001[music] Heat. Hey, Heat. Heat. [music] [music] Heat. [music] All >> [music] [music] >> right. Heat. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. [music] [music] Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Heat. [music] Heat. [music] [music] >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Woohoo! [music] Woohoo! [music] >> [music] [bell] [music] >> Hey. Hey. Hey. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. [music] [music] Heat. [music] >> [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. [music] [music] Heat. [music] >> [music] >> Come on. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. [music] [music] Heat. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> President Nash. >>
002Good afternoon and welcome to the work session for the board of education of Gley Evans School District 6. This meeting will now come to order. Miss Lemon, will you please call the role? >> Director Ozari, >> present. >> Director Bentley, >> present. >> Director Campus Bitsy, >> present. >> Director Mash, >> present. >> Director Matthews, >> present. Director Norwood, five board members present. Thank you. The first item on our agenda is our calendar review. And let's see, special events include the uh JOTC Marine Corps Ball. Uh 50th anniversary family night celebration for Shasheen. That will be fun to attend. Um and then Discover District 6 Academy. Is this the second um date of that? Okay. Um of course, CASBY convention and it's a week later than usual. So hopefully everyone has that blocked out. Um
003we look forward to a legislative preview when we get into January. Does anyone have anything to add or any RSVPs you're still missing? Have we checked in with new board member the newly the newly elected um for the CASBY >> who else really? >> Okay. We we haven't yet. >> Correct. >> Okay. Okay. Okay. Moving right along to board member comments. And as this is Mr. Matthew's last work session, would you like to go first? Mr. Matthew, >> go first. >> I don't know. Or maybe I should finish with I don't know. You go first so that nobody takes all the things you were going to talk about. [laughter] >> No, not a not a ton to to talk about. Did did get to go to to both Puffs and McBTH this uh this last
004weekend. Great shows both of them. Um cuz um yeah, we have such so many artistic and talented students in our district and and it is fun to watch them do what they do on stage and and you know, you watch them for for years sometimes and you think you've seen seen all that they can do and and then they continue to to surprise you with a with a new role and um the way that they do that. And so I really really enjoyed uh both of those. Not not a lot of other uh other events that that I've gotten to go to that I um but yeah, just um it's the last meeting. So uh it's been a it's been a fun it's been a fun eight years and um I will miss getting to
005we'll still go to Gley Central and Gley West, I'm sure. Uh but we'll miss getting to go to to so many of the other schools that I've gotten to go to. So that's all I have. Thank you, Mr. Aari. >> Thank you, President Mesh. I did attend a couple of events. Uh went to the Weld Community Foundation annual spread the good along with several of my other U board members and once again they put together a a very uh interesting presentation this time see featuring four singer songwriters. And uh that was like I said a very interesting uh presentation, very entertaining for a lunchtime uh get together. I also had the opportunity to attend the visit to the Gley West to Gley West High School and we had the opportunity to talk to many students
006there about uh both the IB program and the AVID program. And uh once again I agree with uh u Mr. Matthews, our students are very impressive, not just on stage, but just speaking with them in general in meetings like that. And then finally, I I did not get a chance to attend Mayor Gates's retirement celebration at Island Grove, but I did go uh to the one at the city, and uh he'll be missed as our mayor, and I want to thank him for the service that he had to our school district as well over the years as the security um the head of security for the district. And that's all I've got. >> Thank you, Dr. Campos Spitzy. So, um I also got to go to the Gley West High School visit and um we
007got to have a roundt with IB students and AVID students and it was really cool to hear them talk about how they do study group and their interactive notebooks and then to actually go into the classrooms and see the kids interacting with their notebooks and um just thought that was so awesome. Um what a great what a great new kind of initiative these interactive notebooks are. Um, I got to go to Island Grove and um, congratulate Mayor Gates on his retirement. Um, six years on city council, six years as mayor, um, and >> Eight and eight. Oh my gosh. Eight years in city council, eight years as mayor. [laughter] Um, and many of those years as our chief of safety and security. Um, and so cool for the mayor to have a front row seat
