I'd like to call to order this meeting
of the Boulder Valley School District
Board of Education for Tuesday, January
20th, 2026. Board members may attend and
participate in board meetings remotely
or in person in accordance with BBSD
policy BMEA and state law. Laura, can
you please call the role?
>> Booker
>> here.
>> Chavez
>> here.
>> Medler
>> here.
>> Quinn Linua
>> here. Raj Paul
>> here.
>> Tamuading
>> here. Anger
>> here.
>> Thank you.
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 everyone. Thank you for
joining us. Um, we are 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
Jason, seconded by Jorge. Laura, can you
please call the role?
Booker
here.
>> Yay or nay, please. We're taking Thank
you.
>> Yay. Meetings notes. Thank you.
>> Chavez,
>> yes.
>> Medler,
>> yes.
>> Quinn Linua,
>> yes.
>> Raj Paul,
>> yes. Tamuading,
>> yes. Anger,
>> yes.
>> Motion passes.
We will now begin our work session for
today. Um, starting with board
prioritization and planning. Turn it
over to Dr. Anderson to introduce our
guest, Heather Bergman.
>> Thank you, board president Raj Paul.
Good morning, everyone. Great to see you
all. Excited for our spring 2026 board
prioritization. With us as always is our
master facilitator, Heather Bergman, who
is going to help us uh continue what I
think is a model way in which boards
come together um through uh effective
governance to be very clear on what
we're working on and uh and what we hope
to accomplish over the course of the
next semester.
>> Heather, I'll just kind of run through
Sure. Um, and then I'll turn it over to
you.
>> Uh,
Heather will do a board check-in. Um,
we're going to review the agenda items
and we'll build out the board and we
won't be finalizing the fall 2012 2025
priorities. I apologize. This is
definitely spring 2026. So, I apologize
for that error in the deck.
Uh, just as a grounding activity, um,
looking at our vision and our mission.
uh you know I believe that these things
both the vision and mission are fully
embedded in our all together for all
student strategic plan and drive our
work
along with our values and and we um
strive to to hold up to the values of
BVSD each and every day
and uh board members recent iterations
of our strategic plan show you um some
different outcomes that we're looking
for. But as a reminder, our original
long-term outcomes. Uh and this makes me
just really proud. Students benefiting
from challenging and relevant
educational opportunities, reducing
disparities and achievement, and every
student graduates empowered with the
skills necessary for postgraduate
success was our original road map. And
uh even as as recent as last week with
our highest graduation rate in uh recent
memory um and with all of the results
and achievements that we achieved last
year, I could say with confidence that
we are doing all three.
So um
I don't know that I built in a check-in
slide for you. Do you want to check in
first and then we can kind of talk
through this?
>> Go ahead and do a quick check-in. um new
friends, returning friends. Uh we
usually spend this time I like to hear a
little bit from you about what's on your
mind. Um in particular, what feels good
about what you did last semester. Um and
for those of you who are new and
everyone, what are you looking forward
to doing in the semester ahead? And to
my two new friends, if you wanted to
tell me two sentences about you, that
might be great just for a little bit of
context. Anyone want to go first?
>> Yep.
I'm glad that we are moving forward to
understand declining enrollment and
getting a roadmap on that. And as we
prioritize today,
um I very much hope that we can keep our
eye on declining enrollment and the work
we have there. Um,
and one of the thoughts that's come up
for me as I look at this survey is I'm
hoping that some of the items on the
survey could be
um,
abbreviated
maybe.
Okay, we'll talk more about that in a
bit. Thanks, Lennia. Next. Yep. Jason,
>> um, similar feelings. Uh I'm glad to
have done some of the work we started
last or not not just started but um
continued on around declining enrollment
and I don't know like looking forward to
it but I think it's necessary work and
important and so hope we can keep that
going. Um I also um I'm really looking
forward to I know um it's come up a lot
but um the thing that's come up first in
our prioritization is just kind of AI
technology. Um, I kind of view that as a
umbrella for a lot of different issues
that have come up over the last year,
including the need to better understand
kind of what we're doing around AI, um,
technology use, things that came up
during our cell phone, uh, debate a year
ago around outside laptops and iPads,
and I think just getting a better sense
and handle on our overall technology
policy. So, looking forward to that. Um,
and I also agree with Lena. I think
there's a few of these things that I'm
hoping as we discuss more um are
probably maybe more news and notes or
kind of internal updates than
necessarily need to be in my view uh
full board topics. So um but excited to
be here. Thanks for being here, Heather.
And um glad to have our two new members
with us.
>> Thanks. Next.
>> Oh, we're gonna round out this side.
>> Let's get this side first.
>> All right. I love it.
>> Hi Heather. I'm Dian Puker. So, one of
the newbies and I think you should know
that I um am a retired teacher first
from BBSD.
>> So, I have a little bit of an insight
into what it's like to be on the front
line of doing this work.
>> Great. Okay. And let's see. Um,
I am
um I am interested in uh making sure
that we um prioritize things that we
really think will help with things like
declining enrollment.
One of those is the AI strategy and how
we're using instructional technology
which I don't think the teachers are
getting enough guidance in in how to use
it and we're not using it as effectively
as o say our neighboring districts ain't
bringing. So I think that's a reason we
could be losing students. Um I also
would say one of the items that's um
ended up near the bottom here uh the
safe schools coalition which is to
advocate for LGBTQ
IA students might tie in also with that
declining enrollment because the
students are exiting the system in order
to find safety. So, I'd like to see how
um a more holistic look at that will um
help with our declining enrollment. It's
certainly not going to solve it, but
they might be helpful. I also hang
around with a lot of 12 and 13 year old
young men who their life surrounds their
ebike
and
um that might be something that we talk
about in order to help families um deal
with the issues that are coming up
around those ebikes and making sure
students are safe at school.
>> Thanks so much. Pleasure to meet you.
All right. Eeny meenie miny who's mo
Alex.
>> Um
uh I support everything someone everyone
has said so far. Um I do think uh I
appreciate that the technology stuff is
ranked high. I would have I do so as
well. And to reiterate both points
people have raised. I think some of
these things could in addition to news
and notes. I'm not sure just writing it
in there is good enough. One of the
things I've seen other boards do is, you
know, two-on-ones or one-on- ones. So,
have someone on the board who's
particularly interested in an issue,
have a longer detailed discussion with
staff and get that update, and then they
and the staff can provide that update
back to the board without the board
taking a lot of time for it. It's just
another strategy to have a mix of a deep
dive for those that are interested in
something, but still have it before the
board as a discussion or news item.
That's just one thing to do for the
lower prioritized things. And then I I'd
suggest that um I believe strongly that
we are going to make progress on um
taking action to address declining
enrollment. And I also believe strongly
that a lot of our discussion will be
about so what are we doing with the
schools that are there? And I really
believe that it's incumbent on us to
explore the students that have left,
those that are considering leaving, and
how to get um to retain everybody that
we have by making sure the programming
and services are what we need. And I
agree that uh not just our LGBTQ, but
our neurodeiverse and our immigrant
populations are all uh in the cate and
the people who want more technology are
all in that list. Um I was just looking
at state data and over the last five
years the state lost about 7.2% of its
students and of those 7.2 2.5 are now in
home school enrichment programs and
online schools funded by the state. So
for every two students who just
disappear there's another student that
is still being publicly funded that's
not in a district brickandmortar school.
So, I mean, I think we need to
understand who we're losing, who we
could lose, and make our services,
make it so that everybody wants to stay
here. Uh, that can that wants to it's
not like we have to force them, but I I
do believe we can programmatically think
about that stuff as part of the
declining enrollment issue. So, I don't
want to I don't want to give short
shrift to the things that address the
the families that we might lose.
>> Thanks, Alex.
>> Anna Teu Aing. I am a mother of a
kindergartener at Emerald Elementary
School. Uh I'm also the CEO of Gorason
Printing. It's the only Latina owned
unionized print shop in the state. Uh
I'm also a Colorado commissioner on
higher education. And some of the things
that are uh super important for me are
um I've worked for the past 15 years on
um pro-immigration policy. And so for
me, the um uh supporting our uh
immigrant population is super important
to me. And uh I do have a lot of
connections, a lot of coalition building
that I've done over the past decade and
a half um to really do on the ground
work and it's something that I want to
talk about as we talk through this. Um
as well as from being a commissioner on
higher education, I am talking to the
department on what we can be doing to
really um automate and uh systemize how
our high school students get into um uh
higher education or other pathways um to
get into uh successful careers. And so
for me, those are the two um biggest
things that I want to talk through.
>> Thanks. Pleasure to meet you. Hi, Jorge.
>> Good morning, Heather. Thank you for
being here. Um, great discussion so far
to start this morning. Um, as I look at
the long list of things that are on
there, um, one, I'm glad the the
planning enrollment discussion has moved
forward over this past year and a half
or so, and we're looking to take action.
Um, we've done a lot of policy work,
which I think has been really important
in terms of setting us up to be able to
make decisions down the line as we're
moving forward. Um a and for me in terms
of priorities, you know, I I think um
BBSC is a great district. Our numbers
look great, but I really want to make
sure we keep our focus on the UIP and
our strategic plan. Um in particular,
addressing the disparities for kind of,
you know, the vulnerable populations
have been kind of voiced so far. I think
that's a really important point right
now as we think about what the next
three to five years will look like and
we we've laid the groundwork to make the
movement and and now we've kind of have
to start make sure we we don't get
distracted on that part of it. And so
two really big meaty topics that can
take a lot of attention.
>> Great. Thanks Jorge.
>> Thanks.
>> For me, I am really proud of the way
that this board has been able to stay
doggedly focused on the strategic plan.
As a district, this district has never
performed better. Our graduation rates
are the highest they've ever been. Our
achievement and growth scores are doing
well. we have populations that we still
need to be really strategic around
supporting. So I think that work has set
us up extremely well for the work that I
see taking the vast majority of our
time, which is declining enrollment
moving forward. I think this board is
going to be tested in ways it has never
been. I look forward to us being a very
united force, a united board on making
what is going to be really challenging
um decisions and it's going to be
challenging community engagement. And
with that being really
I'm hopeful that we can understand the
degree of time that that will take
>> both during our board calendar and
outside and also whether we want to
have have that built into our actual
board calendar. So we are all
participating to the maximum degree
possible in the community engagement
sessions and also doing our best to uh
recognize that that will that there is
potential for it to be um tumultuous and
have big feelings from our community.
