Regular Board Meeting - January 7, 2026

001♪ >> Go out. to get that say the natural beauty some certain. Real quick. Let me introduce you to Thanks Spencer from Spencer. Qualifies for Nationals as well, which now And guys are going get rain only starter kind meant >> And who is our sleep? some are going be She's struggling right to I he was just permitted council member. just heard what we call it you see I do. It's ours and passing the It's sins. thanks So miss it. And then something to That's so excited come into was 60 seconds. you that you responding to so, think it worth at as The is not So keeping like about thought >> Just >> are as a nation where a 76 to order 04:46PM. roll call, please. >> Director Johnson here directed present director Mel here here.

002>> All 7 board members in attendance. Please join me as we observe a moment of silence. Director Johnson. Can you please make the motion to adopt the agenda? >> I move that the board of Education TOPS agenda as presented second. >> Moved and seconded missile son roll. Call, please. >> Director Baca Bartlett. Director Kari, I director Hay flee. Director Johnson, director Jorgensen. I director Pack them. rule I. >> The ayes have it. The agenda has been adopted. We do have executive session for approximately 30 minutes. My intention is to try to wrap it up by about 5.15, so that for directors have time to grab a quick bite to eat. Before we start the regular meeting at Five-thirty. Director Mel Packing. Can you please make the motion to move into executive session? >> I move

003that the Board of Education can be into takes a decision to discuss negotiations bercy out as 24 dash 6. >> Photo full the particulate matter. Employee compensation. Moved and seconded missiles and roll call, please. >> Director Baca Bartlett. I Director Kari, I director Hay flee. Director Johnson. Director Jorgensen I director Mel package. I rule I. >> The ayes have We will convene into executive session. So we'll see you all down stairs director hopefully will will get the tax set up down there and we'll be back around 5.30 ♪ >> all right. We will resume in public session. Welcome everyone. Happy New Year. Earlier afternoon, the board adopted the agenda as presented. We have returned from executive session. There is no need to modify the agenda at this time. Before we begin, I would like to

004take a moment to acknowledge and thank the fest on students. Participants from Jenkins, Middle School and from Dority Mitchell Palmer and Coronado. High Schools for their prey. Live performance this evening. We also extend our appreciation to their directors. Apologize. If I say any of the names are on your. Marin. Graham Anneliese show ski Lind Goodwin with Tree. Kurt Bunch and Midge Gladwell for their leadership and support of the students. Thank you all very much. We do have City Council member Nancy Hendrum in attendance. Would you like to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance and Allegiance? >> is and United States and for stands. One nation God, indivisible, liberty and justice for >> And January is school board recognition month, but it feels very uncomfortable to have to talk through this myself. So I'm going

005to turn it over to Superintendent Paul. Nancy, it's great to have you here representing District 5 right in the heart of Colorado Springs District. 11. It would be a great honor for you to read the proclamation and honoring our school for this evening. So over to you. Thank you very much. >> the as property I want sure you know. 11:00AM have 34 years. if I had my husband was a teacher district 11 in District 11 Palmer High School in the year west. >> For his entire career and both of my kids graduated from Palmer, High School and went to 11 schools. So proud member. I also want to say thank you, Dr Carey, President Kerry, I want to congratulate Liam Bartlett for your election come to the board to Charles Johnson and to Michelle So

006welcome. And congratulations. So with that, I will read the proclamation. Colorado Springs School District, 11 School Board Appreciation Month. Whereas school boards create a vision for what students know and are able to do. And whereas school boards establish clear standards for student performance and ensure that student assessments are tied to establish standards and whereas school boards aligned the school district resources to ensure that students meet the standards whereas school boards create a climate that supports the velocity that all children can learn at high levels and whereas school boards are committed to continuous education and training on issues related to student achievement. And whereas the board has been providing quality education to Colorado Springs School District Children for 150 years. Wow. And whereas the city of Colorado Springs in Colorado Springs School District 11 have a

007collaborative relationship built on trust and teamwork to make the community a better place for all now, therefore, I Lynette Crow Anderson, president of the Colorado Springs City Council do hereby proclaim the month of January as Colorado Springs School District, 11 School Board Appreciation Month. So there you go. Thank you very much for all of your service. And I would like to just ad just a personal invitation to this proclamation that that note of collaboration. I am happy to meet with any board member at any time about issues. We are all serving the same residents of Colorado Springs and we have the same interests in mind. And when I was first elected, I met regularly with the board president and we were working on collaboration and I'd be happy to continue that Thank you very much

008and congratulations. Thank you for your work. >> Thank you very much, Nancy. That brings us to awards and recognitions Superintendent Paul. Okay. We have a couple of groups of students that we're going to acknowledge this evening. And so I think we're going to bring in our unified bowling teams. First. >> John, if you want to help direct traffic, they're great. And Melissa, over to you to read our accolades. >> Doherty in Coronado. High School Unified bowling teams. Tonight, we are pleased to recognize the unified bowling teams from both Doherty High School in Coronado High School for their outstanding seasons and exceptional sportsmanship. already high school unified bowling team had another remarkable year finishing second in league play qualifying for the state championship for the 3rd consecutive year where they placed 11th overall team members demonstrated

009strong leadership steady improvement and a commitment to supporting one. Another. Also bringing great energy positivity and sportsmanship to every competition, their teamwork and enthusiasm truly exemplify the spirit of unified sports this season also marked a milestone for the Coronado High School Unified Bowling team which qualify for the state championship for the first time after earning 3rd place at regionals at state. The team play 6 out of 29 teams, an impressive accomplishment and a testament to their hard work dedication and grow throughout the season. Both teams represent their schools with pride and serve as outstanding examples of inclusion, teamwork and perseverance. We congratulate the student athletes and their coaches on an exceptional season and look forward to seeing what they achieve in the year ahead. >> you laws for you. microphone in a couple of our

010students described their experience. So please tell us who you are and what unified bowling is meant to you. >> Hello, my name is they're unified, bowling so much to me. It's so fun to see the kids with big spot smiles on their faces and just having fun, help them all out. >> Hi, I'm Ali Kadri and I liked. Doing well because it. Got to get a lot of strikes. K. >> About already team. >> So I'm DJ and I was very excited unify Bowling. To see all my friends from the school and have fun. >> That's awesome. Congratulations to all our bowlers. What was our highs for on the court? How team? A high score. For for the team. 5.75? That's amazing. Yeah. That's off 6 place in the state. >> So thanks to everybody.

011>> Thanks to all our staff members and all the parents to support our unified dollars. That's give them big role right back out down the hallway right here. >> And right thanks. >> Congratulations. Isolationist. >> That's >> kind a Colorado thespian convention Worth S con is Colorado's leading leading educational theater conference, bringing together middle and high school students for weekend performances. Workshops and networking opportunities. A weekend filled with active theater workshops designed especially for high school students and chaperones self-select events to attend during the 9 workshops and individual event. Espy's Sessions high school theater in Colorado supports the 5th largest economic industry in the state. The creative sector students can participate in individual event. Service fees apply to be a student leader through the state Thespian officer program. Addition for a number of colleges and

012universities and so much more students who receive a superior able to go on to the National desk on. >> A huge round of applause for all our that's sense. I'm going to ask Mister into of certainly and to make some comments just because I've had such a great opportunity to be engaged with your Mitchell. So you kind of give us overarching perspective of what this means and the will that the kids dropping out. >> So that's con I have a big state wide opportunity for students to be able to show what they do as well as growing their skills center spent a great deal of time coming up with. Thanks. Something to hand it over to Spencer. >> I am Spencer helped them. I'm a senior at Chardon High School and Thats on this element

013theater peas. And while doing this, I was on this security rating from both judges switches. also about it. After all, the Weise and years throughout high school that I for her spirit just finally being recognized for all of my effort, which is great and I qualified for the national level, which is also Casey as the only when I'm in school to that's what I was grateful for. And while I was there, I Tuchman works. Ups. And these for those unfamiliar are just different classes they take, which helps me skills and improv dancing just basically every aspect performing. Also, we travel with the school. And so I didn't know these people that I came with. But throughout this experience, I was able to get a lot closer with all these people and all of a friendship

014with just feel like more than they were before. So I definitely come out of this experience with a lot more lifelong friendships came in with. is also something very grateful for. And also throughout this experience, we were able to tough different colleges and I would I had audition for Coats. College scholarships lies there. For example, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York City. They reached out to me and asked them to beat them, went meet with them their table and they offered me up to $15,000 in scholarships. >> Exciting No opportunity that I looked the BT and I just yeah, I'm very grateful for being able to go and state stands. The world. ♪ >> Hi, my name is Katie Keller of 2, 2, 9, 5, 9 from Mitchell High School. And I would

015honored to represent Colorado Springs at the International Thespian Festival. Nationals is it's like the Super Bowl for theater kids. >> So we get to spend a whole week going to workshops getting hands-on experience, building real world skills and seen the best of the best performances, something. >> That's kind but bigger, better and old. Okay. We have this amazing opportunity. 2. We get to spend a whole week on a university campus where hundreds of colleges from around the country will be representing. And this is going to really help us with what we want to do after high school and we get to network with nationally recognized leaders in the best in community, real professionals and connect with like-minded peers. Additionally. We get to spend the whole week on the university campus. all. Fears about storytelling we

016really want to tell the story of Colorado Springs at the national level. So please consider us to compete for Got. >> So for big round of applause for all of that's contratista particularly for the staff. I know the tireless amount of >> work. It takes to be able to get children up in through their dreams. And so the standard that's been set by your peers last year, as you ask me now, are you going to pay for us to go to nationals and the answer when you all stand up here is, of course, the district is going to pay for you to go summer. >> A big round of applause and dramatically exit states right? >> There we go. Thanks, everybody. going takes a second. Everybody go. I'm just pausing to let traffic around a

017little bit. Rest assured we will return to our regularly scheduled board meeting in just a moment. >> All right. Our program spotlight for tonight is the we asked them campaign superintendent called taking away. >> It to the board community. I'm super excited to have Dr Jessica wisely in our engagement office to give us an update. We're just about 2 months into our relationship with. We asked them and for your social media folks out there. We Rd Llevan has been our initial campaign. It has been fun and has been refreshing. It's just been so wonderful to hear the focus on our students in the system once again as we get done, celebrating our students. The boardroom is nearly empty, which shows that people show up for kids. That's the work with. They want to see. Andy

