001Welcome to the Eagle County School District Board of Education meeting, Wednesday, March 25th, 2026. Please rise for the pledge of >> allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. All right, we're going to start tonight with a quick consent agenda. The consent agenda includes routine non-controversial items approved by the board of education through a single motion. And the only thing on the consent agenda tonight is meeting minutes and the personnel list. So, do I have a motion from anyone? >> I move to approve the consent agenda. >> Second. >> Thank you, Kelly. Thank you. Harry, uh, Natalyia, >> Miss Alter, >> I, >> Miss Conland, >> I, >> Miss Kawaki, >> I, >> Miss Hobie, >>
002I, >> Mr. McQueeny, >> I, >> Mr. Pena, >> I. >> Thank you. The motion passes 6. Thank you, Natalia. And um we will begin with the report from the superintendent. >> Thank you, Madam President. >> Thank you. >> First, I want to thank the board for giving me some uh um latitude in the last few meetings. Um I had family issue came up last last time and had to be out and then the two meetings before that I was at the mentor planning commission working on the Malloy Park uh project getting that approved. So, um it's good to be back. Good to see you guys. Yeah, welcome. >> Thank you. All right, let's jump into some celebrations. Last week, Dr. Casey Summers was in town. Casey will be our next superintendent. Uh he's presently
003in Poria School District, a suburb of Phoenix, and and last week was his spring break, so he took that whole time to to come up here. He brought some Phoenix weather with him, which was not really something we needed, but uh thank you for coming up, Dr. Summers. Uh I was able to go to every single school site with him over a period of two days. He saw every one of our housing uh saw each of our of our housing developments uh and all of our district offices. So, he got to meet a ton of people, had dinner with with the board. Uh he's very excited to come and is uh is eager to get started. I will continue to work with him over the next couple of months, uh meeting weekly just to make
004sure that he's up to speed on all the the different things that that we have working and that it's a smooth uh transition for him when he comes in in July. I wanted to give a shout out to our students who participated in the TEDex youth veil event that was held at at Battle Mountain High School. It's great to see our kids uh demonstrate leadership uh demonstrate a forum uh where they organize it and and demonstrate some leadership and and and put their voice in the room. So, kudos to those kids. Uh we also had career-wise interviews this week. These are for our internships. Uh some of the best numbers that we've had to date in this program. You can look there and see how many interviews were scheduled, how many students applied. Uh 21
005different businesses are offering apprenticeships next year through our career X and Career-Wise program. So, uh that's become one of the best in the state in terms of per capita opportunities for students to sign up for internships and apprenticeships while in high school. So, very very proud of of that program. So, uh kudos to Shannon Grant for and her team for putting all that together. Uh let's go on to some uh updates. Oh, who's that guy? Uh That's that's me. And uh I'm wearing the same clothes because that was today. That was today actually. I was down at the capital uh and it was a bill signing ceremony for the Home Act. You can see the governor seated at the table there. He's enthralled with my comments. Appears to be napping. Um and then uh we've
006got uh our senator uh behind me there uh on the right. And uh it was the home act is is a bill that will make it easier for school districts to build affordable housing. So they invited me to come and speak at this because Eagle County School District is is a leader in the state. We've done more for affordable housing than any other district and they said we need somebody to come down here and talk about how this works and you're the guy. So I got to be down there today and it was 87 degrees in downtown Denver. So good to get back up here. Not quite as cool as I was hoping, but it was good to be down there today. All right. Uh other updates, uh we have updated the school boundary descriptions
007that you'll find online uh to match our current routes. Uh so there's been no change to school boundaries. Just want to be clear with the board about that. Uh we just had some inconsistencies between where our our current routes are with our busing and uh the descriptions that were online. So those those now and the policy related to them have been updated. Natalya, thank you for doing that work. That doesn't mean that there won't be boundary discussions in the future. So, as we continue to face declining enrollment, I think that that's something that the board's going to need to navigate is the possibility of school consolidations and or redrawing boundaries to to move students and balance out some of the populations in our schools. So, have that on your radar, but know that the recent
008work was just to to align the descriptions with current practice. So, nobody was nobody was uh school was changed in that process. Uh almost done with spring school visits. Uh thank you Bryson for for coming with me to all of those. We only have a couple more left and board members, you've been showing up to all those. Appreciate that very much. And then the team from Ephac, either Wendy or Tessa have been present as well. So those conversations have been uh difficult but necessary uh to explain to all of our staff members what our our current fiscal situation is and how we might tackle that in the future specifically with a mil levy override question in in November. Um also wanted to let the board know that uh Thursday I'll be pres uh I'll be