And so as we prioritize other work, like
how are we maybe not choosing things
that are also going to
feel like a really big flash point
because we are going to in addition to
working together really well with the
district and our schools, we need to be
really working well with our community
during this time of of significant
change. So that's that's where I that's
where I am. And then part of that
continuing again the strategic plan. Our
kids are doing well because of that
work. And so we cannot lose sight of
that. as we take on declining
enrollment. Thanks, Necro. Um, and just
for folks, anyone who might be watching,
several board members have referred to
our priorities. So, you'll recall um
this list comes from items that you all
have raised over the course um of the
last semester since last we were
together. Laura tracks those for you and
then um board members were invited to
force rank these in order of priority to
you individually. And so we all have um
this list in order of priority. And part
of our conversation where we go to next
is Rob talks us through how these
things, you know, might already be
fitting in work uh the staff is already
doing and then where we might be able to
fit new ideas. Laneia, a question before
we jump in.
Previously, I remember we try to fit
everything that has come up are and I'm
hopeful that that's not what we're
trying to do here or we're trying to
take some of these things and move them
into news and notes or Alex's idea or
something. I I I
guess I'm once again just throwing it my
hat in the ring one more time about
declining enrollment AI strategy the
things that are big
>> before Rob goes I will from my
experience as a board member some years
we I have observed everything gets fit
in and some years I have observed
not everything gets fit in so
>> saying that as this is like my fifth
goround Um it's it depends and then I
will turn it over to Rob um to share
thoughts about maybe today but just
level setting that it's not always the
case.
>> Okay.
>> And before Rob jumps in I'll just add
that part of when these things go really
well is when the executive in this case
Rob gives us a really clear message
about how much work each item is and
that they're not actually equivalent.
Right? Okay. So, in some years we've had
lots of ideas that were relatively um
sort of small lifts for staff or again
sort of were aligned with things that
they were already doing. This year it
sounds like maybe we have a couple of
really big things and that should
influence how this shakes out.
>> Thank you for the clarification.
>> Yeah. So, no pressure, Rob, but u manage
our expectations, darling.
Um, I I appreciate the perspective and
um I appreciate that uh and I think all
the topics uh that are on this list are
worthy topics and uh you know um I think
that as I go through I want to just
really be really clear on the amount of
staff, superintendent, schoolboard work
is that is associated with all of these
topics and There are things that as as
the work and as as the semester um kind
of progresses
uh that may be addressed in different
ways. Um I'm always going to try to
address all of the things that you feel
are that are important, but I will not
uh be able to do all the things on this
list this semester. I just no matter how
much I would like to do that, I won't be
able to do it. Um just to kind of set
the stage uh because we're not we're not
starting with a clean slate. We have a
lot of work that had already been
prioritized that had already been
involved in goals and in some of it's
just the regular rhythm of the school
district. The declining enrollment work
will be the big chunk of emphasis of
both community interest and schoolboard
focus and district time. uh uh in
preparing for our presentation next week
where I will lay out the engagement
plan. Uh I already have I think 40 to 50
meetings on my calendar
addressed to declining enrollment
because I think that that's going to is
what it's going to take to actually
listen to people and hear them out and
figure out what's the best way to move
forward with this.
uh BVEA negotiations board members who
have been through this, you know, and
understand the amount of of staff time
that that takes. And um as a reminder,
we're still wrapping up our around the
salary schedule that I have been uh to
next week will be my 12th multi-hour
meeting trying to listen, hear, solve a
really complicated problem. Uh, I wish I
could tell you that this was going to be
an easy legislative session where we
wouldn't have to get that involved. Um,
and board members, those that have been
on the board, you know, and understand
when push comes to shove that I have to
get involved and I have to go down to
the capital and I have to and we all as
a collective have to engage our
delegation and there are going to be
budget concerns. The latest budget
proposal that has come out that was
presented to the JBC um is it would take
away the specific ownership tax that
comes directly to the school district.
6.5 to 7 million
which makes everything harder if that
goes away negotiations harder. Um
everything uh I think the academic
calendar process is well on the way. I
appreciate your guidance in that in our
last meeting. um a new district UIP with
a very engaged district accountability
committee is an important priority for
us and something that we want to get
right. Um and then we also have other
priorities that we'll determine today um
because I do think that there are some
things on this list that that we need to
lean in on um that are also going to
take a lot of time. Uh as a reminder, we
don't dial our staff up and down based
on the work, right? our our our staff,
our senior staff, our district staff, if
anything, has been declining over um
over time, with the exception of some of
the one-time funding that we've stood up
to support our strategic plan, our
biggest priority. Um and those aren't
permanent positions, as a reminder to
the public, those are positions that
will um will sunset uh once our full
implementation of the strategic plan is
complete.
Um so as we think um
>> yes
>> real quick before you go on um for
people who aren't don't have all the
acronyms memorized new district UIP
please.
>> It's uh unified improvement plan state
um requirement. Thank you for that
clarification. Um
organized the prioritization and board
members. I've I've put our draft board
in front of us. I'm going to we're going
to have to probably pull that together
so I can walk you through it. So you
won't be able to see that screen. You'll
only be able to see the board here in a
moment, but that's okay. Um these slides
are very similar. Uh I there is one
adjustment. Uh previously prioritized uh
board policy
um was something that we talked about
previously said we were going to get to.
Then I also um inadvertently included
that in in our survey. So I apologize
for that. Um so that's not in the
previously prioritized. Uh that's
actually going to be in the new
prioritized. But uh we as you'll see we
have some things required by board
policy uh enrollment trends seabbach
budget process DAC planning session
LRACK as you could see very heavy
operations focus our operations team is
going to be under a significant amount
of strain as we take on declining
enrollment and some other some of these
other big projects. Uh and this was the
list for the public board members. You
have this list in front of you of the
prioritization topics and items. Uh
again, worthy topics. Um really
appreciate that these have been brought
forward and I do not believe that we'll
be able to address the a good chunk of
these in our work session or information
items. However, we can look at some
other ways um as I organize with staff
on how to address some of these other
things.
>> Can you just tell us what IG and HK are?
Sorry, my acronyms. KH is
fundraising. IGA is instructional. I'm
looking at Nicole.
>> Basic instructional.
>> Yeah.
>> Kind of almost graduation from high
school. Asking elementary and middle
school.
And sorry for not turning on microphone.
>> Yes, that's fair.
and that isn't in our uh policy progress
that we would be doing this semester
anyway. IG,
>> I'll I'll get through here once I get to
the board. I'll I'll show you where I
have tenatively place things and and
kind of answer how that would work.
>> Can can I just clarify for new board
members and board members that may have
not participated in a prioritization
process where not everything has gotten
through? If we can't place everything,
if we don't come up with a plan, it will
remain on the list for the next
prioritization meeting. So if if it we
can't fit it in, it does not fall off of
anyone any list. It will remain on the
list for future. I just wanted to
clarify that
>> it carries over.
>> It carries over.
So, with that,
>> I'm gonna pull the I feel like a game
show host here. Everybody, welcome to
Wheel of Fortune.
>> This is the fun part where Rob gets up
and does his board dance.
>> There you go. This is the board dance. I
like that. Um,
>> it turns into a teacher.
>> Here we go. Okay.
Sorry, Laura. Would you throw this
microphone?
>> Um, yes. Can you place this microphone
over back?
>> Okay, everybody. How we doing? All
right. Um, I'm gonna grab
our list and I will share with you and
walk you through the tentative
board as it is today. I'm going to push
it forward a little bit more.
>> And Rob, you'll tell us what all the
colors mean for friends who have
>> I will tell you. Of course you will.
>> So pretty.
So for those who haven't gone through
this before, I start by listening to
staff, looking at the prioritization
that the board has done, looking at the
time, um looking at our previous
commitments, looking at what we want to
tackle, and then I lay out the semester
and then we have conversations
in terms of timing. If something doesn't
make the list, what are we going to do?
Uh and just really work together.
Oh,
>> to um to figure this out. So, I'll go
date by date, color by color, so
everybody understands
uh what we're doing. So, we're here
prioritization. So, we're doing a good
job. We followed our semester plan
already, which is just having this
meeting and having the meeting on the
13th. As a reminder, on the 27th,
we have breakfast with legislators at
the Capitol.
uh and that is uh at 7:30
in Denver.
We have that meeting down at the Capitol
so we have a higher likelihood of
getting folks from our delegation there
to at least touch base to understand
what are our big priorities heading into
session and to just reestablish
relationships with new legislators with
new board members. uh it's a great
opportunity for everybody to get
together and connect. So we'll be doing
that on the 27th. Now that evening
we have a board meeting. So it's uh
we'll have two meetings that day. Uh we
have currently DAC planning
uh which is something that happens every
semester.
We have DAC budget recommendations as a
presentation and then our declining
enrollment community engagement plan.
And then Kathleen has done a wonderful
job of sorting out what policies that we
have in the queue that today are
scheduled for those meetings. Now, I
will say um with all of the things that
happen with all the feedback that we get
on policies, it isn't uh this isn't
locked in. There's a there's a bit of an
eb and flow of what can come forward,
what can't come forward with the idea 20
policies to review each semester. Once
I'm done with the board, I'll turn the
board around and show you the progress
that you all as a have a as a governance
team have made in reviewing policy. Very
impressive. Uh lots of of policies that
we've been able to um retire, lots of
policies that we've reviewed uh and
still work to do as always.
On February 10th,
today we have planned our annual
enrollment update. Board members, you'll
you'll recall that this is the process
we established with Elrach where we
identify based on our new projections
which you've seen from Glenn. We we
identify
schools that are in the advisory phase
or the engagement phase based on number
of rounds and capacity.
uh that is an annual commitment to our
community as part of that process and so
that will come on the 10th.
Also on the 10th for study board members
in response to um to a previous topic
last semester around sponsorships. We
have a proposal around some some new
scoreboards that might allow us to
generate some well a uh to as an as an
improvement to our athletic facilities
and then b also an opportunity for some
uh long-term
uh revenue streams that can help offset
costs on February 17th. Yes,
>> I have a question and two
clarifications.
>> Yeah,
>> 20 policies per quarter. Did I say
>> semester?
>> Yep. I was wishful thinking that.
>> Yeah. Um the DAC planning session and
I've spoken to DAC exec about this
really depends on what happens today.
>> Okay.
>> Whether because they have a good chunk
of workflow. So if depending on what we
prioritize and what how they I just
promise them I'd loop back and if they
don't feel like they need to take on any
work because they're still wrapping up
grading policy and they were working on
IGA, they may not have we may not have
to do that. And then um a clear just a
question as you're continuing to work
through this because um open enrollment
is on the board priorization list and
we're bound to have that conversation.