018are wise to floor. Is yours. >> feel all evening. >> like to >> My name is Doctor. Jessica was and I and executive director of engagement. One of my one of my favorite authors, Jane Austin That the power to shape the story belongs to whoever holds the pen. So tonight I'm going to show you what happens when we give students the pin. play the video. ♪ Right now that you can clap. >> usually insist on turning down the lights and having a little bit more drama. that's >> For those of you, I who are playing all catch up in the fall. >> We contracted with a marketing company out of Halifax, Canada called We S them to work on marketing for school district. 11 to reclaim our narrative to tell our story from our own

019point of view and specifically from the point of view of the people who are in our schools, our students, our staff and people who have been in our schools, alumni. We want the community to understand how great it feels to be in District 11. How great it feels to be one of the wonderful students who just did appear before us all this evening, their stories don't get told enough. And so the objective of this campaign is to launch an elevate those stories as foreign loud and wind as we can. Typically in the marketing world. You're talking about a campaign, but we're really calling We R D Lab which is the name of this campaign of movement. And I'm gonna explain a little bit of what that means tonight and what you're going to see. The

0203 most important things are in front of you. This is district-wide storytelling. That is student-centered. But it's also D Levin Human-centered. It's built to create trust by being intentionally human and its digital and its community facing. So talk about a little bit of all those things as we go through. But I want to really underscore it. We are Dylan is really simple, right? It's not meant to be about slogans. It's meant to be a campaign that talks to you about how place feels not tells you what it is. So that's what we'll get into a little bit more this evening. So how is this campaign reaching families? We are has a 2 pronged approach. So we have our traditional dig digital marketing, which I can get into a little bit for all of you. If

021you're interested. So digital marketing were targeting who we're talking to. So that means that we're looking for students actually. So the biggest compliment has been that I've had students say, who's watching HBO and I saw a school district Yeah, because we're trying to get to. You were trying to tell you that district 11 is a great place to be right. young families, new families, people in our district, people outside of her district. there's an ability to reach all of those different communities. We're using video more so than static ads because again, we want to communicate culture and confidence in a place and you can't just do that through a static picture. A static picture feels forced and framed a video. Tell you about an experience and we're doing that a lot. As I just mentioned,

022on HBO TT streaming in some pretty unusual places. And if you're unfamiliar TT, that just means streaming. All right. So but we're not doing streaming in all you know, on Koaa necessarily. We're doing it on HBO. We're doing it through Netflix. We're doing it on YouTube are doing it on discord, places where kids and young parents are because that's where they're going to hear about this and interact with that and be surprised. Well, there's actually pretty cool school district ad or a cool person. I could go to school speaking to me and saying great things about District 11. listen for just a second. So that's where we are so that your traditional marketing platform and that's one of the branches of what we're doing with us. The other big branch is organic social media movement.

023And so this is where it starts become less just a traditional marketing campaign and more movement that's based on student voices because when you get on to social media on Instagram and TikTok, that's when you can have people really authentically speaking about their experiences and telling their stories. That takes on its own organic movement as people share as people like is people comment as people repost in different places and suddenly your video is reaching some young person on the other side of the city that they never expected to see it. And it's believable because it's true because the things that we're putting up on social media are not scripted. We asked questions and I want to get your mic and not just giving a blank a microphone to somebody. We ask questions. But students tell

024us what they think. Teachers tell us what they feel and our community deserves to hear that. And that builds credibility and Pratt. It doesn't just stop there, though. >> And oh, no, my flight got weird. so I'll explain it. Instead of just looking at I don't know the the its case. My foot problem. So after. You see an ad, Oliver ads linked back to a single landing page. Www DOT We R D Lab in Dot org. You could go to now if you wanted to and what you're going to find is not typical Web page that just tells you things because again, we're getting out of the business of we're just telling you how to feel and what to think and we're going to invite you to explore. So you go to this landing page.

025You tell us a little bit about yourself your where you live because that might impact your school choice. But then it's going to ask you a series of questions. What level of school are you interested What type of learning experience are you interested in what kind of extracurricular activities are you interested in? Those are all the different kinds of things that might go into a of your school choice. And so then it will pop out a few suggestions and then invite you to submit an interest form and all of those forms and all of these ticks go to our enrollment department. So we're actually seeing us a hefty amount of clicks from these ads and we'll get into the numbers in just a second. So it's not just a feeling it's people are clicking and

026saying right find out more. And then we're giving them a direct avenue to find out more right and ability to follow up with them and say your interest in school district 11. Let's talk to you about that today. Sorry. This is the my site of gun. A little bit weird for some reason. So I'm just going to talk you through it. Just bear with me. They'll be online this is a comparison on the left side is our standard traditional marketing company and how performed for an entire year. On the right side is that we are campaign and how to perform for 2 months. And unfortunately, the thing that's also really messed up there at the bottom that I can just tell you is that within 2 months it has gotten to 83% of the performance

027of an entire year's worth of what we've done traditionally, it means in 2 months it's almost already caught up with a year's worth of what we've traditionally done as far as clicks impressions views. The biggest thing to look at is 103,000 landing Page clicks and the traditional over a whole year versus in 2 months. We have 123,000 and this new campaign. Pretty significantly. We're closing the gap and we're really excited for this. Could go. And I want to attribute that not too fancy. A new company that's gotten new set of tools and a new set of metrics. What I can attribute that to is the authenticity with which we're telling our story. The fact that we're we are allowing our students and our teachers to speak for themselves and that matters to people. Again, they're

028not being told what to think. They're not just being given a fancy slogan. le talkin people. We have a lot of really, really great people doing really great things. And that is working. And so why should we not do more that? Just to give you an idea and that these are not play playable videos. So just screenshots because I need you all go follow. So if you are fo listening, you're going to follow at We R D lab in on Instagram and TikTok and you'll and YouTube and you'll be able to see these for yourself. These are 3 of our most popular recent videos. The one on the far left is the most popular video I think on Instagram and had almost 4,000 likes at this point, which is incredibly significant for us. it's the

029students at Madison receiving their pick speaking night away, gifts. But think also tells a really powerful story about how when we highlight our community coming together. That also magnifies the the feelings and positivity of what we're doing in our schools and the middle as Miss Bowers, a teacher Doherty High School. This is an incredibly high performing posted as you can see there. She's just saying I teach you how to believe in yourself. And she's just talking about the excellent math teacher that she is. If I was a parent, what I love to see more than a math teacher who so compelling and so kind and I love to put my child in that classroom right. And then on the far right, it's Mitchell Robotics and engineering students talking about their awesome experience that they've been

030gifted to compete in different ways from there. There classes that Mitchell and how how it's teaching them and how much how excited they are to learn again. What a great thing to be a part And we're just lucky to have so many great people in our system. The other thing you're going to be seeing a lot more of if you start following, as we've also learned that just reminding people that schools are really fun, great places to be is awesome. So our team, Dana started a series of random. Pick it back up again, District 11 in the halls where they just pop up at a school and ask kids a bunch of random questions. Again, this isn't about performance and saying like how? How great or your mask corps or how much do you love

031your school? This one is my my assistant. Emily asking Holmes Middle school kids to identify 80's icons and boy, did they struggle? And it's really entertaining. But also just, you know, you want to go be part of that environment. Again, we can't say enough better kids are great. So you're going to be seeing a lot more to of that. Authentic. Let's just be in our schools and talk about what it's like to be in our schools. And with that. I've done a lot of talking student voices are most impactful and how they tell the story best. So I'm going to welcome a couple of our famous students up to the podium. I've got he's little and Noah who are both so kind as to be in one of these. We R D lab in videos

032talking about choice enrollment windows and someone asked him to say a few words about their experience. We'll start with Hazel. Okay. Count on Hello. I don't know where to so just couple of things with just. School and stuff. Is that Just north in general like? Sometimes adults. Forget how to be cut sometimes. So they don't quite understand. Different. Different students eat kind of like different things which staff is doing really good at and 11 and my school. >> And they figure out like different students qualities or like something the struggling with and they try to help them as much as they're able to I thought find really helpful. So that's really cool. So my experience and my school in north I am and 6 and my experience to yeah, sorry. My experience of the student

033is overall very positive every student and staff there was very fearful and if are down in dumps are in the blood that day, they will. Most likely cheer you up and help you as much as possible us what's going on? See if they help her fix it. And that helps. And I I am a very artistic person. So sketch a lot. So it's it helps me a lot. teachers. Kind of let me doodle listening. And yeah, that's really cool. I think there should be more clubs like that. Like. Kind of. If it's music or something else that a student can. Kind like put their feelings out into its a thing and words of that's typical for them. And I think I would really cool if people made a club for that or kind of just

034anything for any student so they can talk without exactly. Speaking in words. I would just hope for that. And yes, schools schools really good and I wake up every day wanting to go. You know, the homework is. The ripple. I like it. And the well. Yeah. And the is really I think I did pretty good. I think no, I did as well. I think that like. Kind of working together with a different student from a different school shows the the sense of community and 11 and just how easily or yet just how easily it is to just connect with one one. But another and. That's really cool. And with the media team as well, it's very cool to notice what they do their daily life. What day and I really look up to them because

035it takes a lot of work to first off, get the media and at it and that background music and yeah, it's really cool. I just think whoever. Makes club does whatever the school, you guys I really think that people if kind of like a witch box. Kind though, feel like he really wished this club existed or I could do this at school and that would come true. And I feel like that would help a lot and Roland, it's so. Yeah, schools are great overall and 11 once again, very positive and yeah, very safe. I feel very safe. Except for the homework. Something different. I am no. When I made the video at first I was nervous, but I was proud to represent my school and share video. Student choice. Something I would like to let.

036I don't understand about being a student in the live in school is. I like my school and I feel connected to it. And I want I don't to know how homes and a school is a good It'll have to see. school you got to know posted Thank you. And there's a lot of a lot of voices to hear. There's a lot more to come and we hope you all well, listen and follow and be part of the movement. And if you have any questions, I'm happy to answer them. >> All right. Any questions or thoughts from the board? Can you describe a little bit the frequency? You know, some people feel you should post every 30 seconds and some people say less is more talk a little bit about with the community can expect to

037see from this campaign yet. >> We post 3 times a week Monday, Wednesdays and Their belief that we are operating under is otherwise you get fatigue. >> And nothing stands out and nothing will resonate. So if you get flooded with. video of a student every single day, they all start become the same every one of our students is individual and unique. And we want to really make sure that everyone has time with what comes out. >> I think the other obvious question is the board extended significant funds to be able to support this. How is this different from where you were 4 months ago when this was all on your shoulders as it by frequency years or buy quality by theme. Talk a little bit about the difference in how we measure that over time.