009participating in a panel uh to discuss the 4-day school week. This is hosted by the Colorado Sun. Um, Erica Brunland is the the education beat uh journalist for the the Colorado Sun and she she's aware that I'm I have been somewhat outspoken in my opposition to the 4-day school week and somewhat notorious around the state for that opposition. So, she wants me on the panel and I was clear to tell her that I I don't oppose the the 4day out of principle. Um, my concern with the 4day school week is is that if you compare five day to four day weeks, school districts, the districts that are on a four- day week are paying about 20% less to their educators than those on a 5-day week. Is that is that a surprise? When they are
010working one day less per week, it's getting paid 20% less. The real question is about outcomes for kids. And if you compare the district performance frameworks of all 178 school districts in our state, the four days to the five days, the four-day districts are performing about 9% lower on their school performance frameworks and district performance frameworks than the five day a week schools. Now, I don't see that there's a causal relationship. I'm not saying that a 4-day week causes a 9-point difference, but what I am saying is that there are structural challenges, structural constraints for many of those districts that are on a 4-day week. in that they can't hire, they can't find certified people, they they struggle with with uh housing opportunities. And when you compile all of those structural constraints, what you end
011up with and the inability to to pay a competitive salary, the only thing that they have to to control, the only lever that they have left is time is the only thing that they can they can adjust uh when they're paying 20% less than the other districts in the state. That's the only thing that they can control. So, I'm not I'm not down on them. Uh, as as the poet uh Tupac Shakur once said, "I ain't mad at you. I got nothing but love for you. They're doing the best they can, right? They're doing the best they can with what they've got. Uh, if they had uh greater resources, I'm sure they would love to be on a 5-day week, but they don't have it. So, uh I'm going to be invited to this panel.
012They think that I'm going to yell at them about how terrible a 4-day week is. That's not my goal. Uh my goal is to just say you're going to get different outcomes and I understand the constraints that you have. I would defend a five-day week here uh as long as as as possible, but understand that there are fiscal constraints. Like there's a point where uh when we can't do any more to compensate our our staff to be competitive, the only way that we can uh honor their uh effort is to give them back some time. We presently have 171 student contact days. 171. The state minimum is 160. 73% of the school districts in this state are below 160. They've sought waiverss to drop below 160 days. The average number of days that students attend
013school in Colorado is 150. The national norm is 180. So that's a difference of 30 school days. what our average student in Colorado attends versus what the national norm is. 30 days is six weeks. Compounded over a 12-year career in public education is 2 years of loss classroom content time. I think that's a travesty and I think our state should do better. I think we should fund our schools so that we're competitive in terms of the amount of time that our kids can be in school and that we're not forcing districts uh to cut back to what is effectively part-time school and a part-time job for educators who should be able uh to be with their kids a lot more and do the great work that we know that they're doing. So, you just got
014a preview of the 4day school panel um that will be recorded tomorrow. Uh wanted to give a shout out about spring musicals. Battle Mountain High School will be uh performing Frozen I believe this weekend and EVHS has a sister act on the agenda. So if you get a chance to get to our high schools and see those musicals, they are are super fun. I believe that's it for me. Natalia, do I have anything else? Final slide? Nope, that's it. Thank you. >> Back to you, Madam President. That was a lengthy report, but I've been away. >> Yes, >> I felt like I could take a couple extra minutes. >> Thank you for taking those extra minutes. That was a lot of important information that I'm glad um we revisited. Um, next on the agenda is
015our very important board reports. Does anyone have a board report they'd like to give this evening? >> Yes. I just want to mention uh we had our Early Head Start Policy Council meeting last Monday. Um, and I was just uh chatting with Shelley over dinner about how amazing that group of people is. um the critical thinking that's happening uh the discussion the questions um and this and it's a it's a bilingual meeting this is it's taking place in Spanish and English and um the way you know the the beautiful facilitation of the meeting Shelley thank you and um yeah just um interesting and very needed and um big yay for gypsum Early Learning Center so thank you >> thank you Gretchen anyone else >> uh I just want to give a quick shout out to
016uh the education foundation of Eagle County. Wendy and Tessa Project Funway was Saturday night. It was a hugely successful event in a new venue this year. Um people really came out to support our schools, our kids, our teachers. Um so that was really exciting. Uh we do not have the final numbers, but I think we had a really successful fundraiser which is amazing. and all of that money will go back into supporting our teachers and our students. Um, so, yay. And it was super fun and we have so much talent in our community. So, if you've never been to the event next year, >> thank you, Kelly. And thanks for the preview for next year. I agree. Everyone should try and come. Anyone else? >> I'm already making a dress. I left with so many
017ideas. It was so cool to see the talent. Yeah. Schoolboard dress. Um I also went to the TEDex Veil and I was so blown away. My husband and I went and I was in tears. Um we were laughing and crying and just listening to it was about curiosity was the theme. And one little ninth grader shared a word I never heard before. You might know it, but it's like really cool to learn new words. Um and it was called sder. Does anyone know what s means? Okay. All right. Um, the sudden knowing that every person we pass has a life as full and complex as our own. Everyone carries joys, struggles, dreams, and stories we'll never see. So, it just got me thinking about how many stories we all have that we don't see. And
