I'd like to call to order this regular
meeting of the Boulder Valley School
District for Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
Board members may attend and participate
in board meetings electronically in
accordance with board policy BMEA in
state law. Laura, can you please call
the role?
>> Booker
>> here.
>> Chavez
>> here.
>> Medler
>> here.
Quinn Linua
>> here.
>> Raj Paul
>> here. Tuading
>> here. Anger
>> here.
>> Thank you.
>> I'd like to turn everyone's attention
encourage everyone to turn their
attention to the screen for our land
acknowledgement this morning.
The Boulder Valley School District
resides and operates on land that is the
ancestral homeland and unjustly and
illegally taken territory of the Ute,
Queblin, Arapjo, Cheyenne, Apache,
Navajo, and 48 other nations
historically tied to this land who have
called this land home since time and
memorial.
We acknowledge the atrocities committed
here, including the painful history of
genocide, forced assimilation, and
efforts to alienate the indigenous
inhabitants from their homeland
supported by the policies of the United
States government.
BBSD is aware of the many indigenous
peoples past and present and their
dignified nations and cultures who care
for this land with strength and
resilience.
BBSD recognizes the histories of the
land in Colorado and the survival of
many nations that carried their
traditions into the present.
It is BBSD's responsibility to educate
ourselves, our community, and our
students so that we can embrace the
wisdom and knowledge of indigenous
peoples
and actively stand together to address
justices.
In offering this land acknowledgement,
we affirm and honor the history, wisdom,
oral traditions, and resilience of
indigenous people, and recognize the
responsibility to care for and
appreciate this land together.
>> I'd like to remind everybody that the
mission of the Boulder Valley School
District is to create challenging,
meaningful, and engaging learning
opportunities so that all children
thrive and are prepared for successful,
civically engaged lives. Good morning,
everybody. We're glad to have you
observe and participate in our meetings.
At this time, is there a motion to
approve this morning's agenda? Moved by
Anna, seconded by Deianne. Laura, can
you please call the role?
>> Uh, yes. Chavez,
>> yes. Medler.
Medler,
you're muted.
>> Quinnland Aa.
>> Yes.
>> Raj Paul. Yes. Tamuading.
>> Yes.
Anger.
>> Yes.
>> Motion passes.
>> Board members, we will now move on to
the work session portion of this
morning's agenda. I'm going to turn it
over to Dr. Anderson for introductions.
>> Thank you, board president Raj Paul.
Good morning, everyone. Uh good to see
you all. Um thanks for being able to
join us virtually. uh for those of you
that are virtually uh as we do every
semester, but we are going to be working
through our board prioritization process
uh for our next semester, which is in
fall 2026.
Board members, uh we'll do a quick
check-in. We'll review uh the agenda
setting items from this semester. Um and
then we're going to be building out our
board not finalizing 2025 but 2026
priorities. So I apologize for that
typo.
Yeah, the down arrow would be the right
arrow. Thanks. Appreciate that. uh you
know as we do uh and as we do at each
board meeting and I think it's important
to do uh here as well just reviewing the
vision and the mission of our school
district uh you know the mission of the
bully school districts to create
challenging meaningful engaging learning
opportunities so all children thrive and
are prepared for successful civically
engaged lives and I'm very proud to the
extent that we are doing that each and
every day here in BBSD
as a reminder before we uh we get into
the prioritization
um four uh strategic objectives. Uh
these are aligned to our UIP. Uh and
these are this is the work that we've
been doing over the past couple of
years. Uh no limits, making sure all
students have access to grade level
standards and instruction. Next best
step being very focused on ensuring all
students get the tiered support they
need to be successful. uh defining the
destination with uh just increased
opportunities uh around post-secondary
readiness and making sure that all of
our students feel valued and included in
that as a system we are culturally
competent.
And as just a reminder, um,
we've also defined we're going to be
defining success by these outcomes.
Achievement growth, especially for our
historically marginalized groups. Uh,
making sure that students get the
interventions that they need. Making
sure that we're proportionate for
students that are identified for special
education and gifted and talented.
making sure that that more students
graduate and obtain at least one grad
plus recognition. And as a reminder,
we're over 90% um for the class of 2026,
which is really, really great. Uh
continuing to work on our discipline
framework, making sure that we're
increasing the fidelity and uh
decreasing out of school suspensions
while reducing proport
disproportionality.
So, as uh before we get in, Heather, I
don't know if I have a slide on here for
a board checkin. Um if if we wanted to
do maybe a quick whip around check in
see how folks are doing.
>> I know that. So uh why don't we do that
and then we could talk about the
semester ahead.
>> And as a general rule board first of all
good morning. Um hello online friends.
Um uh love to hear look like to look
back and look forward.
>> Oh sorry thank you. Looking back um love
to hear uh things that you feel really
good about that you did last semester.
uh things that were accomplished, maybe
things that you heard from students or
parents or teachers or what have you,
and then looking forward like what's on
your mind um for the semester or the
year that lies ahead. Um and we can go
in any order. I'd love to take
volunteers. Um anyone want to go first?
Look back, look forward.
>> Thank you. Such a hero.
>> Yeah, thanks for the opportunity for
this. You know, it's it's been a a busy
year already, right? This this year was
very busy. Um, I'm I've been really
pleased with the community engagement
level that we've had. I mean, we've
talked to a lot of community members, a
lot of teachers, a lot of families, and
and got a lot of insight in terms of
kind of what priorities are, and it's
been a lot of work for the
administration, for the for the staff.
They've done a tremendous job. It has
been a lot of work.
Looking forward,
the harder work and more work is coming.
So, this this is like the tip of the
iceberg. It's kind of how I see it. And
so I know in terms of the changes that
are coming, the decisions that we have
to make and the ways in which we can
support our students and families with
those changes, it's going to be really
challenging. And so I have that really
top of mind of staying on track with
that while making sure that we don't
forget about our objectives and
strategic plan is going to be really
challenging with other things that
inevitably pop up.
>> Love it. Thank you.
>> Let's see. Looking back, I'm starting to
feel like I have my um sea legs on a
little bit and I know which direction
I'm headed and that feels really good.
So, thank you for everybody here who's
helped me to learn about what this role
really entails and um has challenged me
to um to do some other things as well.
Uh I really appreciate the board itself.
I've been thinking a lot about how lucky
the district is to have a incredibly
smart, wellthinking board who really
does want the best for all kids. So, I
feel lucky to be part of this group. Um,
looking forward, like Jorge, I'm uh
anxious
about what the fall will bring uh
because I feel like that's a big
variable.
um we don't know how our community is
exactly going to react to whatever is
proposed for changes and um I still
think we're doing the right method of
taking it slow. Nobody's going to be in
the new school when they're complaining
if they're complaining. So that'll be
that'll be better. Um and um I would
also like to say I really appreciate
some of our uh people who are on the
executive team I think who have really
helped us like um Bill Sutter. I want to
just shout out that um he's been a
really important person and helping me
understand um where the district is
going financially and the problems that
we have. So, um, I wanted to shout out
to Bill and thank you all for everything
you all the gifts you gave to me in
learning how to do this role.
>> I can go next. I
uh had a really great first semester of
being on the board. Uh, getting to learn
um to know everybody and learn all of
the different facets of the district. Um
I uh because of my background having
worked in uh immigration policy um I
knew some teachers that instantly
invited me to their FETSS and that was
really great to get to to listen to and
hear from the parents right away. Um
last uh board meeting I mentioned just
how spoiled I felt of the community
engagement that I was able to to receive
and the community input that I was able
to receive. Um, one of the best things
that I saw this past semester is just
the um, attentiveness, intentionality,
and the rapid response when there is a a
greater need to engage deeper into
specifically Spanish-sp speakaking
families. Um, and I know that that is
coming even more so as we continue the
work in declining enrollment. Um
that is one of the things that I am
looking forward to the most and know
that um I am willing to take on um
whatever engagement or outreach or
additional support that the district
needs in order to make sure that we are
fulfilling that and living up to that
during um our decision making on
declining enrollment. Um, I am also
really super looking forward to I know
I've floated the idea of um hosting um
the commission on higher education here
at the district which is a a commission
that I serve on. Um, and I've uh talked
to Rob. I've also talked to um uh the
president at the department and they are
both really excited to be able to host
that sometime in the next um semester
coming up. And so we have our our
retreat uh at CSU in July and then um
the department of higher education is
also um becoming a new department with
uh the workforce development um uh the
state's workforce development. So it's
really just like a new goal of becoming
more um succinct and cohesive of how we
get um our students from cradle to
career. And so I'm even more excited to
be able to bring a lot of those new
folks that are going to be within the
department um to the district to really
get to know the district a little bit
better and hopefully to get um the board
to know the department a little bit
better as well and have more of that
open dialogue and um and conversation.
So that those are two things that I'm
looking forward to next semester.
I think for me the looking backward
looking forward are very similar. I just
am endlessly appreciative of the way in
which our board and our administration
have been able to
take on really big things this year. I
mean progress of the strategic plan,
curriculum rollouts, declining
enrollment, it it takes it's it takes a
lot to do to make any one significant
change and to be a willingness to take
on several simultaneously. union
negotiations um shows that we are we
continue to be committed to our the
mission and the vision of this school
district and really doing everything we
can within our means to do what is best
for our students and for our staff. And
I think optimistic and um happy that
that that all of that effort that we've
put in trusting each other really
leaning on best practice doing what's
right for our stakeholders is going to
help us make the really hard decisions
moving forward as well. And so I just
think we are we have shown that we uh
are not shy about when it comes to doing
the right things for our students and I
think that will help us as we continue
to make significant changes in the best
interests of our community moving
forward. So gratitude for our
administrative team, for this board, uh,
for really keeping students at the
center.
>> How about for our virtual friends?
Who's up?
You want me to just holler at him?
>> All right, Jason, go ahead.
>> Thank you. I can't.
>> I was going to say Lolina had her hand
up first, but I'm happy to go. Um, hey
everyone. Sorry to not be there in
person. Um I yeah I don't have a whole
lot to add to what uh what you all had
to say already about looking back. Um
I've just been you know as as we all as
others have said you know really
impressed with the process and all the
work that went into the declining
enrollment engagement sessions. Um and
I'm you know it's as Jorge said I think
it's you know a lot of work looking
forward and um you know I'm looking
forward to that as well. Uh, it's going
to be difficult, but I think we're ready
for that.
Um, also, you know, been great to have
Deianne and Anna join us and I think
quickly got up to speed and are um,
great contributing board members. So,
looking back on that time and happy to
have them and looking forward to working
with them more. Um and just yeah just
grateful to this board and this group um
this leadership team uh you know that
we're all um I I couldn't ask for better
colleagues to be doing this work with.
So looking forward to continue to serve
with you all.
>> Thanks Jason. I did try to steal your
seat today and your colleagues were not
going to have that. So just like they
have your back here on all the way.
>> Thanks for looking out for me.
Good morning, Lenia.