038>> 3 things. >> I'm probably going change that number's ago are different. The first biggest one is we've learned the benefit of having someone kind of. Had I say, give you a kick in the side and say Paul Dunne pull back as an outsider, sees very differently. Then you see yourself, right? And so we start to to get so granular to feel like we have to communicate the smallest, tiniest things that actually get lost in the larger community when really, as I've I've pontificate it on and repeated many times, you know, at this point. Just have to let our students and our programs and our teachers talk for themselves because that's where it lies. And so just having that kind of kick of, don't overthink it back up. Just allow your your work to show

039itself. Right? As we all say and math rate that that works. The second thing is. We have also been trying to overthink over control, targeted marketing. You know, we've done some of you have been on the board when we've done regional campaigns like the Northeast campaign, our Westside campaign. >> And we're trying to get >> It's been a lot of money in one place for one strategy, right? So it might just be a mailer or it might just be a digital campaign to this. One said a group of people and we hope that's going make a change with this campaign has highlighted is that it really needs to be a fluid, multi pronged approach. It can't just be marketing. It needs to be something that is organic income move as well. And that's why the

040social media has been impactful but also that just we need to be flexible to find materials that work and pivot that way can instead of saying kind of stuck and our ways into one strategy. So I think 2025 makes that much more possible. And we just need catch up a little bit to 2025 but stresses. Thank Another question from the board. >> Directors or consent? >> we when I talk to older folks who kids are grown and gone, the graduates there, you know, empty nesters. And then we see you guys just need to bring back shop. it's, you know, it's easy for us to say we have one of the best CTE programs in the state and people don't know that. So I heard you mention that we're targeting young families and families of ages

041of our customers, right, that we want to, you know, Lenox Ph D 11 as far as student attendance. But we also trying to target a little bit to the aging community that haven't been in schools in a while that maybe don't know all the cool things that we've brought back or enhanced. Our pathways are. Is that part of this campaign? >> So I would not say that that community is one. That's part of this campaign. I think a potential future opportunity. But this is really targeted. One. Its an enrollment strategy in part. So we really want to be talking to young families and students who are helping make those decisions 2, I think word of mouth works in lots of ways. So even if we're not talking to them directly or targeting them through these

042methods. People see things. They say things they share things. And so what matters most is to me right now is that we're putting it out there because we hadn't so, you know, we we just we had the Coronado Robotics team in our office the other day. Coronado has PR team for a lot of different groups, right? And so the Coronado Robotics PR team was going to take it over and do their own video telling their own story about that. And so I imagine that potential for a lot of our CTE programs, but I would love for them to come to student voice, trying to talk to their peers because that's the thing that we have seen has been most electric. So that's really what we're targeting. Ok? Interesting approach. patient. Director, Mel back and hi,

043Welcome. Welcome Back. Happy New Year. couple of questions just for kind of peace. A cop. >> So all this campaign will mental sport to get that by piya stem. It's not extra book for you in your pocket. We are working in collaboration. Yeah. That contact us form that that put 3 months. >> The contract, they're going to continue their work until the end of June. >> What can be expected in the coming months from we us to. From now through June. Yes. >> So you'll see more and more of this and the other thing that is going to be coming up is we're going to be launching a social media contest with schools. So again, trying to encourage and promote students to step up and tell their own stories. So we'll have students submit their

044own videos to the We are deal of and website well that that they're actually students because I know that's a problem. So they'll have to submit from 11 email. So we know that there actually enrolled and an actual student, not a Romanian bought or something like that. and we will be giving out prizes for the most popular videos, the school with the most number of submissions. Things like that trying to drum up excitement for students about their district and the fact that they are part of district 11. And so that's another big thing you'll see. But otherwise just keep following along on the social media hop on Spotify or Hulu or Look for some of our ads as they come up. >> I'm glad that you clarified. that slight came up. That will be key

045streaming service site for us tonight. Heavy entered into a partnership with our previous book addict. that's not the case. All right. Get Thank you. >> All right, seeing no further comments from the board. We're going to move right along to our superintendents report Superintendent, all OK, great. I got 17 minutes to be done within my first hour. And so we'll move right along. I'm super excited to welcome 2 new leaders to the first adjuster. Come here. Stand on up. Come forward. Tell everybody who you are, where you're working. Sounds great. My name is Jeff Stir. I am. I think today completed 18th workday at goal middle school, proud to be lot of work to be done already feeling some momentum overall is that district just energizing like there's a lot of positive flow and enjoyed

046being a part of district 11, Mr. Cole, thank you for taking a chance on Board of Education. Thank you for the work that you do for this district and for the students and staff members here and 11. Happy to be here. Thanks, Jeff. And Karin Gorst. Please come on for our new principal Taylor. >> Good evening. Thank you so much for having me. I am so happy to be here in joining the DEA. 11 team and the Taylor So thank you for the opportunity and thank you, Mr. Galvis Sky. And I'd like to think the interview team at Taylor. What a fantastic team and community and I am just proud to join and the movement is working because I've lived in Colorado Springs for 25 years. And the last several years, I have heard a

047lot of things about the 11 exciting and I that is what you may hear. They want to join the work that is student focused and it is. It's exciting. So thank you for that to West. We're so happy to have you. Thanks. I don't think Sarah is here, but I wanted to acknowledge. >> That Sarah Carlson leads early Education Department. She's are director of early education. She won the public school board by the arc downtown. And we just really want to know have the largest Universal Pre K program in Paso County. And we're the 3rd largest system. So even though D 49 in the 20 are larger than us. We have the largest universal Pre-K program and we are over. 1000 students now served by Universal Pre K in all. But 2 of our elementary

048schools and those 2 are actually capacity limited. So as the board considers capital investments in the future, we have families are ready for this 8 seats. We just need to build them. So thank you to Sarah and her work for what's happening for Pre-K. And just so proud of that acknowledgement that you received. Secondly, I'm going to principal and executive director Nathan Gorst to come forward and let him talk a little bit about the award that he and his team are recognized for. has been December. Yeah, thank you for the opportunity. We were able to be honored and I met many of you board members at the cause become France. >> But we received the Innovation Award from the organization which we're very excited about as a brand new school. We still an experiment. We're

049still trying to figure things out. And so to have that innovation recognize and the and the chance that we're taking to do new educational strategies with our students was was exciting to have that recognized. And yeah, you can see some of our students that were there to receive that award. Can just give a brief summary of each of those students because they're also remarkable. Yeah. Joe Longo says on the left, he's a sophomore came to us from Mitchell High School and really funny young man. He calls me professor every I call him professor back the middle is is he a mere Nowitzki who came to us from Lewis Palmer, High School and she wants to build things she someday wants to have a career as construction or design or building things and on the right

050is Micah who came from and middle school in as a freshman. And he's like, I don't know what I want to do, but it's something with computers and where I'm gonna make a lot of money. And so those are the 3 students that came to represent Thank you so much. And just as you stand up there, uccs at their board of Regents meeting in November and chance or so been a. >> Called out the relationship between Uccs and District 11 and the cybersecurity center large on this new model for CS St. And so it just is there's no irony lost on me that literally a year ago we're fighting people for the idea of a school that's now been recognized by the SIU Board of Regents as well as bike as before its innovation and

051what it's doing to provide new learning opportunities for students across all Colors Springs. Thank Thank you. Okay. I'm going to give just a teaser on mid-year data. We will have a full brief to the board and the work session in 2 weeks. But I want to give a teaser to both the board and to the community really about it's not a mid-year data updated some of your strategy update that is supported by the data. We continue to grow. I know that when people look at these numbers, they are still not where we need them to be, but we have to be moving forward in order for us to get to the goals that we want to. And we continue to make steady progress along the way. And that progress is getting hyper specific by the

052strategies that we bring to bear. You can see across the top out in 2 points in the L a and 4 points in math at mid-year. More specifically, if you look towards the bottom, our schools in general are winning the battle now at the LA where we have more schools over the 50 mark, which is our kind of our benchmark. were school MVP should be. We're still Strug struggling a little bit in math, but we've added more schools to the outpacing category. Then we had this time last year. So again, not completely where we want to be, but moving with city direction. only 55 instructional days until the spring testing window opens. There just is not enough time in the system. And so as the board is thinking about those priorities, I was pointing at

053the the poster that's not there anymore. That talks about student achievement. Please, please, please challenge us to consider time as a resource because there's just not enough time in the system, particularly for kids and students and schools that are in the 30 percentiles 4 other performance level. More specifically. I want to talk about some of the strategies. I appreciate board members who are at or lead meeting this week. We're we talked to our principles. This is not anything new you saw before, but because your new board members might be great to hear it again to help it sink in a little bit. I would say probably our greatest success that we've had this year. He's been the build-out of our model classrooms. You heard it earlier this evening. How do we take what we know

054is working and find a way to bring it to scale in a way that can be kind of spun out an accelerated. The model classroom has been great. The opportunity for teachers to coach teachers and to be led by their peer group to both professional development and by demonstration. We'll sit you walk into the room and say actually your kids to look a lot like my kids has really been able to accelerate the things that we've seen. And you can see this statistic at the bottom there that some folks that gp's in the 30's last year are now well above the 50's in the 70's 80's and beyond the direct coaching that's happening for teachers that has traditionally been a principal's responsibility. And in the House responsibility, District 11 believe so strong that every student

055gets access to high quality instruction that we have completely restructured our academic office to deliver that specific coaching in partnership with what's happening in the school, which means that no teacher should go a day without coaching when they raise their hand. If they need help. There are 2 examples there. You can see that a brand new teaching second grade teacher able to move their mgp up with a really dramatic shift. And then even at a performance school and the bottom paragraph you can see coaching is just not for folks who haven't achieved. Everyone has an opportunity to get better as long as we can keep our eyes and ears and doors open to the new instructional strategies and supports that can be delivered. And so we continue to make that progress as well. The work