So I'm just for myself wondering are
they different or are they similar
because we have like in our regular
cadence an open enrollment update but
it's also a top four on our so question
there.
>> Sure. No, no, I think so. And and the
topic, as I understand it, and Alex is
the one who brought this forward. He
spoke to it in his opening comments, was
was more of a deep dive, not a regular
presentation, but looking at the
programming based on this past year's
open enrollment process, what is the
programming that's of interest? What are
the new trends that we potentially may
be seeing? What um you all know that we
have a declining enrollment dashboard.
We'll want to make sure that that we
update that which as a reminder can get
into subpopuls of students to tell you
who's coming, who's going. There's some
different data there. Um, and so I was
trying to honor that and I do have that
in the in the rhythm of the of the um of
the board. And so once we get to that,
we can have a discussion about that.
>> But it is not the February 10th.
>> Nope. Nope. February 10th is a meeting
that we've had every year for the past
couple of years. It was a commitment
that was in to that came out of LRAK
which is on an annual basis. We're
looking at five-year data trends and
we're letting folks know what will
happen in five years where schools will
be. As a reminder to our public, we had
significant drops in enrollment this
past year. uh the second biggest drop in
enrollments um since COVID and uh and so
that has accelerated some of the
challenge of of declining enrollment.
Hence um you know the board's the
board's prioriti prioritization of of
declining enrollment being at the top
with our strategic plan addressing
decline enrollment. So, February 17th,
you said we don't have school on the
17th.
>> Well,
well, hm. Well, uh,
>> what's that?
Uh
if we wanted to, if the board wanted to
do, we could
uh have our regular meeting on the 17th
and then move our school visits to the
24th.
That's an option. Or we can just take
away the school visits on the 17th. Um
I think those are the two options we'd
have.
>> Well, any preference? Uh my preference
would be to take away the school visits
despite my love of them. I think we have
so much work to do. Um for sure taking
it away on the 17th and if we need May
19th taking that one away too.
Other thoughts from board members?
Cole,
>> I would say our two newest board members
haven't had the opportunity to do school
visits yet. And I do think particularly
because it's been a in the case of a
former teacher who hasn't been in our
schools for a while and think a
significant amount of things have
changed and then a parent of a
kindergartener who is new to us and
haven't other than their own school
probably hasn't spent a good deal.
I would feel a little reluctant to
taking both of them away because there
is so much to un you see the work. So, I
would for that reason for to having two
new board members, I would I would
advocate for at least keeping one. I do
like the suggestion at the very least of
flip-flopping the 17th and the 24th and
then would be open to other thoughts on
um
that whether we have school visits.
Alex,
>> um I'm I'm in favor of keeping the
school visits. I think uh they can be
also carefully designed by Rob and the
team to show us stuff that is also on
our agenda and really deepen our
discussion of those items as well as
just having some real time in the
school. So I'm in favor of switching it
to the 24th and keeping them certainly
keeping the May. I wouldn't I wouldn't
get rid of both. I I really find uh I
may be an exception. and I don't have
kids in school right now, so I'm not
interacting at drop off and pickup and
going to as many events as many of the
rest of you. Uh, so I really superv
value the visits and I believe Rob and
his team can design them to overlap in
the vin diagram of what we're talking
about.
>> Since Nicole referenced the two new
board members, do either of you have a
preference one way or the other?
>> I would really like to go on some school
visits. Yeah, I think it's I need to get
out there and see, as you said, a lot of
things have changed. So, I would love to
see um
I would love to see and and visit an
elementary school and a middle school
and see what that's all about.
>> And two days um would be most beneficial
or are you comfortable switching it just
to one day given the rest of the work or
do you care? Of course, I would like two
days, but if we need to drop one because
of the volume of work, I understand it.
>> Okay, Anna, how about you?
>> Uh, I do really appreciate doing school
visits. Um, it's one of the funnest
things as a commissioner to get to visit
the schools. Um, so I do want to and
especially being from Broomfield, I'm
not really in Boulder a lot, so I want
to I want to go see the schools. Yeah.
>> Two days, one day. Do you have a Two
days? You got it, Jason.
Um, I also really appreciate the school
days and I think as Alex said, I think
our last visit when we kind of when it
was structured around the decline
enrollment conversation was incredibly
valuable for me personally. Um, do we
have to make a decision on the one or
two days now? Can we see how the
calendar looks? I think I appreciate
Lenia's comment about how much work we
have and also the value of this and so
maybe we can just make that call later.
I would say February is upon us and so
like maybe if you want to make a last
minute call it would be the May visit
where schools might also be just be
doing fun end of year stuff anyway but I
would think like we need to have
we typically do our entire calendar.
>> Yeah. I don't mean I don't mean like
another day. I mean like let's see how I
mean is there value in a May visit
anyway being like the last
>> week of school? I don't know that that
is like valuable for people at the
school level to have us come or even for
us seeing
>> um so that maybe is a question that
that's not as useful but I I I'm in
favor of the February. My my point was
like maybe we see how the calendar is
and if we have so much work we could
replace the May time or maybe May just
doesn't make sense given it's the end of
the year.
>> Rob, do you have a thought on that from
staff? Then I want to give Jorge a
chance to have a thought here.
>> Couple things. Um, we will be doing
elementary school teacher roundts at all
of our elementary schools as part of
declining enrollment process and I will
need you all to be attending those. So,
you will have a chance to be in schools
engaging directly with teachers. Um, it
won't necessarily lend itself to some of
the visits we've done. So, I think that
we could do I think there's a couple of
options. First option is you flip-flop
the 17th and the 24th. Um, I would have
to check to see if the budget midyear
analysis would be there on the 17th if
that would be ready and if it might
impact our policy review schedule.
>> Uh, you can just take the 17th offline
and not have a meeting at all. Um, if we
just want to cancel the school visits or
um, you could move the 24th to the 17th
and not have a meeting the 24th.
>> I think those are the three options to
discuss. I'm okay with all three. I do
appreciate the sensitivity to workload,
but I also appreciate the opportunity to
be in schools with you all to show you
the work to to so we can get a a a
powerful shared understanding of what's
happening. And I think that it is
something that we do that I don't know
many boards and superintendents who do
that. Um, and I think it's actually a
really great thing. But, uh, pleasure of
the board, we could do any of the three
options. Jorge, I want to give you a
chance to have an opinion and then we'll
go around.
>> You just addressed some of the questions
I had about flipping the two times,
right? If it's viable for us to do so
given the timeline. Um, so I'm in favor
of doing that. Um, I like the school
visits, but also if we are going to be
talking to teachers, is there a chance
for those to be held as on that day on
on the 19th? I don't know what the
schedule looks like as you think about
the roundts with teachers at certain
places or not or for us to participate.
Um, but I like keeping those if that's a
possibility.
>> Elenia and then Alex
wondering if Rob you'd weigh in on the
May 19th end of the school year visits
if those are as beneficial. You think
>> depending on what you're looking at? I
think that
when I think about where our district
will be in May,
uh, in the throws of community
engagement, we will have been talking
about declining enrollment deeply. Um,
that I I'm not just not sure where we'll
be as a district. I think you could
switch the April 21st and May 19th dates
and I could do a strategic plan update
on May 19th and we could do school
visits on April 21st. M
>> did I have a as well?
>> Cool.
>> Scheduling issue.
>> I'm just wondering, we're heading into a
new two-year calendar adoption. What is
that deadline for the UIP? And does that
get us too close to the submission date
to have any meaningful input in the UIP?
Because that's calendar bound by the
state as well
like those deadlines.
I like pop quiz for Rob days where we're
like how much does Rob have memorized
because have to have that approved by
when.
>> So the UIP will have to come for study
and action at some point
and typically
the timeline was like August.
>> That was the old timeline
>> and now the timeline's in.
>> I feel like it's before school get
>> May. So then are you saying that
you'd want the strategic plan update to
include the UIP earlier so we could get
feedback on that before it goes? So we
could do two things. Um I could add that
as an information or a work session item
like an hour and and then we could
flip-flop these. So, you'd get the end
of the year strategic plan update, but
then work in UIP as a work session or a
because we're gonna have to do that.
You're right. You're absolutely right.
It's not like a choice of where we do
that. So, um
>> So, well, Rob's writing that. Alex, you
wanted to jump in.
>> This is just another consideration.
Again, I'm in favor of figuring out
whatever it takes to spend time in
school, seeing stuff go on. I do think
during the end of the year there are um
demonstration things that go on
especially in some of alternative
schools. So it's a chance to actually
see some of the like end of course
capstone things which is also a way to
honor our different schools that use
that approach more than others.
>> Yep. Go ahead.
>> But couldn't we be doing that as
individual board members much like we do
graduations?
Mhm.
>> Oh, we can and sorry, we can and should,
but I would just add I have appreciated
staff and Rob's uh interpretation and it
um helping us understand what we're
seeing, which has been valuable to me on
all our school visits.
>> Rob,
>> tricky to line that up with a Tuesday
morning.
>> That's the tricky part.
>> Okay. Yep. Nicole,
>> I would I'd like to take us but back to
just focusing on the three options that
Rob gave for February so at least we can
figure that out and then we can continue
to look further out to May if that's
okay with the board.
>> I just I'll throw in I'll proposing
flip-flopping the February 24th and 20
and 17th. I know we're not really having
a it's not a voting day, but a thumbs up
on like how how are we feeling about
that to at least move past February
>> before we consider what's happening
later in the calendar
>> or members comfort. Yep.
>> Yes.
>> Okay.
>> And if Bill needs to come back with a
different budget time or we need to move
some policies around, that's totally
fine.
>> Some wiggle room on some of those. Okay.
Great. We have majority of board members
supporting that.
>> Thank you for at least letting Yep.
Let's get through that one and then
and then I have a question.
Rob,
>> I'm listening.
>> Do we
as the questions sort of are looming out
there around school visits? Do we want
to work figure that out for May right
now or do we want to work through and
then loop back and see at the end? What
do you what would you think is the best
course of action?