>> Good morning. Um, looking back, I am
really grateful for
Bill and his team's work. Uh, all of the
negotiations team,
uh, the work on getting a salary
schedule that will take us into the
future responsibly and that's going to
work. Um, I'm thankful for BVEA's
work on that as well because that's hard
work. Um,
and it took a lot probably to build
consensus. I wasn't at all of those
meetings, but I am
grateful that we got somewhere that is
sustainable for the future. Um, and then
looking forward, I am grateful that we
are going to maintain student
experience.
um and do whatever the hard work is come
fall. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Is Alex online? Alex, are you there?
Alex, are you on mute and there?
>> I I see him. So, I don't know why we
can't hear him. Uh
>> oh. Technical difficulties.
carry on.
>> Okay, it sounds like you're a little bit
sketchy. If you have thoughts, you want
to pop them in the chat. We can have
someone read them out. But in the
meantime, Rob, let's carry on. Um, lots
of great things happening and apparently
lots of um opportunity for more
engagement in the future. Huh.
>> Absolutely. I you know when I as I look
back and look forward I'm I'm just so uh
thankful and grateful to work uh with
such a high performing governance team
and uh I think that we have a really
good processes system structures and
relationships where we can have hard
conversations we can bring up challenges
we can address those in ways where we
keep um the the the best interests of
the district and the community and our
students most important importantly
front and center. Uh really proud of the
work that our team, our executive team
and and our schools and teachers and
everyone did this past year. You know,
performance is at an all-time high. Uh
we look we intend on keeping it that
way. And so all of the work that has
gone into continuing to support our
students, especially our most vulnerable
students, uh I think is has makes me
really really proud. Um I am also
appreciative of BVEA. we
in in a time where districts and uh
unions um in a lot of places are
struggling to be able to come together
am amidst really difficult
circumstances.
uh we've been able to break the mold and
uh David Stewart and Katie David and
leadership and uh you know I I think
that we are also able to have really
tough difficult conversations and I've
spent over 50 hours in negotiations
personally with with leadership from
BVEA to get to a place where um our
salary schedule becomes more sustainable
and we can continue to be the highest
paying school district in Colorado but
also think about long-term
sustainability and those are two things
that are really really important to me
and I think that that was some
incredible work. And then I'm just so
grateful to uh to serve in a community
that's willing to engage and uh as I
think over the amount of engagement
we've done this past uh six months as we
begin to make prepare to make tough
decisions in August around declining
enrollment. Um our community was there.
They showed up. They were honest. Um
they gave us good feedback. if there
were things that we they thought that
they appreciated, they let us know. If
there's challenges or questions, they
let us know. And I think as a as as a
public servant, that's all you can ask
for is folks show up and tell you um you
know what they want to see in process
and what they want to see in outcomes.
And again, when I look at districts
across the country struggling with this
topic, uh, in in many places, it's
breaking the trust between the district
and the school district and the
community. And and
as hard as it may be to believe, I
believe we've built trust this past six
months on this tough topic. And uh, I've
gotten really good feedback. We're going
to be able to make much better decisions
and know very clearly what folks want.
Um and so thankful to our community uh
and thankful to our senior team who's
who's worked double triple time to be
able to do it right and you know that
it's I think that you know everybody
says they you know want to do the right
thing but doing things right I think is
just as important and so uh really
really proud of that and uh and excited
we have some new uh leaders on our team
uh new deputy superintendent new
assistant superintendent of schools new
chief academic officer Uh um we've got
handful of new principles at schools um
handful of other new positions as well.
And so I'm excited to continue to lead
um with our team and um and and continue
to support the systems and structures
that that we've developed to uh to
create the opportunities that we need to
for kids so they can continue to do
great. So really really good.
I just I love hearing about all the
great things that you do and Bora, just
so you know, I've heard Rob talk about
you when you're not around and he says
good things even when you're not
watching.
>> Um, fantastic. Rob, you want to walk us
through sort of what's on your mind as
we lead up to uh prioritization
considerations, sir?
>> Absolutely. Uh, as we think about fall
semester, you know, what do we need to
consider as we think about how much new
work can we take on given what we have
kind of going on? Um,
we've all talked about the declining
enrollment decisions that we're going to
be making. Uh, on August 25th, we'll be
bringing forward to our community the
recom our board the recommendations for
consideration on closures,
consolidations, reconfigurations of our
schools. Uh, we do have our district UIP
that will be finalized this fall. We
haven't added that specifically unifi
unified improvement plan.
Um, so I know our team is hard at work
with that, but but you won't see that on
the board, but I'll put that in. Just
know that that's coming. Um, I shared we
have new leadership and then we have a
few other priorities that were
prioritized
um this past semester that um I think
that we're going to be able to address
most of those.
Um, Heather, this is the the survey that
that you had sent out. Thanks everybody
for to part for participating.
And with that, I'm going to I guess I'm
going to
>> show
>> the talk show uh microphone. Um, and
I'll bring the board over. And so, Alex,
Lolia, and Jason, if you have questions,
please let me know. So, we could see it.
If I put the board here, will folks
see it online?
>> You want all the way up?
>> Does that Can you see it online? She's
going to adjust it. Okay. All right,
welcome to Let's Make a Deal. I feel
like the microphone. Um,
all right. So, uh, in August, our first
meeting,
uh, back to school update. We we do that
every year, just kind of reorienting our
community back to what it takes to open
up 56 schools for 27,000 students. This
and all that goes into that. and gives
our opport gives an opportunity for the
bo board and community to to meet all of
our senior team as we present there.
Uh on the 18th we will do um an
executive session superintendent goal
setting. We'll have our first
conversations around what we need to
what we feel like that should look like.
I'll bring some a draft recommendations
like just like last year. We'll talk
through what else we need to add there
on August 25th.
And we can discuss whether we want this
to be in the evening, afternoon, or the
day. Typically, our second meeting is a
daytime session, but I've moved that to
a night meeting because I really feel
like the declining enrollment needs to
be a multi-hour work session, and that's
the only thing we probably need to talk
about that day. And so as it gets
closer, we can decide what's better for
our community and for our board. Is it
during the day? Is it at night? Um
again, because it's a work session,
there won't be public comment and other
business. Um so,
but that's the big day that we've been
working towards, which is when we're
going to bring those recommendations.
Um beginning of September, DACK, we'll
have DAC here for for their work
session. we'll begin to start to talk
about our legislative priorities. We
have that in September because there's
going to be a bunch of ballot
initiatives and uh I know there's going
to be early childhood and there's going
to be a couple school finance things and
we're going to want to be able to take
action um early September so we can
begin to start to advocate as a board
for for those things that that we want
to advocate for. Um on the 15th we'll do
strategic plan update which is where
we'll talk about the culture and climate
metrics. We can we can kind of review
the metrics we've been using. We could
talk about some new potential options.
This was something that was most highly
prioritized by our board um amongst all
the other priorities. So we will make
sure that we do that there. on the
September 22nd.
Uh I have here no work session or
information session items because I'm
guessing we'll have multiple hours of
public comment from what we presented on
the 25th. And because we will be
studying the final plan adjustments,
we'll approve the legislative
priorities, but we'll we'll we'll study
the final school plan adjustments. And
then on the 13th,
we will approve the final plan
adjustments. Now, I say that and and I
will say board members, when you see the
when you see what we bring forward on
the 25th, right, if if there's no
adjustments or if you feel like that's
that we're in in a really good place, it
would be up to the board. You could
potentially move this up a little bit.
So study on the 8th
approve on September 22nd which would
give you about a would give us about a
month before the um BBSD is the place to
be showcased and about six weeks before
open enrollment windows open which is
November 1st I believe.
>> Yes, Nicole. So, a question and also
Heather just because I know you
typically moderate these. If you hear a
very faint doorbell sound, it's somebody
chiming in and I think Jason did chime
in and I'm trying not to be the
moderator. So, so you
>> or so maybe like Amalo can raise a hand
or if if you want me to like cue you
into that. And I um I just with this
timeline I I I am concerned that October
13th is getting really close to the
showcase. And so I I I
think it's in our best interest to nudge
those two days earlier, if I'm being
completely honest, to give some our
community a little bit more breathing
room before BVSD is a place to be and
we're doing our open enrollment nights
and because we continue to hear like
that high degree of anxiety around
decisions being finalized. So that would
be something that I would advocate for
there. Um, likewise, we might want to be
prepared for public comment being long
on September the 8th after that first
presentation because that would be the
first opportunity for public comment
after the initial presentation. So, I
would just say we might be getting
public copious a lot of public comment
sooner sooner than those two dates that
you've identified. And I think that's
great if we the community shows up. We
just need to be prepared for it. Last,
the UIP submission deadline is October
15th. And if we actually want to see our
UIP and provide feedback on it for any
potential changes, we would need to see
that like in August.
>> UIP in August.
>> UIP in August
>> because that has to be submitted to the
state by the 15th of October. and
knowing where all the declining
enrollment stuff. Maybe if we could get
it our first look before this, we dive
head first into declining enrollment, it
might be
>> okay.
>> Um helpful.
>> A couple of adjustments here.
>> Well, you're noodling on that. Jason,
did you want to jump in?
>> Uh yeah, and maybe it's just I can't see
the board totally, but I I heard Rob say
something about moving a day session to
the evening. Is that Are you looking at
Um I'm looking at we have three dates in
August 11, 18 and 25. Is it moving the
18th to the evening?
>> Yes, 18th to the evening, 25th to
whenever the board decides we would want
to have that work session. Uh
>> where we are you're going to come back
with the recommendations on enrollment.
>> That's that's when we're going to make
recommendations to the board. By
whenever the board decides that mean
like that date or is that are we
deciding between an evening and a
daytime there?
>> I would say we could decide that today
for the 25th evening or daytime. A
meeting would be a typical time at 9:00
a.m. An evening meeting could start at
5. And so I I would I would defer to the
board on which you feel like would be
the best way to do that.
>> Jason, since you raised it, do you have
a preference on that one?
Um,
I don't actually I don't know what's
best for for studying those
recommendations. Maybe just maybe
daytime allows us more time to do that
maybe than an evening meeting, but I
don't have a preference and I don't know
what works best in terms of kind of
public participation etc. Um, but yeah,
thanks for clarifying the other things.
>> Nicole, thought preference.
I would say for the sake of consistency,
our big work sessions have been in the
morning and work sessions are designed
specifically on days where we don't
typic we don't have public comment. If
it's in the evening, there's might be an
expectation around it being a regular
meeting with public comment.
And the public is always welcome to
attend, but because the structure is so
different. I I would say
on a topic as delicate as this one being
as consistent as possible. So if it's a
work session, we have it in the morning
like our work sessions unless there is a
work like employment related challenge
for our board members that would prevent
them from being able to attend.
Does anyone feel differently?
Okay. Any of our online friends
indicate? Nope. Fantastic. So, sounds
like
work session during the day, Rob, for
consistency.
>> Sounds perfect. We've adjusted the
board. The blue the numbers in blue are
the meetings that are during the day.
