Adams 12 Board of Education Meeting 11/5/2025

001All right, welcome November 5th board meeting. Start with roll call. >> Director Assad Lucas >> here. >> Director Batistelli >> here. >> Director Goldstein >> here. >> Director Marsh Holen. >> Director Potter >> here. >> All right. Um before we approve the agenda, see if I do this right. Roberts Ruleswise. I'm going to entertain a motion for um an amendment to add a discussion about board policy 2.5.8 to various projects to our agenda at the end of the agenda to have a conversation with our legal Phil Spark. Did I do that right? >> Okay. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Um, yeah, we didn't finish something up in work study session. We want to finish it tonight. So, we'll put that out there. Okay. Um, >> oh, I

002think Go ahead. We call. Oh, yeah. Director Assad Lucas, >> I. >> Director Batiselli, >> I. >> Director Goldstein, >> I. >> Director Potter, >> I. >> Okay. Uh, rise if you are able for the pledge of allegiance. 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. >> Okay, superintendent update. >> Thank you. So, I'm just going to address one item, but it's a really important item in the present and in the 75 year history of our district, which is the really outstanding and uh positive news that our Milvie override proposal 5B passed by a substantial margin. As I was in the work study session here a while ago, I received an updated

003vote total and the number or the percentage of voters in favor is now at 53.46% 46% compared to 46.54% in opposition. That margin is over, let me see what that number is. I've got it here. Uh over 4,210 votes uh in favor uh compared to those in opposition. I just want to express my gratitude to the community. I know that Bo uh and I have been talking in recent days and I had a lot of worry about this measure not passing and a lot of gratitude for people who did say yes because there are a lot of folks in our community that I think are struggling financially. There's a lot of uncertainty in our country. There are folks uh where benefits have been reduced. There are just a lot of folks um that I know

004because of this passing will have some additional strain and sacrifice in their home finances. I'm grateful that uh the community said yes and the commitment that I would make on behalf of staff and I believe the board too is that we're committed to spending those funds exactly as we committed to and wisely and having an outstanding return on investment for our kids and our community. So my comments are just uh one grounded in gratitude to our community. It's not an easy give here like it can be in some other communities. I was on a call today with the Aspen superintendent and there were four different financial measures in Aspen and Snow Mass that passed related to schools and other community needs. This isn't that kind of community. Uh saying yes comes with greater sacrifice and

005strain and grateful for the support our community has shown us. So that's it from me. >> Thank you. Uh board of education comments, recognition, awards and visions. Director Potter. >> Thank you President Goldstein. I have to start by saying how excited and grateful I am to be sitting here tonight knowing that our community just approved the significant increase in their investment in our education system. That is not a small thing. It's a reflection of a community that believes in its students, its educators, and its future. Over the past several months, I've had many conversations with people across our community. Some of them were in opposition, and some of them were in support. But what stood out to me most wasn't just their support, but the why behind it. Many congratulated us not just for putting

006this on the ballot but for the way we approached the conversation. I heard on more than one occasion, and I quote, "We voted for this because the district allowed for a diversity of opinion to be heard because we didn't shy away from hard conversations and many many cited Gdowski's efforts to do town halls and answer tough questions. Because we put we put both the opportunities and the challenges on the table and had honest, balanced discussions about what this means for our schools and the impact it has on our taxpayers. People have said they were proud of this board, proud that we created a space where every perspective could be heard. And now they're trusting us to ensure that that investment we make, that the investments we make honor that trust. So as we move forward,

007I hope we continue in the same spirit, open, transparent, and diverse conversations that bring our community together, even when we don't all agree. That's the only way we build stronger school systems and a stronger community. Thank you. Um, Director Bastelli. >> Well, I have a few updates. I think my reaction last night was primarily relief um that we would be able to support our educators better than we have in the past. Um, the other thing I should do, I guess, is congratulate Superintendent Gaddi on winning the sup the state superintendent award. So, congratulations. Welld deserved. Um, as far as updates, the the best thing I did, um, is I was able to attend the North Glenn Middle School nighting ceremony. I think that's the formal name. And it's basically their, um, quarterly induction into the

008honor uh, role. And so, we were promised when Principal Stone was here that there would be a horse. There was a horse. His name was Fuzz. He was awesome. The best thing ever. Um, but you know what really made the moment special is we're looking at a bunch of middle school kids. They're sixth grade, seventh grade, eighth grade, and they're trying to take on that adult persona and they don't want to show those vulnerabilities of being young kids anymore. But when that horse walked into the room, they were not pretend. They that mask just fell right off. They were young kids again. And that it was good to see that sort of return of innocence, I guess. Um, I also really loved hearing the sixth graders and seventh graders cheer for each other because they

009were on the honor roll. How wonderful is that, right? We want to see that all day every day. Um, and then finally, the funniest thing, as excited as they were about the horse, I think the thing they were most excited about was an additional award where if they made the honor roll, they got to sit at a special table in the lunchroom for one week and use their cell phones. That's what made the room erupt into [laughter and clears throat] into near chaos is the kids were like, "Had I known that this was an option, I would have been in study hall every day." So, um I'm excited to see how this works out for Principal Stone's um you know, group of kids and what sort of positive changes we might see as a result

010of that. But they're always a promising group of kids. Um, and it's always wonderful to see them there doing what kids should be doing, which is learning. So, um, and, uh, Alexis is not here, but she attended with me. Thank you. >> Thank you. Director Assad Lucas. >> Good evening, everyone, and thank you for being here this evening. Um, it has definitely been a day of celebration. Thank you to our Adams 12 voters for supporting kids. Um I [clears throat] am beyond grateful for um just the community prioritizing public education and ensuring all kids have access and opportunity to their educational goals. So thank you all very very much. I attended the Westminster Rotary Roast of uh Westminster Mayor Nancy McN um a couple weeks ago. The Westminster roasts are probably one of my f

011they're just fun. They're ex they're great events. Um bring great recognition to the Rotary. Um, and the Westminster Rotary, uh, one of I think my favorite things about it, well, I know one of my favorite things about it is they, um, contribute to the Imagination Library uh, [clears throat] foundation that provides books to all kids who go through uh, early [clears throat] childhood intervention or through child find up through I mean birth to age and they get a monthly book mailed to their home. And um my youngest, it's been almost 2 years since he's aged out and he'll still occasionally ask that I get my book this month. I have to remind him he you know it's been a while and no he will not. But um it it left an impression. We get the

012books and read them and um they do this for I think thousands thousands >> 10,000 to be exact. And so it's a really great um organization. Also attended the city of North Glenn business celebration. Um [clears throat] this was the first time I attended this event and they did a fabulous job recognizing and celebrating a variety of businesses within the city and the positive impacts these businesses have and not only just in North Glenn but even other communities, surrounding communities. Uh we had our first official IBS meeting um as a full committee uh last Wednesday. Um so these meetings are open to the public and I strongly encourage um anyone that might not understand the process, might have doubts about it to attend and see the hard work that the district and association does to

013ensure great educational opportunities and outcomes for kids. Um, I also want to give a shout out to the special education advisory committee or SEAC for being recognized by the ARC for their advocacy and support of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities with um in the with the IEP process. So, SEAC provides quarterly meetings to bring parents and educators together to gain better understanding of the IEP process and and educational rights. This is incredibly critical right now as the current administration has significantly cut the special education department through the Department of Education um that impacts IDA and ensuring educational rights for students with disabilities. So, thank you to our special education department for your work and commitment. Um, not just from a board member, but from my mother. Last, but far from least, I also want