018that that these kids, our students are reflecting in those ways and sharing. So, that's the word of the day. >> Thank you. I love that. Loved learning new words. Um, anyone else have a board report this evening? Uh just as Phil mentioned the school the spring uh uh go around to all the buildings. Uh it was here today at the high school and a couple we I keep hearing the same presentation that uh Phil and Bryson keep doing and it gets better each time I listen to it. I pick up a little tidbit every time. Um, the last one was that uh other school districts are only doing 150 days. Um, which I just feel is criminal. I mean, I feel it's bad that we're only at 171. Um, when I first came in the
019district, kids were in seats for 186 days. So, um, we we've lost a lot over the 30 years. Um, but the good news was hearing all the things that we could do locally to help ourselves. So that that um is a definite positive. Uh at today's uh meeting uh the work session, we heard from uh the school-based therapy program and um all the good work that they're doing in all our buildings and that we have therapists in every building. Um the numbers of cases that they're doing is just mindboggling. 4,000 plus um touching people's and families. So, um, my concern there is it's under a grant and that grant runs out in 27. And again, I think it's going to be up to us and our community to put together something to make sure that
020this keeps going. So, um, to hear those positive reactions and the stories she told of, you know, how she touched families or some of the therapists, um, actually saving kids lives. So, um, I want to see that program continue, but >> thank you, Harry. >> I guess I will go. I can't be quiet. Um, it was good. Thank you, uh, Emily and Tia today for, um, giving us some of the updates. Um, they that, you know, listening to Emily and some of the things that she talked about. Um, one of the things that kind of stuck out to me is um, how many cases they've studied and one of the things that really is important is the trust that they've built with the students. Um, the students are able to open up to um, the
021people with school-based therapy. So, that's uh, that's huge um, to have that program. So, thank you for that. Um, I did go to EXEX uh, Project Funway. It was awesome. Um, I been a while since I since I started doing that. So, it's fun to go to that every year. Um, congratulations to EAC for pulling it off and without doing it at the Dobson and uh change venue and it worked out great. Um, there was one other thing. Oh, I was able to attend the what do they call it? La Prima Vera Soccer uh tournament or it was the La Pria soccer meet and it was Eagle Valley Battle Mountain girls soccer at Battle Mountain last night and it was just a cool ceremony that they had to to begin. They all came down the
022steps together, lined up. Um there was the youth soccer up there with them and the girls played hard. Um, you know, I I hate to say it cuz, you know, I I'm from Battle Mountain. My girls went to Eagle Valley. Battle Mountain won four to one. So, sorry friends in Eagle Valley, but no, it was uh it was a great game and it was awesome to see. So, that's all I got to say about that. Thank you. >> Thank you, Juan. Um, I had a few things written down I wanted to mention, although I think um, they've all been touched on already, so I'll just quickly go through it. Um, first I, um, really wanted to thank Phil for his involvement at the state level um, for our district and for education in general in
023our state. Um it seems like the state keep and the nation keeps chipping away at public education and um we're proud to have you um supporting education in our district. So thank you again and congrats on the bill signed today. Um uh I also attended Project Funway and um congratulations and thanks to everyone at EC. It was a a beautiful event and a wonderful night. And um I noticed the gratitude in our community when um the teachers and staff were mentioned. The entire crowd just like erupted in applause and it was um really moving to see that kind of support from our community there. Um, also, um, my daughter did a dress a few years ago and I know firsthand how much time and effort that takes and talent, which I do not have, and
024I am amazed at everyone that does address. So, thank you to all of the participants as well. Um I also wanted to mention that um there's several classes in our schools, middle schools and high schools that are focusing on writing letters right now in the class and they have been writing some letters to the board of education and I wanted to thank all of them because it is always wonderful to hear from students and hear ways that they think the district can um improve. Um so thank you for that. Thank you to all the teachers and thank you to those students. And um I think that ties in with the presentation we had um during work session from Tia Luck on student voice and just wanted to thank her for encouraging students to um have
025their voices heard within our community. So um on that note we are going to move on to public participation. Also a thank you for everyone that's here and um has I want to encourage um them to um I've gotten my words turned around. Uh just thank you for being here and um we appreciate um hearing your voice. So Harry, do we have any blue cards this evening? >> I do have one. Is there any one else in the audience? No. So we do have one, Aaron Johnson. So if you can come up to this podium and that little microphone, there's a guy. If you press that button, it will turn red and you'll have three minutes. >> You can hear me? >> That's perfect. >> All right. Well, um, thank you all for reading my