So, we've made that adjustment. I've
also added district UIP study on August
18th. we that could become a work
session. Let me just talk to the team to
see how long that they would for that.
Um
and uh just with the with some of the
transition with district leadership,
we're just I just have to kind of
solidify where that's going to be. Um,
okay. So, the other thing that Nicole
brought up was this idea of
the final school plan adjustments,
uh, study action 22nd 13, moving that
from the to the 8th and the 22nd.
Do I I think for me, I think the thing
that that we want to be careful about is
we could do either. I just want to be
able to communicate to our community
what we're doing and why. Uh
if so, so we can wait till the 25th and
give the direction after you've seen
things on the 25th.
Uh so you could move it up and you could
say, "I don't know. We're going to
probably need a little bit more time."
Or we can leave it back and you could
say, "Oh, I want you to move it up." Uh
either way, letting our community know
that this timeline could shift for a
couple weeks just for the fact that we
want to give our community more time to
get their heads around what's happening
prior to um prior to the open enrollment
window.
Uh so, but either either way I think we
can make work. Um and we could leave it
the way it is or we can move it now up
to the up to the pleasure of the board.
So, I will let you all discuss.
>> Other board members have a thought.
Nicole's suggestion was to move it up.
Deianne,
>> um, I would agree with Nicole that it
needs to be moved up if we can
>> and once again allowing ourselves the
flexibility of if we realize we need
more time.
>> Sure.
>> Um, we could move it back again. But the
more time schools have that are now
going to be re reconfigured
for open enrollment, that's that will
help the schools be able to respond to
that.
>> Okay. Other folks,
>> this is Alex. Can you hear me?
>> Oh, yeah. Hi, Alex.
>> Hey. Um, sorry, I can't see the board.
How long, if we moved it up, how long is
the time that we would have between
getting the plan and us acting on the
plan?
Alex, if we present on August 25th, your
final vote would then be on September
22nd. So, you'd have a month, but you
would study it on the 8th. So, you would
you'd hear about the plan, you you would
then two weeks later look at the plan in
study form with the community opport
with the opportunity to provide comment
and then two weeks after that, you'd
vote on it.
>> That's the current standing plan. If if
we backed it up a little faster than
that, I'd be okay. I I kind of feel the
same way that I once we reach closure,
having more time is good because there's
a lot of work to do once we reach
closure, not just by the community, but
by um uh staff and leadership as well.
>> Rob, was the was the layout that you
just provided, was that the if we move
it up version? Yeah.
>> Yeah, that's the way if we move it up.
If we don't move it up, Alex, you we
would present it on the 25th. a month
later, you would study it on the 22nd
and you'd approve two weeks after that
on the 13th. So, what I'm hearing you
say,
>> Yeah, I'd like the earlier. I I think um
uh I I think us acting over the course
of a month is probably enough time for
the board consideration and public
input. And that and I say that not
because I don't want more input, but
because I recognize how much work there
is once the decision is made. Okay,
Jorge, did you want to say something?
>> I was going to chime in with a similar
thought. Just more time for parents on
the back end, I think, prior to the
showcase and prior to open enrollment is
better. And that gives us a month. That
seems like a as long as that works for
the staff to kind of be able to kind of
make any adjustments that are necessary.
I think that that's that seems
reasonable.
>> I see Anna, you nodding as well.
Anything you want to add?
>> Nothing to add, just in agreement. Okay.
>> Jason or Lenia, any concerns about this
approach? I think earlier is better.
>> Yeah, I agree. That sounds good to me.
>> Fantastic.
>> I I will say that then after the it
gives us two weeks after presenting the
plan, making any other adjustments that
we might need to make to study and then
any adjustments after that it gives us
another two weeks. So, um I think that I
think we can make that work. And if we
can't on the 25th, I will suggest we
move those back. But, uh I think that
with all the feedback that we've been
able to, you know, we we kind of set
this timeline out before we did all the
engagement and feedback, but that has
really been super helpful. I think that
it's going to help us land something on
the 25th. And then Rob, for our for our
uh virtual friends, when you say dates,
could you also say months since they
can't track as visually as we can?
>> Absolutely. Thank you.
>> Okay. So, well,
here's what we'll do then. We will put
these on the although people may talk
about the decision we made on the 13th,
we won't reserve two hours for that.
Can put that back over there.
>> That was the 13th of October. uh
October, right? So, so September 22nd
now is public comment
uh taking action on legislative
priorities, the final plan, school
adjustments. Um I'm going to move
grading policy then to October 13th.
October 22nd, we'll go do some school
visits.
Uh October 27th, we'll do a seabach
update and then a student safety update.
I think it's good uh be good for the
board to to hear a full update on
safety, security, and then for our
community as well. Uh and then bringing
back IG and IG.
Uh November 10th, a gifted talented
update as was prioritized
and we'll talk about the charter school
policy update LBD on November 10th. On
November 17th, our strategic plan
update. It's a day session and then
we'll also weave in our AI road map and
how that's going to compete how that's
going to be integrated in our strategic
plan. December 2nd through the 5th we'll
at be at CASBY
December 8th superintendent audit role
honor role audit presentation enrollment
update budget development process and
budget update on December 8th. December
15th, do my midyear evaluation based on
the goals that we set in August. On
August 18th, we'll discuss uh and then
we will redo our prioritization.
>> Fantastic. Lilia, you got a question?
>> Do we have a time we're meeting with
legislators?
>> We have that scheduled for February 9th
right now.
>> We have to get that from Heather. Yes.
So, we typically do that early winter.
Uh, but we'll set our legislative
priorities in September. We'll discuss
them for study on the 8th, bring them
back to you on the 22nd,
and we can talk about uh ballot
language, ballot initiatives,
uh, and, uh, any positions we want to
take. And then the governor's budget
comes out November 1st, so we'll be able
to know and understand.
Actually, I don't know. This will be the
first time that we'll be switching
governors. So, I'm not really sure how
that works. If if it'll be Governor
Polus with the budget and then the
budget's taken over by the next
governor. Just don't know how that
works. But but by by by November, we
should have a sense of of what's
happening and then we'll prepare for
that meeting in early February as
session is starting. I think that the
the breakfast we had this past uh
February was very effective. I think we
had a very successful uh legislative
session. So I would recommend that we
continue to do it that way.
>> Okay, Nicole and then Alex. So
ballots drop on September
n like 18th 19th we're discussing we
would pass any resolutions is that what
on the 22nd so shortly thereafter but
not before. I just think that board
members I know some of us have been
getting emails already on resolutions
for different initiatives.
Um
well I don't I can't conceive of us
moving that timeline earlier based on
the other things. I just we need to be
really prepared to make quick action
because I wouldn't want to make any
decisions later than the 22nd. So if
there are things that come up, sending
those to Rob or I in advance so we can
keep a running roll. Maybe get some, you
know, draft language because that's
again going to be a tight turnaround
with everything else that's on that ca
on our calendar. Then two,
I just want to like just call
everybody's attention to the fact that
that is going to be a really tight
turnaround in a really busy time. If we
wanted to have anything out, we wouldn't
want anything out later because ballots
drop before the 22nd.
We could always on the 15th
uh post that as a regular meeting to
approve those
if you want like so we could move it
from September 22nd
to September 15th.
We could put it here
and then just do a quick vote so we have
action. So, we can do that. As long as
we get real clear direction on the ETH,
that shouldn't be an issue. I don't
think
>> I think it would that would be great. I
think if getting something out before
the ballots drop is is really the ideal
window. Um, as long as staff can can
accommodate that and as long as board
members well in advance of September.
So, like think be thinking about and
sending us thoughts when we resume in
August so we can be prepared and move
pretty quickly through those.
And we do have a very process a clear
process on how we decide to take action
or um have resolutions on certain ballot
initiatives. But
>> Alex, go ahead.
Alex,
>> can you hear me? Can you hear me?
>> Oh, yeah. Now I got you.
>> All right. Uh I think we should do it
earlier. I agree. I think we'll get
pressure from our friends on some of
these that take positions sooner and
they'll be some of them will be
campaigns. So, we probably want our list
our name on lists of endorses earlier if
we're going to.
>> And was that what your hand up was up
for? Um earlier
>> earlier my hand was up because I thought
we'd decided earlier that waiting until
February means that we have no ability
to put anything forward proactively and
we're trying to figure out some way to
have maybe some other conversation with
our legislative delegation earlier
because at that point the only thing
we'll be able to have any input into is
what they're doing and there will be no
chance to influence uh what the bills
are if there's anything we actually
proactively want. So I thought we
decided that we needed earlier contact
not waiting till February to talk to our
delegation. Did we change something or
am I just misremembering?
>> I think that those are the discussions
we have in early September. I I do I do
think that we keep and we've tried this
before. If you try to go too early,
nobody shows up. I think that February
is the final touch point between the
board and our delegation before the
session. Right? to the extent that there
are bills that that we are hoping uh to
sponsor or potentially run, um I think
that uh
that that the September 8th deadline
gives you gives you some of that
freedom. Uh, I just don't know if we
tried to bring our delegation earlier
unless I've got clear direction from the
board on what it is you want us to do.
Um,
I I I don't know that folks would show
up and I don't know that um
that we would get the momentum that we
want, but I do think in September we can
have that discussion.
>> Jason, you have a thought on that?
>> Uh, maybe not. I mean, is is January too
early? like just as session starts. I
mean, I know December we probably
wouldn't get anyone, but February kind
of does seem late. If it's possible to
move it earlier into the early weeks of
session, I'd be in favor of that.
>> We'll just need to work with policy
matters. I can tell them if you all
would prefer January rather than
February, I could request that. It's
early enough out that they should be
able to to hopefully accommodate.
I think in the past the earliest we've
ever had it was the very last week of
January. It's usually been first week or
so of February, very last week of
January. So
I wouldn't go any sooner than the 26th
if we were going to move it. But um I
think yeah, finding out from policy
matters seems reasonable. It's also like
an election year there. It's going to
feel a little bit wonky at the capital I
presume also. So,
>> historically, Nicole, when you've done
it that late, um, you've still been able
to sort of get anything any bills moved
that you wanted to initiate?
>> Well, if we actually wanted to initiate
a bill, we would have to be having that
conversation well before January because
they they're d they are coming prepared
at the opening of the session with bills
already written. So, like that's kind of
the bill themselves is like drafting is
we want them it to be one of their first
ones, it would have to be before January
anyway. and that would might be just be
one-on- ones with different legislators
that we might not the whole not our
whole delegation. So, I think um if that
was an avenue we'd want to take, we
could talk about that in September and
then think of who might want to run a
bill and that's a one-on-one
conversation with a legislator versus a
whole delegation meeting.
In my experience, the earlier you do
this, the more philosophical these
conversations get versus if you let the
session at least kick off a little bit,
then you know what's coming at you and
you can play more effective defense
>> and not just say, "Here's the things
that we believe." And folks say, "Yeah,
that's nice." Versus, "Hey, this bill is
coming out and you can't vote for it
because this is what it does to us." Uh,
I think that that that the February 9th
date lent itself well to some of that.