008on what's going on in K through 12. He would sit through all of these Monday meetings with us. Um yeah, we will miss having that close of a connection to our mayor in district 6. But um some announcements. So um not not something necessarily that needs to go on our calendar, but this Wednesday, the Gley Central High [clears throat] School Wildcats, um the boys soccer team will be in the semi-finals um at Trailblazer Stadium in Lakewood, Colorado, about an hour and a half south from here. Um the game is at 7:30. It's their semi-finals. If they win, they go to the state championship. Um the tickets are $12. You can only buy them online. Um no cash, like you can't pay cash um at the stadium. So um the Facebook page for Gley Central has
009a QR code and a link to buy those tickets if you want to go cheer on our boys. Um I was really impressed. This Saturday I got to go to the Hispanic Women of Wild County annual breakfast. were actually um Sarah Venegas who's the president of our council of student reps who I'm sure we'll hear talk later today about early college academy um she was awarded one of the traditional scholarships um but at the breakfast um it's catered by UNCC it was at the UNCC ballroom and Robbie Humphrey who is the goalie for the Gley Central soccer players was serving breakfast and the event started at 9 and I knew they had a a a soccer game in like Battle Mountain Um, and I was like, "Aren't you supposed to be on a bus, young
010man?" as he's serving my eggs and bacon. And he's like, "Yeah, I'm going to finish catering this event and then I'm going to go catch a bus [laughter] at 11 at Central." And um I think he highlights just how hardworking our our boys are. And I know >> [clears throat] >> um Alison Isager, who is the main shooter for the team, he works for his dad's roofing company and actually has to miss a lot of practice. um yet has led the team this far into into the semi-finals. And so anyway, just really proud of of our Gley Central soccer team and hope some of us can make it. It's going to be cold, so bring some blankets. Um, other things. Oh, besides Sara Venegas winning one of the scholarships for Hispanic women of Bald County,
011um, one of our student advocates at Gley Central, her name's Carla Gieres, who's um, she was one of the keynote speakers, I think, at the GAP graduation um, this last year. She was awarded a non-traditional scholarship because she's continuing her education. Um, and and just thought it was cool to celebrate District 6 at the Hispanic Women of W County breakfast. Um, I wanted to congratulate our new board members. So, Dina Lamos Garcia, Weston Edmonds, Robin Roie, um, and then our vice president, Kyle Bentley, for winning a re-election and and joining District 6 school board. And on that same ballot, we got to vote for Healthy Meals for All, and that passed as well, which I'm so excited about. Um, that we'll get to continue to offer free meals for our kids. Um, other awards I
012think I wanted to um on the intercom I noticed Franklin Middle Middle School, which is one of my schools that I'm an ABA ambassador for, won the distinguished kindness workplace, which I thought how wonderful to be to stand out for kindness. Um, so congratulations to the Franklin Middle School students and their staff for that and excited to celebrate Michael Matthews at the reception today and um hope that you that we indeed see you at Gley West and Gley Central and um that you you know email us as a concerned parent now [laughter] >> all the time all the time. >> All the time. >> Um but yes, excited to hear um some legislative update. I think that's what we have going on on the work session. Um, our superintendent's report highlighted that the governor is
013um investing in K through2 and um that's pretty exciting to see um that our our per pupil funding will increase by four $413. That'll bring the amount to 12,272 per pupil. So that was um promising. Um but as is stated in the report, many things can change. the proposed budget. >> Yes, that's the proposed budget. Many things can [laughter] change um over the legislative cycle, but we can be hopeful. [clears throat] >> Um and that wraps my comments up. >> Thank you, >> Vice President Bley. >> I don't know if there's any words left. She's she said them all. [laughter] >> I think you said that before. >> Um I also was able to attend the Weld County uh community foundation annual spread the good lunchon. It was it was really cool just to see
014the different stuff they do and the way they tied all that together with the the songs about community was was pretty fun. Um on 117 last Friday I got to go to the Gley area Chamber of Commerce. Uh they do a a monthly meeting. Uh it's more based in the Chamber of Commerce, so I'm usually there as a small business owner and a member of the chamber, but um this week's presenting um uh their topic was mental health in North Range. uh gave them a gave a presentation and and it was really cool to see their sheet on the on the big screen and and highlighting all the services they do and um to me it was very interesting to see what they do for our school. I knew we we have a collaboration and