026email. I sent an email to everyone that didn't see that to the board. I really appreciate the response. This is hard and I hope I don't cry, but um I am here to talk about a pattern of violence that is occurring at Eagle Valley High School. I have a freshman at Eagle Valley and very consistently he comes home and tells me about fights. And you know, we all were kids once. We all know that kids fight, but until you see the videos and really understand it's a culture of fighting that's occurring at the school because the incidents are being not only encouraged by other students because they're being filmed and every kid in the school has a phone. So there's instigators behind the scene that are getting these kids to fight and then there's all
027the other kids that are coming up filming the fight that is then being circulated across social media platforms. So it essentially it's like giving these kids a dopamine hit for um recording these fights and then being able to talk about them. So, my son was involved in one of these fights and I'm here not only on his behalf and I'm not saying and I'm not pointing fingers here either. I'm really just want to bring this to everybody's attention because when I saw these videos, it was shocking. So, um, currently we know there's a zero tolerance policy for students that are fighting. It's an automatic three-day suspension. I'm here today to propose that all the instigators, the filmers, the encouraers, they get a some sort of consequence. I'll leave that up to you. I would like
028to say it's zero tolerance for them as well because the thing that I am seeing with these constant stories or the constant fight videos that he shows me is that it's a perpetual problem and it's not going to go away on its own. So my son was leaving school. Five kids came up to him. He was trying to walk out of the school. One pushes them. And this is all on on the cameras within the school. So this isn't even just the videos that I sent you guys. Um he tried to avoid the fight, realized he couldn't avoid the fight with five kids there, turned around, defended himself, and um he was suspended for three days. The first thing that he said was, "Can I make up my schoolwork?" That's what he said to the
029principal. He's a good kid. I took him to the urgent care. He had a concussion, a bruised nose, and a black eye. This is in happening in our hallways and you guys saw it. So I implore you today to do something to protect our children and I know that you will and I know that that's the most important thing to the board. But we have to protect our kids. Thank you so much for everything you do. I know this is a voluntary board. I appreciate everything that you do and I am not here to say that Eagle Valley High School is not doing what they're supposed to be doing. I'm just here to highlight this culture of videos and Tik Tok and YouTube. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Um, tonight we are moving on
030to new and old business. Our next meeting is April 8th. We will have um an executive session on negotiations, a work session on budget, and a regular session including DAC recommendations and academic achievement reports. Um, is there anything else anyone would like included on our agenda? >> I I just want to acknowledge the conversation that we had today in in work session uh in response to Mr. Johnson's comments. So, we we've added to our our high school levels um working group to to dive into this situation that's happening at at Eagle Valley High School, see how pervasive it is, and really also examine our our consequences. uh outside of uh just fighting as as she mentioned her son was suspended for fighting uh but any of the kids who instigated it or or promoted it
031or filmed it or posted it that there's no consequences for them. So I think we need to look at that discipline matrix and figure out um in in a world where we have students promoting these types of fights that there needs to be accountability on on all sides. So know know that that's a conversation that we had in work session and that that's going to be on the agenda as we work with our our principles. >> Thank you. >> Y >> thank you Phil. Anyone else? >> Uh part of our work session we was and we mentioned that we heard from Tia Luck with students. Um I' I'd like to hear some of the student voices too. I know that they weren't able to come in this time, but to get their feel too. When
032we passed the uh cell phone policy, we had students come in and to begin with they were a little upset that we were passing that policy that they weren't going to be able to use their phones every second of the day. Um but then they came back a few months later and um it was amazing their responses of how much more coherent their classes were, how much better their interactions with their peers were. Um you know so you know when we heard that it really made me feel okay we made a good decision of getting rid of some cell phones and some devices. Um, you know, and I was looking to get an update on that this year too because it was the first year of what is the next step, you know, how can
033we take, you know, our classrooms back under control and our hallways and our bathrooms. Um, you know, so if we could get a little report on that of, you know, where we are and where we're going um with that policy, that would be great. >> Thank you, Harry. Anyone else? All right. Um, then we will move on to board policies and administrative regulations with the review and approval of the 2026 27 Head Start grant application with Miss Shelley Smith. Thank you for being here, Shelley. >> Thanks for making time as always. This is on. Yay. Thanks, Natalia. So, last time I was here to present data to make sure you had information. So, this is just um giving you the official what's moving forward and get your approval for it. Uh obviously, the entire budget
034narrative was attached and you all have read it. Just wanted to highlight um for you and for the community some key adjustments. The one thing especially for new board members that the allocation we're required to have it based on enrollment. So the percentages of salaries that are charged to the grant at each location is dependent on the number of Head Start children at that location. So that's an important um change. And then obviously um it's really time to make sure we're all using our resources wisely and the data really show that um our mental health support to align with your work session earlier was a bigger need and more families were wanting that than maybe goal setting and some of the other work we do with families. And so there was an adjustment, a pretty