I think
>> to the extent anything we can decide
today probably is better. Um I think if
you to for for us for our team it
actually gives our team more time to
plan for the strategic plan update. uh
if we move that from April 21st to May
19th and the planning on school visits
is is of course we have to coordinate
and understand from you all what we want
to see but the workload on staff
preparing for a school visit is uh is
absolutely um much less than uh
preparing for a strategic plan update
with a hundred slides that have to be
peer reviewed that have to go through
kind of all of our processes those those
presentations I say they work on those
between 20 and 40 hours. Um so uh so
that actually I think our team probably
would prefer that. I just was been
following the rhythm we've been
following which is school visits teacher
plan update school visit and it just
happened to fall there. Um but I think
that if we wanted to move the 19th and
the 21st and then if something were to
come up then you know we could we could
figure out a way to address that at that
point. But but knowing and understanding
as much as we can coming out of this
meeting is going to be helpful for our
academics team who uh will be especially
our schools team. They're going to be
very involved in this declining
enrollment discussion process. Um so
will our principles
>> every everybody's going to be pretty
involved.
>> Jason
>> um I I guess to Nicole's question I
would propose which is what I think I
proposed earlier is just continue to
work through this calendar and maybe
punting the question about the second
school visit. I mean, we haven't even
gotten to the list of things we have to
go through or your
>> list of things. And so, seeing if that
still fits, I I'm really happy to keep
one. I would love to do two, but I think
just given this list and that list, that
would be my suggestion.
>> Cool.
>> Yeah, I was going to just to keep this
moving along.
So, that sounds like a proposal that
Jason has made. Do we want to give a
discuss that or have a thumbs up, thumbs
down on that one? because it would be I
mean we we could flip those as long as
we got to the UIP at some point before
our deadline and then um
thoughts on that board members or
discussion if Heather wants to lead us
around in that. Alex, did you have a
thought before I
>> Yeah, just a quick friendly amendment.
Um, speaking of the things that we can
attend as individuals, uh, again, as a
not as a parent of a kid in school, I'd
be really interested in in not just a
list of events, but a list of like
recommended events from your team where
we could see something that we can go to
that's actually instructive of the kind
of stuff we're talking about.
>> Um, so that might be a thing where that
doesn't take a lot of time to prepare
from your folks who know what's going on
in the schools. Uh, that could provide
some good insight to us by just showing
up at things.
>> Great. just something to make a note of
provide to the board. So, what I hear
Jason you suggesting is let's not decide
right now in in today's meeting, but we
will decide by the end of this meeting
what we're doing about about the this
later school visit, but maybe let Rob
continue to walk through what else is on
the calendar um because there were other
exciting things and then figure out what
we want to do with these and decide
whether there's time um for school
visits or not. So, unless anyone's
opposed, I'd recommend we carry on with
that and see what what kind of juicy
stuff you also have.
So, thank you.
>> Thank you for the conversation,
everyone. Um, so we did the flip. Thank
you, Laura, for helping me out with the
magnets. Um, real time change here. Uh,
so then on March 10th, we have our
superintendent honor role recognizing
all the folks in um all of our students
and staff that we recognize kind of
through the winter months. board policy
IGA as an information that's actually
probably a work session now that I look
at that we can discuss that policy um
and then of course we have some other
policies there c
>> can you pause on that one so board
policy IGA is on the prior is is on our
ranking list so it it's already
happening on March 10th so we don't need
to consider it on our ranking list is
that correct or is it different
>> so typically what we've done and You can
do this one of two ways. Is that when
the board has prioritized a policy, we
pull that out and have more of a deeper
work session on it. They're typically
deeper, larger policies. Um, and if
you're looking at your prioritization
list, the I've added the top six items
to this calendar
>> in a way that I think that I can manage
and our team can manage. So, any
everything from board policy up is on
this list.
And I think once we have this all
squared away, we can talk about other
options for the other things that people
care about. Do we wait on it? Is there
something that we can be doing in the
meantime? Uh is there an executive
summary? I think that there's some some
of these things that I agree with that
we can start to move forward that may
not rise to the level of a work session
or a information session right away.
>> Got it.
>> Is that okay? Sorry, I should have
probably led with that.
>> Okay. So, this board policy IGA item
that you just moved up to work session
on March 10th,
>> what? Great. Um, that answers line of
your question, which was, is that
already part of the calendar? And it
sounds like you've pre-populated this
with those top six items.
>> Yes.
>> Okay, cool. Thank you.
>> And we'll have Dak Dak will be done with
it by then.
>> Because this is a work session, like Dak
will be done with it by the end of the
year. IG they're working on those
recommendations now or they're starting
it they're wrapping up their grading
policy recommendations they will have IG
by the end of the year but because we go
work session study you know we have
we'll see that policy a couple times so
it the timing will work out
>> great
okay carry on
>> March 24th
AI tech update I have that as a
placeholder I do think board members in
our one-on-one ones I'm going to need to
get a little more clarification on what
are you looking for from that right
obviously you know there's been some um
public comment around doing more with AI
uh and uh to the extent uh is that a
policy is that um is that practice is
that guidelines I think there's
different ways folks have done diff
different ways that folks have done that
and then the tech update you know we've
had also public comment and board
comment around do we have too much
technology? Is there not enough? Like
what's kind of going on there? How do
how does how do we how do we potentially
think about some of the principles in
our cell phone policy and extending that
to computers and bringing computers from
home and all of those other things. And
so that's a big old topic. It's going to
take some time to figure out. Um, but I
don't think we can wait much longer than
March to bring it forward to let folks
know what we're thinking about and what
we're doing. Um, and then get some board
direction if there's things that you
feel like that we should be doing that
our team hasn't identified. So, uh, but
that's a that's going to I'm just
letting you know that's that is a lot of
work that's cross departmental whether
it's IT, academics, operations,
schools, impacts on schools. Anytime we
make decisions around how schools will
or will not use
things, it changes their work. And as a
reminder, I do think schools will be
pretty over, especially our elementary
schools because again, this semester, we
will be in I think really
um deep conversation around declining
enrollment, which uh I do have um I do
believe um we're just going to have to
spend a lot of time listening around
that. Nicole and Alex.
>> Yeah. Board members, I just wanted to
share like um guard rails on this one or
getting clarity
amongst ourselves to staff to the public
on what it is we're going to be talking
about. When I was at the just so you
know the DAC meeting, I don't know if I
shared
uh this came up in a polarizing way that
resulted in some emails to the board
after. Apparently there's like Slack
conversations like this one's getting
really polarizing. Uh, and I just want
everybody to understand that that um
that will be depending on how we
communicate we're taking this on or what
it is, how we're defining that topic and
how we approach it. It could get it
could get spicy at a time when other
things are spicy. Rob wants to clarify
and then Alex,
>> the last time we addressed this was 2018
and uh for those that were involved in
the district at the time, we had like
little to no filtering on the internet
and we had boardrooms filled with
parents upset about what their kids were
being able to access on our computers um
that they didn't want them to access. Uh
this was right when I was coming in as
as superintendent and so we made an
investment in GoG Guardian. We made some
policy changes. We put together a
committee of parents. It was, you know,
this this can result in a lot of work.
But once we did that, we were it it it
certainly gave us the guard rails um for
uh eight years, right? And I So um I'm
not Yes, people have strong opinions on
technology and they're not the same,
>> right? Alex and Madonna.
Yeah, I'm uh
all those things you talk about are why
I think we need to have some
conversation about it. I mean, I think
2018 to 2026 in terms of the technology
that's there through AI and the other
things, the impact now on not just what
schools do, but how kids learn and think
is like part of crucial to why we're
going to lose students who leave because
we're not handling it right. So I don't
uh I'm anxious that an update designed
to limit the discussion while it is
procedurally politically effectively you
know what I would prefer is totally
inadequate to the task in a time when
stuff in the schools is super intense
when the teachers and students are
dealing with stuff and when the
technology is changing rapidly while we
we know it's important. So part of what
I'm interested in soon is figuring out
the process by which we navigate this
over the next couple of years. So I
don't know that we know what our
direction is. I don't know what the
solutions are. But realizing it's too
big to talk about now because we don't
have time to talk about something so big
is kind of counterintuitive to something
that is so big. So uh it's it's a big
deal. We need to deal with it. We don't
have enough time to deal with it
effectively, but it's going to be a big
deal for a while. So I'm interested in
having the discussion about how we would
figure out how to do this. It's not
going to be much easier in the declining
enrollment world uh next year when we're
actually dealing with the actions of
taking action in in the schools. So I
don't know when the bandwidth will
magically appear to talk about something
that could be that impactful. So I'm
into figuring out process and structure
to deal with it.
>> Rob wants to clarify and then I have
Anna and it looks like Dian want to get
in and then
>> so um a statement and a thought. Um, I
do think as we keep our finger on the
pulse of our community, this is a
conversation folks are expecting us to
have, right? Um, I do think through
one-on- ons with board members, I can
get clarification on what your hopes and
desires are for that, which may be
different than public comment, which may
be different than what some people want
this to be. Uh, if we want to have a
real deep conversation on this,
there's two options.
In March,
uh you could do a
daytime meeting
on the 10th or the 24th.
Uh in as opposed to just a business
meeting where we'd have an hour, hour
and a half. We could take this as a deep
dive topic and spend three hours on it
if you'd like. Knowing and understanding
that we're not coming with all the
answers and solutions. We can talk about
things. we can have some discussion and
conversation and clarification. Uh
or
you could take your time reserved on the
21st instead of a strategic plan update.
We could make that about AI and
technology.
>> I there's two choices. I do think based
on kind of where this is that a longer
daytime session might be the right venue
for us to have a deeper discussion on
all the things and uh better meet the
the needs of board and um better get the
clarification from us because if we try
to squeeze this into a work session
before a meeting
it might not work.
Okay,
I want to go to the St. Brain AI Summit
to help
understand the things that we don't
know. Um,
and I guess I just state it because I
was signing up and then I just didn't
know if I should be reaching out in a
different way to St. Brain, but that is
on my calendar for the 21st of February.
Okay.
>> Yeah. Hold on. I was gonna say a thing.
>> So, um I just want to be clear with our
community uh and that that we've been
working on AI for three and a half
years. Uh we've given board updates
around AI and technology and that you
know s rain not to take anything away
from St. Fra and I think going to the AI
summit's a good idea but anything we can
learn from anyone I think is wonderful
and it helps us out. Um,
but I I just want to be clear that it's
not that we don't understand AI or its
importance. It's that we've prioritized
other things ahead of AI, which is our
strategic plan. And we haven't leaned in
as a on AI as a key lever of our
strategic plan other than the use of
magic school to date. after early
reviews of doing some other deeper um
more um more potentially focused ideas,
we decided to go that route. Um and I
think that we've sped up implementation
in our schools around that. Um so I do
think it's a good idea and I'm happy to
connect anybody with the folks and team
over at St. Frain. Um and uh but I would
say that we have done some work, right?
