Meetings

Colorado Springs School District 11

REGULAR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

Tesla Auditorium, 2560 International Circle, CSC 80910
Call to Order at 5:30 p.m. followed by Executive Session. Regular Meeting Begins at 6:30 p.m.
April 22, 2009
6:30 PM
Back Print
A. PRELIMINARIES
A.1 - Call to Order -
A.2 - Roll Call -
 
Roll Call
Charles Bobbitt, Director
John Gudvangen, Treasurer
Tami Hasling, President
Sandra Mann, Director
Bob Null, Director
Tom Strand, Vice-President
Janet Tanner, Secretary
A.3 - Moment of Silence -
A.4 - Adoption of the Agenda -
 
The agenda presented to the Board in the Board’s packet will be considered for approval at this time. A Board Director or the Superintendent may request to, add, delete or table an item, i.e., an emergency school closure approval action that is in accordance with Policies. Board Directors shall make a separate motion for each item they seek to have added, deleted, or tabled. Reordering items on the agenda requires approval of a single motion with a majority vote of the quorum present.

A Board Director’s request that a non-emergency item be added to the agenda, as action shall require for approval a two-thirds majority of the entire Board. The Director making the request shall provide a copy of the motion and materials to all Board Directors.
 
A Board Director’s request that a non-emergency item be added to the agenda, as non-action shall require for approval a majority of the quorum present. The Director making the request shall provide a copy of the motion and materials to all Board Directors.
  Recommendation 
That the Board of Education adopts the agenda, as presented (and/or amended).
A.5 - Executive Session -
  The Board of Education may, under state statutes, go into Executive Session to discuss matters pertaining to:
1) property transactions [per C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(a)] [particular matter:];
2) X legal advice [per C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(b)] [particular matter: Negotiations, Current Superintendent's Contract];
3) security arrangements or investigations [per C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(d)] [particular matter:];
4) X negotiations [per C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(e)] [particular matter: Negotiations/Meet & Confer];
5) X personnel [per C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(f)] [particular matter: Personnel, Current Superintendent's Contract];
6) individual student(s) [per C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(h)] [particular matter: ]; 7) documents that may not be disclosed under the Colorado Open Records Act [per C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(g)] [particular matter ]; and 8) matters required to be kept confidential by state or federal law [per C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(c)][specific legal citation:].

Executive Session from approximately 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. The Board of Education will reconvene into regular session at approximately 6:30 p.m.
  Recommendation 
To convene into Executive Session. The Board of Education may, under state statutes, go into Executive Session to discuss matters pertaining to property transactions, legal advice, security arrangements or investigations, negotiations, personnel, individual students, documents that may not be disclosed under the Colorado Open Records Act and matters required to be kept confidential by law.
A.6 - Pledge of Allegiance -
  The Board of Education invites the public in attendance to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
A.7 - Good Things -
  District 11 Fine Arts Facilitator Wins National Award
        
Tom Fleecs, District 11 fine arts coordinator, has been recognized by the National Federation of High School Music Associations with their Outstanding Music Educator Award. The award acknowledges and thanks Tom for his outstanding service and unselfish devotion to interscholastic music programs.          

Mr. Fleecs has served as the district’s fine arts coordinator since 1998, and under his leadership, D-11 students have performed with the National Honor Orchestra, the National Repertoire Orchestra and the Midwest Clinic in Chicago. District 11 students are also proud winners of several gold awards from the nationally based Heritage Festival.         

Mr. Fleecs belongs to several different committees for the advancement of music and education at local, state and national levels. He has held executive positions with the Colorado Association for Music Curriculum and Instruction and the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony. He was a presenter at the Colorado Music Educators Clinic Conference and a facilitator for the 2008 National Performing Arts Convention in Denver.

Presenter:  Mr. Mike Poore
A.8 - Modification of the Agenda -
 
A Board Director, by a motion, or the Superintendent (via a recommendation for a motion), may cause the modification of the previously approved agenda only for the following reason:

Required action following discussion in Executive Session.
  Recommendation  That the Board of Education adopts the agenda modifications.
A.9 - Citizen Comments -
 
The Board as a representative body of the District wishes to provide an avenue for any citizen to express his/her interest and concerns for the schools. Accordingly, the public is cordially invited to attend Board meetings. Meetings of the Board are conducted for the purposes of carrying on the business of the Board and are closed to the public only during executive sessions. There are three 20-minute time periods designated for Citizens’ Comments:

1.) During the Preliminaries section of the agenda, as the last item before the start of the Consent Items for the purpose of addressing other concerns that are not Action or Non-Action items on the agenda,
2.) At the beginning of Action for the purpose of addressing action items only, and
3.) At the beginning of Non-Action for the purpose of addressing Non-Action items only.
 