035significant change from year to year um within the structure of the family service support. So, I wanted to make sure that was um pointed out. Um and also with our health and safety and compliance assessment managers, we're going to be utilizing our nurse and our health assistant um to one navigate the change of losing um I'm going to say this every time before she leaves. Miss Beth Riley is foundational to this program and trained hopefully she trained me well. We'll see when she's gone. Um but um really need to make sure that we inre continue to do that important work a comprehensive program um through this change and being mindful of the cost of that. And then contractual expenses have decreased significantly um due to some budget cuts that we did last year as the
036whole district was looking at um cutting their budgets. Any questions on those focus changes? or anything. Okay. Um the next part that we always want to make sure is part of our submission is that our goals align with our budget. And so there was a couple changes. One actually came from the board and one came um from policy council. So um in our self- assessment we identified as attendance continues to be extensive attendance issues which is children missing 10% or more of their con of their scheduled days and it aligns with the same concerns of the focus of the district and so we are adding that as an official um goal to our submission not just part of our self- assessment action plan. So thank you for that input. It's always really helpful to get
037feedback from you all. Um, and then the second one actually came from policy council and I I did um point out to them that we needed to word it in a way that it was doable. Um, they wanted to add add and we all know right now that's not something we have the resources to do, but I didn't want to dismiss their request. So we changed the wording to say that they really felt that extended day and Wednesdays if we had those services more of those slots because right now that is a not even a third of our programming offers extended day um and on Wednesdays the number of classrooms we have to um meet the planning requirements is also a challenge. So, we wanted to make sure that we would conduct a phasability study.
038Um, see if we can get funding to add that. So, didn't want to dismiss the request because I think it's actually true. There are many people that are currently enrolled in other programs outside of Eagle County School District that would want to be in our programs, but they can't pick up at 250 and we don't have enough spots to meet the demand for extended day. So again, no financial commitment or burden on the board because we don't have additional funds right now, but we're going to look at it. We're going to hopefully find ways to fund it um to meet that need if and when we can. So I just wanted to make sure that it was a feasibility study, not a commitment to add anything until it was something that we could do, but
039it was a goal that came from policy council and felt like it needed to be um represented. So, this is an action item. Um, did you have any questions about anything I didn't specifically speak to um before you approve the Head Start um grant budget and goals? >> Um I don't have any questions. I've um I've been in about four or five years working with Shelley on a lot of these. So, um I just want to say thank you cuz it's it's a lot of work that goes in above our normal hours to get all of this done. So, thank you. And um like Gretchen was saying, it seems like you have a really good council this year. >> Um it's it's pretty neat to see. Um with that, if there are any other questions,
040I'd like to move to approve the 20 26 27 his start grant application as submitted. Second. >> Thank you, Juan. Thank you, Gretchen. Natalia. >> Miss Alter. >> Hi, >> Miss Colin. I >> Miss Lawy, >> I. >> Miss Hobie, >> I. >> Mr. McQueeny, >> I. >> Mr. Pena, >> hi. >> Thank you. The motion passes 6. >> Thank you, Natalia. And thank you so much, Shelley. >> You're welcome. The next slide um is just getting back to some questions that I know um were raised by the board um relating to pre prior information shared. So it's really hard um early childhood funding is very complex so I try to keep it simple but I have some things to add just in case. Um, so what this graph shows is the number of classrooms
041that are open now, how many will be open in the fall, what the capacity is at the gypsson learning center, the proposed price increases, which I'll speak to a little bit more in a moment, and then the county average because I know that was something was important to look at last time. Um, so the most important thing to note about the Gypsum Early Learning Center is it really is adding one classroom at this time. And um, so we are we are merging the Gypsum four classrooms that are Gypsum Elementary, the four classrooms that are Red Hill, and we're moving them to the Gypsum Early Learning Center with the one classroom that we opened this year um, in January. And just to let you know, if that classroom had not have opened, we'd be busing three
042children from this area to Eagle, not even to Eagle because they are full. We'd be needing to bus them to Edwards Early Learning Center um or B um have capacity issues for special education and have self-contained classrooms. So, I do want to let you know it's more that need um than it is overall capacity. Um, any questions on that piece of it? Because I think that's been something that's been a little confusing is that we're adding 10 new classrooms and that's we've added one and the salary costs for one classroom. Make sense? Okay. Um, we are contracted to serve 38 students. So many of the infant toddler spots are going to be funded through Early Head Start. And um it's stable um funding. If they have a spot open, they pay us until they fill