It's not, you know, it's not our it's
not our headline, right? But certainly
AI is being used in our schools. I do
think that the difference that that
maybe other districts who've gotten
ahead of us um on this work is they just
really clarified its role in education,
what it is, what it isn't, what you can
use, what you can't use. We've left that
up to schools and teachers as opposed to
a systemwide statement around that. Um
and we do have teams working on it. So,
um, so yes, uh, I think that it's a good
idea to go to that. And just to be clear
with our community, um, we've been
working on it more behind the scenes
than maybe on the front page.
>> So, my cue is Deian and then Elenia and
then Nicole. And I'd also love some
clarity and then Jason, some clarity
around your preference on Rob's option
about u doing it during a study session
or doing a daytime meeting. Uh, Deian,
go ahead.
I would really like to know what the
updates are. So, if somebody can help me
locate those because I'm not aware of
the board updates that were done on AI
before, that would help me not be in the
dark. Um, and I'd like to know more
about what's happening behind the scenes
and who's working on it
>> because if there's experts working on
it, that's great. I feel like our
community, both the teaching community
and the um parents of students that are
um trying to use this technology kind of
need a vision statement
um and maybe you've already done that
and I just am not aware of it. a vision
statement like, "Wow, we've invested
in expanding the use of technology to
help students for 30 years, and we
probably will still continue to do that.
So, we're not going to just cut off
technology, but just letting people know
our direction is to make sure that our
educational technology is up to the
highest standards to help kids succeed."
I saw Laura take notes to provide that
additional information that you
requested. Rob, you were shaking your
head that there is at present no vision
statement on AI.
>> No, I think that that that's what we
accomplish in, you know, getting, you
know, getting getting the feedback input
next directions and having the board
shape that uh which is why I'm really
starting to think we're going to need
more than an hour.
>> Great. Lilia,
>> I was going to ask for something similar
to Deian. I'd love in news and notes
just to know what we currently do. Um
because as a lay person, I'm not going
to have a lot of input anyway. I'm not
going to know that much about it. So if
I understand all the things we're doing
and the people that are working on it
and you know, I think that that's part
of the misconception for our community
is that we're doing nothing. And that's
not true. when I know that that's not
true, but I just love to be able to
speak to people about well here's what I
know we're doing and and I also
appreciate that it's not a headline for
us. We have many other headlines that
are better than that, but I would love
to just understand it just but I don't
need it in a um even in a I think the
benefit of a public session is somebody
somebody can come and sit and watch and
that's great. Um, and I'd say the
morning one would be probably I could
probably handle three hours of it,
though I'm gonna understand 20 minutes,
Nicole.
So, I w I would propose that we make it
a work session on the 21st,
like you said.
>> 24th.
>> Oh, I was Oh, I was looking at the 21st
date with the UIP. I thought that was
the date you suggested. either way a
work session and I do think and what I
was going to say before Rob threw that
out there was I do think there's a lot
of misunderstanding a lack a l a lack of
clarity around what we are doing and I
will say uh the team has been working on
it we have a technology committee that
meets with district staff one of the
people that show up at our board
meetings regularly happens to sit on
that community committee so when they
say nothing is happening and I look at
Lynn like hey did that person go to your
meeting today yep sure did. So I think
having a public meeting will help and I
think that starting starting with where
are we and what are we doing and what is
our and then then going into what do we
want it to be because I don't think we
should have a common understanding and I
and that's what I was saying it wasn't
like putting guardrails like we're not
going to talk about it but being clear
to the commu the community if we talk
about it on March whatever it's not like
we're going to have a decision on AI
policy or we're going to do something
have this opinion about one to But we're
going to like talk about where we are,
where where how we want to get to where
we want to be and not like there's this
there sense of urgency that I feel in
the community right now that it's not
typically how we work. So that's I would
propose a longer daytime session. I
would propose that and then like
wherever that works and then we can
again punt those school visits if that
doesn't make sense and put the strategic
plan on the May 19th. I think our
community would be best served that way.
news and notes is not something that our
community can see and then we can all
ask those questions to make sure we're
all on the same page. So when we go talk
to the community, we can reference that
meeting on a consistent way. Let's hear
from Jason and then Rob, it looks like
you have a thought.
>> Um I I don't remember why I originally
wanted to talk, but I think I I uh I
agree with all these comments, you know,
particularly Alex's comment about kind
of the large, you know, needing a bigger
discussion about this. And so if that's
um a work session during the day, that's
better. But I think you know I want to
make sure this is not seen as like a
criticism of the district or of anyone's
leadership or work. think this is
changing so fast and you know we had our
last update a year ago and you think
about the technology has changed on just
on AI not not even the other topics
we're talking about and I think the
challenge is you know government
schoolboard structures are just not set
up for responding to these kinds of
things quickly and so wanting to as
others have asked kind of know all the
things that are happening and are
ongoing and probably happening on a
daily basis would help us but also you
know making sure we're sharing that
publicly so people know that it's not oh
the board talked about it in 2024 so
we're good until 2026 and I think that's
not the case but that's the perception
>> but I think that you know I don't want
this to come across as any kind of
anything critical of Rob or anyone's
work I know people are working on this
it's just it's a it's a totally and I'm
I have
>> no experiences either I think it's just
a a technology that's not um
you know and and our government
structures are just not set up for
responding to something that's changing
as quickly and as rapidly and where the
kids are way ahead of us on some of this
stuff. And so I think uh it's just this
is new territory for all of us and I
think trying to figure out how we
structure a conversation or make
decisions around that is probably needs
different kind of thinking as well. Um
and so um just to add to all of our our
everyone else's points on that. Um but I
I want to make sure that's not seen as
this is not seen as anything critical of
the work you're doing. Rob,
>> I'm think we're narrowing in on a plan.
Jorge, Alex, and then um Rob, I think
we're pretty close. Alex, sorry. Allan,
what the hell was that? Day drinking.
>> Thank you. Yeah, I'm I'm in favor of
doing the the daytime session three hour
do a deeper dive, getting a baseline of
where we're at and then made some
directional for moving for moving
forward. My only concern is move pushing
the strategic plan further back. I know
Dak is involved in that. If we don't
discuss it till the 19th, will they be
able to provide feedback and be a part
of that process? Um just keep that front
of mind. Mhm. Alex,
>> um I totally support uh the longer work
session. I understand um the work that
that entails on all ends and I really
appreciate uh Jason's point on again I
don't think this is a critique. I think
this it's a structural thing of
something that is so potentially
transformative, anxietyprovoking,
uh can be divisive, people with very
different positions on it. Meanwhile,
I'm pretty sure our students and staff
are dealing with it in a ton of really
intelligent ways and sometimes not so
well. And uh I don't anticipate that
we're going to come down with a let's
not use AI or let's all use AI all the
time decision from the board. But that's
where I'm like we do need guardrails to
understand what's happening and to be
able to continue to deal with it. So I
appreciate everybody's point and I don't
want to do too much but I certainly I
think we need uh we would have three
productive hours to hear from people
about even just what's happening.
>> Rob, I hear three steps maybe in this
journey on AI. Thing one is make sure
all the board members have um updates um
of what you're doing um that's already
underway. Thing two, you might want to
further clarify in your one-on- ones
with board members what their specific
expectations and needs are in this
conversation. And then I do hear
convergence around um a daytime work
session. Is that what you're hearing?
>> Uh, a statement then a question. And
board members, I apologize. I may be
overly sensitive on this, but I'll
explain to you why. I have a very good
reason. When I got here in 2018,
uh, our district had a set of guiding
innovative principles. We were building
these innovative schools, right, of
you've toured some that have converted
that that that were they were built in a
way that maybe weren't ever fully
leveraged around this innovative idea.
Um, and it's stuff that we had to unwind
so we could resource schools
appropriately, have a coherent
curriculum, invest in the right things.
And I get I get really uh maybe overly
sensitive. I I'll I'll admit this um
around things that folks want us to do
that that that that take away our focus
from the work that we're doing that's
been successful. And I I grab on to that
focus relentlessly
because you can have a strategy and no
focus. And if you have a strategy and no
focus, you're not going to make the type
of progress we've made. So, I apologize
if I am coming across as defensive or a
little sensitive to to this technology
topic. Um, I just I I I and I agree. We
do need to work and we do need to
clarify. But maybe that's if you're
picking up on like a sensitivity for me
around that, that's what it is because
it's unwinding that was no fun because I
had really good people in really good
positions and I had to eliminate those
positions and invest in our network
structure and invest in curriculum and
invest in um some some stuff that might
not be headline grabbing until you get
the results which are then headline
grabbing. uh some of the stuff that
isn't, you know, doesn't get you, you
know, on the front page of the paper
that that uh doesn't get you into chalk
beeps or the the other things that that
maybe where these things grab headlines.
The headlines that I want us to grab as
a district are more kids are doing
better, getting exactly what they need.
Um and so apologies.
So question I'm hearing which I agree
with this work session. Should we do the
21st
or should we change the 24th to a work
session? So then adding an additional
work session and leaving the one with
the strategic plan update is the
clarification I need for us to move
forward.
>> Can you just say a few more words, Rob,
about the consequences um if you just
sort of move replace the strategic plan
conversation? Like I hear some questions
about what does that mean for board
conversation on the street plan and DAC
feedback and all the things.
>> Well, when we say it's our biggest
priority and we don't talk about it,
>> right? Our actions don't line up with
what it is that that we say. But that's
just I I mean I think we could sprinkle
it in, but the deep dive so you get a
feel for the work, right? I think are
really important. So, my preference
would be to hold this and move the 24th
to um a a work session. I don't think
that there's I think it'll be it'll be
um Okay. It's right when we're coming
back from spring break, right? So,
probably a good time to do that.
>> I see several folks nodding along.
Nicole has a question or clarification.
>> I just have a clarification. So, are you
saying
on the 24th we have a morning work
session and and an evening board
meeting? Are you saying we have one big
work session and everything gets shifted
back in the calendar like so all your
weeks kind of or we just taking that
whole March 24th items and we're popping
them somewhere else? I'm just trying to
understand what that means by having it
on the 24th.
>> Yep. That's what I suggest is that we
have AI update on the 24th already. We
have ECE childc care update which was
prioritized and so we can push this
earlier or later.
>> Right. I I want to check with the team.