Except when otherwise specified by the Board President, comments by individual citizens in a given time period shall be limited to three minutes with a 30-second warning on the time limit.
 
In order that the Board may fairly and adequately discharge its overall responsibilities, citizens who wish to make requests, representations or proposals to the Board are requested to direct these to the Superintendent, who will deal with them according to the regulations approved by the Board. Ref: Policy BEDH/BEDH-R.

B. CONSENT ITEMS
B.1 - Adoption of Consent Items - 2 minutes
 

Consent items are placed in the consent portion of the agenda.  If board members have any questions concerning these items, they should be directed to the Superintendent or designee prior to the board meeting.  If discussion is required on any one of the items, it may be removed from the consent agenda. Those items indicated as being consent items will be adopted by one single motion unless a member of the board requests an item be removed from the consent agenda.
Ref. Page:

 Recommendation 

To adopt all consent items as designated in the agenda. Consent items: 

  • B.2. Minutes of Board Meetings
B.2 - Approval of Board Meeting Minutes
 Ref. Pages: Under Separate Cover
 Recommendation That the Board of Education approves the minutes of the April 8, 2009, regular board meeting. All minutes are available on the district website after approval by the Board of Education.
C.ACTION ITEMS
C.1 - Citizens' Comments
 
The Board as a representative body of the District wishes to provide an avenue for any citizen to express his/her interest and concerns for the schools. Accordingly, the public is cordially invited to attend Board meetings. Meetings of the Board are conducted for the purposes of carrying on the business of the Board and are closed to the public only during executive sessions. There are three 20-minute time periods designated for Citizens’ Comments:

1.) During the Preliminaries section of the agenda, as the last item before the start of the Consent Items for the purpose of addressing other concerns that are not Action or Non-Action items on the agenda,
2.) At the beginning of Action for the purpose of addressing action items only, and
3.) At the beginning of Non-Action for the purpose of addressing Non-Action items only.
 
Except when otherwise specified by the Board President, comments by individual citizens in a given time period shall be limited to three minutes with a 30-second warning on the time limit.
 
In order that the Board may fairly and adequately discharge its overall responsibilities, citizens who wish to make requests, representations or proposals to the Board are requested to direct these to the Superintendent, who will deal with them according to the regulations approved by the Board. Ref: Policy BEDH/BEDH-R.

C.2 - Contract Awards
 The purpose of this agenda item is to have a standing agenda item in place on a continual weekly basis. This agenda item will be used for capital investment and other contracts. Timing of contract actions is such that it will require continual expeditious board approval of contracts. Some weeks will not have any contracts, while many other weeks will have lists of proposed contracts for board approval. Each week a reference will be submitted listing any proposed contract actions with appropriate information. Solicitation documents and information about each procurement action are available for examination and review in the Business Office.
C.3 - Budget Transfers, Appropriations and FTE Approvals
 

Board Policy DBJ-Budget Transfers requires the board to approve budget transfers for any fund when: (1) the aggregate amount to be transferred to support any line item, single issue or purpose exceeds $100,000; or (2) the accumulation of budget transfer needs is expected to significantly impact the annual budget; or (3) transfers from one major function category to another major function category exceed $20,000 or (4) strategic plan resource allocations need to be re prioritized. Board approval is also required for general fund contingency transfers over $50,000, or in the event the contingency reserve will be reduced by more than 25% for the fiscal year. Board policy DBJ also states that all capital reserve fund project budget appropriations shall be approved by the board; therefore, any transfer of unspent, or unencumbered monies to other projects, shall be approved by the board. CRS-32-109 (1) (f) (l) states the Board of Education has the specific duty to employ all personnel...and to fix and order paid their compensations. Since the budgetary impact of adding a new position must first be considered prior to the hiring process, Board approval is required when there is a proposed change to the authorized staffing level. 

C.4 - Designation of Official Posting Location for Board of Education Meetings & Notices - 10 minutes
 Colorado law and the Board of Education bylaws require that the Board designate a public place or places for posting notices of Board meetings each year at the Board’s first regular meeting during the calendar year.