Remember the um what was it the special
local option? No, the the sales the yeah
the specific ownership tax and we were
able to say you can't do that to our
delegation and then we were able to give
them some clear direction that I think
they left understanding. But, uh,
Nicole, to your point, uh, in early
September, if there are things that we
hear bubbling that we want to run, I
think that for me that I have a few
ideas that I'd be able to share with you
all. Uh, then in September, then you try
to find a bill sponsor. You would start
doing the leg work on that. You'd have
to have somebody help draft the bill
you're looking for. Uh, and then we
would have to get some support and some
alliances from other school districts.
uh if this was something that would help
front range superintendents or or school
districts or statewide, we would just do
that work.
>> Alex has a thought real quick. Go ahead.
>> Yeah, I just want to say like if we're
proactively doing something, yes, then I
agree with that timeline, but I I
disagree, Rob, based on my experience
about how that it's good to wait until
later. I think we follow up later when
we find out that something comes in, but
that if we want to give them our input
um earlier rather than later in my
experience of influencing the Colorado
legislature and I'd uh hold a spot for
us at least to be able to have contact
with them sooner and have discussion
amongst ourselves uh early enough to
inform that. Um I know we won't be
dealing with real bills, but the
February for me is too late other than
defense of existing bills,
>> right? Okay. So, it sounds like on
September 8th, you could have a
conversation if you wanted to initiate
anything and that would give you
substantial or sufficient at least lead
time um to do outreach to the delegation
one-on-one and get something moving. Um
but if it's just to react to things that
other people have proposed, the February
timeline might work out. Okay.
>> What I'm hearing
>> I disagree with that.
>> Okay.
>> Here's what I'm hearing you say, Alex,
that uh and and and the rest of the
board. let me know if this is is what
you'd like to do. We'll reach out to
policy I'll reach out to policy matters
and say hey our board wants two touch
points with our delegation like let's do
one early fall
>> late summer August Septemberish
uh and we could um
let me let me talk to them about what
what they think is the best way to do
that. Uh, and then after that, then the
followup in February down at the
Capitol. And I guess the question would
be, do you want to meet first about your
priorities and then talk to the
delegation or do you want to talk to the
delegation and let that shape your
priorities? That's the direction I would
need.
>> You would need that today,
Nicole. And then Elenia.
>> So, I would Yeah, I think I would trust
Policy Matters. They talk to these folks
every single day when they're down at
the capital. They know when they're
available and when they're not. They
know what they do when they're not in
session, like what kind of jobs they
have and what the constraints might be.
So, I would I I like the approach of
reaching out to them to see what is
realistic because they have in the past
told us you're not going to get anybody
show up at this at certain points of
time knowing what everybody is up to.
So, I like that idea. on the ETH we talk
about the resolutions
consider a path forward in the before
prior to then Rob is going to reach out
to our lobbyists and say and see like
what is the realistic expectation for
meeting with our delegation before the
session begins
when might be the best time if we can
get that in because I don't we have also
hosted meetings and had nobody show up
except for like what one time it was
like Steve Fenberg was here and nobody
else was here like my so we don't want
to have meetings that nobody attends
either so I would really trust their
their realistic assessment of the
situation. Um,
and if that we can get them earlier, I
think that is great. But I wouldn't want
to I wouldn't want to say yes, we're
going to meet with them in in a certain
time and then that the honest truth is
that nobody's going to show up at that
time.
>> Okay, let's hear from Melania and then
Alex.
Um, I would like to see it a little
earlier than February. I feel like I
while I agree with Rob about that, it is
good to, you know, raise your hand and
play defense here,
which I'm certain we'll have to do again
financially. Um,
I I hesitate to wait too long. Um,
so I I'm just in favor of more of a
January time frame and and I also hear
what you're saying, Nicole, about that.
We want people to show up. I think
policy matters will guide us on that
some, but I would like to put out there
that I'd like it a little bit sooner in
the year.
>> And Lennia, what are your thoughts on a
fall conversation as well?
>> You want to wait for No, absolutely.
Fall conversations are important.
There's there's going to be a lot going
on this session.
>> Copy. Alex, go ahead.
>> Yeah, I guess I would offer one
observation and one suggestion. Um, I do
think after an election, uh, you do have
a governor who wants to do things in
their first session regardless. And you
do have pressure on the incumbents who
have been there a while to do their
stuff early before and not have late
stuff. And the new people are given the
grace to have late late stuff. So for
our existing delegation there'll be a
chance
uh to for them to want to act relatively
quickly. Um I also think in terms of the
suggestion that it's might be good
depending on whatever our discussions
are by then if there is anything we want
to or we hear about to have like twoon
two meetings rather than trying to do a
full breakfast with a delegation or
something just
>> thanks Alex. How about the other friends
in the room? Any thoughts, preferences?
Anna,
>> I'm going to take the recommendation of
policy matters specifically on the fall
meeting. Um, because yeah, a lot of them
are taking that time to like
make money before they have to go into
the legislative session. Um, and just
being realistic of having a new governor
and a swath of new representatives
coming in. And um I mean a lot of them
are going to be in their first few weeks
of their new job. Um and so they're not
going to be like
I guess fully emerged just yet. And so
um just knowing what it looks like, what
administration transitions look like um
with having a new class of legislators
um at the earliest January 26th, but I
think February realistically is actually
a comfortable date to have our meeting.
Thanks, Anna. I hadn't factored in the
also new legislators. Yeah, that's a
great point. Yep. Rob, would you like to
jump in?
>> Always. Always. Um I I appreciate uh
board members thoughts. I appreciate
your thoughts, Alex, Anna, for sure. Um
Nicole uh Lenia,
I do think that
early fall will be uh talks of recision,
budget recision. Is it going to happen?
Is it not going to happen? Uh and then
these big ballot initiatives, the one
being kind of run by um CA. And then
there's another uh progressive sales tax
that's the folks are trying to get
signatures to get on the ballot as well.
I think that's going to be the talk
early fall.
Uh let let me let me let me do this.
Here's what I've done for virtual board
members. I have uh we we've kept the
September 8th. So we moved up the
September
the the action on priorities to
September 15th. September 8th is when
we'll study. Um I've changed the
February date to JanuaryFFebruary.
I will get some counsel from policy
matters. And then on September 8th, I
think that if we want to set up twoon-
ons, if we want to set up try to get the
whole delegation,
um I'd have to look to see who's running
uh within our delegation, like what
seats are up. I haven't I have to I let
me get let me get a whole landscape
analysis. I'll get that to you all news
and notes and um certainly in our
check-ins in July and August, board
members, you could share your thoughts
with me on where you think things need
to be. And uh I don't know, I think
September 8th's the earliest we'd want
to talk about this. I I will also remind
the board that in August and September,
we have this other thing going on that
is uh declining enrollment uh and the
UIP uh which I'm going to prioritize
over this uh but not not to say that we
can't give this some energy and and be
thoughtful about it. Um but let me give
some guidance from our folks that are
the experts which is uh um Heather and
Tanya over policy matters
>> Nicole and then Alex.
Laura just kindly informed me that CASBY
resolutions are due July 24th.
I think we need to pass a resolution to
ask CASBY to not have resolutions due in
the middle of the summer when school
boards aren't actually in session. Um,
first and foremost because that's
ridiculous because we aren't going to be
convening between now and then. And so
I'm just throwing that out there. last
year. The time early timeline also
prevented us from having any
resolutions.
Um, if there are things board, it's not
going to show up on this calendar, but
if there are resolutions we think we
might want to have for CASBY, anybody.
Um, I'm just as I'm remembering it,
maybe you email them to me and if we
have to set like establish some virtual
meeting just to vote on any of those
over the summer, maybe we could. or we
just say, "Casbby,
you're really frustrating and you're not
creating conditions for us to
effectively participate." So, thank you,
but no thank you. I just wanted to make
sure everybody was aware of that because
historically, we have had some
resolutions that have been effective at
CASBY when we put them forward. It's
just we haven't in the last year or so
been able to put any forward because of
the new timeline. Great.
>> So, that's fun. Thanks, Casby. Um, Alex
and then Mellennia.
>> Uh, yeah, I would just add I don't I
don't know what to expect, but I know we
also have ballot measures that would
affect LGBTQ kids, and I assume the
legislature will be trying to figure out
some things to make a fix in the event
that any of those pass. Um, and that'd
be one to weigh in earlier,
substantively with people who we know
will be in office, like in the Senate,
um, uh, and have our thoughts in the
process.
>> Thanks, Alex. Lenia
and Nicole, I'm glad to do whatever you
want to do on that CASBY time, you know,
timeline and resolution because that
does not is not helpful and despite that
I'm our new representative. I know Jason
will help guide me.
>> Do board members would be helpful if we
have if we reach out to CASBY and ask
them what their strategy is
>> in asking for these earlier. Is there a
reason? Is it for administrative
convenience? Is it to limit the number
of resolutions that they have to
consider? Because this is the earliest
that is this the earliest that it's ever
been.
>> They have over the past several years
changed the fall delegate conference
earlier and earlier. last year. I think
it was late, but um according to their
website that I just looked because I
haven't gotten a communication, the
resolutions are due 50 days prior to the
fall delegate conference,
which I don't know if that's a statute
thing or if that's just a CASBY rule
thing.
>> It's a CA it's a CASBY bylaw.
I I'd make a recommendation here that I
have um either Kathleen or I reach out
and just ask what they're trying to do.
And um you know, if you've got bad
rules, you got to change your rules,
right? If you want districts to
participate, like legitimately
participate, then you've got to create
the conditions to allow that to happen.
Uh so so why don't we Laura if you can
put this down as a followup we'll just
reach out to Jubel and um who's Casby
president now.
>> Is it a front range board member?
>> Uh Littleton is outgoing. I can't
remember who the new president is. I'll
reach out to them too or I mean and and
just you know we certainly want to be
involved with CASBY and we want to be
thoughtful and weighing in on things
that we think could make a difference
for students in Colorado but your
process is not giving us the space or
time to be able to have thoughtful
conversations and so in what universe we
want to rush to bring something to waste
170 plus school districts time on it
just doesn't feel it feels like the
process and system is broken. So maybe
we can make some headway there.
All right.
>> Oh, go ahead.
>> Uh, as I, you know, was the delegate
last fall and I think we should ask
about the, you know, trying to move
things up. From my experience, you know,
they were very
kind of prochial concerns uh to rural
districts that were the ones that were
raised. Like there were very few
resolutions that were kind of broader
and impacted, you know, districts like
ours. I don't mean that they wouldn't in
the future, but it was a very kind of
limited. It's like, you know, people's
pet issues for the last few years um
were the things that were raised through
resolutions. But I do agree we should
ask for, you know, why they do that and,
you know, how we can make it so more um
so more districts are able to
participate.
>> Thanks, Jason.
All right. Any other board thoughts on
legislative fund or CASBY scheduling?
Cool. All right.
Anything else on what's already on the
board as Rob has walked through it.
>> Okay. Oh, good.