Um and then the pol the only there's
only two policies here and we could push
those earlier or later but I'll have to
talk to Kathleen but I don't think you
have to do both in a day. I think that
you could actually probably consolidate
that
>> into into a single work session during
the day
>> a
>> and it would buy us another night as
we're thinking about community
engagement around declining enrollment
that might help us.
>> And one more clarification, board
members, um when we updated that board
policy on board meetings, we now all
they're all regular meetings now. So we
don't have to work in those confines. We
could do a big medy topic and a smaller
topic in a morning session like an a
smaller information item and have that
sort of be a board meeting. And then I
would say one benefit of if it works
with your staff on the ECE being a
little bit later is as this what they
might run or the the districts as those
take shape there's some moving around um
early childhood how that might be funded
and how that might look differently like
the later might be beneficial for us to
understand what the county and different
stakeholders are planning so that could
actually work in our favor to have more
information if it was moved later.
Alex, thought on that?
>> Um, I just want to I'm frequently the
source of new ideas of things that are
distracting to Rob and his team. So, I I
Yeah, it's I'm comfortable that that's a
role I play and I am always uh welcoming
the kick under the table and, you know,
the chance to say, "Hey, you're
distracting from job one." So, I'm all
about job one. Um, and that is the stuff
you've done and I totally see the payoff
of keeping the focus is what allows us
to make things different for kids. So,
I'm all on board. The, and again, I
don't mean this as a criticism. The
reason I'm interested in the AI and
technology is that again, I think we're
dealing with a distraction in the
schools. And so, how much can we do our
new curriculum if a teacher is going to
um uh magic school and creating a new
curriculum lesson that may or may not be
tied to it? Like there's just a lot
going on with it. So, I think it's the
first thing we need to know is is to
know and to also know how it might be
undermining or helping the job one on
improving our schools and performance.
So, that's that's where I'm coming from.
I don't know what the solution is. I'm
not advocating more of it. I'm not
advocating less of it. I just think it's
highly impactful and can be on the in
the schools a distraction to that job
one which for me remains I'm always
happy to be kicked under the table and
say Alex not now.
>> So Anna, you're the closest one. So
we'll all give you a signal when it's
time to give him a kick and that if you
don't mind like just but we'll let you
know.
>> That's right.
>> Uh Rob, it looked like when Nicole was
talking you were moving some things
around that we might want to know what
happened there.
>> Yeah, I can move the ECE childcare
update to May. That actually helps a lot
and I think that um if everybody's okay
um I can take these two policies
put them tentatively on the next meeting
Kathleen until we talk
can take
these things off the board
>> which doesn't mean not do them it just
means you'll reallocate them as time
allows
>> well these are just these are just
regular uh business
>> got it
>> and put this here and then AI tech
update March 24th, daytime meeting.
>> Cool. All right.
>> So, for those of you watching at home
who wondering why the board
prioritization process works really,
really well.
>> This is it.
>> There you go.
>> And for anyone who ever hears me
bragging about Rob and his cool board,
which I do all the time to all these
other people, uh, this is why.
Fantastic. All right. So Rob, if I'm
checking on our prioritized uh list
here, it sounds like we've found places
for the AI strategy technology update,
which was our highest priority. You just
moved, but it stayed on the board. The
ECE um universal childcare update, that
one, you press back a little bit. Um why
don't you keep moving through uh and
tell us where we are. But before we do
that, um I see folks popping up. Um
board members, do you need a break
before we move on? Yep. Okay. How about
we take a
>> take five comfort break? Fantastic. Five
minute cover break. See you back here in
a minute. And then Rob will resume the
journey of the semester.
Rob, you were in the middle of taking us
through a journey there, darling. Where
are we?
>> Journey.
>> Halfway there. Okay. Um,
thank you all board members for your
flexibility on the 24th. Uh, we've moved
that around. On April 14th, I have a
work session placeholder for UIP. I
actually do need to go back to our team
to see when that would make sense to
have that. Um, so if I have to move UIP
around a little bit, maybe I would move
that with a po like a board policy if it
needs to be earlier. Um, and I can move
it with this grad plus update on
pathways if it has to be later. So,
those those three may switch. Uh, your
prelim budgets coming in April 14th.
And, uh, board members, just a reminder
that that's when things start to get
really serious from the budget process.
We present a budget. We'll be in in the
throws of negotiations,
much of negotiations conting if there's
any new dollars that need to be spent.
Although we've had pre preliminary
discussions with BVA to just keeping
this on policy and rules versus dollars
just because we know the situation. Um
between April and and uh May 26 is just
um it can it can be it's a little more
just a busier time. um policies. April
21st, strategic plan update.
28th, Grad Plus update on high school
pathways and communications plan. More
of a, hey, look, as we go into next
year, here are the pathways. Here are
the new pathways. Let's highlight Apex.
Let's talk about all the things we're
doing with KIPP testing and with Grad
Plus. And um we have certainly expanded
opportunities for all kids. I do think
the concern is that folks still don't
know that we're doing that. And uh so
we'll do a little work session on that.
We'll share kind of where we are, maybe
some new ideas moving forward. Uh a
sustainability update per board policy.
Um and then some other policies. May
12th, we'll start my superintendent
evaluation process.
Board members, as a reminder, in our in
my midyear evaluation, you have my
goals. I give you progress on my goals.
Before May 12th, I will give you a
summary of the work that I've done to
date on those goals along with some
context on the things we've accomplished
throughout the course of the year. Uh
legislative session recap scheduled for
May 12th and then this ECE childc care
update that I moved. Thank you, Nicole.
On May 19th, we may do school visits, we
may not do school visits. We'll keep
that as a placeholder. Um unless
uh no we'll just keep that as a
placeholder.
The 26th supal again an exact session uh
declining enrollment update
uh OE deep dive programming and trends
by May we'll know I think we'll have the
most complete data on who left who came
who where did folks want to go. I think
that that gives us enough time. Um,
seabach update,
which we may move to uh an executive
summary if we need to, but you probably
are going to want that because of all of
the bond work that's happening over the
summer. I wouldn't want to I wouldn't
want to take that away. Proposed budget
for study on the 9th. Superintendent's
honor role cell phone policy update.
we'll be able to give you kind of a
synopsis of all of our our discipline
data, all of our kind of, you know, you
know, capture kind of how that's gone,
adopt the budget. Uh, and as long as
we've adopted the budget, we'd cancel
the June 23rd meeting and on June 16th,
we'd prioritize all over again.
>> Question, Lilia.
So, uh, it was a work session on April
28th that we're addressing high school
pathways and communicating
opportunities. Is that correct?
>> Yes.
>> Okay. So, Rob, it sounds like
if the board makes no other adjustments
to the schedule that you just outlined,
you would still have time for the that
second round of school visits in May and
the top six um highest ranked items for
for board priorities. Is that right?
>> Yes. And
um I would say that these other items we
put in a queue, right, for potentially
um rep prioritization, but I think that
we're probably even though they weren't
the highest priority, I think that
there's a lot of consensus around all of
these things. I don't, you know, maybe
there's a couple down towards the bottom
that folks don't um feel are as
important. I do feel like Safe Schools
Coalition is important. I feel like
what's happening and what was what I see
is going to be on the ballot in 2026. We
need to to restart u um our supports.
I'm actually meeting with the folks at
Rocky Mount Mountain Equality next week
with Kathleen um to talk about just kind
of just check in. Um so I think that
that is something we could see some
traction. Uh board policy KH is a big
one that's just going to take I don't
think we could touch it. Uh not that
it's not important. Um housing and
living affordably. I continue to have
conversations with folks interested in
that. I'm not ready to prop to propose
something. I think that uh to work on
that is also a lot of work that would
take me away from this other work. Just
don't think we're there yet. Um Senate
Bill 25276. I think I heard you all and
saw you all loud and clear when Richard
Garcia came to our board meeting around
the support of that. We've done some
additional communications. I think that
we continue to just keep our eye on that
and if something happens in the country
or in our community that that leads us
to believe that we need to to do
something faster around that. It's not a
lot of work because we'll just tell you
all the things that we're doing and
committing to keeping our our our our
immigrant students safe uh so we can
dial that up as needed. Um and then the
ebike safety is just going to take a lot
of coordinating and it's going to be the
ops team and they just don't have the
bandwidth. No, and I do think it's a
good idea. Okay. Um, I see Nicole, Anna,
and then Elenia.
>> I I just want to say I think I agree
with that approach like as time makes
itself available,
written updates where appropriate. And I
think some of these things I think about
a little bit. Um, what is the timing
more appropriate after we address
declining enrollment? And I think policy
KH is a a very good example of things
that people are fundraising for are
attemp today are directly resulted or a
direct result of low attendance and low
ability to fund staffing positions at
our underenrolled schools. And so if we
wait for KH after the dust settles for
declining enrollment, conditions are
going to be very different potentially
for some of those things that people are
asking to fund raise for or that are
fundraising for. Some that came out in
the DAC budget report that we'll get an
update on. So some of them some of these
things are just
make sense to wait on and some of them
do make sense in my opinion for a
written update or taking them as we need
to take them and letting them you know
work its way through. I am
declining enrollment is going to take a
significant amount of board time and
staff time and I don't want I want to
minimize the distractions or the tugs to
go in the other places to the extent
practicable particularly as we're still
trying to make significant strides on
the strategic plan. So as time becomes
available I I'm just seconding that that
thought and I also putting a pin a
longer term pin in cage until we have
a different system in place for
allocating staff to schools. Um, is just
what I wanted to throw out there.
>> Okay, Nicole and then or sorry, Anna and
then Elenia and then Alex.
>> I do appreciate the um having that focus
and really maintaining that focus for
what is going to be most beneficial for
all of our students. Um just around the
uh immigration supports, I do know that
you have a meeting with Kathy Carlson
who has been fundraising a lot for
different resources and is working with
Centra Myistad to um really do a lot of
the on the ground work and a lot of that
means
showing up with resources at schools.
Um, and so I do want to make sure that
we are still highlighting that, that we
are still supporting um, that connection
um, because they are doing a lot
specifically for Boulder County. Um, a
lot of fundraising, a lot of resource
investments. Um, but I do want to make
sure that we are also um,
just as supportive and as involved as we
can be.
millennia.