015we do a lot with the with North Range, but just to actually see them detailed out as all the different services was was pretty neat to see to see and just a kind of a another, you know, out of the box reminder of of how much good we have going on in the district. And then I was also able to attend Mayor Gates's retirement party. So I just want to wish him happy retirement and thank him for all of his years of service. >> Thank you all. Um, as you all know, I have taken a few weeks off and I thank you all for your support and prayers and texts and checking in on me um as I was able to care for my mother and then and then lost her. So, I thank you
016all very much for just giving me that space and for um stepping in and answering emails and and all those kinds of things. So, um I am looking forward to continuing this semester and the and next semester and um all the good work that we're doing here. Um I was able to attend Gley West and just like my other board members said, what an amazing group of students. They're so astute. They seem to know themselves. you know, I was a terrible student. Then I joined AVID and even the first year I didn't really pay attention to AVID, but then I realized how beneficial it was to me. And so, um, it was great to get to get into the classrooms and just every time we're inside that building, what a blessing, what a beautiful building
017that is. And, um, again, we want to take every opportunity to thank our voters for passing the bond issue that led to that beautiful space. Um, also an enormous congratulations to Mayor Gates and I was able to to speak with him briefly. Um, I actually spoke before city council when he was a councilman back very long time ago and and appreciated um, just the attention he gave to every person who spoke. Um, also witnessed, you know, a meeting as a mayor. um and um just the kindness friend to all um you know be beautiful beautiful um support of of the city in every way. So I hope he does enjoy some fishing. I think he said maybe he was going to get back into We'll see what kinds of things he um enjoys in his
018retirement. Um okay, thank you for your comments. I think we'll move on to a legislative update from Mr. Fall. take one and pass it down. Thank you. >> Thank you, President Mash, members of the board. Dr. Pilch. Um, welcome back, President Mash and President Matthews. I hope you uh are appreciating that on your last meeting we're going to do another one of these legislative updates. >> Very much so. >> Um, so, uh, I wanted to just start off with a short debrief if anybody had if any of the directors had any comments, uh, surrounding we had legislators in our board meeting a few weeks ago, [clears throat] a few meetings ago. Um, I don't know if the board members had any um, feedback or any questions you had after meeting with um, state lawmakers or
019if you have any recommendations for me and an Barcelist moving forward in working with these folks. >> Maybe it might be helpful just really to hear from each one of you kind of your impressions if you're willing to do that. several of you shared with me individually and so I think it'd be good for you to hear from each other. >> Well, I'll just I'll just go ahead and say that I appreciated their a voiced commitment for public education and K12 education in the state of Colorado and I'm looking forward to uh hearing more from them uh in regards to that. Um, it's good to hear and I think that the state uh has uh made some positive strides in funding K12 education uh even though we have some uh big budgetary concerns going on
020in the state. So, I'm very appreciative of them being here and sharing those insights with us. So, I look forward, you know, I often go down to the legislature, as you know, Mr. Fallen. I'm looking forward to talking to them again about that. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> I thought it was really productive. Like before meeting them, I didn't know um is she Representative Lorie Garcia Sander? Um that she has a background in education. I had no idea. I knew her sister did, but I didn't know she did herself. And so it was informative for me um to get to know them a little bit more personally. >> I appreciate Oh, go ahead. No, sorry. Go ahead. >> I I appreciate it just the the kind of down toearness it it presented. A lot of
021times when you see these guys are they're in the middle of a campaign or they've got it something they're working on and so you get that version which is isn't the most productive. It's more of a an advertisement. So, I really like just the back and forth and the and the and the real conversation we had. Um, and just getting to know him a little better. >> And yeah, I would just say I appreciate their time. Uh, that's again, we we know what it's like. We get invited to a lot of different things and um, you know, to take a Monday night when you're so busy to come and and to hear from us. I I just appreciated that that these representatives uh really took the time and really seemed to listen to to our
022concerns and and what we uh what we value and hopefully hopefully they heard those and will represent us well. >> Well, thank you [clears throat] all and I felt like that was a really productive conversation as well. I don't know how much work it was for Miss Lemon to coordinate all of that, but perhaps we can continue to do something similar in future years, assuming that's not too much of an ask. I will add um Mr. Fall that I I do think that that that beginning to build that foundational relationship with them is really important and that um I think what we will want to do Nate is when it it's time for the maybe the CASBY day at the capital uh we could see who could go from our team and then we could