056of agency kind of comes and several parts. We have several schools that have been partnered with instructional empowerment. They are making great inroads and continue to be leading the district. Most of our model classrooms have sat in that tier of schools that are in their 3rd year of that partnership. And this year we launched an advance agency cohort. Were we invited what we call early adopters any any educator who wanted to be a part and learn more about how they can bring their cross classroom to life through these agency. Instructional strategies come together now in this small cohort and they are moving together again. You can see that their meeting in growth is already going well over 60 as well. What is great about that is it's a volunteer opportunity for teachers to be invested

057in the professional development that we see is actually making changes, which again gives us an accelerant when they go back to their school to say, guess what I did this week and let me show you how I think it could be helpful for both my classroom in yours. And then in a more specific spaces, you saw app numbers continue to struggle. We have put together a focus, mass support that we call mission Maf possible. I spent some time with that team yesterday. These are adult educators who have jumped into a space that says I need more to understand the math standards that I've been asked to teach. Not because I don't understand the standard at at the wave top, but for me to have the depth of knowledge to understand why, as I see Dr

058come for coming to the front row. Dr Comfort doesn't understand a standard high can go deeper to understand where that missile learning is spent. It's been remarkable to see again the growth that's happening for those teachers from their last year. Numbers. They're beginning of your numbers into their major numbers. I really appreciate the team for de designing these adult specific learning opportunities. We haven't our own team that says it would be wonderful if we can't tell the difference between an adult learning model and a student learning model. We can never believe that in our own profession that we have reached the top of our own ladder that we are constant adult learners. And if we can model that, I'm certain that our students will continue a lifetime of learning as well. A couple of quick

059updates on some of our major capital work that's happening. The work at Palmer is very exciting. You really have to take a drone view to see what's happening because most of it has been down in the pilings are all in all. 64 of them. The geothermal Wells, 14 of them were completed. This pictures are just a little bit dated some of the the concrete walls down below in that bit have also been poured. And we're literally just weeks away from steel superstructure going up and you'll actually see the rebirth of the main academic Queen Palmer. So super exciting for a one year from now reopening of that space. So appreciative of all the team and their efforts to do it. And super appreciative the flexibility of our students, our families and our staff to have

060been dislocated in the other parts of the building. But it's an exciting time to be a Palmer, especially in those interior windows. Get a bird's eye view of the construction that's happening and maybe a little too much noise during the work day. We're working on that. The Jenkins work is also coming along swimmingly. Most of these pictures of what you're seeing right now, what's happening inside remember, there were 2 primary builds that were happening. That Jenkins, which was a redesign of the media center that is moving along mostly internally. You can see that we're going to set a tour up for the board to go over and walk that space and then the external academic wing that has shifted over in the parking lot. That too, is now waiting on delivery of steel. And we

061should see that superstructure going pretty quickly. super exciting. You'll just see that before. And after on the left side, if Mr. G Koski. Still here. I saw him earlier, but he had asked me 3 years ago for new carpet. So he didn't realize the ATA, knockdown, half is building to get your carpet. But over the break, they re carpet at all the music rooms over there. So I appreciate the patience there. And you can drive. I'd already and see that we're almost done with the field House. Thanks again to Mr. Will Feng for his generous donation. That's 0 ask from our capital budget or from our taxpayers. That comes as a donation of a proud already graduate and that will be ready for occupancy at the end of January. And now I have an opportunity

062to introduce Ms Harris to come forward and Dr Comfort to talk a little bit about our teacher contracts because we aren't hiring season. Yeah, good evening board. We just wanted to give a quick update on teacher contract status as the superintendent mentioned. >> It's hard to believe, but in less than a month, we will be in hiring season. were Riordan ready for that historically in District 11 nonprofit, I'm sorry, probationary teachers have always sign the contract as well as teachers that are new to the district. We've extended that opportunity now to all districts, including on probationary teachers. We think that that's a great benefit. Every teacher in the district that's not uncommon. Across Colorado, teacher contracts are obviously a common practice. And then just as a quick reminder to the board, the district, this district

063are no other district can write a contract that does not align with the teacher employment compensation. That's still act tech to or CRS. 2, 2, 6, 3, 202. There is a law that dictates how we can write. Teacher contracts are contracts on one with that. Any questions on that last piece and others been some social media concerns about teacher contracts. >> So I asked the team to come forward just too remind everyone that's watching that we are doing exactly what every other school district does this time of the year. And we are following the laws as laid out by the state of Colorado. For questions on this last slide in particular. And that concludes my superintendent's report with 3 minutes to spare. So real quick, can you go back to any of the slides that

064MG face? This will come to the board work session in 2 weeks. So real quick, too quick points and then I'll open it up to the board for any questions for Superintendent Paul. Again, just because it's right, we talk about data. With some frequency, but lots of these things we don't always see. So just as a reminder to the public mgp stands on median growth percentile. The basic idea is a median growth percentile of 50 roughly represents gain of one grade level over the course of one year and number that is greater than 50 is thus making up ground, which is something that we certainly need to do. So these numbers are very encouraging. And then finally, the last thing I would remind the public of is. What you're seeing here. This focus on mentoring

065model classrooms coaching. This really represents a pretty dramatic shift in the way that we think about professional development. And the theory here being that the way you get good at teaching is not really different than the way you get good at. >> Chemistry. Middle school math. It's all about practice, which, you know, as teachers we do every day in the classroom rapid feedback loops. And so the shift and the prioritization of coaching to make sure that teachers have those feedback loops and have a place to go to, to get help and to get tips and to get ideas. Israeli number one, like I said, a dramatic shift what we've done in the past. And number 2. You know, this is this is tentative made your data. But I think it looks very promising. And I

066think it, you know, it's indicative that this is a good strategy and I'm optimistic that it will pay off. I can certainly attest as a teacher myself that I have learned much more for my own here, teachers that I have for many power point slide from any briefing. So. Thank you, Superintendent Paul. I like what I see here and with that, I will open it up to the board for any other questions for Superintendent. And again, they'll be a complete work session on in-depth data. >> Review 2 weeks from tonight. So if you want to me a broad level question, happy to answer. If you want to know what happened at School X, Y or Z, I say you'll see it on the 28th. Director Jorgensen. Yeah. Just a broad level comment emphasize director carries

067point president carries point. Anything that we can get over. 50 MVP is substantial. We've got teachers that are in the 20's and 30's mgp. That means those students are look are losing a year of learning. In our schools. And we have to address that before we can start talking about dressing proficiency. As far as that the grade level standard. So anything that we're seeing here, we're going to look at item down down the agenda here later tonight about helping with supporting And I'm all for that. All right. Seeing no further comments. We are going to move on to public comments missiles and do we have any public comments? >> Coming I do have some of the standard things to read before public comments as well as one thing. That is somewhat new. So before we

068get started, I would like to take a moment to remind participants of the board protocol for public comment. Each speaker will have 3 minutes to provide Timer will be displayed on the screen to assist you. Please monitor the time and conclude your remarks when your 3 minutes have expired. Board meetings are primarily business meetings intended for the orderly and efficient conduct of district business. Consistent with the board's priorities, the board values, community feedback and listens carefully to public comment as part of its commitment to trust and transparency. The clear expectation is that comments be delivered civilly professionally and courteously without personal attacks. Disparaging remarks or defamatory statements about district employees and to maintain appropriate professional decorum in the boardroom. This next paragraph is the is the new one I will say in advance. This has

069been vetted by legal counsel. As a reminder, the board's guidelines for public comments contained on our website prohibit comment on personnel matters further. There are legal restrictions on materials that the board may consider under the Colorado teacher, employment Compensation and dismissal act for an appeal of a teacher dismissal. The act prohibits the board from considering evidence or comments outside the administrative procedure to protect integrity of this process. We ask that you do not provide public comment on matters related to any teacher dismissal to take off just break from my script a little bit to just kind of restate that just in my own words. Because you might find yourself asking, OK, is this a place where, you know, the First Amendment and freedom of speech comes into play in conflicts? So strictly speaking. School boards

070are not required by law to have public comment at all. It is a common practice throughout the entire country and for very good reason. Like I said in the previous paragraph, this is an important feedback loop for us to hear from the public in 2. Maintain our commitment to trust and transparency. But public comment in the law is a limited public forum, which means that it is constitutionally appropriate for us to levy restrictions on what is said in public comment provided we are being viewpoint neutral and provided we are being reasonable. Some of restrictions that I said above personal tax, disparaging remarks, defamatory statements are examples of such and the request to not provide public comment on personnel matters are matters related to teach or dismissal. This is an ask because those comments do legitimately

071interfere with the operation of the board. And here is how they do so. We've sought referenced earlier with respect questions of teacher contract, right, that teachers have very robust legal protections in state law. This is not a policy of the district. This is something that the state of Colorado provides for all teachers and the legal counsel may not be happy with me doing this, but the basic protocol for tech to works like this when talent management and the superintendent have made some decision about a teacher, the board is notified. You know, the intention to dismiss, but the board has not provided with really any other information. And the reason is that. That question is then litigated by a 3rd party hearing. Officer. A new troll, kind of, you know, playing field where both sides are

072able to present their own arguments. The board then acts as sort of an up appellate court. Where are we acting as a neutral body? Rely on the findings of that hearing. Officer. So when we make deliberations about, you know, teacher personnel actions through tech to we are not getting briefed by staff. Staff are not in the room downstairs. There have been court actions. In fact, when there was a court case where superintendent staff were in the room downstairs and that was that was ruled to be problematic. And in violation of tech to. So we don't get, you know, specific briefings from staff because we are told by the state of Colorado to rely on the neutral findings of the hearing. Officer. That is the only place in which we are allowed to base our own

073deliberations. We have to rely on the findings of fact of that hearing. Officer and nothing else. And as a result, it is harmful to the operations of the board for us to be hearing public comment on matters where we are tasked by the state of Colorado to stay neutral and to make our decisions on a very specific procedure that is designed to protect teachers with that, I will finish my speech and I will stop talking and allow the public to talk. If you do is to show support for speaker. Please do so by standing while the speaker is speaking or by using silent applause. Lastly, statements made during public comments are those of the individual speaker and do not reflect the views of the district or the Board of Education. And like I said earlier,