043it. Um so even if they take a little longer to fill their infant and toddler spots. And so just to let you know those infant and toddler classrooms um we do have a more stable funding and we'll continue to look at other funding for infant and toddler because that is not something that um the district gets funding for outside of from general dollars. Does that make sense? The one thing that's important to look at when you're and I wish it was three-year-olds too but it's not. It's just the four-year-olds. So, in our preschool line, that includes threes and fours. Um, the four-year-olds do get, and again, um, Phil is really good at pointing this out, universal preschool is not universal. Um, it is a credit of $3363 a day that we receive and then give
044to the parent. Um, so it is a revenue neutral for us. Um the only benefit which I showed last time is that we now get funding for everybody that starts and qualifies for special education after October 1st which we used to not get that. So that's really the only fiscal advantage of um the UPK alls it means instead of the parent paying us as $33 they pay us. So the um it's a tuition credit not necessarily adding to our funding. Um I did want to point out because I think if you're once we are talking about and thinking about price increases we also have to take into effect okay if we raise our prices how many people are not going to come and then we actually it's cost deficit. Um so we studied the last
045year because we did the price increase last year is how many children more children are opting for a half day than a full day. um don't know that it's causal just like with some of the other data that Phil shared but we do have a higher number of families opting for a half day this year and that if they would have paid and come to a school day year a school day they would it would have been $136,000 and that was just a difference of eight kids. So just to let you know when we charge more people sometimes restrict their schedule and that causes revenue loss. Um it's a balancing act. Uh, the other thing I want to point out is those proposed increases are our extended day rates because since the county rates are
046for 8 to 10 hour days, we needed to have our rates up at 8 to 10 hour days. But I think it's important for you all to know what the school day rate is because that's the majority of what our families pay or are enrolled at. And I figure if I put more on this slide, it would just be confusing, right? It is so confusing. So, I just wanted to share this with you. For a school day, for a preschooler, it's $67.40. So, when you look at preschool here, it looks like we're significantly above the county average, but our school day rate is $67.40. So, if they're coming for a school day, it's below the rate of the private providers, but if they're coming for extended day, it is above. So I just felt that
047was an important nuance that could not represent just on the slide that it would be confusing. Um, the only other thing I want to point out again the asterct by the toddlers is because it is not a 5% increase for every single program because CCAP has a very weird anomaly that the difference between an infant and toddler rate is $853, but the difference between a toddler and a preschool rate is 93 cents. So parents were often asking us like why when I go from infant to toddler I have this big cut and then when I go from toddler preschool it's almost the same. So we're trying to address that for families. Um so we can't just do a straight percentage of CCAP because of the way they that's structured. Does that I know that's complicated
048but I wanted I didn't want to misrepresent and just say we did a 5% increase. Okay. Did I answer your questions? Number one. And number two, are there what other questions came up through this? Because we know that's happens. >> That was a good followup. Thank you. >> Anybody? Okay. Awesome. Well, thank you all. And I don't think you'll see. >> So, Shel, just a quick question for you, too. I know we have uh roundup days for kindergarten. Is there any kind of roundup? Because I know they're all changing ages. >> Yep. and coming in at different times. >> So we do have we call it the moving on up. So we have an event for all our families. Our toddlers learn, our infants learn about what's different in toddlers. Our toddlers learn about what's
049different in preschool. And so we have our kindergarten transition meeting is pretty big. We are currently in a recruitment period and the office of head start actually even though we fill our 69 spots, we are required to have a marketing campaign and recruitment campaign and you're going to be hearing radio spots here soon. So, we do have a key enrollment time and it's gotten pushed up a little bit. It used to be March, April, May and now it's really January, February, March because Universal Preschool starts their campaign and starts placing children in January. So, we enroll year round um and we market and we're going to be attending an event on I think March 20th that's at um the Gypsum Library that's at the Celebrate the Child Day. And so we do many of those
050type of events anytime we can um because we want them to come to our high quality programs. Did that answer? Okay. Anybody else? >> Okay. >> Thank you, Shelley. We appreciate it. >> Um next we have a Malloy Park update from Mr. Qualman. >> Thank you. This is a information item. Just want to bring the board up to speed on what our process and timeline looks like at at Mallaloy Park. Um, many of you have heard Tom Braonn present in this room over many years. Uh, probably over 20 years that he's been a land planner for the school district and he uh moved to Idaho about a year ago and has really been trying hard to retire >> and we have not made that easy for him. We continue to bring him back and and
051engage in our process specifically at Mallaloy Park, but he's really serious about retiring now. So, uh, Bryson and Joe and I have been working to to find a replacement land planner and, uh, we met with Sean Hanigan of of High Summit Planning and, uh, have now, I think, uh, come close to entering a contract with with Mr. Hanigan and he's going to be um working with Tom in a transition to understand uh download everything that Tom knows so that he can start to take over this work for for Malloy Park. He's also setting up meetings with the town of Mentor uh so that we can start putting some uh specifics to the various conditions that we left uh with from the town council meeting when they approved the initial plat. So the initial plat means