023reach out to them ahead of time and maybe plan to try to meet with them while we are there. Um or if there's another day that we're, you know, we're going to the Capitol that we could try to meet with with them down there on on their turf and and hear from them about what they're working on and maybe have an opportunity opportunity for some input. I do think it was really valuable. I think when elected officials get to talk to other elected officials, it does have a different um impression than just elected officials hearing from from a voter. >> [clears throat] >> Well, um, as with anything, please just reach out, um, if any thoughts come to mind. Uh, uh, just the second piece of this agenda, just so you're aware, the 2026 General
024Assembly session, uh, will start on January 14th. Um, so far, uh, I have seen one bill draft, uh, that will likely be introduced. It's called Enhanced Protections for 504 and K12 schools. Um, I've already reviewed this bill with some of our leadership, uh, district leadership team members. There are some concerns around this bill. So essentially given kind of what's going on with the federal government and kind of the dismantling of the US department of education which includes [clears throat] the office for civil rights OCR uh there are some folks in the state that are making some attempts to kind of create an OCR light that runs through CDE that essentially will review uh claims of discrimination as it relates to disability discrimination in schools. And so this bill essentially creates a whole kind of OCR
025department and CDE to review claims of discrimination, disability discrimination. Um the problem with this bill is it kind of establishes grievance procedures that aren't necessarily aligned with federal law. Uh it's kind of making some changes to how we're currently reviewing um students with disabilities and how we are to approach uh any disputes surrounding um families who have claims around the services that are being provided to their children. Um [clears throat] but nonetheless, this is something that I know um not just from a disability discrimination, but also from a race discrimination, they're looking for some adjustments to CDE's capacity to review claims of discrimination in Colorado, just given what's happening with the federal government. So, we'll be monitoring that bill. Um I find it to be a little bit concerning. um but certainly don't want to
026um prevent folks from raising concerns with an entity like CDE. Um but nonetheless, we want to make sure that if it is going to be passed, it's very much in alignment with federal law. And [clears throat] then just so you're all aware, um voters did approve those tax increases to sustain um free meals. So those are Prop L and MM. Um and that's really really good news for us. So, um, just a quick update on the federal government. We are at day 41 of the government shutdown. Uh, I was just looking right before this meeting. It looks like they might be having a vote today and that there is possible that the government shutdown will end today. So, we will see how that goes. Um, really, I think the immediate impact that we're seeing right
027now has to do a lot with SNAP benefits. Um, we know that in Rhode Island there was a court that uh had ordered the presidential administration to provide to fully fund SNAP. Um, right now it looks like they're only using about 65% of contingency funds. I think that the main concern for us uh and I would look to our director of finance. Um it has to do with direct certification uh might be one main issue uh that we're facing with um no SNAP benefits and I'm not sure if there's anything else really specifically that we're dealing with with the government shutdown um that's causing us any issues is from what I understand we haven't seen any direct issues um from the federal government shutdown and we're still receiving the funding um that we should be
028receiving. So, um there hasn't been any direct impact on district 6. Um but certainly we're continuing to monitor that. Uh there has been more layoffs in the federal government. Um just recently the US Department of Education lost an additional I think it was around 460 employees and that was 20% of the remaining workforce that they're down. Um so the um President Trump administration uh has been pretty committed to dismantling the US Department of Education uh and they seem to be making efforts towards um accomplishing that. The last piece that I thought was a little bit interesting with the federal government is they are proposing moving IDA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act from the US Department of Education to Health and Human Services to HHS. Um this is just a proposal, but certainly if they