074apologize in advance. If I'm mispronouncing names here, our first public comment is Marion Clawson. Good Evening. My name is Mary Lawson and I'm the parent of students in the district. currently surface to District Accountability Committee chair. I'm not speaking but the committee tonight I'm speaking as a concerned parent and community member who has invested deeply and the district for 10 years I've been told are always represented But that is not true. members to volunteer private individuals first, we do not represent the committee unless explicitly stated we are not an extension of the board. Granny the hired paid or no work for the board. The DAC reports to the board and provides advice feedback and input outlined in states that Trump Biden. >> For the past decade have supported the district by exercising my parental rights

075school choice. I chose 11. My family found a community here that understood our children and respect us as parents creates Pyron strong and collaborative partnership with our schools, teachers, administrators, and the district 5 years ago are expended my advocacy to the district level by joining the dock, a body to functions independently by collaborating with the district. Unfortunately, that is not longer reality and 11 has said year. I feel the pressure to make it work to scale back to remain silent the system changed. I watched as the board supported the district in taking control, dictating meeting format and structure under the banner of efficiency. As a result to Dak has become less community and parents that which is not the intent of the law, the Dhaka so formally color a quiet structure through which community stakeholders

076provide input and recommendations yet over time, meaningful collaboration has been replaced by a process where one side controls the narrative and the other is told to condense complex work unit Nest, talking points. Members who have spoken up have been treated with such disrespect that they have left the committee altogether. The issue is even bigger than the attack, the atmosphere and of 11 us wonder Frittelli Ation, not collaboration. If you speak up, they are consequences. The fear for a preview, steep and I cannot believe I'm standing. It's not afraid to speak my truth. This is not acceptable. People are leaving because of test. Toxic shift in culture, it's a culture that it made a real difference for my children and so many as it's being dismantled. The absence of district is eroding because leadership can only

077tolerate praise and unquestioning support for my children have new teachers every year. It sets them back academically. turnover rate is high and the impact on students undeniable. The pressure to produce measurable are comes a suffocating and it's not about student learning. As support. responsibility rests was hue. You direct not only want to work must be done, but how its speed and done. You said the guardrails, you will do a pretty accountable. Please better. Thank you for your time. Our next comment is from Michael Lacroix. My name is Michael Lacroix, a taxpayer in concert citizen of this district? >> First, I'd like to welcome the newly elected board members. You're joining a school board that recently oversaw the embezzlement of public funds for more than half a decade on material of stuff with segregated activities and

078blatant skin color based discrimination. It has been 61 years and 61 and a half years since the landmark civil rights legislation passed Congress. So it will be difficult to excuse. This is an oversight given the length of time it occurred and the egregious NIS of the material. The district has demonstrated the ability to identify exceeding the offensive material under Stuart of practices. The district will be unable to claim ignorance when the next restorative practices book inevitably boasts a push for discrimination and segregation. The way circle forward building a restored of school community. Does even restored of practice. Specialist experts in the field of restorative practices, brazenly coat the exceptional nature of circle Fort calling it a gift and excited to get this in the hands of teachers, students, parents and school boards. The book that

079states there is a white problem is a gift. The book that has multiple activities centered around segregation based on one's skin. Color is a gift. The book with 30 plus references to whiteness, white privilege and d colonizing a classroom described as a gift. One must assume that if the corners a cornerstone book first order practices praised by as a gift by restorative practices specialist implemented in this school district and are restored of practices that that book and bodies, what restored of practices does the Civil Rights act of 1964, make exceptions to skin color based discrimination and segregation activities. If the program descriptor sounds nice. Now it prohibits all of prohibit. That's an answer authorize, which is why it's in that moment. Even restored of practice. Experts aren't capable of not celebrating discriminatory rhetoric and segregated

080activities within their own textbooks. I hold little confidence that the school district which already failed identify this garbage previously is capable of preventing it in the future. Given the absolutely abysmal academic performance. They put up there seem district-wide rather than restoring Jim Crow styled discrimination and segregation back into the school district. You should instead restore arithmetic, reading, writing literature and maybe a little bit of critical thinking back into the school system. Stop wasting your time on the program you showed you aren't capable of controlling. Thank you. Our next public comment is Michael, did this. >> First want welcome. The board members I'd been I was out November for men. It not a chance to welcome you, but we're glad to have you. Basi appear on. contrast to say thank you to the board for things

081that you done for Mitch eyes. Quite a scene. We've just seen what you've done. But Durant dirty and would you dump a Palmer? The moneys that have been put into the school at I want to Superintendent God he was we I think in December 16th came up and we had a motivational speaker there that kind of, you did excellent job of that was the first sent back Senator Mexico. Doctor Anthony Thorton. Then we just did last 2 days. We just had a another motivational speaker, Tommy Dr. Mabry, and he spoke to teachers yesterday. He spoke to the students a day and I was there with Very tired. But I just want to, you know, say because it takes ponding and able to do that and it's motivating the teachers. doing a great things for the

082school, but on we also thank you for the I was worried about the P program that came in. But that's beans on successful from what I'm we're doing a lot better. Still, we still needs some polishing up, but we thank you. And we see the change in the motivation. me, I just want to thank district 11. contrast, whatever might be saying. I feel that you're doing the best you can what you have. But like I say, we can do better and I also want to ask and requests had, as you noted, know you're busy and I hadn't been here, but we're trying to get some X's that we have a soccer field, but events we can have of football field and hopefully get some emergency exit so we can have some night football games. The

083concession stands will bring stuff to the more funding that would you wouldn't have to do if we can get the football field and have the, you know, some night games possibly and so forth. But I just want to say thank you. Publicly also thanked my second They think Sarah Simpson bank robber back a list of where who's not here in NASA's because we're trying to work together what we're trying to do the best we can with his unity, this trip, the house about it when asked and so we got to try to work together, not against each other, but want to just say thank you. Thank you. With 30 seconds this bit. Thank you. Our next comment is from Sharon. Simpson >> Good evening. Superintendent called Dr Carrie and the rest of the board members.

084As a 57 year resident of District 11 and the line that ended 11 the Tyre. I appreciate the time to speak. First, congratulations to the new board members as many other voters. I am looking forward to the positive difference that you can make on this school board for the benefit of students. Our staff and the greater district, 11 community, the decisions that the board makes effect. This all the first orders of business that you undertook last month might have signaled the intention of returning members to, quote, not reach across the aisle and quote, to include as an officer, a qualified individual from the other slate of candidates. I sincerely hope that that wasn't him. Teen resolve to continue to play and fairly everyone. Everyone recognizes that the result of the election shows that people want

085you to work collaboratively instead of from the restrictive extreme. We cannot rectify what we don't acknowledge. We have a lot of sparkling bright points in this district, but there's also a negative undertone of fear such as can developing when certain staff members are singled out as examples for speaking up or for supporting collective bargaining or for not falling in line. One of the characteristics of a healthy workplace is being able to speak and act freely with respect, looming retaliatory action toward any individuals or groups is contrary to a healthy environment board policy states that retaliatory action won't be tolerated. But anyone watching has seen it happen at every level. This district will always have difficult work to do work. That is more easily accomplished in atmosphere of real support. Respect for divergent ideas and the

086recognition that you're dealing with regular folks with all of their complexities, not widgets and not a military regiment. I invite you all to do the good work of listening to each other and to the field and to the students, the community and to and to lead from a place where all the voices blend. Thank you. >> Our final public comment of the night is Vincent, who's sick? Good evening. My name is dense Cusack. In 1975. Graduate of Palmer. High School in 1995. Or returned to former high schools and English teacher. Right? until from 2001 to 2006, I was a literacy resource teacher standards coach in Parma. From 2006 to 2013 I was in this had been building as the literacy and language arts facilitator. From 2013 to 2018, I worked for CDF the reading writing

087communicating content specialist. I mentioned this resume to say that I have been committed to the literacy and language arts, education of our students for a very motivation. And speaking to my is to address to board policies. I J L a library media selection, adoption and reconsideration policy and policy. I ha instructional material selection and adoption and asking that the board continue its revision of policy. I J while recognizing that is was just adopted November 5th 2025. Policy. I J L the policy for library. Media is 800 and worked. 808 words long. And the policy an entire section is devoted to reconsideration of library media. The section charges, the superintendent or designee to develop regulations to ensure transparency and responsiveness for the reconsideration of library media. This section along U.S. 298 words in length as of

088today. No regulations are posted on the board's website. On the other hand, no attention to reconsideration is given and policy high today, the instructional materials policy, neither and its title norm, the body of the policy. Policy I ha has no section addressing the reconsideration of instructional materials. There's no mention of regulations nor is there a promise to develop a regulation for the reconsideration of instructional materials. Certainly the reconsideration process for instructional materials should be a strand parent and rigorous as that for library media. The link the policy. is a mere 140 minute words, half the length reconsideration section of the library policy. I urge the board to revised policy. I J to address the reconsideration of instructional materials and to provide regulations for a clear, transparent and responsive review before any decision is made to

089remove instructional materials from her classroom, book rooms and digital platforms. The regulation should provide for public input since the public plays a part in the adoption process of these materials. Thank you for your time and I'll see you in February. >> This concludes public comments for the night. That brings us to special reports from board members. Are there any special report spy board directors? Director Mel packing? >> I Bp. 5 happy New year to all and the audience end. we want that, the oven community as hopeful if you had a fantastic holiday season and you ready to start the second set, the stir. And Vince, I haven't seen you in a long time. brings back memories my to put this before and that this to cover that CS getting that admission that cast be. Board

090members did get to act and the cast be meeting on December. 11th 12011th and 13th. We have an opportunity support you. Get some professional development to buy a gun school book conference. Just the Quarterback of Association of School So we have school books from what the state Colorado percent and and pick up sessions and learn about critical happening. Sit in have a public education, including district of attend that that potentially coming up over the next cycle. I just wanted to give a shout out the picture that you see on the screen are few of the students from artistic 11 schools that got a this conference for 20 days and they got to engage with their peers from other school districts the conference on Saturday morning, some some offense board members had an opportunity to have

091picked the stat them They provide ADP fun. What they over the last couple what the past couple of at conference and shared with the board some of the day-to-day happenings happened in their schools. So I want to give a shout out to the district for sponsoring those students for attending that conference. It was a good engagement, opportunity foot on offense and teacher who compete the students to the selecting most us got back from Coronado High School, not so thank you for event can be cut create the opportunity to engage with our student that can speak. And since this was a packed up, I think the session taught that I want to also give a shout out to Pikes Peak United Me up every year adopt a destructive and school and polite gifts to if they