>> Uh when I look at our list that you
know, we can't put everything there. Um
particularly supporting our immigrant
population and safe schools coalition. I
feel that we do a lot of those things
and and I also feel like they can become
flash points where we don't need them to
be right now. um because we are doing
the right things and we don't need to be
in the news about doing the right
things. Um so I would suggest on those
two if we could have an update just on
news and notes so that we understand
everything that we're doing. Um, and
then if we could all of us who have
those connections be sure that we're
going back um into our communities
because I certainly have some um contact
with some folks from the LGBTQ community
who I meet with regularly and just
continuing to have those meetings and
let people know how we're supporting.
Um, I would like to do that. So I would
ask for those updates for board members
just in news and notes and if or some
other method whatever Rob you think
appropriate and the same with neur
neurodeiversity and uh Sundance I care
about those things and I'd love to know
more of what you know but I don't any
method you give that to me if you send
it to me I will read it. Um,
and
I heard you loud and clear on the other
things. Ebike safety. Um,
if we have an update on is the city of
Boulder doing anything. I mean, they're
really who needs to do something about
it.
So, we could talk to them. And yeah, I
can call up the mayor because he and I
have a good relationship. Um, and then
high school advisory update. The one
thing I wondered is do we um, and this
once again could be news and notes. Do
we have somebody like McCloskey
letting other principles know
what good advisory looks like?
Anything you want to clarify on that
before we jump to other board members?
Oh, great. Fantastic. Thank you. I have
Alex and then Jason and then Jorge and
then Deian if you want to jump in just
for funsies. Go ahead, Alex. Uh first
off, I just want to say in general that
when we are dealing with our vulnerable
populations that are particularly
vulnerable in this environment, I think
our first principle needs to be what are
we doing that's best for those students
and families. Um and that's a
calculation that has to be tactical um
in this environment. So, I want us to
make sure I appreciate figuring out how
we know about everything and figuring
how we communicate what we need to to
parents um and also uh having job one be
protecting uh the student population.
And I defer to um district leadership
for figuring out how to manage that that
task. Um, another thing I'd say, and
this is similar to the AI thing, where
I'm trying to figure out how something
that's an unavoidably important issue is
addressed without distracting staff and
leadership and school people more than
possible. And so I find in these sort of
initiatives, and I've dealt with
initiatives and programs and grant
funded stuff and for a long time, going
to somebody else's train is easier than
building and driving your own train. So,
if we want to deal with ebikes, I
totally agree. It's the city. Let's
officially get somebody who's tasked to
be the liaison to the city's ebike
program and then we can bring the
district lens to that. I feel the same
thing is true for several of our
vulnerable population coalitions. So, to
the extent that we can leverage our
personal relationships as leaders in the
community as well as the districts to do
that, I think that's great. So I I think
it's for some of these things it's
figuring out how we
uh figure out who's liazing enough and
be a little strategic about it and then
finding the place for people to come
back and talk to the board like during
board member uh report outs during the
meetings. So I I just think some of this
we don't have to own while we can own
our responsibility to participate in it
and then now then we can stay on our
focus. I I don't know how to do that
systematically but there's several like
the ebikes classic example. We need to
figure out how to plug into the city's
program on this. We're not I've always
been frustrated. I live on a very busy
street next to Fairview. And every time
we try to figure out why high school
kids are trying to get to and from
somewhere at lunch break at 40 miles an
hour, the city's response is, "Yeah, we
don't own the streets. Kids are uh got
their own license and that's going to
happen." Yeah.
>> Great. Thanks, Jason.
>> Um yeah, I agree with the plan here and
the comments. I wanted to bring up
Sundance because I think I raised that.
I also raised some other things too. Um,
and in the context of some of these
issues, it seems a little frivolous to
like talk about a film festival when
you're talking about supporting
vulnerable populations. And I don't
actually care that we have a, you know,
a board presentation on that. I do think
I want to just make sure and I know
you're working on it just um have
confidence in that but it is a unique a
really unique opportunity for this
community you know both in terms of
opportunities for our kids and learning
and teachers uh and also as in this
larger conversation we're having about
budgets and decline enrollment in a
enormous I would imagine revenue
opportunity um and so I just don't want
to lose sight of that it's it's not at
all important in the context of these
other issues but I think it's an
opportunity that I just want to make
sure we're updated on and that people
are working on and that um you know that
we're taking advantage of in the you
know best for our students and teachers
in our community because it is um you
know it is a film festival but we're the
only community in the country that has
that here and so wanted to make sure we
maximize that but I wanted to just kind
of add some context there because it
just seems a little when I saw that I
was a little embarrassed I was like oh
you know this is not the same caliber of
other things we're dealing with but it
is you know in the context of everything
else it still is important and I unique
um opportunity for us to to um you know
make sure we're on top of it.
>> Thanks Jason.
>> Thank you. Um I just want to say thank
you Rob for definitely handling a uh
very long list and a very busy calendar
and helping us prioritize you know what
needs to be addressed. Now to reiterate
Nicole's point I I think you know some
of these things you have to be strategic
about and see what goes what comes first
and what things can address after we
made decisions. I think um once we've
had this declining enrollment
conversation towards the end of the
spring, things are going to change,
right? And we'll have to be ready to
kind of adapt and maybe address some of
these issues down the line on that. Um
so I appreciate that and really stay
keeping the focus on strategic plan in
the UIP and making sure that we're
serving all of our students. Um as a
part of that, we do have vulnerable
populations. I think we have to keep an
eye on that and I and it's important for
the board members overall to kind of
know what we're doing as a district. I
know we're doing a lot of stuff already.
We've had a lot of conversations about
that. Um and so just keeping us informed
and doing the news and notes and through
those other venues and then keeping you
know our ear to the community understand
kind of where the needs are at and what
how issues are arising is really
important and making sure that people
are communicating with us as well. So uh
uh thank you for that.
>> Thanks so much Deian.
>> I really have a question uh but I'll put
it out. um the high school advisory
update.
When I read that as a former teacher, to
me it seemed like it was a contract
issue
and not just uh what we want to do. So,
I'd like to I really understand uh
what's going on and it's very difficult
to recruit good teachers to do that
program. It's incredibly difficult. So,
I want to make sure that um that we're
identifying the root problem of why they
don't want to do it.
>> Nicole,
>> so board members, I and if I had
internet connection right now, I would
have looked this up, but I have heard
that there might be an ebike related
bill coming through the legislature with
a, you know, Z
>> fiscal note. Uh because it's
>> those are popular. um it's coming up
across the states. So something and it
might be something as I'm trying to
recall to do with insurance and how
families are insuring those or not
insuring those at the different levels.
And so there is some state level and I
know as we point fold fingers at
Boulder, the city of Boulder like there
might be something even higher that's
going to trickle down and impact
everybody. So it could be something we
can talk to our delegation about. Um but
as that one uh and I know there are
other states across the country that are
trying to grapple with this because it's
a it's a really big issue not just a
small citybased issue. And then um
yes I added the advisory and it is
because with our new bell schedule some
schools newly have advisory. The places
that did have advisory it's operated
differently. So like how is it going?
Was its intention not like a
contractual?
And we can totally wait and it could be
something that's written and I know like
you know it's it's when done well it can
be really s really beneficial for
students. So
that was its intention it can you know
as dust settles and as you continue to
get more information also because we
haven't even some of these schools
haven't even been it's not even been
implemented for a year yet and so it
might also be premature on that one. Um,
and I know that with master schedules,
things just are shifting again. Like it
it's a it could be one of those things
that later is potentially better, but I
would leave that up to Dr. Anderson.
Just wanted to
>> share those. Alex,
>> uh, yeah, I want to speak to uh, two
things. one one is I think that the high
school advisory is um in many respects
follow on to the mental health uh
concerns that many of us on the board
have talked about and that's a big
priority but it's also another one of
those issues where um I feel like our
efforts to understand how well our
mental health programs are working I I
don't have good insight into that still
and I don't know if we have the right
partners to figure that out. So for me
the high school advisory is is a
contract issue. It's a personnel issue,
but it's also a suicide prevention issue
and a student uh engagement and
happiness issue that I don't know how
well it's working and what degree it's
being implemented. So, I think it has
potential and that's why I still want to
know about it. I don't know that we need
to have a a policy or governing
discussion as much about it as learn
about it somehow. And I don't know how
to do that honestly. Um I will say I'm a
big fan of offloading stuff that's
complicated. So, like if we can get on
the city's ebike thing or and know what
the legislaturator is doing better than
us doing it. Um, and that if we can
several of these issues, we can sort of
go to somebody else. There's another way
for districts to deal with complicated
stuff and that is to do a modest
contract for somebody else to come back
to us and do some work that's not Rob's
team. I think on the housing for um
staff is one of those issues where a
side contractor or somebody else with
foundation money could be tasked to come
back to us in six months with a report
that informs us. It's a written product.
We can read it. Uh Rob can and his team
can look at it, see how it complements,
but somebody else can do it. And I know
that through the Keystone Policy Center
and some of their connections, there's
districts have been having similar sort
of like just studies of what's possible.
And it's not like it's um to be honest
at scale and meaningfully. It's not
about taking our school facilities and
building five houses. That just doesn't
work with 4,000 employees, but there's
districts out there uh buying apartment
buildings and providing 400 units to
staff. Like we could do a tenth of our
staff with some of those strategies. So
given how much that's an issue for
recruitment and how much we want to
recruit younger teachers and stuff in
the long run, I think that's pretty not
a bad thing to offload to someone else
to research and study and give us
preliminary report that maybe six months
from now we'd have some bandwidth and it
might be opportunistic to learn about it
later without Rob and his team having to
do much.
>> Lots of things there, Rob. Um, you want
to start with that last one and then
maybe we could just go through these uh
remaining items and you can tell us what
you heard and how uh the board can
expect or not expect to hear back from
you.
>> Thank you, Heather. Thanks everybody.
Really appreciate your attention and
engagement uh in in what's a really I
think collaborative process. So, thank
you. Um to Alex's point, I think that um
for those of you who know me know I'm
not a micromanager, right? I I believe
in hiring really good people, supporting
them, delegating, and being the being by
their side as they take on work. I think
that the challenge sometimes is when you
use contractors or you use third party
folks is that somebody's got to mind the
store while that work happens.
Otherwise, when the work gets to you,
it's not going to be what you thought it
might be. And so that so there's a
balance, right? I'm not saying no, but I
am saying it's not it's not free
bandwidth, right? because every time
whether it's Kathleen hiring,
outsourcing legal, whether it's our
academics team outsourcing some things,
outsourcing some things, we're looking
at some homeschool things and some other
options as we trying to really we're
looking at at help to to get getting
some help around declining enrollment.
Uh lots of check-in meetings, right?
Anybody who's doing work for you wants
to make sure they're hitting the target.