The Board of Education Office will be re-located to the Galileo School during the renovation of the main administration building; therefore, board meeting notices, agendas and other official notices will need to be posted at this temporary location.
 Recommendation That the Board of Education designates an area outside the boardroom at 1115 N. El Paso Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903, as the official location for posting notices of the remaining Board meetings for 2008-09, effective April 22, 2009, as submitted by the Administration. 
C.5 - Personnel Recommendations - 2 minutes
 The Division of Human Resources provides for consideration a list of Personnel Recommendations. The Board may remove an individual personnel recommendation for separate consideration by amending the original motion to approve the recommendation list.

Presenters: Dr. Thurman/Mr. Schenkel
Ref. Pages: 20-31
 Recommendation That the Board of Education approves the April 22, 2009, Personnel Recommendations, as submitted by the Administration.
C.6 - Proposed Boundary Recommendations - 60 minutes
 These are the recommended boundary changes needed to implement the Utilization Plan changes for school year 2009-10. As such they are only for the elementary and middle school levels and do not include changes for any K-8 implementation or high schools.

Presenters: Dr. Thurman/Mr. Poore/Mr. Gustafson/Mr. Bernhard/Mr. Bair
Ref. Pages: 32-44
 Recommendation 
  1. That the Board of Education approves the proposed boundary changes for various elementary and middle schools as presented.
  2. That the Board of Education approves the proposed transported area changes for various elementary and middle schools as presented.
C.7 - FY09-10 Preliminary Budget Development Assumptions - 30 minutes
 Each year prior to preparing the proposed budget document the Budget Office provides preliminary budget information to the Board of Education for approval. 
 
Presenter: Ms. Kluck
Ref. Pages: 45-47
 Recommendation That the Board of Education approves the revised preliminary budget development assumptions as presented on April 22, 2009, by the administration.
C.8 - Instructional Materials & Secondary Courses Approval - 20 minutes
 Instructional Materials
Executive Summary

The Board of Education has the responsibility to adopt textbook materials, periodicals, newspapers, computer software, and content posters. The adoption of new instructional materials originates at the site based on identified curricular needs. The process is progressive in that it originates with an individual staff member. The department chairperson or elementary principal reviews the proposed media. The appropriate curriculum committee reviews the instructional materials and asks a citizen to review and make a written recommendation. The curriculum committee recommends the instructional materials for general or specific use and then submits the instructional materials for recommendation to the appropriate content area facilitator. Once the appropriate facilitator approves the instructional materials, a request for adoption is made to the Deputy Superintendent.  

All instructional materials submitted for adoption have completed the required process as specified in the Board of Education policy IJJ-R. The Textbook Selection and Adoption policy states “The Board will receive requests to adopt titles recommended by the curriculum committees along with the citizens’ comments and the curriculum committee’s analysis of the citizens’ comments.”

Secondary Courses
Executive Summary 

The Board of Education is required by state statutes to determine the educational programs delivered to the schools of the district. The development of new courses is driven by educational needs at school sites. The process is progressive in that it originates at the school with identified student needs. A proposed course is then reviewed by the building principal. The proposal moves to the appropriate curriculum committee where it is approved or not approved based on the following:

1.         Relationships to content standards and benchmarks
2.         Assessment procedures
3.         Instructional strategies and objectives
4.         Materials and resources

Once approved by the curriculum committee, the appropriate Curriculum Facilitator signs the course approval and submits it to the Deputy Superintendent of Educational Support Services for approval.

All course proposals submitted for approval or deletion have completed the required process of the Division of Educational Support Services. Board of Education Policy IGA (Curriculum Development) states that “Curriculum development shall be the responsibility of the professional staff… under the direction of the Deputy Superintendent…After planning by the faculty and approval by the administration, new courses shall be presented to the Board for its approval/disapproval.” Policy IGD (Curriculum Adoption) states that “all new programs and courses of study, as well as the elimination or extension of the content of current programs, shall be presented by the superintendent/designee to the Board for its consideration and action.”
Presenters: Mr. Poore/Mr. Malone
Ref. Pages: 48-49
 Recommendation Instructional Materials

The instructional materials on the enclosed list of materials have been selected and recommended for adoption according to Board of Education Policy IJJ-R. These materials include textbooks, periodicals, newspapers, computer software, and content posters. 