092want FOX student sent this year. That's cool Joe, some was Madison Elementary right before Christmas break of the students Madison Elementary got to give Trump XP connected. They want to give a shout that though it's a code speaking right to bigamy. Pember team was my cousin but keep the submitting gifts for those contests. That's my to put the thank you. >> All right. Moving right along to the next item on the agenda, consent items. Director Jorgensen, can you please make the motion to adopt the consent items? Yes, a move that the Board of Education and Ops, all consent items has designated in the agenda. >> Consent items personnel recommendations. 1/7/2026 approval of 12/10/2025 special Board meeting Minutes approval of district-wide closure 12/26/2025 and designation posting a location for board of education meetings and notices. Moved

093and seconded missile. Some real culprits. >> Director Buck apartment. I Director Kari, I director Hay. Doctor Johnson, Victor Jorgensen. I director Mel I director rule. I. >> The ayes have it. The consent items have been adopted. We do have exactly one action item tonight. That is general fund contingency transfer student tutoring intervention supports director rule. Can you please make the Motion for Action Item H one budget transfer? Yes, I move that the Board of Education approves a general fund contingency transfer any amount of 1 million dollars to support expanded student tutoring intervention services. >> Additional extra duty pay for before. And after-school academic tutoring and additional teachers coaching teachers services. >> Moved and seconded. Before we take the votes. I I would like to just say one of the things that we talk about a

094lot as a board is making sure that we are spending money as close to the classroom as possible. And I opened it up to superintendent Gall to talk us through the ask I've got doctor comforters. Got some slides and comments. just to give an overarching to the board. This is the first time we've made this action. I heard earlier the conversation about shorter cycles. We are much, much tighter and how we are reviewing the data that exists in our buildings. We're at a place now where we are down to buy student data. And at this mid-year time, we want to make an adjustment to make sure that we can extend resources to ensure our students get the extra time and that our staff also gets the extra time and opportunity to continue to improve their

095craft. We're super excited that the news covered this yesterday as an investment in the future and how it is we can be thinking about not waiting until August to see what did not work. We do know that we have challenges going forward, but we are excited to be trying to correct them with intentional strategies that are both improving the quality of the instruction and the time that children get access to that high quality instruction. And to that, I get to Dr Comfort. >> Good evening again board. I will clarify. This is up to 1 million dollars. I want to assure the board that we will not release money into were completely aware as we already are completely aware of the individual plan of every school to spend this money directly with students as the board

096may know for new board, members of the board must approve any contingency request beyond $100,000. So that's why we're bringing this request you tonight. I will say this is a an example of when the operations of the district and the needs of the district don't sync up. We get mid-year data after I developed the mid-year budget after I go through the process and we go through committee all share that with you momentarily. The entire mid-year budget what we've historically done, we getting that your data. We typically see a bump up in mid-year data and then our schools continue to do the best they can with no additional resource between mid-year data. And when we do see mass testing, as you saw, it actually said 55 days now that schools over its 54 days, we have

097an incredible opportunity to do significant student level work. But our schools need additional funding. And so that's what we're bringing you the request for tonight. You want to talk a little bit about built an accountability and how it is that we make sure we're not just throwing a million dollars and not understanding what's going to happen. as a superintendent I mentioned, this is going direct to student. Well, there will be opportunities for. >> Release time for teachers in extra coaching for teachers. This is intended to address students go gaps that exist right now. This will be very easy to track because as I just mentioned, we typically see a drawdown of performance between maybe your data and end of your data. And as the superintendent also demonstrated in that quick, data presentation. Tonight, we have

098student level data. So we're going to very easily be able to track with their mid-year level data was what the intervention is and what the end of year data is so that we can ensure that there is a return on investment. I'm hopeful I trust that we're going to see significant impact from this. And then this will be a recurring process that we do that we bring you a request to continue to expend more money on instruction in the middle of the year based on the needs of the freshest data set that we haven't made your data. For any questions for Doctor Comfort. Director Jorgensen. When I look at the >> ask the document for the task of this money. The talks about extended before and after school coaching extra. As your tutoring and coaching

099and professional development. Will this be funds that are added as a recurring budget moving forward or is this just as we see the need and might be less be more based on number of schools and students were trying to target. >> Absolutely. I do think it's the latter. I think that this is as we see the need arise. I think the need will vary year to year and where we need to expend that money. I would hope and anticipate that we will not bring you a million dollar request next year. But if you remember, when we first shared with the board at the beginning of the year, we bought brought in the schools that had some data challenges, the commitment from those principles and from the district is that we would not wait weve. The

100schools have held up to that mark and they are doing incredible work. This is now are part of that which is soon as we are aware of the needs. We execute quickly and we don't just hope that data will continue to progress until the end of the year. With that said this absolutely should inform each school's budget billed as they're going to be doing next month to inform their plan to say, hey, we ran out of money for tutoring in February and we showed in mid-year data that we needed. So we need to make some anticipate happen. Okay. >> Volatile that. So are we having to hire anybody knew at this time or is it just simply additional pay to our existing staff for additional workload? >> Yeah, I think our intent is that it's

101to pay our existing teachers. If there's the there's not the capacity in terms of they're just not enough people to do that. Are we willing to reach out to some external sources? Of course. But the intent here is our teachers who know kids the best and who who have that data on point have additional time with their students to make an impact. Okay. And then we're expecting in our ally to be seen literally by end of year in CMS results in August. Absolutely. Okay. >> Last question if and when will produce a report on that at the end of the year, specific to contingency request. >> Where the extra money when house effect where when we are asking schools to the plans of who are the children that they're targeting, where the grade levels for

102school after school, how they're going to use it. And so we will map that. And we were reported to the board because it will inform to build for next year and so much to Brandon's The entirety of the system is backwards and we don't get see Masters ault's until August and we pulled budgets in April and May. And so how do I know how to budget money next year until I wait for the results, what we're not doing any more is waiting. And so although mid-year data at best on star, he's going to give us a point. A correlation that is enough for us to say. We've identified a tear of students and a set of schools that we are not confident are going to be anywhere near the years worth of learning. in my

103eyes. It's criminal. If we wait particularly on unencumbered non-recurring funds. So to be clear, when we make a contingency request, this is not somebody's salary that's being recommended. These are not positions that we are not hiring for. These are the natural inefficiencies of which happened every year. Mid-year. My first year here, our mid-year budget request was close to 10 million dollars. We have brought that down significantly and we're sitting here now not talking about new curbs, not talking about new kiss and rides were talking about asking the program those mid-year dollars to what our bread and butter is, which is teaching and learning. So this alliance to one of the reasons we hired you was. That from every saying looking at what schools C has what they need without any roadblocks and then being out

104overcome those roadblocks to get them what they need for their kids that are and then we're accountable for it. So if you give us the money and we aren't able to produce the results, then we have to acknowledge maybe high-impact tutoring isn't getting where we need. Maybe there's a curricular challenge within their maybe there's an overall time consideration that it's difficult for a child to continue to learn either before or after school. And so should we be them to be thinking about those dollars into extended year opportunities for kids that are further behind because there's just a hot dish unload on children. But we're ready to map all that in a way this year that we had not been prepared before because we've been constantly waiting for see mass result. And it's not just the

105start data we're tracking now. Topic quizzes were stopped. We're tracking and the module test tracking exit tickets for us to triangulate and confirm is the child struggling with the learning or not? And if so, what is our strategy to do something about that last comment we have student level data which means we have teacher level data. When we look at this investments and we're pulling out all the stops. We have further that accountability in the system of saying if we've done everything we can and certain professional is not helping that you don't want anymore. We have to give him that coaching. I understand able to handle adapted improve being counted later. That's cool with that building leadership and that staff. >> Director Jordan said what I would say is this is a direct a student

106strategy. Absolutely. There's increased accountability anytime. There's increased resource. Waiting on is the teacher going to take on coaching and are they going to grow and develop? Is the superintendent point just not something we're willing to wait and see. We I have every confidence. I mean, the data you're seeing from the coaching program is unbelievable. And that takes significant time to grow practice. And so while that's happening now, we're also gonna go straight to the and you need more time. A teacher going through incredible coaching doesn't by itself. Close, multi-year learning gaps, And so additional resources needed. And that's what this is part. Ok? Thank you. Director Mel Well, I think what did to consent stole all my questions. >> I think I'm pretty much good bet that the main question I have accountability, peace. I

107think you have sit and thank you. Superintendent called far providing report at the end of the year so we can tackle this. Money's being spent decide and ended up act. If it's going to be achieved. So just you can request comes based on the That's correct. Okay. If the school qualify for this are. they have to have something to get back to they have significant challenges does that the schools are candy preschool. So we're going to manage that process, which is why we have the not to exceed 1 million dollars. What we need with one board meeting a month is the authority to then go hacked? If I haven't spent a million dollars in a school that's meeting our expectations has a way that they can exceed our expectations by spending. We figured it out

108that if you spread it evenly, it's $20,000 a school. I would be hard pressed to tell it up to that. They couldn't have $20,000 to go from the highest achieving school in El Paso County to the highest achieving school in the state of Colorado. So these are, again, are just the way that we want to rethink the intentionality of how we budget and how we budget against need budgets. It as static items has a one year. There very few school districts who have a three-year or five-year plan. Where we are now at a mid-year budget is exactly where you have to ask to be, which is to get teaching and learning right and to improve the outcomes for students not moving on moneys that are available when we see areas of need is exactly why

109people tire of the system because you feel as if you're throwing that Allen. So when we are ready to be accountable for the things that work and things that don't work as we continue down this continuous improvement cycle. Director Buck about what? >> To clarify is this was this intended to be spread over the 4 area district. >> It is going to be spread across the district. I don't believe we're going to do an equal distribution of $20,000 per school. There's obviously greater concentrations of need and there are students in need in every single school in the district. So I don't have a by school breakdown yet because we're still building out exactly what students are you working with what teachers are willing to do, additional tutoring? We're happy to provide that to the board.

