001♪ >> our team. 4 p m Ms Olsen Roll Call, Please. I believe Director back of our Village talking to the superintendent. She'll be here momentarily. >> Kerry here. present. >> Director rule is excused. Please join me as we observe a moment of silence. Director Can you please make the motion to adopt the agenda? >> I move that the board of education obstinate and tops the agenda as presented second. >> Moved and seconded missiles and roll call, please. agenda has been adopted as presented the first item on the agenda tonight is we do have executive session for approximately 30 minutes. Director Hay plea. Would you please make a motion to move into executive session? >> Yes, I move that the board of Education convenes into executive session to discuss negotiations per CRs. 24 Dash 6.
002That's 402. For the particular matter employee compensation and personnel per CRs. 24 Dash 6 dash 402, 4 f particular matter. Superintendent contract renewal. Moved and seconded missiles and roll call, please. I. The ayes have. It will convene in executive session will be back here at approximately 4.35 That would not surprise me in for a few minutes behind that. >> And just fy for the board. My intention after we're done with the special meeting at Five-thirty is to give everyone a 20 minute break for dinner so that you're not rushed while trying to take notes and eat at the same time. So if you would like to grab food, you certainly can. But I will bill that into the evening. So I will see you all downstairs. ♪ >> I'm >> expecting. >> This evening, the
003board adopted agenda as presented. We have returned from executive session. Apologies for keeping us down there a few minutes late. But there is no need to modify the agenda at this time. I would ask our wonderful secretary missiles leave in the Pledge of Allegiance. to United States of America. Republic for which it stands. I do see some new faces relative to 40 minutes ago. So just for your awareness, my intention is to finish the rest of the special meeting. Give the board a dedicated time to kind of take a reset, get some food before the work session and then we'll pick up with the work session at that point. The first item that we have is a legislative update from our lobbyist. Miss Amy Atwood. What we have on webex ready to roll? Okay. Let's
004do it. >> need yet. Like contract lot districts. The evening. I wanted to I want to provide us E we which is session. We're halfway You can't and member in 20 days in session. And so we are on a downhill slide we've had had about 550 bills introduced. >> We expect another 150 to 200 to be introduced in the next 60 days. the most consequence is the state budget tomorrow afternoon, we will receive the final revenue forecast. That the Joint Budget Committee will use to close the budget or to balance a budget against. So the numbers that we get in tomorrow on state revenue is what the Joint Budget Committee will use. 2 finalize the budget. At this point. We don't know how big the deficit is compared to. That compared to what current obligations
005are and how much money will come in. We're hearing it can be anywhere between 500 million 1 0.5 billion. And we won't know that until tomorrow. So. He's look out for reported on Friday that have it basically there to forecast that comes that come in and I'll give a breakdown of both those forecast. We will not know which forecast that the joint Budget Committee chooses to go with. We likely won't know when the report goes out. We'll know that at the beginning of next week. So we expect next week that the budget will be finalized. All the numbers will be finalized and that the budget will be introduced. Its called along expect the law bill to be introduced a week of the 30th in the House and then the following week, the week of the
0066 into the Senate it could get pushed out a week or more if. Balancing isn't. If the Joint Budget Committee has released it really struggling with balancing, we do know that there will be cuts this year, some kind of cuts. We just don't know how large. And we do know that K 12 education is in the discussion touch Hurkacz. So whether or not that means through a pause and the rollout of the new finance formula, if that means a new finance formula is ruled out. But a budget stabilization factor is put into place that basically would pull back. And the increase from the new Formula. >> or a number of other things they could do. Those those are the 2 that are most likely on the table right now. So as I spoken about with
007Steph. Looking at holding flat for next year's budget is wise and potentially looking looking at a decrease as well. And you're when you're building your budget spring. So cheddar there, any questions? Questions from the board? >> Superintendent called taking away. Any. Could you talk a little bit about? There was an e-mail that came out from case and Cosby on the Tabor conversations that have been happening and where you think of the governor and or the budget are likely to land on that initiative. >> So there was a bill introduced last week. That is a ballot measure. it would be a referred measure from the from the General Assembly. Which would basically de Bruce, the state where the refunds would instead of getting refunds. That money would go into K 12 education. It wouldn't just go