I just question the utility of having
two DAC planning meetings when we have
prioritized so little work and all of
our energy is going to be on declining
enrollment.
>> I love our partners at the DAC, but
based on our priorities, there's nothing
that we're going to have them provide
feedback on. They've already provided
feedback on the UIP
>> and we'll have we'll have our they don't
convene until September. So, they aren't
going to have any additional feedback on
that before we see it. they always have
to engage on budget. Um
they're doing some work around community
engagement, but I just the utility of
having and I would could
Yeah, I don't and even meeting before
their meeting and I just we have it
twice. I don't think there's a any
utility to that.
>> Does anyone feel differently?
>> I will put it on the pending list. If
there is a need to meet with DAC and do
some planning, I think we do have some
room that we could squeeze that in if
needed, but no need to plan it if we
don't feel like it's going to be
beneficial.
>> And the other sorry on DAC, I mean the
reality is we're going to also have
fewer DAC reps moving forward if we have
fewer schools moving forward and there's
going to be some interesting PTO and
school accountability committee
structures changing if we have schools
shifting. They're I think their work for
this year is also going to be impacted
by declining enrollment in ways that we
aren't really I mean predicting at this
point and so letting some of that work
its way through um and seeing how
they're feeling before we convene might
also be helpful.
>> Agreed.
>> Okay. Any other board thoughts? Okay.
>> Yep.
>> So just to be clear so just to be clear
then there would be a sole meeting in
January with DAC. Is that what we're
proposing to allow them a chance to kind
of see what happens from the changes,
thinking about restructuring and move
forward? And are there any policy things
that have already been put into place
for next fall that they'll be addressing
that so they'll at least they'll have
some kind of sense of where we're going
and kind of what's happening. So they've
already provided feedback on the two
policies that are we still didn't wrap
up this year. Again, like grading and
they've already provided feedback on
those.
And so the rest of it, our policy
calendar, and Kathleen can speak to this
better, is we're going up on G G the
rest of E, which is operations, and then
we're going into G, which is employees,
like policies related to employees. So
all of that is really
not within their purview so much as it
is just part of neg like contracts and
negotiate that kind of stuff and we
haven't prioritized any other policies
as a body ourselves. So I just foresee
us working through ENG in the first
semester at the very least before we get
to is it I or J after that?
I after that with the exception of LBD,
LBDR, did that make it up on there, Rob?
>> Yes. November 10th.
>> So that might be a policy that we would
ask them to weigh in because they have
to if we ever get a charter application,
DAC is required to look at it. So they
through that lens, they could be helpful
on that one policy. But that could be
Rob tells Dak exact like, "Hey, this
policy is scheduled." I don't know if
it's a full board meeting discussion.
Yeah,
>> Alex, do you have a thought on that?
>> It's not statutoily in your purview, but
after we make the fall announcements and
decisions on school closures, there
really is a ton of work that goes on on
the ground about how the schools operate
um the populations uh that should be
affected by considering the UIPs and the
performance data that the DAXs are going
to talk about. So, uh, it may be that
some consultation with DAC leadership
about how to advise the DAX and Sachs on
talking about the implementation of the
school consolidation or reconfiguration
or closure would be in our interest in
order to try to steer that
constructively. I just see them being
gathering the Sachs being gathering some
people out the schools. For the
elementary folks, it'll be intense and
uh it'll probably be on on in their
discussions and we might want to have
some interaction with them about it
before January or maybe January is the
time to do it. Um I don't know.
>> Rob, thoughts?
>> I meet with DAC exec board every month
for at least an hour. Um I do think that
there will have to be some
communication with DAX sachs PTO's
communities
um after we've made these these uh these
decisions and announcements and so um to
the extent that I will continue to stay
connected with them and then also their
involvement any run of shows that we
develop between now and and August on
how we're going to communicate how we're
going continue to engage in support.
We'll make sure that the board is made
aware of that. Um I do think I do agree
with Nicole this idea of sitting down
for a planning meeting and saying these
are the things that we need you to
really work on. I think just broad
direction around this next year is a
year of where we have to come together
as a community and to the extent that
you can help through Sachs
any mergers or any
all those things is is a really
important thing for them to to be
considering and thinking about. And I
will say that they have been DACK exec
has been wonderful. Um our DAC has been
wonderful all throughout the spring as
we allow they they were our test group
for our engagement session gave us great
feedback that really helped us land
those sessions well. Uh they they
advocated for more inclusive
opportunities and as we added a Spanish
speaking session they they were right
there with us. uh that leadership has
wrote a great op-ed asking our community
to engage in all the right ways and so
they're they're going to be by our side
um and I'll continue to communicate with
them. Uh but again I have it on pending
so if we feel like gosh we need to
probably see Dak we can work them in but
I'm not going to have it scheduled on
September 8th that would be in the
middle of us making the decision
>> and so uh I don't know what we could
have a conversation with about them at
that point. Uh we could always move it
uh into November if we wanted to or
October.
>> Thanks Rob.
>> Okay, Rob, can you just We have on the
screen um the board's priorization.
Um so starting on the screen, bottom to
the top is highest priority. Could are
did all of those things find their way
into that schedule that you just ran
through?
>> Everything except for the update on
neurodiversity policy. I just think
that's better served for the spring. Um,
but everything else is on the board
>> and better served for the spring for
neurodiversity policy because
>> just the the time to to to make
progress.
>> Got it. the the time that we would need
to make progress. Um, you know, the the
time to uh to just think through kind of
how do we continue to to work through
that? And and some of that could be
impacted by um
>> uh some of the decisions we make in
August
>> in terms of are there new needs, are
there different needs? Um are needs
being met through some of the things
that we're doing. I think that uh I
think that the um the uh spring of 27 I
I would we'd keep we'd keep that on
>> and rep prioritize that and uh and and
hopefully be able to do an update then.
>> Okay. Alex, question or comment?
>> Yeah, I would just say um I'm I'm happy
to delay the discussion and
consideration of the topic until the
spring. I'm not sure an update does I
don't the last update we had on a cell
phone for example was unsatisfying to me
and I know everyone's going to be super
busy in the fall and the winter and
implementation. So I just want to make
sure that the discussion when we have it
about the neurodeiverse policy is
actually really informed uh by
everything that's going on in all our
places and how how it's going. And so I
would suggest that might be an excellent
topic between now and that spring to
delegate to somebody to review the
implementation so that it isn't um sort
of a one-dimensional look at how it's
being implemented that uh doesn't really
get into some of the details of it. So
as long as we're taking the time, I
would find somebody who would have the
bandwidth to do a good deep dive into
how it's going.
>> Rob, any thoughts on that? But I suspect
bandwidth is not a thing in great
supply. But um
>> I I appreciate Alex's comments on that
and I think that in uh December
I will be able to advise on whether or
not we would be able to provide a
substantial update at that point in
time. Uh to again as a reminder we have
a bunch of new leadership in a bunch of
key positions, right? We've got to get
folks with their legs under underneath
them. Um we have uh most of our teams
fully engaged on declining enrollment
whether it's our assessment team uh
whether it is our academics team our
student support team uh so uh again you
know I think that um we'll keep this on
the prioritization topic um we can you
know certainly have our team begin to
review the policy look at strengths and
weaknesses um and then also think about
the expectations that we put on schools
who by the way are going to be in a
really um different place in the fall.
Uh you know the work uh whether it's
cell phones or neurodiversity
um all the things that we ask schools to
do compete with one another
uh when there's limited bandwidth and so
I just want to be mindful there as well.
Uh, so I do appreciate the comments and
um and and I think that that we can take
that into consideration um as we think
about prioritizing this for uh spring of
2017.
>> Thanks. Alex, you have another thought
and then I'd love to hear from Deianne
and any other board members on this
point. Go ahead, Alex.
>> Yeah. Um, I just think that while I um
we have to be careful about who we might
rely on, this seems like the kind of
topic that might be outsourced to
someone outside your team to do some of
the review and give us an independent
third party sort of take on how it's
going and then it doesn't have to be
your team and we also get the advantage
of the independence and we don't have
the bandwidth issue especially when
we're dealing with something so um
nuanced and complicated in the first
place.
Deian,
>> I think I was the one that put it on put
this on the prioritization in the first
place. And since that time, I did an RFI
that was um pretty a pretty good update
on on where u Michelle felt like the
neurodeiversity policy is working and
what needs to be worked on. And I've
been meeting with Michelle to talk about
it in different ways. And I think I
think we won't get any useful
information unless we give it a little
more time to breathe.
>> So I think that we we got an update. So
I would take that RFI as your update and
put it off until spring.
>> And Rob, just remind me all board
members get responses to those RFIs,
right? Okay. Fantastic. Are there any
other board member comments on this item
with the information that you've had and
heard so far today?
Rob, any final thoughts on that one?
>> Appreciate the board's engagement as
always. These are always great
discussions for us to kind of get on the
same page on what we're going to be
doing. It's going to be a busy fall, one
that we're looking forward to. Uh and um
and just really appreciate everybody's
partnership and thoughts as we did
planned out uh the fall semester.
>> Super cool. So, um just quick sort of
zoom out, right? We had five items or
six items um on the prioritiz
prioritization list of which five are on
the work plan um for the next uh
semester with one um we had an RFI and
response on that and the other one sort
of will tee back up again for the next
list with staff doing some thinking um
in December as time allows. Um Nicole
going back to what you said right part
of why this works you c you couldn't
just plug and play this approach that we
have here for your prioritization into
any school district. Part of why it
works, right, is you all have a great
system of of identifying and tracking
potential topics throughout the year.
Laura tracks those, right? And so we
have the we always have the ongoing
list. But most importantly, what you
have that I'm not sure every h every
board has is an executive who is
interested in finding a way to say yes
to things as opposed to finding a reason
to say no to things. And so just really
appreciate that as someone who spends a
lot of time with elected bodies and
their executives being like, "No, but
but okay." So you're just you're just
trying to rule out all their ideas,
which is a shocking thing that
executives do. Yours doesn't. Um, and I
really just want to name that that all
of you being um open to Rob's feedback,
to each other's ideas, and bringing them
up as the year goes along, but
particularly to Rob um just be like to
trying to find a way to say yes as
opposed to a way to say no. That's why
it works. Um, yep. thought.
>> And I just want to say board members, we
spent this last semester talking a lot
about how we knew next semester is going
to be a lot of work dedicated to
declining enrollment. And I I said
several times, I know during board
meetings, exercising restraint about
what ended up on this prioritization
list because the reality is our plate is
is very full um with declining
enrollment. And so I just want to say
thank you because it is hard to exercise
that restraint. It's not everything if
if everything is a priority, nothing is
a priority. And so I just want to say I
appreciate that the fact that we were
all on the same page there with there's
always things that we want to talk
tackle. I that's I know Randy says I
shouldn't use that word. I try hard not
to use the word tackle. It's like an
aggressive word, but it comes out so
naturally. um things that we want to
accomplish, areas that can be improved.