110I don't speak for the superintendent if the superintendent directs are happy to provide that for the board. But yes, it is intended to Maxim maximally benefit as many students as possible, but also realizing we have some concentrations of me. >> Okay. And I also do I understand that this is going. Towards anything other than coaching teaching and supplies tutoring. >> I'm not sure. I understand. He said I apologize that this funding is going towards additional salaries and looking at the codes here towards teachers professionals, coaching services as well as that's correct. So broad categories that will pay for teachers to do additional tutoring before and after school. >> It will pay for additional tutoring materials that those are needed. It will pay for teachers to do release time to go visit some model classrooms. So

111there's not we're trying to not be overly restrictive, but trying to focus to make sure that this is really intended to be a student benefit. So it should really be about the interaction between an adult and student. >> And if not, everything is not spent entirely. It will roll back into the contingency. It. >> Just my own thoughts before I call for the vote. I I recall some months ago when we were discussing the equity policy, one of the points that I remember making at the time is that, you know, when you're dealing with a school districts, one of the things that you know that board at the time, and I think every teacher intuitively understands that students do not come into public education with an even playing field. They just don't. And every teacher

112knows that. You know, when you're in the classroom, you are disproportionately going to spend time with the students who are most at risk and who need the most assistance. That's part of what good teaching looks like knowing how to kind of budget your attention and budget your time. And I think I said this when I was talking about the coaching in the mentoring, this is broadly the kind of thing that we are hoping that superintendent calling the team are doing assessing across the entirety of the system. Where are the places that are the most You know, that have the most need responding to things quickly and, you know, really making strategic choices about where to invest resources, to help out the students who need the most help. So I'm going to be enthusiastically voting for

113this. And I will definitely be very curious to see how it goes just in so much as again. If this works. I think this should really inform some of your strategy moving forward. With that Melissa Roll call, please. >> Director Baca Bartlett. I Director Kari, I director Hay flee. Director Johnson, I director tournaments and my back real. I. The ayes have it. >> So the budget transfer, the contingency transfer has been approved. We do have a series of non action items tonight. The first item on our agenda is the 2026 legislative agenda. So the board reviews this information annually for approval to provide guidance to our love legislative lobbyist representing the district during this year's legislative session. So, Melissa, if you could pull up the current PDF here. And then we will open it up

114for discussion. We will write not action item. We will vote on this on a later time just for a new board directors. What we're looking for here is feedback. Suggestions things you would like to add to this document. potentially like to get rid of this document, whether you're okay with it as is so I open it up for board discussion. I can't tell people just need a minute to thank her for Jessica. All right. Seeing no interest in discussion. If okay with this as is can I get thumbs on bringing this back as a consent item? Given that there's of oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Director Johnson, I did not see you. I apologize. >> I was curious to know, do we have anything that references towards public safety for us rose nurses, anything in

115that nature at all that would reflect and think the state. Legislative level. >> I do not know the answer to that. I will skim this real quick. So Director Johnson, can you just ate the point again? Just so I can take notes on it? I was, I guess, referencing if possible things that we can add things to it have possibly looking towards know the support of public safety public service for the district. I think that's something that. >> I think really important for the district. that's something that we shouldn't leave out. I think that's if that's to add on to. >> So just to make sure I'm understanding. And so the ask us for a bullet supporting legislation that relates to safety for public school employees want. Or how do we feel about that kind

116of get to show thumbs that we would be okay with the board of that nature. All right. I'm seeing consent. Director Johnson. Do you have any interest in drafting such language in advance of next session? Otherwise I can probably work with our lobbyist and we can come up with something. Yeah, think okay, I will. I will keep you in the loop. Just cause. I want to make sure that it means your intent, but I will work with our lobbyist to come up with a with a bullet point that describes, you know, legis support that in support of legislation that relates to safety for public in place. So. Director Mel Pack him? >> I know a lot of work went into over the last couple of The board take a lot of putting the Stockman to

117get their craft this to come to get there. So we tried to capture asbestos possible the boat feedback from the previous board at now coming which is a one page, somebody that we can head to our legislative liaison, the lobbyist we have at the state level also some of our state legislators when they opened up meeting with our students. The only feedback that want to provide the number stuck we have with the full speech, maybe he can check those numbers so that they cut do what we have right now. I don't if anything is going to change. know you're back up. The number was 1 million students know that 900,000 students that think in the document that I maybe can fact some of those numbers before it comes back. Absolutely. Superintendent can you suggest someone

118should work with to get that Senator checked? Yeah, we'll take that. And I don't have a name on hand. provide that information. >> Very good. Board. Any other thoughts? Suggestions? Probably is going to be important. So just to kind of reiterate, I will we'll get with Superintended on his team to fact check that first page and I will work with our lobbyist and director Johnson to make sure that we have a bullet point related to safety for public employees. Are seconds and actually final non action item for the evening is a resolution Twenty-twenty 6 dash 23 major modifications to the 2025. 2026 adopted budget. So this is mid-year budget modification. This is new information. So Superintendent Dalton died. Imagine you're going put a ring of Dr Comfort. This is connected to the contingency. You know,

119we list some things in the way that they >> show up on the agenda. But in connection to the contingency, this is part of our normal process mid-year. We make corrections based upon need Andorra news dollars or areas of were dollars have been under budgeted, Dr Comfort. This is where I said he had some slides before. So I misspoke and the earlier one. But I hear the slides in the update from a non action item in our conversation with the board. Dr. Comfort to you. thank you, superintendent. All. >> As a reminder of the board, the mid-year budget serves primarily 2 purposes. First, it's our adjustment to actuals when we bring the proposed and then adopted budget, we still have a quarter of the fiscal year left. And so we're making assumptions on spending. We're

120making assumptions on enrollment. We're making a lot of assumptions when we propose a budget. So the mid-year budget is our is our only opportunity to now say now we understand what really happened at the end of last fiscal year. And we understand what happened with enrollment. And so we're able to make some adjustments. The second option is, as a superintendent mentioned, it's the allocation of new money. We have 2 primary opportunities to allocate new money that's in the budget billed as well as the mid-year budget. First going to over some general fund budget assumptions. So this is as we're looking at enrollment, how that kind of played out as well as per pupil revenue. You'll see we saw a modest increase of about $40 per people from 24. 25, we said about $11,500. Now in

121terms of our pro people allocation and then you also see there are a total program revenue. A couple of other things in terms of resources available. I want to I want to talk clearly about the first one where it says beginning fund balance. The board does not have 100 million dollars at its discretion in terms of being able to allocate. I will tell you below what you have more likely remember, there are lots of funds that are restricted and additional contingencies that we carry. Okay. But you'll see there are net General Fund resources fall just under 440 million dollars. So when we talk about the allocation of a million dollars, it is a lot of money. And in comparison to the overall budget, it is still very fractional. You'll then see how it kind of

122breaks out across school expenditures and contingencies. And then our again, our total General Fund appropriation. I think it's important for the board to know how we get our money in district 11 because we do have such a robust You'll see that over 50% of our revenue comes from our local tax base, tax base that varies district to district across the state. Some districts are much heavier funded from state backfill. Some districts are much more heavily funded through the local tax base as a reminder to the board and to the community listening the state decides our people allocation regardless of how much property values increase and how much the share change from local to state level. It does not change our overall allocation. It's a dollar for dollar trade. So if we get one dollar additional

123from our local property taxes, the state takes one dollar backfill away. Okay. As you speak to community members, many of them are not aware of that. And so as they see their property values increase, they think that we're rolling in the money. And that's just not necessarily true. Again, one of the big parts of a major budget is the adjustment to actuals. You'll see this is how we've now adjusted. And as spending from last year came in. This also includes the adjustment to enrollment realities in schools as we made some adjustments. Those are all pretty consistent with past years. And this is just again. So the board can see in terms of what our appropriation levels look like for other funds, you'll see we carry some pretty large appropriations for other funds. I will draw

124your attention to the 196 million Capital Reserve Fund are obviously our traditional capital budget is not 196 Million. That comes with it 125 million dollars of CO P funds. That is now they're obviously we are rapidly spending down that that fund not just at the Palmer in Jenkins projects, but all in all of the capital projects across the district. budget subcommittee chairs and ask her to come up in just a moment and give her take on the mid-year budget process. But I first wanted to briefly go over how that went south for the new board members. We bring a mid-year budget request in front of the committee for their review. We did that same thing this year. You'll see we brought 4 requests and from the committee they all received unanimous support that is for

125increased legal fees that continues to be a request in the Mid Year. Budget. We have worked really diligently over the last 3 years to bring things traditionally brought in the mid-year budget into our recurring budget. So there's lots of things that you would have seen 3, 4, 5 years ago that we're in the major budget every year that we have now effectively built into the recurring allocation. Some of those things that are still remaining. I have not yet built an additional allocation for legal fees into our overall recurring allocation. Obviously, that's my goal. But we've been focused at the boards will to focus those needs on instructional purposes. You will see a transportation request. I can be really, really clear about this need. We are pretty balanced in our transportation portfolio in terms of day-to-day

126transportation right now. Remember, we carry a portfolio process. We have our own b***** drivers as well as we have some sun and service and other companies that provide some transportation where we are seeing a disconnect is with our McKinney, Vento population. Those are students experiencing homelessness. They are guaranteed transportation. That's unfunded. What we're seeing is that can that population continues to rise. How we've traditionally funded that population as we are able to use a share of our district's title. One allocation to fund McKinney, Vento transportation. That allocation continues to decrease both because of our verification rates and the overall available budget. So we're seeing a pinch. I don't yet have a recurring solution for this, which is why we're bringing that to you again. These are statutorily required. Part of this is also some transportation.