052that they they agree in in concept uh but there are some elements that they have some concerns or questions about and they want those issues addressed before the final plaque can be approved. So Sean will start working with with us uh with the town of Mentor uh with Battle North the developer that has property adjacent to us at Mallaloy Park uh with Colorado Parks and Wildlife uh to make sure that we get all those concerns addressed for the next phase. So the next phase is to again return to the planning commission. The planning commission's authority is to recommend or not recommend. They don't approve or deny. They recommend or they don't recommend. Uh so we'll try to get as many issues addressed as we can with the planning commission and hope that they recommend. Uh
053in the event they they don't recommend, we would try to push a vote so that it does eventually go to uh the town council. the town council is the the party that does make the decision for us as to whether or not we can proceed. So, we want to make sure that we address all the concerns in talking to the planning commission and if there's anything left unressed, we'll we'll make sure that we finalize those before we take it to the town council for final approval. In terms of timeline, this is speculative. So, so let's let's not hold uh hold us to to this, but through this summer, we would like to have the uh the conditions and the final plat brought to the planning commission and then hopefully by fall have the the town
054approving uh of the final plat uh such that we can get in and start this utility work uh with the goal of getting Habitat for Humanity on site so that they can start building the homes for purchase. We know that those are the the the homes that have the greatest demand over rentals. Uh so we'd like to get them in as soon as possible. Habitat presently is engaged in building 10 homes at our gypsum site. So that's going to occupy their time for the next 12 to 14 months. So they don't have the ability to move down to Menturn uh to start building down there until those homes are done. So that gives us this window of 12 to 14 months uh to get the final plat to the planning commission to the town council
055and then work on getting utilities and infrastructure in place. So that means getting some roads in, getting utilities in so that Habitat can get in there uh when they're done with the gypsum project and start building those homes. There's a more detailed list in the notes for the board meeting where you can see the various conditions that we're trying to work through and some of our thoughts on that. Again, those are all tentative subject to conversations with the town of Menturn and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Uh Bryson or Joe, uh you guys have been working closely on this. Do you guys have anything you want to add or supplement that explanation? You can grab a microphone if you do, or you can just give a thumbs up and we'll the double thumbs up and we
056roll on. Okay. Board members, questions, concerns, thoughts? Okay, >> we'll keep rolling. >> Usually have questions later. >> Yeah. >> Thanks, Phil. >> Okay, >> Thank you, Phil. Um I actually I had a question about um the memo in the doc in the agenda. the proposed um condition for each um like requirement >> from the town. >> Is that um something that is already being negotiated or >> not yet? These are just our initial thoughts. >> Those are just your thoughts. Um, will we would should the would the board like to talk about these or is this something like so far off that we don't need to get into right now or um do do you need any help on any of this I guess is what I am asking. >> Yeah, we need help
057from Sean Hanigan >> and and and Joe and Bryson and and and we'll all be working together on this. >> All right. Um, at at this point, if you've seen anything in there that are proposed conditions that you think are way off base and and you don't really want us to go that route, please tell us now before we do start having those conversations. But these are initial thoughts of ours as well as as Tom Bruns. Uh, so trying to bring Sean up to speed on where we are with these various conditions and then he'll take these and start to work with the the the parties. >> Okay. So board members, just make sure you read through that carefully and let Phil know if you have any >> issues. All right. >> No, I just
058like to appreciate the fact that you're answering a lot of the community's questions too that >> things that have come up just random things or misinformation and just clarifying things that, you know, the park isn't going away. Um it actually is our park. It's not a town park. um you know that buildings will go there sooner or later. Looks like more later as the need comes. Um but I really appreciate answering all the community's questions and and filling us in along the way. That's great. >> Sure. We we've got a lot of neighbors down there. We've got 15 families that that presently live on site. Uh there are hundreds of people in in Menturn and and other places in the valley that travel to that uh to that park and and utilize it for the
059trails. Uh so we want to make sure that we address all their concerns. It's a gem uh in our community and we want to take care of it and make sure that we develop it in a responsible way. >> Yeah. So I'm just going to repeat after. So thanks. It was it there's a lot of clarification. you did answer a lot of questions >> that people are asking and I think that's what they need. Um, >> we'll keep going because what's the middle school do the Civil War enactment there? That's fun. >> Mhm. >> If you've ever been or participated in, do they still do that? >> I don't know. I don't know. >> That was blast. >> They do a lot of Nordic races there now. >> I Yeah, they do the Nordic, but