In the cycles of continuous improvement,
there's always something to be improved
upon. And I just really appreciate our
commitment to decline enrollment and the
focus on the strategic plan because that
is that's what's going to move the
needle for our kiddos. And so, thank you
to my colleagues for your commitment um
and staying doggedly focused even when
it's not natural to do so um and limit
our ideas. So, thank you for that.
Um, love to invite any final thoughts
from other board members. Alex, go
ahead.
>> Yeah, Nicole, I totally agree. Um, and
am in total support of our self-control
and know that I sometimes am the one
struggling with that. Um, I would
suggest that my suggestion to think
about third parties with whom you might
be able to do a modest or small contract
to help with things is intended as a way
to sort of address that without, you
know, putting too many things on too big
too far a back burner that's too far
back. uh for too long. And so I think um
I've seen districts of our size
incorporate work by outside contractors
more often to help with things. So for
example, on the cell phone policy, I
know there's things we need to do to fix
it, but I assume no one has the
bandwidth to do a deep dive into it, and
someone could come up with those
suggestions. On the neurodeiversity
policy, someone uh could write it up and
do more than give us the data on a
particular thing, but give us a little
more insight into it with a bit of an
investment. And that way it doesn't fall
on Rob's executive team and our folks
who are so busy with the other things,
but we're still not putting everything
else on an 18th month uh uh sloww walk.
>> Thanks, Alex. Thought on that, Rob,
before I hear from any other board
members.
>> Yep. No, I appreciate that, Alex. I
think that you know and I've I've worked
with contractors you know my whole
career and uh there's things that you
outsource and uh you know there's times
when you know that you can outsource
almost an audit of practice which is
kind of what here sounds to me like what
you're just you know you're talking
about but at the end of the day the work
has to be done by teachers by leaders by
our executive team and if we don't
manage like if you don't inspect what
you expect right then to the extent that
it's going to happen I haven't seen that
over my career. And so, while you could
we could certainly hire somebody and
give them a a scope of work and we could
set them out to kind of start looking at
how this thing is going right now. Um, I
do feel like that
when we find the results, then we're
going to be expected to do something
with those results as well. And uh and
that's where I think the challenge
becomes. I will I will always, you know,
take board feedback into consideration
uh as we begin to get our new executive
team up to speed uh on how and how we
can begin to think about what are the
ways in which uh we want to look at at
this. I think special education which is
a big part of the neurodiversity uh
policy is uh has has done a really good
job of of wrestling with a lot of really
complicated uh challenges you know
declining re resources increased needs
increased numbers of students and I
would I think that they are going to
absolutely have their hands full come
August when we're thinking about okay
with the closures consolidations
reconfigurations where do programs go
and there's going to be a lot of time
that needs to be spent with family
saying I want my because if the school
that a kid who is served on IP is
changed and the teacher who's been
serving that kid incredibly well changes
because those are the things that happen
when you do this. I just am it's not
that I don't I don't want to I'm trying
to kick the can on this or sloww walk
anything. I'm just trying to understand
that the burning platform that will be
in front of us is how do we make sure
all of those kids transition
appropriately, which probably may or may
not be part of the neurodiversity
policy, but certainly is in the in the
best interest of our neurodiverse kids.
So, I'm just trying to be realistic on
what the fall is going to entail. And um
and uh even if I did an audit in the
fall, I think if I were to do it in the
spring, I would get a different result.
if I do it next fall, I get a different
result because all of their environments
are going to be changing. And uh so I
want to I want to acknowledge and
appreciate Alex's suggestion. Um and and
I've heard that and I would say that I
do have uh I think major uh concerns
around
big picture declining enrollment and the
impact on our neurodiverse kids, our
kids with IEPs, our twice exceptional
students, our like and and students on
504s, right? whose needs are being met
today because we've spent a lot of time
and energy with kids with adults and
then you're going to have kids in new
settings and I think this going to take
a lot of work.
>> Thanks Nicole and then any final
thoughts from other board members?
>> I appreciate that Rob and actually
something that you said I felt was also
worth noting that you kind of snuck in
there when we have used outside
consultants it has taken a significant
amount of staff time still to do it
well. I think of our strategic plan. Um,
when we redid the strategic plan, we
hired we h we got help for that. It took
a lot of oversight. When we recently
partnered and used Renee Crown to help
solve some problems, we haven't we
didn't have as much involvement and it
didn't turn out the way we hoped because
we weren't spending staff time to
oversee and be involved in the ways that
maybe if we had more time. So, I think
it is the idea of hiring somebody from
the outside. it can potentially be a
benefit, but it doesn't mean it takes
not it doesn't take staff time to help
really get the product that you're
looking for. Um, and I and also just
that point on how disruptive next year
is going to be for all of our for for
some for certain students in particular
like ch when change is hard um as it is.
I so I I appreciate both of those points
um and how yeah the data will look
different no matter depending on the
timeline of when you're looking at it.
Sure. Um, love to hear other board
thoughts and then I'll come back to
Alex. Uh, uh, Jorge and then Deianne.
>> Thank you. You know, we've been talking
about I keep looking at this list of
things for the fall and we've been
talking about the fall focus of the
fall, but it's really about the next two
years, right? This is an endeavor. It's
going to take a huge investment of time
and energy over the next two years
that's going to be real change for many
of our students and for our families.
Um, and to think about, you know, where
we are right now and where our programs
are right now is going to be look very
different from where they'll be in two
years time. And I think we have to be
strategic about when we look at some of
these issues and think about um what the
meaning of these change will be and what
that process will look like over the
next two years because I think it's
going to the next two years are going to
be take a lot of energy from our from
our staff and from this board.
>> Thanks, Jorge. Deian,
>> I think after spending so uh many hours
thinking about this problem and you and
I, Alex, would agree that there's some
problems with how um neurodeiversity is
being addressed in our schools. Um that
the work that needs to be done is not
something that somebody can come in and
evaluate. I think it's internal work.
It's work about attitudes. It's work
about um scheduling of of who's who's in
the room. Um it's it's not the kind of
work that somebody could come in and
just say you need to change this
attitude because it's not going to
change the attitude. It's going to be
slow work to get the right attitude um
in order to make this neurodeiversity
policy real for all our students. and
you and I both agree that it's not
really working, but I don't think that
we can speed this one up.
>> Thanks, Ian. Alex, go ahead.
>> Yeah. Uh, two things. Um, I agree that
this is going to be super intense and
for at least two years. I also find that
this is an elementary change and we have
kids in middle and high school who won't
be participating in it except
tangentally that for whom the next two
years is not necessarily a time to not
pursue board goals and district goals
and give them the support they need as
it interacts with it. So if if for the
next two years our feedback on hey we
need to look at this, we need to fix
this is wait two years then I'm I'm
going to respectfully disagree and say
hey there's a lot of people here who
aren't involved in our elementary school
consolidation merger and closure. Um I'm
also I' I'd point out that I know that
we have much less central staff capacity
than people think we have. That with the
salaries we pay our teachers, we have a
very lean central office. And so I I
think that and I understand that
contracting out with other people is
hard to do and if you don't do it right,
it doesn't work. But we don't have the
capacity to do it right. So I think one
of my priorities for the district is
actually have the capacity to do things
centrally that we don't have the
capacity to do now. And I don't see over
the next three or four years even having
enough central capacity to do this.
We'll be making further reductions in
our central office as we as we manage
the ongoing budget problems. So, I I
think um one of the functions I'd like
the district to get better at over the
next few years is being able to work
with outside parties that help us do the
things we want to do. We're not going to
have bandwidth. We're going to have a
huge pressing concern for two years that
affects about 40% of our students and
schools and we'll still have other
things that we want to work on. So I I I
encourage us to think about all our kids
the whole time and I'd encourage us to
think about structurally is there a way
for us to build capacity to work with
outside partners better. Uh certainly
the Renee Crown is an illustration not
just that Renee Crown uh didn't deliver
but that we don't necessarily have the
internal capacity to get the kind of
help from outsiders that districts of
our size and complexity need.
>> Thanks Alex. Laney or Jason, any
thoughts on this one?
>> I'm fine, thank you.
>> Okay, Anna, anything you want to add?
Okay.
All right. Hearing nothing else from the
board. Um, sounds like
ongoing concern about long-term
neurodiversity policy implementation.
Sounds like a cultural question is how I
interpreted DM what you were saying. um
and um maybe a longer burn on how can we
create some internal capacity to bring
on to do additional work and bring on um
consultants to support you. But in the
meantime, the priorities um are as they
are for this semester. Is that how
you're interpreting things? Board chair
and superintendent. Okay, Rob, any final
thoughts on any of that?
>> Appreciate you all as always.
>> Such a great group. Um in that case, I
will thank you again for including me in
your conversation. It's always a joy to
see you. um and to learn from you and
really pleased to hear um um our new
board members really finding your feet
and feeling good about the work. That's
super encouraging for me. Um Nicole, I
hand the meeting back to you. Thank you,
Heather. And thank you as always for
helping us through this process. It
really is a a value ad to have you here
so Rob and I can participate more as
participants. I'm not moderating. I can
raise my hand when I want rather than
waiting till the very end. It's great.
and you do an excellent job of
summarizing how things um shake out. So
with that, board members, we will any
members of the public who are observing
this, we will move on to our action
items for the evening.
We have a couple. First of which is
personnel items. And board members,
these aren't consent action, they're
just actions. So we're going to work
through these like we would other items.
Little unusual, but um that's how the
agenda is written. So first action um is
personal items. Is there a motion?
Moved by Anna. Is there a second?
Seconded by Jorge. Board members, any
discussion?
I just want to say since I feel like the
last few board meetings, it's like my
goodbye tour or saying thank you and
good luck. Um, Bill Sutter, CFO is
listed as uh as administrative
retirement. he will be with us for a bit
longer but is planning his exit. So
board members at the beginning talked
about um how wonderful it has been to
work with Bill. I'm excited to work with
him while he remains here and
if you're a high quality CFO
come knock on our door.
Any other discussion on this item? Board
members.
>> Seeing as there are none, can you please
call?
>> Booker,
>> yes.
>> Chavez,
>> yes.
>> Medler,
>> yes.
>> Quinn Linua,
>> yes.
>> Raj Paul,
>> yes.
>> Tamuadi,
>> yes.
>> Anger,
>> yes.
>> Motion passes.
>> Next item is approval of minutes May
19th, 2026. Is there a motion?
Moved by Jorge, seconded by Anna. Board
members, any discussion?
Seeing as there are none, Laura, can you
please call the vote on the motion?
>> Booker,
>> yes.
>> Chavez,
>> yes.
>> Medler,
>> yes.
>> Quinn Linua,
>> yes.
>> Raj Paul,
>> yes.
>> Tamadi,
>> yes.
>> Anger,
>> yes.
>> Motion passes. Next, we have approval of
minutes June 9th, 2026. Do is there a
motion? Moved by Anna, seconded by
Jorge. Board members, any discussion?
Seeing as there are none, Laura, can you
please call the vote on the motion?
>> Booker,
>> yes.