127But our chief our chief of special education is working hard to balance out that budget that McKinney Vento population continues to be a need for us. So I'll definitely bring the board some strategy as we go next year's budget and then you'll see an academic, a request of $750,000. The board approved a new social studies curriculum last year. We've been really heavily investing in curriculum over the last 2 years. We did not at that time have the money to cover the social studies curriculum. So it it's coming in the mid year. Budget and the new board members got to hear that. All of the wonderful things that happen with our peak experiences. And so we did accurately funding to the existing peak experiences that we knew about. But we have added additional ones. And so

128we need some additional money for that. And then there is an additional a small request of $85,000 to continue the student agency strategy that use on terms of getting some teachers, some additional support to model classrooms. All in all. It's 1.7 million dollars of non-recurring requests. I do just want to show kind of how that lay-in trend over time to the superintendent points to the superintendents point earlier, 4 years ago, we were requesting 10 million plus dollars in mid-year budget. And you'll see that we have drastically changed how those allocations are brought to bear. Right? It was very heavily operations focused. And over time we have drawn that down to not only bringing much smaller mid-year budget requests in general, but much more focused on teaching and learning. That's also why I feel completely comfortable

129in terms of the million Dollar contingency request because it's coming on top of a very small mature budget request. Without a mask Johnson to come up share her thoughts on the mid-year budget process. Making sure you guys are still awake. >> We are. Don't >> Hello, I want to begin by expressing appreciation for the district's continued transparency and providing a meaningful voice for the Doc Budget subcommittee and the budget process. Thank you to the Board of Education, the superintendent, deputy superintendent and the chief of strategy for your openness, collaboration and willingness to engage in thoughtful financial planning on behalf of students and the community. Before continuing. I want to acknowledge that the board has heard a range of perspectives this evening. The reflect how deeply our community cares about the district and its students. The

130Doc Budget Subcommittee recognizes that strong governance depends on transparency, clear process fees and opportunities for meaningful collaboration within the scope of our charge. We want to emphasize that system level planning, construction operation producing tangible results, the directly support districts that strategy operational stability and continuity of services for students. Last year. The dock Budget subcommittee recommended that the district's budget built is structured more systematically so that resources are plans and available at the outset of the year rather than relying on large mature adjustments. This year's mid-year budget review indicates that the approach is working. The continued commitment to focus mid-year budget process has proven effective, supporting stronger up front planning, reducing reliance amid your adjustments and maintaining fiscal stability will meet in essential student and operational needs. A key. Take away is the continued reduction in

131mid-year budget request for the past 3 years. Declining from approximately 10 million to 5 Million. And this year, one point. 1.7 million dollars. This trend reflects improved budget discipline and a shift towards funding court operations through reoccurring general fund allocations rather than one time or reactive solutions at R December meeting, the subcommittee received clear and detailed presentations and all mid-year budget modification request developed recommendations based fiscal responsibility, alignment with district priorities and operation all necessity. The request for Butte were targeted in nature and focused on maintaining essential services address, seen unavoidable cost pressures and responsibly managing expenditures for the remainder of the fiscal year. The district's fund balance remains healthy allowing for these preserving overall financial stability and prudent risk management. Looking ahead, the subcommittee recommends continuing to include clear descriptions of student impact in

132the mid-year budget request alongside cost per student and sustainability considerations to ensure that budget decisions remain both outcome focused and financially sound. The committee continues to be you the mid-year process and is an appropriate and control mechanism for costs that are inherently difficult to forecast such as legal services and transportation while encouraging departments to shift for your current needs into based budgets whenever feasible. Finally and the spirit of transparency and collaboration, we invite board members and district leadership to attend our next stock, meaning next Thursday. >> And we welcome continue dialogue and appreciate the opportunity to work together and support of our students, families and long-term strength. The district. >> Thank you. And with that, I open it up or do anything else. I do have a final site. They can come after quite was

133like, okay, I apologize. I did want to just give a quick update to the board on an overall financial strategy of the district. >> When when the superintendent for Scott and we were very clear on shifting resources in terms of growing school-based resources and reducing central office resources. And so obviously, as the board knows, the number one use of our resources, the amount of staff we carry. And I wanted to show you a trend over time. The first graph you see here is our school staffing levels over the last 6 years. This includes teachers and principals and assistant principals and the S P this is all school-based staff. What you'll see is that that number has remained very steady over 6 years. In fact, it's a little up, even though we have had some enrollments

134transitions in that same 6 years. So this was again based on the superintendent and boards philosophy of keeping schools as heavily resourced as possible as we transition into a system that is focused on teaching and learning. This is our central office academic department. Now, this is not all new fte. This is about the reorganization of Fte as the board remembers, the academic team went through a largely organization last year into this year. And so what you'll see in terms of central office, we are focusing our resources where it matters most, which is on the academic side. And then you'll see the remainder of central office staff. That's a large decrease in positions you'll see about 140 position. Delta over the last 4 years. Again, this was based on the superintendent's commitment to find efficiencies while

135ensuring that service remains high. And so I just wanted to provide this overview as we're taking one of the few opportunities of the year to review our budget strategy in terms of the mid-year budget to give a snap point of where we are allocating our most significant resource, which is Ft. And without a turnover questions. Board, any questions for Dr Comfort. >> Director role. Yes. Regarding the McKinney Vento You listed 500,000 for car service that we have our of peas for that. >> We do. We do go through our fees that we use a lot of the same services that we use for general transportation as well. And there's a variety of ways, actually we can reimburse families if they want to transport their student. When we need to, we will drive a yellow bus

136pick up a student. But we did go through an RFP process in terms of we have a portfolio approach. We use a few service providers this really is the lowest cost that came And this is based on student need not really. This is based on our projected increase in student need. Not really the allocation of a new contract. Okay. So that's reflective of it. We don't know how many kids are going to be identified as homeless and qualify for McKinney. Vento. >> And so by law, we're obligated to transport the child to the original school. I'm sorry. If you're you know, McKinney Vento is but for the community. And so the need is variable to us. And so the cost of transporting the child isn't really any different Perseid and or purpose. It's just these

137or an forecasted transportation's that present overtime. Biden, mobility challenge and home life for many of our kids. And so we have to sit and services who were both competitively competed several years ago ever driven and hop skip drive. There are also opportunities for cab services when appropriate and as Dr Comfort alluded to, we can actually even reimburse families. One that's most cost-effective. So they can even tow still comes through we want to make it as cost effective as possible. This has been an increasing part of our budget. Transportation need year over year. Each year we have tried to be in front of it by increasing the amount of money that we program against But at each mid-year, we've had to invest even more to balance that. Director. Really good and thank you. Director Kim. This

138is just if you can go back a couple of slides to that staffing. My reading something I shouldn't be beating the lex us up there just to feedback. Is that staffing level that talks about dozen that line that Y axis up there. Yeah. Those numbers, not numbers printed on the green line or staff I apologize. That's not how it looks on the computer. I don't used Dr Wisest thing. I'm not sure what I did millions. I misinterpreting something. >> And is correct. I apologize if the if something weird is going on of the Axis. Okay. Nothing made to I just didn't know if I misleading that graph for snow. Yeah, you're right. I'm not sure why it's presenting that. Okay. Can you just go forward? One side? I just want to linger on the slide

139a little bit because I I like the slide in the icy, on. Get to you next. I just would like to remind the community that this was a explicit ask from the board. Maintain levels of staffing to support student achievement, spend dollars close to the classroom. Find deficiencies in central administration Dr Comfort. Can you remind me how much have we saved in central administration over the course of the last year? Roughly last 3 and a half million community over the last 2 years over 6 and a half million. >> Director Jorgensen. >> Thank On page, 54 of the 65 page and out it talks about costs related to risk management is that the future perceived need for health care insurance is that we're looking at. 3 and a half million. There are mine. >> No.

140So the management maintains its own in terms of if we have to pay out. Workman's comp claims things like that. So they maintain their own fund the things that we don't get reimbursed for through our insurance as well as again. It's one of those contingencies that we carry just in case I misspoke. It was Page. 44, I apologize. Survey going 54 like what you >> skews me on page. 54 was legal services that you mention would be helpful or is that something that maybe that will the board consider as far as tasking and then other support of legal services, whether it be bringing something in-house or multiple contracts based on whether we need Policy Council or, you know, tech to counsel or >> come something like that would be that may be have to be

141the will the board test the summer look into that. But I think we're looking at spending half a million in just major contingency transfer. If you're worth maybe trying to see how to make that efficient for us as far as how we conduct legal advice and services. No to do. You want to bring that up again? We just talk about future agenda items or factors that be fine. Yeah, that that gives people a man to think about it. I think. That's all ahead for tonight. I have some follow-up directly. But when we meet so all right, any last questions for Dr Comfort. All right. Thank you so much. Moving on. Actually, this is the very next thing. Future agenda, items, tasks. This is the next item on our agenda. >> Board members, you have any

142requests for new agenda items. Director Jorgensen. >> I think we should look into legal counsel and making that officiant tailored to the needs of the board in the district. >> So just to repeat, to make sure I'm tracking. So the ask is too task. Superintendent Gaulle with considering other potential arrangements for legal counsel. With the I have looking to. Specialized the kind of legal advice we are receiving appropriate context and also hopefully to save some money. that accurate? I would love that. Can I get a show of thumbs for whether we would like to task superintendent bill to look into this. All right. Perfect. You have your marching orders. We will get an RFP posted by the end of next week. Any other requests for new agenda items? Director, my pocket. I'm probably this is

143already in the works. I know one of the things that the board is going to be looking into over the next several weeks. A couple of months is going to be the bond. >> And consideration of a bond the book got an email about a bond, a management team that has been engaged now put lot of people so. The board going to gets provide some feedback on how that engagement is going to take place. But the bottom management team and if that's already in the books and ebooks feedback is going to be up, think concrete, not, I would like to propose stacked the boat, get engaged in that process with them on management. We have update to the board at the work session on January. 28th. >> Which will include that RFP. Okay. >> All

144right. Seeing no further requests. Just a very brief calendar review next Wednesday, January. Learn I'm Right? Sorry. And I see your Director que for them. >> Just need a second to add to We as a board need to discuss the add pro. Contract. For >> Superintendent do we have a refresh memory? Do we have a proposed time for? And we're going to discuss that. I know the latest from procurement was that we had a little bit of time, but winds. Do we need to kind of have that finally sorted? Chief Amr? >> I know the retreat agenda for next week isn't fully set. But there is part of the agenda that was going to be communications anyway. So it might fit in their first. And then if it needs brought back to be discussed in

145public session for non action or action, we can take it from there. >> Vice president leads that some good to you. We'll touch base as a whole board on the retreat. See what we'd like to do with communications moving forward and then we'll we'll go from there. >> Excellent. Thank you. I hope you feel better. Thank you. too. >> All right. Brief calendar Review board retreat next week. Wednesday, January 14th. We're hoping to finalize the agenda for that some time tomorrow and get information to tomorrow afternoon. Wednesday, January, 21st, we have no meeting scheduled for that night and then the 28th will be a work session probably with a special meeting on top. And finally we will have our next regular board meeting on Wednesday, February 4th and just for awareness for the community on

146the 2 kind of big ticket things that I've been asking the board to be thinking about. Our number one. We will have the full brief on major data and then number 2 is kind of considering options for the upcoming academic calendar. So seeing no first their business, if there are no objections, we will adjourn. So this meeting is adjourned at 07:40PM, good work. Everyone. ♪