029were to transfer um funding and oversight and compliance to HHS, that would be significant. Um, and that would fundamentally alter everything we know about special education monitoring, compliance, funding, and enforcement. Um, this is just a proposal. We don't know what's coming, but um, it seems like everything that this administration has promised, they've kind of delivered on. So, this does seem like a potential logical next step if the US Department of Education is in fact dismantled. So, that's everything I have for you all. I don't know if you have any thoughts or comments. >> Do you know I haven't been following the um the government shutdown too closely. Do you know with the vote today are is there going to be a compromise on on the Affordable Care Act? >> I think that's where the the
030compromise would need to be made. Um and so but I I'm not I haven't read enough detail to know what what concessions each side is making on that, but I think that's kind of was the last thing that was holding them up. And then I I think I've highlighted this at a previous work session, but um I think it s it it obviously sounds a little scary for the Department of Education um to be dismantled and especially how that might impact IDA. Um but IDA existed before the Department of Education. And so I think that helps calm, you know, some fears for me at least. The the IDA hasn't always been under the Department of Ed and um [laughter] existed before the DOE and so I think and hope that it will continue to exist
031and be funded and be staffed appropriately. >> Yeah. >> ETA. >> That's a really good point. So, so the question is um what what would that uh >> how does that impact us? I mean theoretically if not any other way of looking at it here on the ground if the department of education is taken away. >> I don't think we know. And it's funny because when we met today we said there's just so much that is unknown here. I mean we we really don't know. It would depend on what gets pushed to the state, you know, and and funding that comes from the federal level, for example. Will that that funding get pushed out to the state or will it just be no more? And uh but I think some of the examples are like
032the Office of Civil Rights. We're already seeing the impact of that that they're terribly behind. They there's no one to take phone calls. um because all all the work from the Office of Civil Rights has been pushed out to the state level or or the regional level even and so I think we don't we don't know. >> I'm sorry. [snorts] >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> I think that's probably one of the worst things about it >> that you can't plan. >> Yeah. I think I think I I'll just say and this is my opinion. Um I I think the the thing we need to really pay close attention to is um very well-meaning legislators in the state of Colorado believing that because the Department of Ed might need to be eliminated that there are
033there are additional laws that they would need it put into place or or additional requirements that they would put on the Colorado Department of Ed. kind of like um the enhanced protections for 504 and K12 schools would be. And I think we need really pay attention to that and and be really cognizant of what might be being proposed that could have an impact financially on the state of Colorado, which could then take away from state funding or could have an impact on on us and our work load and our uh work delivery as well as that of the the Department of Education. And and I say that when I say very well-meaning legislators, I mean that. I mean, I think it would be because they are trying to protect something or provide a service they're
034worried about losing. And I think we just have to pay really close attention and help, you know, be really well informed and help inform our legislators on what really is is or is not helpful. Is that fair to say, Nate? Any other questions or comments? >> I was just curious how it works. You've you've already seen a drafted bill. So, do they draft bills when they're out of session? >> This is the time of season where the bills get drafted and they start trying to find sponsors for bills. Um, and so yeah, there's a lot of kind of stakeholder work that's happening behind the scenes right now so that they're ready to introduce bills by the time January rolls around. >> Okay. >> So, if you have any laws that you want to change, today's
035the day to >> Oh, today the suggestions. [laughter] >> Let's see. >> Okay. Well, thank you very much. >> All right. I guess we will debrief the work session. We'll start with you, Dr. Campos Spency. Sure. Um, that was very helpful. Thank you, Nate. Uh, I agree with Director Azari. Uncertainty is never a fun feeling. Um, but I know that our team is is staying on top of it. And um, Mr. Fall was even checking whether um, we the federal shutdown had resolved right before this meeting. So maybe by the end of our business meeting >> um, that we'll have had resolution with that. But yes, informative. Thank you so much, >> Mr. Ozari. >> Well, as always, uh I really appreciated having a legal counsel to interpret everything that's going on. Uh even if
036there is no way to interpret what is going on, I still appreciate it. Uh, but I know that we have a good team and good staff and um and we do have people in the state who do care deeply about K12 and so we will continue to work our way through that and uh uh thanks again um Mr. Matthews for your service to the board and I know this is your last work session with us. I appreciated having the time to work with you. Thank you >> Mr. Matthews, >> you Mr. Rosari and all of you. >> Um, thank you, Mr. Fall, for for the update. I do appreciate that we got a legal update on my last work session. Um, [laughter] and and I say that because we didn't we didn't always uh we