008back into the general fund for the state. Those those ballot initiatives have failed in the past. This one would say that instead of getting refunds, that money would would go back directly into K 12. For a Richard measure. There has to be a two-thirds vote. So at this point to that would mean >> but I say the legislature split right now between Republicans and Democrats. Democrats almost have a super majority. They almost have 2 thirds. They are shy of one seat. So when you're thinking of that ballot measure, they would need to pick up one Republican 2 >> to have that go forward and be placed onto the ballot. Now. The vote likely would be bipartisan. But if you think about it in those terms. Just on how the makeup and how the split is,
009they need to have two-thirds and there are 100 legislators. So they have to have two-thirds to get something on to the ballot. >> The governor. I don't leave yet. Has publicly stated where he is on that. >> There are a lot of discussions that there are other people. >> Other stakeholders that would like to see that money go into into their programs, not for it all to go into education. So there will be a lot of debate. >> All right. Thank you, Amy. I have 2 quick questions. There were 2, maybe we're going to get to this next. But there were at the moment, at least as my notes show 2 different bills that board directors had asked about at one time or another. The first being Senate Bill 68. This is the student testing
010bill. My memory from last time we spoke is it has not really been discussed thoroughly. They're still not a lot of information as to what is going on with that bill. And then the second is the ask from Director Johnson House Bill 1054. Related to protections for workers safety. So if we could just get a quick update as to where we are with those and then all kick it to the board for questions. One final time. >> You're so we'll start with House Bill 1058. worker protections that Bill. Does not impact local governments for school districts so will have no impact to the district. Okay. On Senate Bill. 68. Superintendent Kyle was highly engaged and involved in this bill over the weekend working with committee members, particularly Senator Cider, who, as you know, take your
011lunch appear at the Capitol. He has a new member on Education committee. This was was a whole new topics for him. super technical. Did a really, really good job talking through the bill, talking him through how? There was an amendment that rewrote the bill totally rewrote the bill and how even that amendment. Dan. Didn't address the issues in the end. Superintendent goals talking points were distributed to a number of committee members and they were used by committee members. We also I also planted questions with committee members ask specific people who testified Superintendent Paul was unavailable. But his influence was was certainly felt. Unfortunately, the bill did pass out of committee it's very unfortunate that it passed out committee. It does have a fiscal note attached to it. So it may. Be defeated in Appropriations Committee.
012The governor as well. Does not like the bill does not support the bill and has. Openly and publicly signaled that as well. >> I haven't looked at the recent text of the Bill Post amendments. Do you have any ability to just summarize what that might mean for us from a local governance standpoint? Because the last time I looked at the bill, my notes were it says to minimize testing, but keep things in some reasonable amount which is like, okay, how do you operational as that? What possible guiding constraints you have. Is that still more or less where this bill, as I like, do you have any information as to how Need to think about preparing for it? >> So the bill was changed to be to put together a task force. educators and other other
013members, other stakeholders. To look at testing and the amount of time testing is taking K 8. I'm not K. 3rd grade through 8th grade. And it it is. It is a task force. That's what it is. It also says that the Department of Education is is to. >> Run that task force under current obligation under current funding. So they're not allowed to. >> Asked or received are not allowed to receive funding to run this task force. The direct implication to the district right now is is nothing. We have to wait and see what the recommendations are that come out of >> The task force would like superintendent called he anything to add. >> Yeah, I appreciate the time out would particularly too have some influence on legislation. The district's stands by the challenge we have
014with the bill is it really underlines and undermines. But just call accountability for how districts perform. I know that testing is a is a time taker for many of our buildings and many of our classrooms. But least original bill and really what I believe the intent of the bill is to undermine the actual measure which is see mask of how we actually compare students across districts across schools and across the state for one parent to be able to make choices. And 2 for you as a board to make sure that we're allocating our dollars to where we know that they're needed the most. If it were to go to a task force said certainly asking us at wood if I can be recommended to be on that task force, there are other things that the
015state can adopt. The state can go to nearly every school district runs an interim assessment. >> Where you do beginning of your major and end of your data to see whether or not the strategies you are using work. And right now, the ultimate summit of test is the sea mouse. If the state were to adopt a common platform for assessments across all schools that we all and many states to this. They use W is their standard. We would then at least have an apples to apples comparison that would allow us to know what's happening in our schools every day. The fear here is if you ask us to self report, every district will be the best district in the state. So if you just leave this to each district to answer, how are things going?