Secondary Courses  

The Division of Educational Support Services presents new, changed and/or deleted courses, as attached, which have been developed according to Board of Education Policy IG and IGD. These courses are designed to support the needs of secondary students and are related to content standards and benchmarks.
D.NON-ACTION ITEMS
D.1 - Citizens' Comments
 
The Board as a representative body of the District wishes to provide an avenue for any citizen to express his/her interest and concerns for the schools. Accordingly, the public is cordially invited to attend Board meetings. Meetings of the Board are conducted for the purposes of carrying on the business of the Board and are closed to the public only during executive sessions. There are three 20-minute time periods designated for Citizens’ Comments:

1.) During the Preliminaries section of the agenda, as the last item before the start of the Consent Items for the purpose of addressing other concerns that are not Action or Non-Action items on the agenda,
2.) At the beginning of Action for the purpose of addressing action items only, and
3.) At the beginning of Non-Action for the purpose of addressing Non-Action items only.
 
Except when otherwise specified by the Board President, comments by individual citizens in a given time period shall be limited to three minutes with a 30-second warning on the time limit.
 
In order that the Board may fairly and adequately discharge its overall responsibilities, citizens who wish to make requests, representations or proposals to the Board are requested to direct these to the Superintendent, who will deal with them according to the regulations approved by the Board. Ref: Policy BEDH/BEDH-R.
D.2 - Consideration of the District's Hearing Impaired Program - 20 minutes
 During the February 25, 2009, regular meeting the Board of Education approved closing Jefferson Elementary and moving the Hearing Impaired program from Jefferson to the Stratton site effective August 1, 2009. 

Additionally, at the April 8, 2009, regular meeting, the Board of Education approved the appropriation and transfer of $1,140,000 from the general fund contingency reserve with the additional requirement that the contingency reserve be replenished by $1,140,000 from the reutilization savings as soon as practicable. The detail was amended by removing the $10,000 for the Stratton hearing impaired improvement. 

Administration will present a recommendation regarding the location of the District's Hearing Impaired Program.
E.REPORTS AND DISCUSSION ITEMS
E.1 - Superintendent/Administrative Reports
 

This agenda item is reserved for presentations, status reports, and announcements to the Board by the Superintendent and the Administration that have not been provided as information only in the Board packets. Unless otherwise directed by the Board, annual and standing reports not requiring Board action are to be provided in hard copy for information only in the Board Director packets. The superintendent has the opportunity to report on a range of topics during this time.

E.2 - Other Discussion Items
 
Board members will have the opportunity for open discussion.
E.3 - Board Subcommittee Reports
 
Board members will have the opportunity to report on their respective subcommittees.
F.FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
F.1 - New Agenda Items from Board Discussion
 
Board members have the opportunity to bring forward items for a future agenda.
F.2 - Magnet School Concepts - TBD
 

Magnet School Concepts will be presented sometime after the November elections.

G.FUTURE WORK SESSIONS LIST REVIEW AND DISCUSSION FOR ADDITIONAL WORK SESSIONS ITEMS
G.1 - April 29, 2009, Work Session
 Work Session Topics: Project Now and Response to Intervention (RtI) and Positive Behavior Support (PBS)
H.ADMINISTRATION’S TASK LIST REVIEW AND UPDATE
H.1 - Task List Review 2 minutes
 
The Administration Task List consists of requests from Board directors for information/analysis within specified time lines and will be reviewed and updated during this time. These requests should primarily be tasking for information/analysis and should not be for the scheduling of future agenda items. A recommendation should be included with the task for the purpose indicating as whether or not it needs to be included on the Calendar. Items may be added to the task list with the agreement of four Board Directors as indicated by head nods.
Ref. Pages: 58-62
I.CALENDAR REVIEW AND UPDATE
I.1 - Calendar Review 2 minutes
 

The Board's Calendar will be reviewed and updated during this time.

Items may be added to the Calendar with the agreement of four Board Directors as indicated by head nods.

To look at district events and to access the District Calendar go to our home page at www.d11.org. On the left hand side of the screen, click on Calendars, then D11 Calendars. In the center of that page, in the drop down box, select District Calendar.

Upcoming meetings/events (tentative) refer to the attached Master Planning Calendar:

  • April 22, 2009, regular meeting
  • April 29, 2009, work session
  • May 6, 2009, regular meeting
  • May 13, 2009, work session/retreat
  • May 20, 2009, regular meeting

Ref. Pages: 63-75

J.ADJOURNMENT