>> Chavez,
>> yes.
>> Medler,
>> yes.
>> Uh, Quinn Linua,
>> yes.
>> Raj Paul,
>> yes.
>> Tamuading,
>> yes.
>> Anger,
>> yes.
>> Motion passes.
>> Our final action item is the approval of
the superintendent's contract for 2627.
Is there a motion?
>> Second by Deianne. Board members, any
discussion on this item?
I just want to say um we talked about
Rob's eval Dr. Grannison's evaluation
the meeting before um and as I started
some of these conversation started the
conversation around declining enrollment
by saying at one point
this is hard for superintendents and
it's really hard for boards and
superintendents um you know sometimes
they lose their job around that and I am
excited to extend a contract for another
three years to Dr. Anderson to get us
through this time and to say that while
we know the the challenge is real, we
have full faith in your ability to
execute and um the need to make this
decision is that not it should not come
at a personal responsibility. So, thank
you for all that you have done for this
district and thank you for all that you
continue to do and I hope that the
public shares our feeling that however
this shakes out, your leadership is is
needed. So, Anything else board members?
Seeing as there is no further
discussion, Laura, can you please call
the vote in the motion?
>> Booker,
>> yes.
>> Chavez,
>> yes.
>> Medler,
>> yes.
>> Quinn Linua,
>> yes.
>> Raj Paul,
>> yes.
>> Teamading,
>> yes.
>> Anger,
>> yes.
>> Motion passes.
Next item on today's agenda, board
members, we have a policy study which is
board policy K and it's associated
regulation K-R which covers complaints.
With that, I will turn it over to
Kathleen Sullivan to present.
>> Thank you. Um, we are bringing this
policy forward although it was recently
reviewed in 2019 by the board. Honestly,
this is an area where AI is
fundamentally changing the game. I want
to be clear what this policy applies to.
This is not the policy through which we
investigate and consider any sort of
complaint of discrimination or
harassment. It's also not the policy
that the board uh reviewed last summer
that pertains to complaints around
instruction or curriculum. Those two
items will remain unchanged.
This is the general grievance policy.
This covers everything from my kid isn't
getting enough playing time to I didn't
like the way that individual interacted
with me. And these complaints take a
tremendous amount of time. So the red
line that's presented is addressing a
few things that came up that we
discussed as an executive team this
year. First of all, um we are tightening
up the scope of the policy. So the
proposal, as you'll see on K in the
second paragraph,
puts outside of the complaint process
complaints around mandatory reporting.
These are individual decisions that all
of us, including board members, have to
make in order to comply with criminal
and civil legal obligations.
They are also confidential under state
law. So, the process of having a parent
come forward and saying, "I've got a
complaint about what this person did or
didn't do," is really something that the
complaint process is not able to address
fully. And it's something that we've
seen pick up this year. We've had at
least four and it really delves into a
world that the complaint policy is ill
equipped to support. Our local law
enforcement will certainly look at any
issue around mandatory reporting. If
there's a failure to report and if the
concern is that there's been
discrimination, harassment or
retaliation in that space, there's still
the availability of our board policy AC
to look at that specific issue. We also
are proposing a specific uh recognition
that school district security decisions
when we come down to something like a uh
an order that someone has been uh
has presented a safety concern that our
team needs to regulate that that is the
sort of uh decision that is not uh is
not helpful or beneficial to review.
Certainly something that the board could
ask Dr. Anderson to look into and that
we would have internal procedures for,
but subjecting it to a multi-tier review
process by individuals who aren't within
the security team opens a Pandora's box
of concerns.
So, we're proposing to narrow the scope
in that way. We are also proposing to
limit the time period to we've had it
within the same school year. When we are
talking about a generalized complaint,
this is something that the the
individual knows is a concern
immediately.
When we allow it to delay months before
it's brought forward, we really limit
our ability to look at it carefully and
to have a timely recollection of what
occurred. So, we are seeking uh the
board's review there to limit it from
within the same school year to a 30-day
period of time.
The other two recommendations, I'll
start with one that's in the regulation.
So in the regulation,
we're proposing a limit for written
submissions to five pages.
You can actually get a lot of words in a
single spaced fivepage document.
I personally am working on an appeal
right now where we're at the third level
of review and we have a new 21page
document that is clearly generated by AI
and the volume is a concern. We want our
students to be effective at advocacy. We
need our community to be thoughtful
about the resources invested and so
we're proposing a five-page written
limit on what can be submitted. That's
the argument. Obviously, if someone's
got evidence, they've got emails or
other things, those can also be
submitted. But what we're talking about
here is that
here's what my concern is and why.
Proposing to narrow that. The final uh
proposal
is to limit the tiers of review for
generalized grievances and complaints to
uh three. So every board in or every
school district in Colorado has the same
language that says we want uh this first
to be presented at the level at which it
occurred. So at the most direct level if
the concerns with the teacher or a
school district employee that you go to
that employee to see if it can be
resolved before it escalates into
something more formal.
Then we are proposing to retain the
district administrator review and then
to have the final tier of review to be
at the superintendent level knowing that
the board has a direct relationship with
the superintendent and is really able to
advise and provide feedback for the
superintendent to make sure that the
policy is being fulfilled.
When we look at our neighboring
districts, I can tell you that this is
the move that districts are shifting to.
When we look at Jeffco and DPS, they
really have moved to an ombbudsman style
of resolution around general complaints.
Again, not our discrimination and
harassment or curriculum and
instruction, but just generalized
grievances. And in those we really see
two tiers of review. So the proposal
here is still to have three levels of
review but not to involve the board in
these generalized complaints and
grievances. And those are the red lines
that we're bringing forward. The the
timing here is we've had another full
year of implementation and with AI
really bringing the complaint process to
a new place and with consideration of
this policy now the board would be
empowered to adopt that policy and have
it in place for the opening of the new
school year which I think would be
beneficial in terms of timing.
Thank you for that overview, Kathleen.
Board members, questions, comments,
discussion on these proposed red lines.
Bian and then Alex, uh question. Uh
you've used the language like a
generalized complaint, but could you
give me a specific example of what a
generalized complaint might look like?
um so that I know what kind what kinds
of problems this would address because
it is removing um it is removing maybe
some of the power of the school board to
make decisions. So I want to make sure
it's at the right level.
>> Sure. Absolutely. So, a complaint about
how somebody interacted, say a coach
interacted with a parent on the
sidelines would be a generalized
complaint. We still have human resources
that evaluates personnel. So, it's not
about performance, but it might be about
a specific interaction. The complaint
I'm reviewing now is is specific about
playing time. The board will remember
last year you did have discretionary
appeals that the board denied around a
parents concerns with a counselor and
with a coach. So, um they really are
those tone interaction and
nondiscriminatory. I don't feel like
it's on the basis of race or protected
class, but my kid has not gotten an
adequate opportunity in some area.
>> Alex,
>> yeah. Um, I would be curious. I don't
know if that this is probably not the
time for it, but I've recommended for a
long time that we pursue an
ombbudsmanlike strategy for some of
these things. So, I think those two go
together. So in the absence of the
ombbudzman approach, uh not having the
process to provide the feedback doesn't
quite make as much sense as it does if
you actually were implementing an
ombbudsman approach to how to solve
these problems. So I'm totally in favor
of making the transition as you describe
it in general terms and I think that
should be part of establishing a larger
ombbudsman type approach that actually
like addresses these things on the
ground humanto human compassionate
person empathizing with someone who
needs to get through a difficult spot.
um uh and then it is really logical and
makes sense to not have the formal
process there to back it up because
you've actually solved the problem. But
if you don't have the ombbudsman um and
you're still not responding or someone
super busy far up food chain is
responding in a way that isn't diffusing
the situation, then I then I don't know
that it works as well as the direction
the other districts are going in. But
generally, I mean, I'm supportive of
this. I also want to make sure we
understand on the timeline that like
title nine violations, violence against
women or other uh serious um
considerations from our students are
still addressed uh through the other
mechanums besides the uh general
grievance or general complaint policy.
>> Yes. So, Title 9 and uh sexual violence
is addressed in board policy AC and
those implementing regulations. So,
these revisions would have no impact on
that process um which remains largely
dictated by federal law. I I do hear
that the um the ombbudzman sort of focus
and I do think that there could be some
language added to the regulation
especially at those first two tier
levels of review direct with the school
or department and then the initial
district interface.
Um,
we do have school districts that have
entire departments. They have multiple
FTE attached to do nothing except
resolve complaints. Under our leadership
structure, we do empower our building
principles, our department heads, and
then our executive directors who really
do carry a significant amount of the the
work that this policy imposes at that
district level of review. So, I do think
that there's a way that we can honor
that value of resolution and empathetic
listening and supporting of families
without making any FTE commitments or
starting a new department. And I think
that that's a balance that we could
strike in a revised red line.
>> I mean, I would say part of our opening
paragraph speaks to that already. you
know, we want this to be constructive
and handle appropriately handling the
concerns of all people involved. And I
agree, I wouldn't want to put any
language in there that ties us in a
direction we are not yet ready to move.
Uh I also like the addition of I think
it makes sense to say the school
district employee again in our style of
getting away from there are lots of
employees, not just teachers. So, I
think that's a great change. And
sometimes if there is a grievance with
that direct employee,
maybe there's not a comfort level to go
to them directly. And so, you would want
to go to the building lead anyway. And
so, that kind of makes both of those the
first point of concern rather than
having a family feel like they have to
go have a tough conversation or with,
you know, somebody that they feel like
has agreed them directly. So, I think
that makes sense. Um, there.
And you know, I have a question.
I even still feel like if I had to type
a five pages is still a So I want to
honor that. I don't feel like five pages
is very restrictive at all.
That's a lot of pages on a minor. Oh,
not minor is something wrong. Not a
protect a complaint that doesn't involve
protected class or curriculum. So
if it was less than five, I would be
open to that as well. But if you feel
like five is the right balance,
I would support that. And I can't
imagine why one would need if they were
writing it themselves more than five
pages. So I think that to me that that
makes um a great deal of sense.
And then I guess just out of curiosity,
it seems like there's still some degree
of redundancy between the reggg and the
policy itself
and we feel like the right balance is to
have the associated regulation.
Sometimes I just wonder like what else
are we accomplishing that can't be for
that second step and if we think it's a
lot of districts still have a
regulation. And so I if we want to go
that route, I think it's fine. But um
like you kind of have to particularly
like what's the superintendent's role?
You kind of jump back between the two to
to clarify that.
Um and otherwise I think
the changes you made make sense.