014to congratulate congratulate Superintendent Gaddi for being Colorado Superintendent of the Year. This award and recognition is very much deserved and well overdue. So, thank you, Chris, for your leadership and commitment to students, educators, staff, administrators, families, and community members. We're all beyond blessed and lucky to have your leadership, and because of your work and commitment to the district um and all stakeholders, continue to build Adams 12 to be the fabulous district it is. So, that is all I have this evening. Thanks again, everyone, for being here. Thank you. All right. I'm gonna just tell you, did you want to say something? Oh, you kind of leaned forward there. I just want to um uh director Marsh Holen did submit a report. She's unable to be here tonight. Um and so here's what she says. While

015we don't have the certified results, it appears voters have approved Adams 12's meal. This is a huge win for our students in their future. Thank you to the voters enough and also a huge thank you to all the supporters and volunteers of this measure. A lot of people put the hard work into investing in our kids and I cannot be more thankful for those who showed up. Since our last board meeting, I was able to attend the nighting ceremony with member Batistelli to celebrate the great achievement of kids at Northland Middle School. I appreciate the staff's efforts to encourage the students and students hard work. It was great to see how truly proud they were and amazing to get a horse and night there. I was also able to attend the 50th celebration of Westlake

016Middle School. It was great to see so many neighbors and former staff there. And I was even able to find my sister, step kids, and myself in the various yearbooks. Sorry I can't be there in person, see everyone next meeting. And happy early Veterans Day. So that is Director Marsh Hullen's report. Um I had mine up here just switching back and forth there. Okay. Okay. My report. Um, I too want to thank um the voters of Adams and Broomfield for supporting us in our mill levy. I'm humbled and grateful for the community support and this means a lot for Adams 12. Uh, it'll provide critical funding needed to attract and retain quality teachers and staff, expand programs and career and technical education for students, and continue to ensure safe and secure learning environments in all

017our schools. I am so grateful for everyone who donated their time, talent, and treasure to support the Yes on 5B campaign. Uh to our educators and staff, thank you for your commitment and dedication to our kids and our schools every day. With this election win, know that your Adams 12 community supports public education and supports your work each day. I am eternally grateful for all you do. So for everyone who donated, walked, texted, called, signwaved, painted your cars, and all of this made a difference because of you. Um I got the pleasure of joining a few um different uh events signwaving on the corner of 104th in Heron. Michael Stelling was there and also walking the North Glenn High neighborhood. U I got out a lot of steps in on this one. Um and uh

018[snorts] our five-star students will have a brighter future ahead because of this. So every action made a difference. Um [snorts] public education saw lots of wins last night around the metro area around the co around the state and um I was following a lot of them because I do have friends running in all kinds of school districts around here and it was it was a good night. Um I got to go to Arapjo Ridge Elementary last week for breakfast. Um, and we were joined by the Lieutenant Governor Diane Prima Vera and um the um uh HD29 rep Shannon Bird and um our county commissioner Emma Pinter. And we talked about SNAP and the concern there was with possible cuts to SNAP funding, which is um helps feed our kids. And we got to talk to

019a couple of little kids and some of them were they were really cute. Um, they already knew what they wanted to be in fifth grade and they already seem to have a plan on how to get there. Um, yesterday I well before that last Wednesday I too went to the Westlake's 50th anniversary band concert. As a matter of fact, I played in it. Um, and I also did see myself in some of the old yearbooks when I had a darker colored hair. Um [laughter] it was kind of fun just to go back and some of my old uh colleagues who have also long since retired um took the time to come to the concert and it was good to see some of them too and some of them played um in the band. I went

020yesterday to the county commissioners meeting where um a young man named Cameron from Thunder Vista was recognized by the county commissioners for being the top vote getter at the eighth grade career fair and Alicia from the Adams County Education Consortium was there to um stand with him as he was honored by the county commissioners and I have invited him and his family to come to our next board meeting where we can recognize him also. And that is it for me. So, next on the agenda, I believe it's public comment. I don't even have to turn the page for that. Good 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

021of residence before beginning your comments. Please give any handouts or information you would like to share with the board to Lee Koka. A three-minute timer will be set for each speaker. Please keep an eye on the timer and kindly conclude your remarks when the time has expired. Our first speaker tonight is Thomas Scoville. Good evening. I'm Thomas Scoville from Thornton. I applaud Mrs. Powder for her four years of service in an obviously hostile workplace. Some of you are bullies have not been have not set good examples for all of our students. [clears throat] As the US Department of Education adds no value, I wonder if anybody has noticed it's been closed for the last five years. I pray for this continue perhaps forever. Now on veterans in times of war, not before God the soldier

022we adore. But in times of peace and all all things writed, God has forgotten and the soldiers slided. I'm disappointed that this semester you've taken off many days and weeks and yet have no time to honor military veterans. Redard Kipling had it right. Perhaps you could make Veterans Day a Monday or Friday holiday as we do with other holidays. Can we give that a try? I'm also disappointed that while you loed many groups, you show no appreciation for the burdens carried by taxpayers. Now would be a good time for resolution of taxpayer appreciation and designated a month to honor them. I suggest April would do quite well. It's a big month for taxes. Please do not give up. Please do not gum it up with self aagulation as you did last time. And as tax

023hungry officials, you've pumped up the cost of living quite high. Now would be a good time to come up with some ideas as how to reduce it. I've already given you one. I congratulate Ike on his election, a parent election to the board. Perhaps he can lead you to rescend your bizarre gender policy that keeps secrets from parents and puts boys and girls sports in private spaces. It seems you could use some remedial training on civil rights and common sense. Perhaps I can help you pick up your disappointing academic performance. We need more literate and more numerate graduates. We need more Stargates. I hope he helps you find your way and does not become just another tool for the union. I'm sorry for being a bit joint disjointed tonight. I've been distracted with work I'm

024doing on Tracer and campaign finance issues. Thank you for your time. >> Our next speaker is Michael Stelling. >> Thank you. Good evening everyone. Um, board members, uh, Superintendent Gdowski, my name is Michael Stelling. I live in Erie, Colorado, and I am an employee of the Adams 12 five-star school district. >> Uh, Michael, you need to speak into the microphone. [laughter] >> Thank you. Uh, my name is Michael Stelling. I live in Erie, Colorado, and I'm an employee of the Adams uh 12's five-star school district. I've had the pleasure of working at North Glenn High School for the past 22 years, and I truly love my school and more so my community in Adams 12 School District. Over the years, I've watched our school community grow into what it is today, an innovative, inclusive place

025where students are prepared to succeed in their future. That growth is largely due to leaders like Miss Lori Goldstein and Mr. Chris Gdowski. Over the um Mr. Miss Goldstein's impact on our school district began long before she joined the board of education. She started as a teacher leader, later served as leader of our local association and today is of course president of our board of education. There are many accomplishments that I would like to discuss with you with regards to uh Miss Goldstein, but my time is limited. Mr. Gdowski's roots in Adams 12 goes all the way back to his days as a student at Thornton High School. He served our district as legal counsel and of course now an award-winning superintendent. The dedication, commitment, and heart that Miss Goldstein and Mr. Gdowski have poured

026into our community deserves to be recognized. One example of their above and beyond leadership was instrumental in the role that they played in the mil levy override that went to voters yesterday in yesterday's election. I cannot count the number of times that Miss Mr. Gdowski spoke to our community about the financial challenges facing our district. I'm equally impressed by the time and energy that Miss Goldstein dedicated to informing our and engaging with our voters, engaging with the local voters because of their extraordinary service and lasting impact on our of their leadership on our community. I would formally like to recommend to the board of education considering a building wing or a learning space in honor of these two educational leaders. Um, thank you, Michael. I was so I did not pay him for that. I'm

027just I'm blown away. Thank you. Thank you. >> Our our final speaker is Brandon Airman. Thank you. >> Good evening, President Goldstein, members of the board, and super superintendent Gowski. Um, first off, congratulations on getting uh uh the bill passed. I apologize. It's my first time speaking in front of people. Um, my name is Brandon Nurman. I am a proud father of a student at Hunters Glenn Elementary. I want to start by publicly thanking President Goldstein. I recently emailed her with some serious concerns about school security and I was impressed and reassured by her detailed, thoughtful and personal response. That kind of direct communication engagement was something I honestly didn't expect and I am genuinely grateful to be heard on such an important level. And as such and as she suggested, I am here to

