110So when we come back to the board in January, next month I guess with our amended budget, you will see that that has been added to the amended budget. And then here is our preliminary net assessed valuations by each of the counties along with the actual value. So you can see the statewide actual value increase was that four and a halfish percent. For our counties, it actually grew by 6.5% and our assessed valuations grew by 8.8%. Oops, wrong way. Okay. And here it shows what we assessed last year versus what we are showing on the presentation for the assessment this year. And so the revenue change for the um between total program and the millievy overnight overrides is growing by $40.2 million. And you can see that most most of it is obviously the the
1112025 mil levby override as well as the local share increased by just under $10 million. >> [clears throat] >> on our bond redemption fund. We are collecting about $290,000 more than last year. And the bond redemption fund um I should probably explain that that is where we collect the property taxes that pay the bond debt. So when we incur the when taxpayers approve our bond debt, this is how we pay that debt back by collecting that bond mill. [clears throat] And so here is the estimated impact to a homeowner for a home valued at $500,000. We we use that that round number to help simplify the math if people want to try to make a the guesstimate with what that impact is for them. And one one two of the things that I want to
112point out is in addition to our mill changes, there's two other changes that will have an impact to homeowners property tax bill. First, in 2024, there was a reduction to the home value of $55,000. That goes away for the 2025 year. And then the assessment rate went from 6.7% last year to that 7.05% that I mentioned. So with those two changes, regardless of what happened with our mills mill passing, our homeowners were going to see a change in their actual tax bill. And so for this year, if you had a $500,000 home, you're looking at an annual increase of $631. >> I have a question. That change in the assessment rate, is that allowed to happen because Gallagher was repealed? It's not only because of Gallagher being repealed, but there was a special session on
113property taxes. I don't know if that was last year or the year before, two years ago. Thank you. Um, and that created two different assessment rates. One for everyone but school districts and then school districts. And so that's what prompted this particular change is school districts were given a um different rate and that rate was based on the actual growth that I mentioned earlier and so it could have been 6.95%. But it's instead the 7.05. So, Gallagher did have an impact that um has caused the assessment rates to change, but this particular one is not that. All right. And then I promised that we had it's a five-year comparison, not four-year. And so, you are able to see back in 2021 the different rates. You you can see um we'll go with the mily overrides.
114We were assessing 19.256 256 mills on the mill overrides. Last year, because of the growth in property values and the way our mills are struct our milly overrides are structured, we were down to 16.826 mills. This year, with the addition of our new mill levy override, it grows to 24.428. And then, as Chris mentioned earlier, our bond override mill was 21.665 and we reduced it in 2023 to the 18.6. 665. I think many of you have seen this slide before. Um, this is the comparison of where the district was on a per pupil basis for milliev overrides compared to our peers had the override not passed. And so you can see we were just just near the bottom. And then with it passing we moved from 14th to 9th. So what questions do you have?
115>> Questions? >> You help make sense of this. [laughter] >> So thank you. And I think Gina mentioned this before, but the resolution uh gives final authority to me to set the rate if we have some tweaks or adjustments to these numbers based on final data that we get from the assessors. And what we'll do if that is the case is an email from Gina or myself will come to you saying here's the final numbers. We plan to submit this tomorrow. Let us know if you have any angst or questions. But that's procedurally what will happen next. >> Yes. And I anticipate we'll have that today is only Monday. Um I anticipate we'll have that out by Thursday or Friday. >> Thank you. >> Oh, I had a quick question. Did do we anticipate any
116significant difference in terms of the estimates versus the actuals that'll come in based on past experience? Just curious. >> I don't know. Um it it is it varies wildly yearover-year and to the county's um I'm trying to think of the right word. They've had a challenging couple years with pretty massive changes in the way that they are preparing the data. And even for example, we didn't know the counties didn't know what the residential assessment rate was when they gave us preliminary. And so I believe they used 7.05%. But um I can't prove it. And so if they if they went with 6.95% then then we'll see a significant change. But until I have the final numbers, it's hard to say, but it it varies every single year. And the the um abatements is where we
117see a lot of variance because there's a window of time where disputes can be approved. Okay. I wait, we never made the motion. I will entertain a motion to adopt the 2025 2026 mill levy certification resolution as presented. >> So moved. >> Second. >> And I did that before Phil reminded me. [laughter] >> Uh, director Ananu >> I. Director Assad Lucas. >> I. >> Director Batistelli. >> I. >> Director Goldstein. >> I. >> Director Marsh Holen. >> I. >> Okay. [clears throat] Uh, resolution of necessity. I will entertain a motion to approve the resolution of necessity as presented. >> So moved. >> Second. And Phil is going to the podium. We have the resolution in our packet. Yes, the resolution has been now included in the board agenda and I would ask you to consider
118the resolution as presented to include the correction of two typos that I have found as I sat there uh preparing to come up here. The first is in the second whereas clause in the phrase not limited to parking storm drainage and facilities. It should read instead of and and facilities. And in the fourth whereas clause I would correct the spelling of Washington Street. This property, this property is located at 9201 Washington Street, adjacent to the current Thornton High School campus and is part of the plans for reconstructing and expanding Thornton High School. This property is necessary for that project. This resolution of necessity is a formal action by the board to allow our outside council alderman and or alderman Bernstein law firm to take steps to file a petition in condemnation to take that property
119by eminent domain because our efforts to purchase the property through negotiations have not been successful to date. Do we need to read the resolution? >> We don't need to read it because it has now been posted. >> Okay. Any comments, questions? >> Director Anan Wubo. >> I. >> Director Assad Lucas. >> I. >> Director Matastelli. >> I. >> Director Goldstein. >> I. >> Director Marsh Holen. >> I. >> Okay. I will uh go on to minutes. I will entertain a motion to adopt the minutes of the work study session and regular board meetings of November 19th, 2025 as presented. So moved. >> Second. Comments, questions. >> Director Ananubo. I >> director Assad Lucas. Hi. >> Director Batistelli. Hi. >> Director Goldstein. Hi. >> Director Marsh Holen. Hi. Okay. On to uh consent agenda. I will
120entertain a motion to um approve the personnel actions as presented. >> So moved. >> Second. [snorts] >> And director Ananubo. >> I. >> Director Assad Lucas. >> Hi. >> Director Batistelli. >> Hi. >> Director Goldstein. >> Hi. Director Marshen. >> I >> Okay, on to future agenda items. Uh just, you know, for Ike, if there's something that you want to add to the agenda, just let me know. Um and we'll figure out how to work it in and where and when. Uh we do have CASBY next week, so everybody drive safe and uh I will proceed [snorts] you there in Wednesday afternoon for a CASBY board meeting. and safe travels to you too to New York. >> Thank you. >> Hi. >> Tomorrow >> and tomorrow's today 8:15 a.m. >> Is there a flight or
121when you have to get to the airport? >> That's when I when I start flying. Okay. Well, let's get you. [laughter] >> We'll get you out of here. We are adjourned.