016We will come around the table and we will share with you all the great things are happening and the kids that are currently left behind in school systems will be further left behind because will be no forcing function. So there is a middle ground there, which is if you want to get rid of the state test and I think you have and a mandate standardize assessment with some ground rules there. And I think that sounds harder to do because most of us as educators certainly fall in love with our curricular choices in our assessment choices over time. that would be my summary. I appreciate the time. Amy, you're the one with knowledge of Denver tempo. Is this a place where the board should consider at a later date weighing in? >> You know, with a
017remember the categories. Supports monitor. Is this a bill that would be helpful to do that with or is the timing does not? Does that not really supportive? >> I think that is a really good question. I think. Wanting to stay in the game. And in conversation. >> Staying in a monitor position with 2 bill keeps s. Keeps in the game where we can. We can continue to talk with the sponsors and the proponents of the bill. If we were to take. Saying oppose position. We wouldn't nobody would talk to us. So I would recommend we monitor. >> I see Director has a question. So director Thank you, Amy. Couple of questions and clarifying questions let's talk with the standardized testing. It's a task force. The right now task force right? In a thing where something
018has being concretely proposed all posing as a task force. That's going to look at the radius options and then. Come back with that accommodation. Correct? Okay. And that may take about a year or so. For that. Yes course. Yes. So not seeing anything. So what do we support being a posting in this case all day and asking for the second task force to be a point that the study this and I would. Second superintendent calls statement out there that if we can get him or somebody else from our district on ask force. So we have a Weis and there. Okay. They think your question of what would be what we need be supporting or opposing. >> The legislative declaration and the bill is White. Lays the groundwork for the intent of the bill. I I
019would say that that is not something that Superintendent Paul for the board. Really supports is how it was Is that assessments take too But if we if we want to try to have Superintendent Cole said on me Task Force. We probably take exception. It's good feedback to have >> you said that that is a fiscal note attached to bill. >> But there was it was taken away with the amendment. So no fiscal note. Thank you. The other bill that we talked about, the deeper bill. Game revenue in excess of paper is just for this year are second in perpetuity. >> It's a ballot measure that would be in perpetuity. Oak. That's all ahead. Thank you. >> So board, I think this would be my suggestion. And Amy, you can feel free to tell me that
020this is a bad suggestion because you're the one who knows the stuff. But my suggestion would be we're not meeting next week because their spring break. Our next meeting will be on April. 1st, I have to double check if we're considering having a legislative update that. Meeting or not. But I I would ask the board to just keep an eye to the extent that time and interest allow on this bill and at some later date, I may ask for you to kind of have a judgment call as to what opinion you have on the bill. It may be Prudential wise to just stay in the region of monitor. But there may come a time where, you know, the board leveraging our opinion is helpful. So I'm not going to ask you do that tonight. But
021I would say keep an eye on the text of the bill again as time and interest allow. And if in the opinion of our lobbyist weighing in and some formal ways useful at a later time. I may ask you to do that. But at this moment will. Lobbyist advice stay as monitor. And we'll hear about more developments as they come. >> Okay. And I would suggest that team for the tape or built from polls, 68 and the taper bill. There's a lot. Going on with that Tabor bill and I would say what our time fine. We still have you know, we're only halfway so. >> Another 2 weeks or 4 weeks to take positions as fun. Anything else from the board? >> All right. Thanks, team. Thanks, Amy. We do have one action item on
022the agenda tonight. That is the charter renewal application from see the charter school director Jorgensen. Can you please make the Motion for Action Item E one? Yeah. Some of the Board of Education approves resolution. 2026, Dash 28 Charter school Renewal application for a 5 year contract term starting July. First 2026 second. Moved and seconded. This is we we saw this for non action earlier. Superintendent called you have any additional information for the board at this time. We do not. With that. I will turn it over to Dr Comfort in case he in the see the team have anything to share. Y'all and by see the team to join Sorry for the quick. >> side note my daughter was watching the board meeting just now and that I should try to get on the committee so
023that she can join me at the Capitol. She's very interested in politics. A superintendent we might need to arm wrestle for who gets to sit on the committee or you can take my daughter either way, OK, I did want to see the teams here for action. There were a few questions related to some of our scores. Last week's I wanted to provide some clarification for the board. The operating Reserve ratio, as the board noted, was labeled as a 2. That was a member of my team who does not believe in rounding. And so it was a 2.8 6 brought it down to a 2. We have sent fix that and brought it up to a 3 which would align with past practice. So not an area that we have any concern in in terms of
024the annual net income. That score is accurate. They have been and I'm sure and you can speak to this. They did a pretty large auditorium remodel. And so the use some existing cash. Annual net income is the one that's accurate. I'm sure. And you can speak any clarifying questions. It's not something we're worried about that they didn't use quite a bit of cash or not to remodel. And then the contractual obligations listed as a 2. That's really about submission timelines. It if there is some submissions that are a bit delayed, we do know that in March that in the APR again, not something we're worried about, but just wanted to clarify those data points for the board and then that we have no other additional information. So I turned over to the board for any
025questions. Questions from the board. Director Mel talking. >> So if we can pull up that 2025, out. P. And I'm going to. I think you want have my question. So you are going to answer the question to regarding the school. Thank you. >> Yes, As to convert a noted, first one of operating ratio that was a change from the 2 to 3. And then the one for the end income does reflect the $300,000 that withdrew from our reserves to be able to to Earth. You remodel. that's what sort of for And then for the contractual obligations actually subcategories of that visit document cover documentation with yellow and students. We're working with district representatives right now to make sure that we make those adjustments for next year and we do a better job. >> Thank you.
026Thank you for that clarity. Seeing no further questions. Olsen roll call, please. >> I. The ayes. Have it. Congrats. That brings us to the end of our special meeting for tonight as a reminder to the public, my intention is to give the board a 20 minute break to reset dinner because some of us have been we've been going since 4 o'clock. >> So if there are no objections. We will adjourn at 5.22 And I will kick us off and work session at 5.45 See shortly, folks. ♪