037did not have this position when I started on the board. Uh, I forget that sometimes, but uh we did not have an attorney uh in-house attorney in our district when I started on the board. and and we did not uh it was board members did a a good job I would say of informing us but we did not have the kind of uh information that we now have about what's happening at the both the federal and the state uh level and [clears throat] so it's been been a great benefit the last uh few years to to have that and to know and to know what we should be paying attention to and what we should be reading more about and what we should um how we can advocate for for public education specifically at the
038state level. And so uh I very much appreciate it. So thank you Mr. Fall and um appreciate you guys as always and in the work session, your professional uh conduct and the way that you that you handle it, President Mash. So thank you. >> Yeah, ditto. Thanks, Nate. It's always good. Um, and I just want to, you know, make sure on record I thank Michael for all of his leadership and stuff over the years as we navigated uh come on the board during kind of a t tumultuous time and just having his sound voice was was very good and just helped us through some rocky roads. So, appreciate everything and I'm sure we'll be seeing around. >> I feel like I need to ask you for like that nugget of advice for the [laughter] what's
039the the one thing put you on the spot. The one thing. >> The one thing. >> Yeah. What's the secret to your [laughter] success? No. Um I also wanted to say thank you to Mr. Fall. Um it's always informative um to have your perspective and and kind of just helping us with next steps and how we can be involved. And yes, Mr. Matthews, we it will feel odd. I've been on the board my entire time with you, so it will feel odd not to have you here. Do you want to give us the secret to your success or or your one piece of advice for us moving forward? >> One piece of advice. Um [laughter] >> um I don't know. That's um you know, having been the president for six years, I I got to
040uh I got to talk a lot. Uh and it's been nice. I'm very appreciative that uh that Natalie is now the president and I don't have to have to talk quite so much. Um um I guess the the one thing the one thing that I remember and and the one thing that I I would encourage us uh to remember and hopefully our community to remember that uh when I was uh in 2016 when we when we did not pass EMLO um so we've passed it twice now but but there was a year where we didn't and in that year um when we didn't pass it. Someone someone wrote an an op-ed to the Tribune and said something like something to the effect that um you know when when I was raising kids, we we bought
041our own kids computers and we we bought our own kids paper uh we bought our own kids, you know, we we paid for our own kids. And what struck me and then and what has stuck with me uh for for eight or nine years now uh is is that they're all our kids. And yeah, I I think that that's if I could leave um [clears throat] the district u one thing to remember is that they're all our kids and we have incredible kids in this district. Uh we hear so many great great stories about kids that save companies um you know $100,000 or or kids that you know are um they're the person walking their parent through um through an addiction because they've already conquered addiction and and there are so many amazing things that
042our kids do. And um and what has the other thing that's happened for me in 8 years is I've realized they don't they don't stay kids very long. Um I started with with four about to be five and now I'm down to two kids in the district. And um yeah, the these kids they won't be kids very long. pretty soon they will be the people that are that are taking care of us and um you know they will they will be wiring our houses or they will be um welding whatever it is that that we need welded um or or they'll be the person uh on the other side of a needle and and we need them to be good. Um this community needs them to be good. They're all our kids. And I appreciate
043this district uh in this community's that that that's a my that guy's a minority opinion that this is um um uh the majority of this community has been so supportive and and the dedication that I've I've witnessed in this district from um from the bus drivers to to the teachers to the principles to the uh to all of you and and the superintendent. Um it's it's an amazing thing to have gotten to witness. So um yeah, feel very very blessed to have had the opportunity. Thank you, President Mash. >> I'm sorry to put you on the spot, but I'm just greedy for one more um inspirational nugget and thank you. We're all better for remembering that. So, thank you very much. We look forward to celebrating you with our community downstairs. Um this meeting is
044now adjourned. [music] >> [music] [music]