028give a well-deserved shout out to Hunter Glenn. The leadership of Principal Blados and the outstanding dedication of the teachers there have created a truly special and supportive environment for my son. They are doing amazing work every single day. Um, that gratitude is actually what brings me to this microphone tonight. Our students and our teachers are doing their part. It is our job and respectfully the board's job to ensure that they can do the work in the most secure physical environment they can possibly provide. In my exchange with President Goldstein, I was encouraged to learn about the concrete steps uh the district is taking like secure vestibles and the new arm school uh security leaison. These are critically necessary steps that frankly feel long overdue, but they are absolutely the right uh direction. My core belief,

029which I shared in my email, is that our primary focus must be on what we can directly control. We must focus on hardening our schools and controlling access to our children. While broader legislative uh debates have their place, they have historically proven insufficient at stopping those with malicious intent. Our most effect effective strategy is and always will be to make our schools impenetrable. And this leads me to my specific ask for the board tonight. We know these critical security upgrades, the infrastructure, the personnel are expensive. Admins 12 can't bear this burden alone. I urge the board to use its powerful collective voice to aggressively lobby our state representatives in Denver. This state has the money. What has been missing is the collective will to make the physical safety of our children a non-negotiable budget priority.

030We need you to demand that the state legis [clears throat] prioritize funding not just for broad initiatives but for the Pacific specific dedicated physical security that our schools require. Let's send a clear message that making our schools the safest buildings in Colorado is not up for debate. We have an engaged board. We have amazing staff and we have involved parents. Let's work together to get our state to fund the security our kids and our teachers deserve. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Brandon. >> Thanks for coming tonight. >> Absolutely. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Um board committee leaison reports DAC and back. Do we have a DAC report? >> We do although it's going to be a little brief because the DAC is at the stage where they are breaking out into

031their subcommittees is what I would call it. So, um I was able to attend the um the charter subcommittee and they were planning to visit with um the executive teams that meet once a month um to just sort of be a fly on the wall and listen in and see how that process works. Um they're working hard to make sure that the charter relationship connections are not just every four years, but you know, staying in touch with each other. um the dis the um UIP group, unified improvement plan group, they will be meeting soon to discuss different points of data [snorts] and then I will have to inquire on the third group. I think they might be working on um the survey the spending survey for this school account school accountability committee um participants. So

032that is the lowdown on the DAC. They are busy busy busy. Thank you. I have a fact report from director Marsh Holen. I'll read to you. The fact met to hear a brief from Tim Griffin, HR director, regarding hiring and market value compensation. She appreciates and understands the conversation and worry from FAC members about balancing budgetary issues with fair and competitive compensation. Hopefully, as discussed in the meeting, the mill vote will help bridge that gap. The FAC also received a review on investments from Brett Parsons. It ended with work on the monitoring report. So that's the fact report. Okay. Board business. First item is a proclamation the Native American Heritage Month. I will entertain a motion to adopt the proclamation declaring November 25th, 2025 Native American Heritage Awareness Month as presented. >> So moved. second.

033>> And I see Marie McKenzie going up to the microphone and she's bringing a few friends with her. >> Good evening, Superintendent Gdowski and directors. We are here this evening on behalf of our American Indian parent advisory committee to accept and acknowledge our proclamation. We want to begin this evening by recognizing the land acknowledgement that our community of students developed and we do have Elizabeth Standing Bear who is here with us in the audience who was one of our original students who did help to craft that. So, we just wanted to have and acknowledge that she's now a student at DU. So, we're excited that she came back here with us this evening. Give her a round of applause. [applause] Our land acknowledgement, just to give some history, was crafted by our indigenous students. It

034recognizes the ongoing connection between people, land, and the ongoing community that we serve. It reflects our indigenous tradition of gratitude and respect for those past present who have stewarded the land and water. This evening we want to say that our land acknowledgement, we're very grateful that we're going beyond our land acknowledgement and moving into proclamation. And we also want to talk about allyship and action that we are doing this year with our Apac community. This year, for the first time, we honored and recognized Orange Shirt Day to remember and honor survivors and remembering the truth of native boarding school experiences. Our Apac partnership also continues to think of ways to ensure that our students have e ever everlasting ways to gather. So, this year we'll have our first native youth summit, which is open to

035all because we believe that it's important. It's an important part of all of our histories. And then this year, we also want to recognize we have a pach partnership. We want our students to be excited about being educators. And the best way to do that is to continue to create exciting, thriving experiences. And so we do have a student also in our AP pack community, Zadia Monet, and she is in our pach uh PTE partnership pathway where she's on the pathway to being an educator and we hope to retain her here. We hope you come back to Adams 12 and this evening she will be reading for us our land acknowledgement. >> Hello everyone. Good afternoon. My name is Zadia Monet. Um, I am from the Chipua Oji boy tribe and I come from the

036Turtle Mountain Reservation in North Dakota. And I'll be reading the land acknowledgement. So, thank you. Adam's 12 FiveStar Schools honors and acknowledges that the land we are on today is the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Cheyenne, Arapjo, and Utay nations and peoples. Many different native tribes have used this land for trade, hunting, gathering, and healing. We extend our respects to elders past, present, and future. And all of those who have had steward who have stewarded the land and water for time immemorial and memorable. We invite others to join us in this acknowledgement and to renew and reaffirm the First Nations history in Colorado and pay tribute to these traditional homelands and its people. Thank you. It's not easy to get up in front of all these adults. Thank you. All right. We also do

037have two other members of our Apac community in honor of Native Heritage Month and in acceptance of this proclamation. It is always important to honor and provide spaces for our lived experiences to be shared. [clears throat] First of all, I'd like to say good evening uh board members, uh district staff and community. [clears throat] Child dying day. That means white crane man. My legal name is Andy Kad. I'm member of the Ka tribe originally from the southwest part of the state of Oklahoma. I had a hand in this uh community at 12 Indian Education Project beginning in 1997 at the old uh I call it the old Leroy um elementary down there off of uh 105th. I believe we started a Native American program there. And then I have two sons that graduated from North

038Clinton High School, uh, Leonard K. Kad at and then also my youngest son, John B. Kad. So they are, uh, graduates of North Glenn High School. I want to again begin by honoring the [clears throat] land beneath our feet. The ancestral homelands of the youth, Cheyenne, and Arabo peoples. The original caretakers of this place we now call Adams County. For countless generations, they live in deep relationships with the land, the water, and all living things. We must also acknowledge a painful truth in Colorado's history. [snorts] The San Creek massacre of 1864. When the United States soldiers attacked a peaceful Cheyenne and Arapjo village along the Big Sandy Creek in southwestern Colorado, more than 200 people, mostly women, children, elders were killed. This tragedy left a deep scar on our collective memory. We pay tribute to

039those who lost their lives and we honor the strength of their descendants who continue to carry the memory, the healing and the resilience of their ancestors. But the acknowledgement alone is not enough. Land acknowledgements cannot be performative. They must come with commitment and action. Thank you. [clears throat] I said hello. My name is Rhonda Standing Bear Cosma. I'm from North Glenn, Colorado and um I'm a parent here at Adams 12. Um I have I actually want to say congratulations to our five-star community and leadership. Um there are 574 federally recognized tribes in the United States. Many of us have moved away from reservations and made Colorado our home. Sorry, I lost my spot here. Um, my family came to Colorado during the Relocation Act of 1956, which encouraged native people to move away from the