And I don't know that the board, I guess
to Deian's opening question,
I don't know that we need to be involved
in every single type of concern brought
to the school district, nor would we
want to be. And so being thoughtful
about what really does come to us,
particularly in a time where it seems
like more is coming to us, like where do
we want to spend our time and our energy
and how much do we trust our staff in
making those decisions? uh I think is
just I was originally like oh that's
interesting to remove the board and then
the more I thought about it the more I
was like well maybe that maybe that is
indeed the right call for the limited
scope of this policy in particular
any other thoughts from board members
before we go back to Alex
hearing none we'll go back to
Yeah, I um I just want to follow up. I'm
not suggesting the policy should be the
place or this policy should be the place
where we discuss what goes on with the
ombbudsman role. But when I've talked to
executive directors and I say, "Hey,
tell me how much time you're spending on
the complaints of families and then tell
me how much time you're spending on the
complaints of the most needy 10
families." They're like, "Oh, quarter,
25, 30% of my time." So we have a lot of
time by very expert professional people
whose job otherwise is like working on
our strategic plan in school improvement
who are dealing with a very small number
of families with intense grievances. So
if we spent some money on an ombudsman
or two, I think we would have a lot more
resources dedicated towards our most
important goals around student
performance and well-being and the
strategic plan. So that's where I'm like
I don't want to lose the idea that we're
changing a policy to accommodate a more
ombbudzman approach and then say but we
wouldn't make any change to what people
actually do as employees uh because uh
we don't want to have anybody else have
more work to do. But the ombbudsman
function is something that is a function
I think we need and that we would be
better off if we had it. And not just
because the experience that the families
would have where they're where they feel
responded to, but also because our
people who are working on school
improvement and supporting and coaching
the principles or the principles
coaching the staff would be protected
from from having to spend
disproportionate amount of time and
effort on that. So that's that's part of
where I'm interested in. Um uh and I
don't have a line at it or anything, but
I I just do think that the ombbudsman
orientation is something that is in our
interest in the long run to get there.
And not because it'll add staff, but
because it will protect staff,
>> can I ask a
when as a as a board member, as a board
president, when people come to me with
complaints, I direct them to policy. I
generally don't engage with them because
our role has always been the final step.
And so I've always said, "Thank you for
elevating this. Here is board policy K.
I encourage you like, have you talked to
your building leader? Have you talked to
the area superintendent? have you but I
don't insert myself
because our decision has always been the
final one and because there can it can
subject board members to have to remove
themselves from any final decision. Um,
and so I wonder
how this change. Is there a way to to
still to speak somewhere about what the
board's role is in this? And is there a
way for us as a board to have an
understanding of about what our role is
if it's not the final action and it
removes that quasi judicial component?
I have concerns
about board members entertaining in
complaints and then how does that then
what happens?
Yeah, I think that is an excellent point
honestly and candidly when I think about
let's say over the last five years the
number of times that the board has had
to consider a discretionary appeal
I think it's one hand
I don't think that we've had repeated
board agenda items on that. And I do
think it's protective in that way, the
quasi judicial element.
And I think that that more important
than just anything else is it gives the
board the ability to redirect that
constituent to the the direct person or
the lowest tier which I think is an
important principle of any complaint
process. So with that consideration and
the board's discussion, I think that my
recommendation would be maybe not to
remove the board entirely, but to find
language that is more specific about
what that board role should be. I think
the recommendation from staff came out
because we do have a lot of complaints
that just roll from one level of review
to the next without
really any new information or
necessarily compelling reason. But by
adding in the grounds for appeal and
having some more nuance language around
the board role, that may be a better
balance than actually eliminating the
possibility of board review.
>> Yeah, I could go either way. Whether we
have that board review at the final
point or if there's somewhere earlier in
the opening that speaks to what the
board's role is and is not,
I would leave that up to your
discretion. and I just want to make sure
that the community and our board members
are exceedingly clear on what our role
is and is not in complaints. Um, and I
trust your ability to make sure that
that is worked out.
>> Yeah, I appreciate that point. I think
that clarity I think would be really
helpful about our role would be good,
you know, in terms of like helping folks
understand this process and
transparency. you know, I think it's
helpful to have say, you know, for
discrimination harassment policy AC, for
curriculum instruction policy, KEC, but
for the other things, you know, is it
possible to have links for that as well,
like general personnel complaints and
concerns? You're saying it's um the
district evaluation, but where do how
can we provide more guidance if if what
fits like the ant's question, I was
trying to wrap my head around, well,
what fits here and what fits elsewhere
and if it's elsewhere, where should it
go? So a little more clarity on that I
think would be helpful.
>> Dr. Anderson,
>> I appreciate the conversation on this. I
will say the vast majority of
challenges, issues are just um resolved
through chain of command,
right? Not the formal process, right?
Like so if somebody calls, emails me,
hey this happened at my school, I
forward it on to the assistant
superintendent of schools, the deputy
superintendent who will forward on to
executive director who then forward it
on to principal to make sure that those
things are handled. And so, um, just so
folks know that there's not, uh, like if
somebody comes with a complaint, I don't
say, "Well, file a complaint. Go to the
complaint department or go to like our
our job is to try to build those
relationships as folks are dealing
through challenges." And when they reach
out, it's because something isn't right.
Yes. And the reason only a handful of
these things come to the board and have
come to the board in my tenure is our
team really cares about getting them
right and bringing folks together. We
can't serve
kids if our relationships with our
parents aren't where they feel like
they've been heard. So, I do support the
adjustment that Kathleen has suggested
because ultimately if it ends with me,
if folks don't like that and there's no
clear process, they're still going to
come to you and then what would you do,
right? Like as opposed to having like a
a real messy public conversation on what
the superintendent should do or not do,
which then really starts to begin to
blur the lines of your role and my role
and process and systems. in my
experience have prevented those types of
things from happening. So I do think an
appeal to the board and then the board's
deciding whether to take that up or not
provides a final action for folks who
won't stop asking until they get the
final action. Right? And regardless of
how we were engaging through chain of
command, if that didn't work, then they
create a formal complaint, right? Then
we go through that process, then they
appeal that process, then they appeal
that process, then they finally are
like, I am appealing to the board of
education. And with you know 27 to
30,000 students in my tenure here
depending upon the year with all of the
challenges that we've gone gone through
again you know less than 10 have gone to
the place where we're like we want the
board to to to take this up or not. Um
now uh and and I do think that it's
important for the board to have that
authority. Um, I do think that uh that
that's a that's an okay thing. And and
to Alex's point, we do spend a lot of
time with our parents and with our kids
trying to make things right. If things
aren't working, if kids aren't getting
what they need, if if there's a way if
they don't feel like they've been
treated with the level of respect and uh
and we investigate a lot of those things
and a lot of them are there's always two
sides to the story and our employees
have rights, our kids have rights, our
families have rights, everybody has
rights, you know. So students have
rights. Um uh so I do think that that um
that we do spend a lot of time there and
uh so in any event I just just to to
reinforce what Kathleen has shared that
uh that yes I think that should happen
and for the public who's watching the
vast majority like if you have an issue
right email your teacher you know email
contact your principal contact your
executive director contact me and I
won't necessarily investigate right
that's not my role per se. That's why
the board has a clear policy on chain of
command and this policy reinforces that
that you know go to closest to where the
issue was. Let's try to work it out,
right? Um and you know, you don't have
folks in the system, you know, pointing
to a process. Well, I'm not going to
you've got to follow this process,
right? Because I think that
gets gets away from the spirit of what
we're trying to do, which is something's
not going right in the kids' education.
Uh our job is to try to fix that.
Uh I also think that there's uh there's
another level problem and the chain of
command thing and I think our
constituents who voted us in expect the
board to have some power because we're
the elected people and all of the other
levels of people that are reviewing it
are employees. And so I think there
needs to be an honoring of the civic
proposition that I'm going to elect you
and you're going to make sure that the
that the schools are running
correctly even if it's um even if it's a
burden. I definitely agree with the
limiting it to five pages. I definitely
agree in limiting it to the school year
that it happened in. I agree to all
those things. But I think there should
be just this little safety net of if all
of this other stuff fails, the elected
officials
get to um make the final decision.
>> Last resort, last point of contact as
the board,
Alex.
>> Yeah, I really appreciate this
conversation and in complete agreement
with everything people have said. I
really I do appreciate the ability to
say I'm not going to deal with any of
your details of your grievance because I
may be your court of last resort. Um and
at the same time I do believe with the
end that we need to be as elected
officials responsive and responsible for
things. I also know that we are dealing
with like by the time something's gone
really sideways for somebody's kid, it's
a big deal to that family and probably
two or three other families by the time
you know they're they're that frustrated
with things. So, I really really
appreciate that we can reinforce getting
to someone quickly closest to the issue
who has enough independence from it to
actually, you know, hear it and not be
totally the person that they're
complaining about. Um the other thing is
I just want to be really clear and this
is more for the public that like these
are all almost always these things that
are going on the people involved
especially when it's about students and
staff are entitled to privacy and
confidentiality and that these are not
things that can always be done in
public. They're not things that should
be um shared with other people um in
order to protect young people who might
have done something wrong and young
people who might have experienced
something wrong. And then when we deal
with staff, they have protections under
labor law and our collective bargaining
agreements. So all of this stuff when
it's being handled by smart
professionals is going to be handled and
and I think that's where like me as a
board member my trust for the people
within the district to make good calls
and work this out is is high from
everything I hear and I want people to
know that that's we can't share this
stuff and that's for good reason in
order to protect for the most part to
protect young people and also in order
to honor our employees who are working
really hard to try to solve these
things. So this is one of those things
where our board role is really important
to be there and at the same time our
primary goal has to be to protect the
interests of our students.
>> Bo members, any further discussion on
policy K and K-R
seeing as there are no
Alex, did you have one more thing to say
on this topic?
Sorry, that was No, I didn't mean to
raise my hand.
>> Okay. Um, we will Oh, Lenia,
did you raise your hand?
>> I wanted to echo I really appreciate
what Deianne said that it is important
as an elected official that you that you
are
still engaged in that process. Um, and
the privacy concerns Alex mentions often
come up as a complaint from
public, but I think it's really um
important to know that we're doing the
right things. And while we can't always
share the information,
we are there to do those right things.
So, I just appreciate the conversation.
I've been listening carefully and I'm
sorry I'm not there to um I'm sorry I'm
not there in person for this one in
particular. Thank you.
>> Thanks Molenia.
Well, that wraps up our policy
discussion item or study item. I look
forward to having this back on August
11th because I think it would be a big
value ad to kick the year off with this
in place. So, thanks um to the team and
Kathleen for bringing that forward. As
indicated on today's agenda, we do have
one more
We may not have one more order of
business. We had an executive session
scheduled um in the CA event we needed
to discuss the topics indicated
around our charter schools, but we do we
indeed need that executive session
today. Kathleen,
>> I had hoped to have a more substantive
update for the board following our prior
executive session. I really don't at
this time. So, I think that that
executive session could be an email and
that would be a more efficient use of
the board's time.
That sounds wonderful. In particular, I
was wondering how we're going to juggle
three remote attendees to this executive
session. So, if you do not feel that
there is any information, there's not a
volume of information worthy of an
executive session, we can not move
forward with a motion for that.
Which means board members, our business
today and for this school year is
adjourned. Enjoy your couple weeks off
and I will look forward to seeing you
guys back here in August.
>> Bye everybody. Thanks.
>> Thanks everyone. Take care.