060we did the Civil War reenactment. I I got it dressed up and did it with the kids. It was awesome. >> Ask one quick question. Um so I see how we've got sort of the phases happening and numbers of units obviously ultimately meeting our max number of units. Um we're not necessarily I know we've talked about quite a few habitat homes. We're not necessarily like defining exactly what those units are at the moment. We're just going through like the phases of phase one, phase two, phase three, but we're not guaranteeing say in phase two that you know of those 48 units. We're not at the moment definitely saying that x number of habitat and x number of rentals or x number are we pigeoning our whole I mean are we having to make those decisions
061right now or is that kind of like 48 units and we can kind of figure out a little bit about how what those units are like based on kind of need as it goes maybe a new survey, you know what I mean? We have an initial contract with Habitat that defines the number of units that they would be developing. The final plat process requires us to get much more specific about that unit mix, how big they're going to be. Are we talking density of of of condos, uh, town homes, duplexes, triplexes, standalones, what what are we going to do? So, all that will come out in the final plat process. Um, I I think that there's some due diligence that the district needs to do in in coming months where we survey staff again and
062check what where are we in terms of need. Uh, and then once we get that data, we can determine how fast to to proceed with development of the rental units. And u, you know, the 40 that we just opened in in Gypsum, uh, initially we had 28 occupied on movein day. Uh but but last report and Joe you might need to help me on this one. I know that we had seven more move in uh in subsequent weeks which should leave five vacant at this point. Is that about right where we are? Yeah. So we still have five vacant. Uh but we know that there are many people who are in mid lease right now and it's a difficult time to to break a lease. So, we're anticipating that this summer we'll have folks moving
063into those final units either from breaking leases uh in existing um uh or or or not breaking but letting leases expire and then being able to move into our units or we can also be able to utilize those in our hiring process. So, for the first time we've got um some units that we can say when somebody asks do you have housing we can say yes we do. So excited excited for that. But I I think that tells us, you know, we do need to check um demand and and build responsibly. >> Well, thank you again, Phil. That was very informative. Um our last item for tonight, approval of rental rates for current Malloy Park residents, Mr. Bryson Beaver. Hello everyone. I'm here tonight to propose to the board an increase to rental rates on
064district-owned lots at Mallaloy Park. Um these increases would do a variety of things for us. The first would be to help cover rising utility costs in the area. Um the current rents do include multiple utilities and we've seen those costs increase in recent years. um as well as continue to allow the district, this increase would allow the district to continue to provide affordable housing opportunities for all staff. Um and we want to make sure that our housing fund and our housing program continues to be sustainable. Current rent in Malloy Park um for these trailers is 450 a month. Uh we would propose that effective July 1 that that rate would be increased by $100 a month to $550 a month. uh current residents would be given 90 days notice uh before the increases would go
065into effect. Um looking around the county at other trailer park rates, um the bare minimum that you're really seeing uh monthly is around 1,200 and that goes all the way up to 15 to,700 a month across the county. So, it's our belief that 550 a month um which includes a couple of utilities is still a great deal and a very affordable situation uh for our staff um and just allows us to continue to make that a sustainable option for us going forward. So, um that's our proposal. Um potential rental rate increases for other district-owned properties um like Miller Flats or Gypsum Flats um will have to be postponed. Um, the district's only allowed to raise rent once every 365 days and rental rates on those properties were raised uh October 1st, 2025. So, we will
066revisit that um later in the school year. But for now, Malloy Park rates have not been raised in well over a year. So, we're within our legal confines there. With that, I will open it up to any questions or feedback. When was the last time we were raised to the right moy? >> I believe it was two years ago. And before that, it hadn't been raised in many years. >> Yeah. I'm I'm just thinking that's still not bad. I mean, if I could I mean, I I guarantee most of those homes are already owned hopefully. And to for the lot rent, that's not bad. I grew up on a $200 lot, so um we'll see. Thanks, Bryson. >> Thank you, Juan. So, this is an action item. Would anyone like to make a motion? >>
067I move to approve the increase to Malloy Park lot rental rates as presented. Second. >> Thank you, Harry. And thank you, Gretchen. Natalia. >> Miss Alter. >> I. >> Miss Conlin. >> I. >> Miss Gloaki. >> I. >> Miss Hovie. >> I. >> Mr. McQueeny. >> I. >> Mr. Pñena. >> I. >> Thank you. The motion passes 6. >> Thank you, Natalia. >> Thanks, guys. >> Thank you, Bryson. So, um before we end tonight, um we have feedback and evaluation of the meeting where we evaluate the decisions that we've made and the advancements we've made towards district goals and um meeting student learning. Does anyone have anything to say this evening? Um, just I know we're not supposed to comment during uh public comment, but I would like to thank u Miss Johnson today for
068coming in and um honestly just being a parent uh coming in expressing her feelings to us. Um and you know it unless you're a parent and you don't say something, we can't do nothing. So thank you. >> Thank you one. Anyone else? >> All right. With that meeting adjourned.