040reservations to urban areas to uh for better economic opportunities. This is still going on today as many tribes come to work, build a family, and attend our colleges and universities away from their homeland. I have always been proud of who I am. And yet, I had my first experience of discrimination and racism as a little girl. When I was as old as my youngest child, who is in first grade, I remember we had pin pill pin pals. We rode to another school in Colorado and soon we met up for a field trip. I remember my pen pal was happy to meet me. She was Caucasian and so was her friend sitting next to her. I remember my pen pal said to her friend, "My pen pal is Indian." Her friend looked at me and said,

041"All the Indians are dead." The excitement and happiness from my pen pal's face left. I turned to the girl and said, "No, I am alive and so is my family." I can still say the same thing today. Thanks to John Emahula who founded the American Indian Parent Advisory Committee in Adams 12 in 1996 for our native children to practice their culture while continuing their education. I am here today to represent my native communities and my children who go to Adam's 12 five-star schools. My daughter who graduated in 2024 and is in her second year at DU left a legacy for the next generation to continue. She is the lead author of our Adams 12 five-star school land acknowledgement Elizabeth Standing Bear Light in the Lodge. She also co-created a high school club called Natani during

042afterchool hours established in two 2022. She helped spread awareness with Natani to educate students and teachers at many Adams 12 schools. Can we give you the responsibility responsibility now to do the work? I am here not to only tell my story but to stand with the indigenous children to help celebrate Native American month in Adam's 12 five-star schools to be recognized. Education is a big part of our lives and our culture. There is a saying that we walk in two worlds and now I understand what that means. It means that we are holding on to our culture and also thriving in urban areas. Acknowledging Native American month will help others learn more about who we are and open doors to our children to be part of their communities. I believe this will enhance them in

043their learning environments and build healthy relationships. We are resilient indigenous native people in Adams 12 and the 574 tribes as a whole. We all have traditional food, native languages, dances, songs, and stories to share with our communities. We want the next seven generations and more to be seen and celebrated. Our ancestors will always be part of our history. We are not here to decolonize, but to indigenize your way of thinking about native people for the future. We believe our history and living culture should be part of education. We welcome you to help keep our culture alive as we continue to work towards a brighter future together without discrimination, racism, and oppression. Help us break the chains of traditional education and blend together multiple cultures for a more inclusive education system where all races are accepted

044and included. Pila, thank you. I'd also like to acknowledge Jay Cox, the president of our Apac community. If you are a part of Apac and here for our proclamation, if you could please stand just so we can honor and recognize you all here. Children, too. Uh-huh. All right. Thank you for being here this evening. Thank you, board of directors and superintendent Gaddi. Thank you. Comments, questions? I have a a a comment and this is a shout out to Mr. Koad. I grew up in Anadarco, Oklahoma and Mountain View, Oklahoma. Um and so I had the pleasure of living near there. You're it basically it's like family is visiting again. Um the Kya Nation, the Comanche Nation, and when I think back to my experience growing up in Oklahoma, I did not learn enough about First

045Nations history. Um, when I did learn, it's because of the of the First Nations spokespeople who came into the schools to teach us. And I'm eternally grateful that for that experience. I think that diversity um mean it really helped me become a more tolerant, thoughtful, um, understanding individual. So, I'm always grateful for that background. And as always, it's a real honor to have you here, Mr. Kosad. Um, and I also want to say I do not take lightly the charge that you have presented us with. First Nations history is everyone's history. Um, and we need to remember that our First Nations, they're here. They're still with us. We It is a dishonor to talk about them in the past tense. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Yeah. Thank you for being here. Thank you for

046bringing this to us. agree this is definitely something we will not take lightly and are honored um and so yeah I think Paula said um all the things but um I appreciate the continued learning and um knowledge of what um First Nations have to give us. So, thank you so much >> and I just want to say thank you for always inviting us to participate in the activities that you have. Um, it's always a learning experience and it's always a fun learning experience and that's how we learn about other cultures and and I appreciate that. >> Thank you. I accept the proclamation on behalf of Apac. We have to vote on it first, [laughter] but we'll call the vote. >> Director Assad Lucas, >> I. >> Director Badestelli, >> I. >> Director Goldstein, >> I.

047>> Director Potter, >> hi. >> You are very welcome, and it's an honor to be able to do that. Okay. Uh, next on the agenda is a Thornton High School design update from Trainer and Facilities Construction. I see some of the folks from Trainer back there. Good evening board members. Thank you for having us. Um I'm Margie Ammon. I'm our director of facilities design and I am here to introduce our team. We are here tonight to share with you and our community. Thank you everyone for being here. The status that we have come to on Thornton High and Future Forward Bulman. As many of you know, it is our largest project in our bond and of course our most complex project. And we're here tonight to share with you where we're at with those two

048projects. So we'll begin with some introductions and then trainer will explain the schedule and then go over the Thornton High where we're at with that design and future forward Bulman. So I'd also like to mention that we have a few friends here from Accenture. They are our owners representative and they're our partner for this project as well. Trainer is here with three folks. We have Adam back in the back. Kelly and Scott are going to present for us and I'm going to hand it over to them. Thank you, Marky. And I think we have 15 minutes for this. So, I guess I'll time it just in case. Um, architects like to talk a lot. Um, so I want to make sure that we uh stay on time. But yeah, I am Scott Dangle. I'm principal

049at Trainer and I am um blessed to be part of this. So, thank you so much for this opportunity and congratulations um on passing the bill. That's wonderful news for the district. So just starting with the the schedule um obviously I won't go through this entire thing but we are currently in design development uh for the project. Um we are presenting schematic design but we're going to issue the next package uh the design development package um early December and then we will do another package um in early spring of 2026 which is going to be the new fields and I'll show you where those are and then we'll uh start construction in uh spring of 2026. So, we're moving very fast. Um, but there's a a big team and there's a lot of people involved.

050Um, and everybody's a huge part of the of this project. So, just starting with this is a site plan. Um, just to orient everybody, um, on the right side, um, is Washington going north and south. There's that little uh, arrow at the bottom right. That's the north arrow. And then there's Epinger at the at the bottom. Um, and then at the very top uh, in the diagonal is Grant. So, that just kind of orients you. So, the new Thornton High School is going um it's that middle area there um that has legs. Uh the front side of it is the main entry. It'll be going where the existing uh baseball field is. So, that if you get if you know where that is, that's where the new high school is going to is going to

051be located. On the south side of that is going to be uh that's going to be student parking. Um again, main entry is that little red arrow. I wish I had a pointer, but I don't. And then the top um is is more of the academic wing. So you have the uh the gym on the left side of the school. Then you have the auditorium on the right. And then you have all the classrooms and things like that um on the north side. And then the existing Bulman is um again I wish I had a pointer but I don't is is there on that like middle of the screen and then future for will have a Bowman as well. Um, and then all the fields will be to the left and then the staff parking

052will be to the right of of Bulman and uh bus drop off will also be on that right side. Yeah. So, as we dive into the building, um, what we're going to have at the new Thornton is a two-story building. The front half of our building is essentially one story. And as you come in that main entrance through our secure vestibule, you'll have admin right there at the beginning and then immediately open up into your large public spaces. So we have athletics on the left side of the screen and then we have our performing arts. The laser pointer doesn't work, I know, but thank you. Um on the right side, um in that purple color are um visual and performing arts. Um and then kind of running north south in that blue color throughout the

053thing is what we're calling the hub. Um and that's really the center gathering spot of the school from which you branch off at the north into your classroom wings. One thing that's really special about this school is in the way it was planned was integrating the CTE components of education that you guys have in the district and really mixing them with the general educational programming. So, it's not like CTE, go over there, English, go over there. It's really an integrated um system. And so, all of your classes are really truly supporting each other. If we go to the second story plan, you can see a continuation of our um main classroom wings running east west. Um really good for daylighting. But then up here, kind of in the center of the screen on the left

054side overlooking a courtyard is the new library space. And over on the right side, overlooking that other courtyard, is our main counseling suite. So, what we have are kind of those um anchoring the center of our building and really tying back down to the south and the admin. Um, as you're looking at the plans on your screen, anything that's kind of that green color is a general classroom. Anything in that darker purple is a CTE classroom. Science classrooms are shown in that orange. And then staff spaces are shown in blue. And so that's for both the main and upper floor program. And this is a rendering. Um obviously we're still developing this, but this is a rendering we did in schmack design for uh the main entry. So on that south side uh where the

055student parking, this is what you first approach. Um so we're working with uh you know break as a a main material, very durable. And then we have this main entry which will you'll see in the hub in a second. It's really taking that warm wood and bringing it into the building. Um so on on that main entry and on the right side uh the auditorium. So you'll have the main entry with it which supports the uh kind of the athletics when when you walk in there and to the right side you'll have um uh the auditorium lobby. >> Yeah. So this is the view um when you walk into the school. Again, you can see your athletics on the left, your um auditorium volume is right on the right, showcasing some of that school spirit.

056Kind of the main feature of this space are these large timber beams and columns. And so, it's really bringing that warmth into the space, allowing the natural materials, bringing back um kind of that feel of Colorado, and then just creating this rhythm through the space. The idea of this hub is really celebrating the multiculturalism that exists in Thornton High School and to bringing that in through textures um and just really creating a pallet where the whole school can be celebrated um and the students that are within that school can be celebrated. Um as you go you can see the staircase in the distance that's leading up to the twotory portion of the building and again your library would be on the left um and your counseling on the right. Um, and then if you look

057way back in the image, um, that is the bus drop off. And so the bus entry for students who aren't, um, getting dropped off by parents, which would be here on the south side of the building. And then if you take you're looking down there um, with the wood in the middle and you take a left, you will actually go to a courtyard. So this will be a secured courtyard. there'll be a fence um and you can't you you can exit it from an egress standpoint but you can't enter it. Uh, but this will be this active courtyard. So, you can come out, students will be secure, but they can have um enjoy the Colorado weather and also, you know, if they're eating lunch, rather than just being on the inside, there is this opportunity

058to be on the outside. And then all these little green areas are uh little turf areas, synthetic turf, um, which will allow for outdoor classroom and learning as well into this in this courtyard space. >> Yeah. And here kind of side by side we have both a pathway commons and the media center or library. Um so if we start with the pathway commons the idea is that there are these CTE pathways throughout the school. And so this is really about halfway through a classroom wing really creating that connection vertically from our main level to our upper level. Obviously a stair for just you know your general convenience in walking around. But more than that, it's a way a gathering spot within that hallway wing so that small groups can come out. It's a place for

059students to gather. Um, and it's directly across from what we're calling a teacher neighborhood. So, where teachers would have their professional work space. So, there's that really passive supervision of staff with these breakout spaces. And then if you look at the image to your right, you can see the library. So, um, it was requested that it's acoustically separated so you can maintain that study environment, but you can see the glass looking into the library and really connecting it back to the hub of the school. And again, that warmth of that wood carrying along through and then out to the views of the courtyard. Um, in that image, you can see that there are some holes within the floor really allowing daylight to come from our upper levels and spill down into that kind of cafeteria

060area. And just to add to that slide real fast, sorry. Is what Kelly was saying is, you know, there's the main hub and um these pathway Commons, we really these schools are big schools and being able to break down the scale of the schools for students. Um you know, there's introverts, there's extroverts, you know, regardless of who you are, there should be always a place within a school. And that's what we were trying to do with these different spaces. Um, so we'll move over to um future Ford at Bowman. Um, it looks like we're getting close. We might rush through this, but um, so the the the dark gray area is the the existing Future Ford at Bulman that's going to remain. There's a there's a north part that's going to be demolished. Um, it's

061not it's showing up on here. It's basically where that storm water detention is. But then the white area to the right, uh, the FFB, the future forward edition, that'll be the addition. So, some of those programs that were already being demolished will be moved over and then there will be additional programs that Kelly will talk about that'll be part of that addition. Okay, we're talking fast. Okay, so it's a two-story edition and I'm going to zoom in on just the main level floor plan. So, again, you enter right by administration through a secure vestibule. From there, right off um still kind of part of that public sphere is the salon space. Um and so in introducing that as a new CTE program um and it's connecting aesthetics room. There are three cosmetology classrooms kind of

062flanking that north common area all connected in that bar towards that salon lab space. And then down to the south we have video production and engineering. Engineering with its maker space connected. So that's being relocated from the existing Bowman building. Um, but all of these programs are gathered around this common space. Again, a place for students to be when they're not in the classroom as spaces for people to meet. And then it goes up into a twostory space um with again some of those cutouts. And then you'll see in some of the renderings to come. There's daylight coming in and then down into the building because we all know that daylight is really essential for the learning process. Um upstairs our two main CTE programs is we have a dental assisting lab and then we

063have prostart um two prostart labs. So that will be relocated to this new Bowman edition. Um again there's a culinary classroom. We have our counseling and learning center up there as well. Um and so our culinary classroom really opens up. That's what that dash line is. Is the idea of being able to open up and use that upper commons so you can um use it to create a restaurant space to do different kinds of serving to really um facilitate the learning that's happening in the ProStart classrooms. >> And this this section is is cutting through the building. So the top um lefthand corner is kind of showing you where that's located. And so it's cutting through that central commons that Kelly was talking about. The reason why we show that is just show that you

064enter the building on the right side. You kind of have a a grander opening and then you go through the building and then you really go into that common space. And we took kind of cues from Washington Square, you know, future for Washington Square and try to bring some of that element into this building as well. This is a rendering of what the salon space could start to look like. Um, and so it's really bringing that real world experience and that feel into these classroom spaces. Um, so that students are learning um, commisser with the industry. >> And this is another section, architect's love section, but it's going through the other way. And really this is just showing you again that common space in the center, that open space. And then there the site's pretty

065complicated. So there's a there's a 4 foot drop, but it also gives opportunities to give video production engineering the spaces that need larger volumes um that that asset. >> Um here is a view in the first floor of that student common. So incorporating some of that feature forward branding and then you can see how you can start to use furniture within these open spaces to create those um learning spaces outside the classroom. This is the second floor of the student common. So you can see into that culinary classroom and how that could be an operable wall and really spilling out into this space. Um right now we're also showing uh serving counter wall directly into one of the ProStart classrooms. And um we just issued schematic design on this building. And next we'll be meeting

066with teachers to really refine each of these spaces to make sure they truly reflect the needs of the programs. Oh, and this is a counseling suite. So really pulling some nice daylight from the exterior of the building and then having um this common area where students could be. that was really important um within the counseling suite, a cultural piece of the existing Bowman that they really wanted to recreate in the new building. Where are we? Oh, one minute. Okay. Um so this is the exterior of the building. Obviously, we're still working through the design, but this is what we presented at Schematic Design. Um but we really wanted to tie the building into what was already there. So the the brick that's already there, the the black color that's already there. We pulled some of

067that stuff in, that's why you see the black metal panel, uh the brick, rather than try to match the brick, we did a blend so you see that kind of speckled. That's a three-color blend of brick just to kind of um bring in that red but not try to match it because you never will. But you see the front entry there, uh the bus drop. So this is really what um students would approach now when they come in is that front entry and then there's an admin to the left and then to the right it's sharing with that salon. So they have an entry that's um secure but also allows for that salon to to um be active. So that's really it. Um this is really just the next steps. Um we will uh design

068development will be December 1st. Um that's the next thing that's going to happen that we're we're working on. Sorry, [snorts] time to take turkey out. Um, and then uh first site construction package um we'll do an athletic uh field package like I was saying in February. Uh Bulman um design development will be done in in in February 2026 and then construction will be start spring of 2026. So it's going pretty quick. Um but that is the the update. Thank you. I think comments, questions. >> I have a question and an ask. Um, the campus looks beautiful. There's obviously a lot of thought and detail that went into it. So, thank you everyone that was involved in that. Um, having been someone that's gone through beauty school. Um, is there a lot of ventilation planned? Like

069I know like VOCC's are real. Like it's all a thing and you can never have enough ventilation and with all of the new Dora changes around like nail powders and all of all of the things I would hate to build out such a beautiful space and then be like, "Okay, well the next classroom over is now inhaling monomer." >> Yeah, that's a good point. And so we're in the development stage, so we'll make sure to obviously bring that up. But there there's air exchanges have have definitely are a lot more than they used to be. Um, but we'll bring that up to our engineers to make sure that we focus on that and and address any of those smells. >> I think I'm just traumatized because we'd be in beauty school and like five departments

070down they would like smell the perming solution um because it was central central air and so they it was a big expensive lift and so I will not be here anymore when you guys come back to that phase. So that is my ask for you guys is just be very mindful of the smells cuz they can be intense and if you're like an expecting teacher, you're not going to be going to work the days they're doing perms. So >> thank you for that. So, I live about two blocks from Thoren High and I drive by it multiple times a day um to my office and back and um so excited and um I mean this is a big deal to the community. I'll go to that Safeway that's just right up the street from there

071um on a weekend to get groceries. And just a few weeks ago, the clerk was even asking um when's [clears throat] the high school going to be started? When is it going to build? I mean, this is this is really exciting for the community. So, thank you for your work on this and partnering with the district and um yeah, so excited. >> Thank you. I've already seen it already. So, this is like the third time now, but I learn something new every time. >> I mean, I could say it looks beautiful. It really does, but I'm also not really good with um design, so I can't really contribute much. >> Thank you. Okay. Uh proposed revisions to district policy 6340, graduation requirements. This is a followup from the last meeting. >> Okay. Good evening board

072members. Thank you for having me back to talk about this very important topic. Here to revisit policy 6340 and proposed changes to our graduation requirements. Um couple important legislative moves that have recently impacted our reason for revisiting this policy. Um actually one of the older Colorado revised statutes is the first one which requires that all of our students um satisfactory complete um learning in history and civil government in regards to the United States and Colorado. So, um, all of our students do have to take a US history and a government class or a civics class in high school and satisfactory complete that class in order to um, graduate high school. The second um, revised Colorado statute is fairly new, which requires that districts teach Holocaust and genocide standards, which you'll see as we look at

073what other districts are doing and what we're doing here in Adams 12. That means that most districts are either teaching that in world history or in world geography or a geography course. And then the last one, which is probably the most significant to our conversation today, is mandates that school districts incorporate specific financial literacy standards into a course that is required for high school graduation. And um the two options that we're proposing to you is option number one, which is um that we add a personal financial literacy requirement to our graduation requirements and also that we require healthy choices, which is a class that our students already take in high school. And both of those be required for students to graduate high school. and that would begin with this year's freshman class. The other option

074to this policy is that those um two classes are required for students to take and be enrolled in the coursework but not required for successful completion. So um that could be enrollment for any length of term and that students would not be required to successfully pass the class. So that would be in compliance with those Colorado revised statutes, but we wouldn't guarantee that they have the learning and um the intended expectations of completing the standards in that coursework. Um so we would be in compliance with those Colorado revised statutes. But if we think about what it is that students are learning in those classes with personal financial literacy and healthy choices, I think our our community might say that that's pivotal learning that we want our high school graduates to walk away with. That is

075aligned to our current practice right now. And I can tell you as we spoke to our high school leaders, one of the concerns and why this is their preferred choice is they do have some concerns about what happens to our students who don't pass these courses and our path for remediation especially because um when we look at when students take especially personal financial literacy if you remember I came to you and we talked about how we were revising the scope and sequence of our social studies coursework. Our students are taking personal financial literacy in their 11th grade year. So, our this is our first freshman class and our first set of juniors that are taking um personal financial literacy in their 11th grade year. If they fail it, they have to remediate it in their

076senior year, which takes away an elective and potentially a CTE class that they might be interested in and or another electives class of their interest that might um you know be something that they're looking for in terms of work-based learning experience and or just an electives class that might influence their future career options. Um and then again with health, if they fail that class, we don't require that they take that um in any particular grade. A lot of our high schools schedule their freshman into health, but that would be again a class that they would have to remediate then in turn taking away another option for a student's schedule um if they fail that class. So you'll see here in our scope and sequence um we have integrated the Holocaust and genocide standards in 9th

077grade either in world history, AP world history or AP human geography. And then um we have put personal financial literacy in 11th grade either in students taking a half credit course or in if they're taking AP government that that's embedded in um AP government they'll be experiencing an integrated experience with PFL standards embedded in there either throughout the course of the year or after students take the AP government exam. there's some time to also do some personal financial literacy learning because they take the AP gov exam prior to the school year ending. And then just a real quick um kind of update on where other districts are at. Many of our um peer districts have made this move already to require personal financial literacy of their students. Jeffco is addited on as they have 3.5

078required social studies credits. Um St. Brain School District um they have an additional.5 financial literacy class required. Um 27J they have um just adjusted their three credits of social studies and they've included it in economics. DPS has allowed that those standards to be taught in either um personal finance and or financial algebra with is which is a math class. And then BBSD and Aurora um they as well have included the requirement but they have not put it in their their social studies requirement. It it lives outside any either an electives or in another space. So on the two ends they also have um the requirement just not necessarily outlined in a social studies requirement even though um the standards are in social studies. So I know this is your second glance at kind of looking

079at this proposal. Now that you've had some time to kind of sit with it, I wonder if you have any additional questions for me. Why is everyone looking at me? No, I'm kidding. >> I'm [laughter] looking down the line and just >> I'm just kidding. Um, so I did ask some questions to Bo mostly about what does the current pass rate look like and particularly around since we don't have data for personal finance financial literacy yet around um the health and wellness. uh and overall it looked okay for making a move to require passing those courses except for two schools which is Thornton High School and Five-Star Online Academy where the results were a bit more iffy if I remember correctly right. Um, and so I would feel more reassured if there was some time

080to vet the reasons for that with those two schools um to do some curriculum revisiting. Um, just because I'm I'm worried that about that piece. >> Yeah, I think we could definitely follow up with those school leaders. I think part of what um I suspect that they might say is that you know when a class isn't required and we have some attendance issues um whether it be online or in person that there's a lack of seriousness sometimes taken by by students in that space. >> And I certainly I mean I I kind of can see that too. It's just Thornton High School and FiveStar were so different from the other schools. That's where this fear sort of comes from, I guess. >> Yeah. And I think it is a fair concern of our high school

081principles to be worried about if we add an additional graduation requirement in personal financial literacy and in healthy choices. What impact might this have on my graduation rate? what impact might this have on student schedules in terms of remediating this credit in their day and also knowing that this is really important learning for our kids. Um this is some of the most basic skills that we want for our students to walk away from high school with. And I don't debate that at all. Uh I completely think that if we can make it required we have to pass we should, right? Because they're both really essential curriculum. It's just to get some time to explore would be wonderful. >> Yeah, I agree Paula. So we can circle back on that. So really I guess for me

082the remediation process even though these are two additional required classes would it be that much different than what's already for our required classes for that you know the number of kids that need that remediation for their already current required classes. Yeah, students remediate credit in a wide variety of ways and because we do require three credits of social studies. Um, right now if a student fails personal financial literacy, they have to remediate a half credit of social studies, we just don't tell them it has to be PFL. Um, we tell them you can make up that half credit of social studies with any social studies offering that you want. It could be a half credit of psychology. It could be a half credit of um sociology. It could be a half credit in an you

083know egeneuity class online over the summer. You could take summer school. Um, what this would do, especially in the personal financial literacy space, if a student would in 11th grade was taking government and personal financial literacy and they failed that personal financial literacy component, they would have to then make up specifically the personal financial literacy class. And they could still again um remediate that in a variety of different ways. They could do it through traditional coursework in class at school. We could have egeneuity offerings which is the online component and we could even look to offering it during summer school. >> Okay. I was just going to ask that if summer school Yeah. if that would be an option y for kids. So then if they did want to do a CTE class or didn't

084want it to interfere with um an [clears throat] elective that they would have that option. Yes. And the same would be true for health. If a student is using that 0.5 of health to meet their one credit PE requirement for graduation, they still have to to make up a half credit of PE. Just right now, we don't tell them it has to be made up with health. >> We tell them you can make it up with any PE course. You can make it up with volleyball, va basketball. You can make it up with health or with intro to fitness. You can make it up with whatever. Um if they failed health, we would then tell them you have to make it up with a health class. Sure. Um I don't know if it's just because

085we've been talking about this more or if this is actually feel like as of late. um [clears throat] when I'm driving listening to podcasts and then when the commercials come on there's a lot of talk about different programs to address uh financial literacy and especially in youth and so I think it's an incredibly important topic that um you know I guess if we set a bar our kids they'll rise to it um [snorts] and we'll be much more prepared Yeah, we have a lot of industry partners too that want to come alongside and assist in this space because they know how important this learning is for our students and want to provide some realworld learning experiences for kids. >> Right. So my question is, have you had conversations with some of the other departments who

086offer things that are similar? For example, um adult living um and I volunteer with Junior Achievement and we I go in and basically teach some of this stuff in that class. Is that going to is this going to take away from the ro the ability for this these departments like consumer family studies or business to do the things that they do that kind of touch on financial literacy. So when we originally proposed our personal financial literacy class and redid the scope and sequence of learning and social studies, we coordinated with other departments in particular um the business department because they already had a personal finance class and um we know that there's a component in um consumer family studies that also touches on this idea of personal finance as well. So we've been working alongside

087with them to adjust and also where does the learning crossover what is unique and different about our um standards in social studies. >> Okay. Thank you. Any other comments? >> I have a question around transfer students. If we had a child transfer high schools and they came from a place that it was not required to pass, just take it, would they then have to retake it here and pass it? We'd have to definitely work with that and make sure that they if they took the class and didn't pass it in their previous district, we would then require that they would take it and pass it in Adams 12. >> Okay. Thank you. I was just going to say given what director Assad Lucas mentioned about multiple um ways to satisfy a credit I think that

088was more that's reassuring. I I like to hear that there's egenuity and you know a couple of other ways to access the curriculum. So to provide different options >> but were you going to add something? was thinking about the question about just wanting to make sure um we have some further conversation and investigation into the failure rates we saw at Thornton High School and FSOA. If I recall, you're you're hearing this tonight. You're going to make a a decision at the next meeting. I believe between now and then, we can go out and ask some questions. One thing to recall with this, this would be in effect for the current freshman class. So, as they finish up their first semester, they still have what is that seven semesters left in high school. So, we're we'd

089have some time to think about what we would do to start to address it. I think Kim is right. Some of that gets addressed when it becomes required and just uh taking it uh whether we like it or not creates some uh permission around engagement. Um, but we can certainly do some outreach and I would say not just to those two schools, but to all of our high schools around if if the board made the decision to make this a successful completion requirement, what adjustments and what thinking might you individually as schools or collectively of schools think about to prepare as best we can to uh address current failure rates and do more? Because what we would like is not only to have a lot of remediation options but to do a lot more preventatively

090in terms of how we engage the course, how we keep kids uh in a place because we all collectively and I see this across the board and in our conversations believe these are really key fundamental life skills. We need to think about how do we convince students that that's the case too and make it relevant, meaningful and important to them. and we have an interval of time before this class of 2029 walks across the stage to do that. So, I would think in the next two weeks, Kim could reach out to our high schools and get some of their feedback that if you made that decision, what would be some ways we'd address not only remediation options, but kind of a pre-planning pieces to start to make sure the the relevancy and engagement is what

091we'd want it to be. Well, my thoughts too are where wherever you set the bar, they will rise to the bar. If the expectation is that they pass it, >> a D is passing, but they will do it. >> Yeah. When we changed graduation requirements quite a few years ago, I mean, there was a lot of worry about upping the number of credits required for students. then >> I remember >> you know since then we've also seen our graduation rates go up. So I think we just have to strategize. I as a high school former high school principal would want to be thinking like what are we going to do to support kids to be proactive in this stance. Okay. Well, thank you. >> All right. Thank you. All right. On to minutes. I will

092entertain a motion to adopt the minutes of the work study session and regular board meets of October 22nd, 2025 as presented. >> So moved. [music] >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Direct. Director Assad Lucas. >> I. >> Director Bastelli. >> I. >> Director Goldstein. >> Hi. >> Director Potter. >> I. >> Okay. On to monitoring report. You want to do that on Phil's >> agenda or the >> the 2.5.8 we added. >> Oh, is that where we added it? Oh, sorry. >> Before monitoring report, >> Gina, we're going to discuss um 2.5.8. This is where we put it, >> I guess. >> In board business. All right. Uh okay. Let's talk about board policy 2.5.8 8 to various projects scoreboard prop TDA property acquisition bus video upgrades. Okay. >> Yes. Thank you for adding this

093to tonight's regular session of the board meeting. Um you as board members have addressed this policy numerous times. We've um made some changes to it as recently as April of this year. And I believe the the changes were positive. We just uh keep coming up with new wrinkles in the situations that were asked to fit into this policy. So the three recent examples are the scoreboard shot clock uh project that is being handled under the capital projects fund. The capital projects fund is part of the annual budget. It's described in the budget as um something that needs to be flexible to address capital projects as they come up during the year and the amount being spent on the or proposed on the scoreboard project does not exceed the budget. Uh so we believe that based

094on the board policy the scoreboard project fitting into the capital projects fund uh it's basically an interpretation of whether or not this fits into 2.5.8 eight. And I believe from a staff perspective, it can fit into our interpretation and it can be considered something that the board has approved in the budget. If the board wants [clears throat] to drill down deeper and have these types of projects presented to it, staff is fine with that. We're just looking for some direction. >> Thank you. Comments. So, I did think I sent some feedback. I I I don't think in the case of 300 the $325,000 cost and the fact that it's already allocated to a fund. To me, that means that the there's not necessarily approval that should happen. That said, if it were something over 500,000

095and it was something that didn't apply to, I think you said uh it was not a pre-established we know we're going to spend this money from this fund sort of thing, then uh then that is something I think that it would be good for the board to to vote on for transparency's sake. But does that make sense? >> It does, except for the $325,000 figure. I believe that this exceeds 500,000. >> Oh, does it? Okay. I thought it was 325,000. I'm sorry. >> If it was less than 500, I wouldn't be talking about it. Um, that's the question. Whether something that's budgeted in capital projects, but doesn't have that certain project earmarked, >> whether that's something the board wants to consider. And I don't think the staff has strong feelings. They're just looking for some

096direction on whether you want to address it. And we could bring them forward in future board meetings. We could put them on the consent agenda when we think they're routine. Um, and then the board could decide to take them off of consent agenda as you are allowed to under your bylaws. And I'm open to other if people if Lori if you have a perspective or you know whoever >> I think what this goes for now if somebody wants to make a motion to change that they should do so now. Correct. >> I wasn't really looking for a motion. I was looking for a discussion in some direction. Not necessarily on a specific project although I'm going to talk about three. >> Yeah. While you're thinking about the first one, I'll mention uh the bus video

097upgrade project, which is very similar except um it's it's in the 2526 budget under uh grant monies. And the grant money is put into the budget. We don't know specifically what that is going to be spent on. And the proposal right now is to uh provide bus video upgrades and they are in excess of $500,000. So that to me is a very similar scenario to the scoreboard one. And then I don't believe uh that the third item um is required at all to come to the board because it's part of the bond project and that is >> uh receiving the land from the Thornton Development Authority which is a donation um of land. However, that land uh is not totally free because we're are going to we're going to do some asbestous remediation work on

098that property and then we're going to invest substantial uh funds into that because it is part of the Thornton High School project. So, I brought that more as an information item and also to say that even though I don't believe it's required to be approved by the board under board policy 2.5.8, 8. I may suggest that it be placed on the November 19 board agenda for approval. Um, just because we have a real estate settlement on that land coming up soon and sometimes the folks involved in doing the title work for the buyer or the district in this case would want uh approval of the highest governing body of that organization which would be you. Okay. Does anybody else have any preferences here? >> Not really. >> Wait, I think let's start with Courtney. >>

099Okay. I was just going to say we're very fortunate to have a strong staff and cabinet as well as a superintendent with strong communication skills. And so I feel like we're kind of in a unique situation having talked to some other school districts where like I don't think I personally don't feel the need to have to approve these issues because I trust that our superintendent is thorough and thoughtful in his communication. But as we look at future years to come and if there were to be a change in superintendent then maybe revisiting that to say to to better meet the needs down the road. >> I do believe all these projects have been communicated to the board. >> They have >> um and I think you're aware of them. The only question is whether you

100want to take that extra step and have a future board agenda item on them. >> I mean once we become aware of them because again it's always communicated well to us if I guess one of us has concerns or has it we can request to put it on the agenda. Correct. >> Yes. You would work with your board president who has agenda setting powers. >> Yeah. And so I think you know otherwise again because it's communicated with us I guess if there aren't concerns brought to the board president then >> and any items that don't fit into the exceptions set forth in the policy would automatically be brought to you. >> Right. >> These are just the ones that >> right >> we've had some discussions about >> and I think they're justified but I

101wanted to bring them up to you. Yeah. And I think that we're always pretty well informed also and that we don't need to overkill. >> All right. Well, that's all the direction I need. So, thank you very much. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. Now, on to minutes. >> I think you've done the minutes. >> We did the minutes. You're right. Oh, I was starting the monitoring report. We're sorry. Okay. Uh monitoring report. uh action internal monitoring report 2.4 for financial conditions and activities from July 1st 20 July 1st to September 30th 2025. I will entertain a motion to acknowledge the board has received a monitoring report as of November 5th, 2025 for the period July 1st, 2025 through September 30th, 2025 and finds the superintendent's interpretations are reasonable and supported by data that is

102relevant, justified, and complete. So moved. Second. All right. Hi Gina. >> Good evening board. Um first I have to say the setup I can see. So I'm crazily excited about this. Um thanks IT team. Um sorry for that but I I was amazed. Um usually I'm trying to I'm short you know. Um so thank you. Um I'm here to present the quarterly financials as well as the internal monitoring report. Um so as a reminder the board one of your responsibilities as a board is to monitor the um financial situation of the board of the district. And so we're here to present the financials as of September 30th. And so one of the things I want to remind you, and I probably said this last year, the first quarter is one of the hardest ones when

103we're looking at forecasting because not a lot has happened as of September 30th. We've had two payrolls with uh most of the teaching staff and so it's it's a small amount. So the team, you know, we spend some time forecasting, but it's not the best information yet. We just don't know a ton. We don't know how many kids we have that we're going to be funded for. There's a lot of things. So, um, I expect when we come back to you with the financials as of December 31st, our forecast will include much better information. And so, I just want to set that stage. And I think it's important to remember that that this is really just two months of operations into our fiscal year. So, as always, um, like to walk through a little bit

104of the monitoring report. um at the front end. I'm gonna, you know, spoiler alert, I'm happy to report that on all areas where we are reporting compliance across the board for um each of the items listed in 2.4. So, we start out with our um monitoring fund balances and reserves. And so on page two, you can look at what the district had built into the budget for our TAB reserve and um what we've updated that Taber reserve balance to be in our projection for fiscal year 26. I'm in three fiscal years right now. So I'm going to try my best to say the right year. I've been um saying that wrong a lot lately. Um so of course one of the pieces that we monitor closely is the unassigned fund balance board policy. You all

105require us to maintain no less than 4% and no more than 8%. As of right now, before we knew about the results of the mill levy override, um we are projecting that the unassigned fund balance at year end next year will be 4.9%. As we work through planning, the use of any of those new proceeds will um capture that in the amended budget in January. That that number will likely change, I suspect, but we'll see. We haven't obviously we just learned today so we haven't um had any conversations about that and that information can be found on page four of the monitoring report. The next piece we do is we monitor the cash positions, investments and liquidity of the district and um ensure that we're in compliance with each of the different areas that the

106board has highlighted for us. If you look at page five of the monitoring report, you can see the um district's average monthly operating expenditures are well below our unrestricted cash. And so, as we've mentioned the last few times, we've talked about this in in many in years past before the change that was made at the state level to fund us a little differently. Um, as far as timing of proceeds, we would see that number get really low as we hit January, February. We're we're not seeing that any longer because we're getting some of the state share sooner when we're waiting for more of the local share. Um, as you know, we also monitor the accounts payable and receivable components and um, we are again reporting compliance in each of those different areas. And then the

107a big a big big section of the U monitoring report focuses on how we're spending bond dollars as well as millvy override dollars. And so you can look to pages 9 and 10 for the bond. To date, um, as of September 30th, when I say to date, I'm talking about that for this report, we have, um, as you know, issued $190 million. Of that, we have spent $29.4 million. About 12 million or so was the allocation to charter schools. The rest on some projects. And then we've encumbered, meaning we've we've said we're going to do um 31.4 form 30 31.1 million in um we've signed contracts, we have purchase orders out there um saying we're going to do these things. And so you can see all that detail on pages 9 and 10 on how

108those projects are proceeding. And then pages 11 12 really focus on how we are spending the mill override dollars. And so all of that information is right [clears throat] there. And then finally, um, monitoring our audit compliance and internal controls. I'm really incredibly excited to share that the auditors will be here at our next meeting. I think it's the 19th. And um, Aaron has been working really hard just this evening finalizing the um, our represent our our letter to uh, that we do with the audit firm and they're getting our management letter put together. um our opinion should be dated today, which is super exciting because as you know, we've had some struggles in years past um with staffing issues on the audit firm side and some different pieces around getting the audit completed. Along

109with the um audit piece, you also require the district to go out for an RFP for audit services um based on JFOA recommendations. And so we will be getting an a an RFP out on the street sometime in the upcoming weeks for audit services. So that that is we're it's that time for us. Um all right. And then attached in the packet with the monitoring report is our quarterly financials. As I mentioned at the start, these are, you know, these are the actuals to date. They're trending very similar to to last year and in prior years and we will update the forecast when we see you for the December report as well as when we come back in January for amended budget. Any questions? >> Any questions? >> Okay. >> Director Sad Lucas >> I.

110>> Director Badestelli. >> Hi. >> Director Goldstein. >> Hi. >> Director Potter. >> Hi. Thanks, Gina. >> You're welcome. And and great work to Aaron and the rest of the finance. >> Thanks, Aaron. On to the consent agenda. I recommend an uh entertain a motion to approve the personnel actions as presented. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. Director Assad Lucas. >> I, >> Director Batistelli, >> I, >> Director Goldstein, >> I, >> Director Potter, >> I. >> Okay. Uh, next meeting is going to be pretty busy. We're going to have our legislative dinner ahead of time. >> And, um, then, um, have do we have any response to who we've invited, if they're going to be able to make it that night? >> Oh, okay. Katie does that. All right. Um and then we

111have policy matters on the agenda, a proclamation, the acter, and we're going to recognize a few community members for various things and um we're going to take action on the graduation requirements. Anything else? Okay, then I'm going to call us ajourned.