So, it's like, okay, check in, check in,
check in, feedback, and you know,
whether it's Renee Crown or all these
other like those things do take do take
some time. Um, and I do appreciate the
uh
I appreciate what everybody said. I I
feel like as the semester unfolds, I'll
know and understand how many of these
secondary items I'll be able to give
attention to. I can say with with with a
good amount of confidence that we can
make sure that we get updates to the
board and writing somehow someway on on
95% of these things throughout the
course of the semester. And board
members at your one-on-one check-ins, if
you want a deeper dive on any topic that
is on this list that you don't know
what's happening, that is one of the
purposes of those meetings is for me to
give you information or follow-up
information to you. And as a reminder,
if you ask for it, I'm going to give it
to everybody because that's the way that
um that's the way that that should go.
And typically that that it does end up
in news and notes. So, uh I feel really
good. I feel good about our um our
board. I feel like it's going to be
super busy. I will say board members uh
as we are bracing ourselves, I would ask
you to brace yourselves as well. Um I
mean we are looking at 40 to 50 meetings
where it would be my preference that I
was accompanied by board members
that that board the board is is um in is
in a listening position during this
process. So when we bring
recommendations you'll be able to say
with confidence you've heard our
community, you understand the issues. uh
again um so that is also something that
I want to prepare everybody for. Now I
know we're we're busy and some folks
have more time than others and some will
have to engage more than others but a
good equal representation of board
members as we go through these meetings
and whether they're meetings at night uh
with community groups whether they're um
and we'll make sure that that we'll talk
about that when we come uh present on
the 27th but that is an overlay. This
will be the busiest semester for those
of you who have been on the board. This
will be your busiest semester um as as
part of an as an elected official. Deian
and Anuk, welcome. This is this of
course is going to be your busiest
semester you've ever spent as a board
member because it's your first. Uh but
other than that, really appreciate you
all. Happy to um hear any closing
comments, thoughts, or clarifications
from you. Heaven
>> uh board final thoughts.
Good conversation this year. Yeah.
new friends. Pleasure to meet you. Love
to hear your the additional um uh value
that you're adding to the conversation.
Alex, something you want to add before
we break?
>> I was just thinking of a procedural
thing
>> um uh in terms of our existing agenda
that could efficiently deal with some of
this liazing with the outside groups is
when we have the board member reporting.
Um we can just remember uh that that is
a good opportunity to talk about that
liaison. Um, and uh, for those of us who
try to hold ourselves accountable for
like I'm going to work with this group.
I'm going to be there for them. I will
be present and here. Think about
yourself as a representative and
bringing that stuff back to the board.
So, it's not just coming back to the
board and being annoyed that we haven't
done something. It's like you telling us
about it is some of the powerful thing
we can do that someone else will
leverage. So, it's on us as board
members to use that time to update
people on some of the substance and the
strategy of our relationships with other
initiatives outside.
>> Love that. Thanks. Uh Nicole seeing no
other hands. I'll hear your thoughts and
then you can close us out.
>> And always as a reminder, if you are
liazing with other groups as a board
member and not as an individual, you
shall represent the interests of the
entire board and the school district in
those conversations. So, please remember
it's not about individual opinions. Um,
and it is great. Thank you, Alex. That
um making sure we're all aware that
those
things are happening.
>> So, yes. And um when we work together,
we we are working together. So, I will
say also that we still have some
business to do after that
prioritization, including Kathleen, are
you going to give an update on some of
the policy the back side of the board or
no?
I know you're moving things. I wasn't
sure if that was part of the plan, but
we do need to do community assignments
as well. So, we're almost done, but
we're not quite there yet.
>> I would say I went back to uh Wink
Martindale mode here. Um
I was aging myself a little bit. Uh as
as you leave, board members, if you want
to look at the back of the board, you
will be able to see your progress
on board policy. Look at all that green.
And all those down on the bottom,
those are no longer policies.
>> Nice.
>> Uh 50 retired
uh significant unheralded,
right? Work that as a board you have
done to create a meaningful and
manageable set of policies that help
clarify the work, set expectations, and
guide the school district. Uh so again,
thank you so much. And um with that,
I'll turn it over to Nicole because we
have to do we do have to talk about
board responsibilities, roles um to
close us out.
>> And for those of you that haven't seen
the backside before, red, yellow, green,
Kathleen, it used to be lots of red and
there's so little red. It's awesome. But
do you want to let the folks know what
those colors stand for?
>> Sure. Just basic stoplight. Red
typically means that it is something
identified by staff as having a conflict
with recently passed legislation or just
being seriously out of step with our
practices. Um, yellow means it is
something that is ready to go to the
board. We've got a red line prepared.
So, just a small handful of those. Um,
black is slated for retirement and green
means that it has been recently reviewed
and remains current.
>> Awesome.
I don't have internet and so you guys
are going to have to help me remember
this list of board. I think I know them
all. Seabbok, LRAK, DAC, CASBY,
and
audit committee. So the last time every
two years board members we kind of go
through and do new committee
assignments. There are board policy
dictates which committees are board
advisory committees which committees are
superintendent advisory committees. The
last couple news and notes gave an
outline of which ones were which. Um so
today we will assign the board advisory
committee roles. Um, two years ago I did
this starting with the newest board
members and ending with folks that have
role like president, vice president, and
treasurer. So I will do that again.
Raise your hand if you need a reminder
on what all of these committees do.
Okay. So I'm actually I'm going to call
on the people that are currently on
those. Jorge, do you want to give a
quick overview unless Laura can read the
document on
>> seabbach?
You did.
>> Laura can read them then because my
computer's not working.
>> Anna,
>> I do have a question. Uh as we were
going through the uh presentations with
um some of the directors, the
uh there was like a budget uh committee.
Is that one on here?
>> Um yes. So the audit committee is
overseen by is the treasurer is the
chair of the audit committee and then
there's one additional board member who
serves on that audit committee role. So
that will be on the list that Laura is
going to go through right now.
>> Okay.
>> Thank you Laura.
>> Okay. Community Bond Oversight
Committee, Sabbach. The SEBACK was
created to monitor bond issues supported
by the BBSD voters. Sabbach provides
independent review of the projects that
comprise any bond program and are set
forth in a plan approved by the board of
education. Board members attend
meetings, not as a voting member, and
relay any information back to the board.
Meetings occur in the evening at least
quarterly, but no more than monthly. And
the reference policy is BDF FE.
So that's SEBACK. The next one is LRAK,
Long Range Advisory Committee, LRAK.
This committee advises the board of
education on matters related to
declining enrollment and long-term
facility decisions. Board members attend
meetings, not as a voting member, and
relay any information back to the board.
approximately four evening meetings per
year and that references board policy
BDF FFF
audit committee. The audit committee the
audit committee member attends quarterly
audit meetings with the board treasurer
and others to review the following
quarterly financial documents debt
issuance and financial policies before
these items come to the entire board.
Meetings are scheduled based on calendar
availability of committee members.
Meetings often occur during the daytime
in February, May, November, and one
more. And the reference policy is DIA,
DAC.
The District Accountability, also known
as DAC. The District Accountability
Committee is a legally constituted
accountability and advisory committee
legally constituted under both state and
federal law that allows BBSD parents to
have a voice in the district's budget,
improvement plans, charter applications,
and more. Board members provide a
monthly update written with each agenda
and a very brief verbal report during
the meeting and are available to answer
questions. Many occur September to May
on the first Tuesday of the month from
6:15
to 8:00 pm
or 8:30.
>> Yeah.
>> As as well. Okay. And the reference
policy is policy AE and regulation AE-R.
And the last committee assignment is the
CASBY delegate. It's not in board
policy, but um Colorado Association of
School Boards asks that one you assign
one member to be their voting member at
CASBY's business meetings. And so not in
our board policy, but an important role
nonetheless. And Laura can read the
little blurb on that. CASBY delegates
convene every fall during CASBY's fall
conference and every December during
CASBY's annual convention. During the
fall meeting, delegates adopt CASBY's
advocacy agenda through resolutions on
issues critical to public education.
Board members represent the board's
opinion on any of the resolutions and
may have to advocate on behalf of BBSD
priorities.
So, all of these committees are
outstanding ways to engage with our
constituents, engage with the broader
community. It's a really great way for
us to also learn a little bit more about
what's happening in the district. And
so, in each of these, again, listening,
we're not voting, we're representing the
board. I have um I'm asking on behalf of
some of these different committees that
board members are really careful with
how much time they're spending talking
versus listening. Um and less talking is
better. We're there to understand and
observe. So, I'm just passing that along
because it was passed along to me. So,
with that, we will go new like first two
new board members and then we'll go
alphabetical order, but the three of us
that have been assigned, we go last.
Fair. Fair. Okay. So, Deianne,
do you have a a desire to serve on any
one of those five committees?
>> Um, I would choose probably the Sabbach.
Yeah. Over the others. Some of them I
have time constraints that aren't it's
just not conducive to me being member
of.
>> Perfect. Anna,
the audit committee,
Jorge,
Melania,
Casby.
It's actually quite fun particularly
when you have to fight with your
neighbors at St. Rain over very you know
touchy issues around who gets to count
towards graduation rates and who
doesn't. It can be and if you don't
there are only five assignments so if
you don't I do serve on athletic review
and title nine so if somebody else would
like to be CASsby I always have opted
out of DAC because of the service on
those other two but that was when I was
doing audit so I am at your service
>> okay and I will clarify title N advisory
committee is technically a
superintendent advisory committee
because Lolenia used to serve in that
committee
she has helped um she has sort of helped
bridge a transition there, but that is
not typically a board advisory
committee. And then with the athletic
review committee, we have never actually
approved that as a um board approved
committee. There's a weird long story
about how people thought it was a
committee and then there was no policy
that actually or it is a committee but
there was not a board policy that deemed
it a board advisory committee. That will
have to come back to us because it's
currently sitting in a red line at some
point. We have to decide how to move
forward with that one. But for our new
board members, that's why they weren't
on the list.
That's since we're talking about things
not on the list, is it possible for me
to switch to be with the tech committee?
>> Oh, also not an a board advisory
committee. People can again up to two
board members can observe public
meetings. I know that has happened with
our equity council in the past and um
but that's those are the the delineation
and we just have to have some
conversations around how do board
members attend or show up at
superintendent advisory committees
because you are kind of coming in a
they're different they're differently
assigned but we can come back to that
one uh and we can loop back on that one
>> to clarify President Raj Paul I am at
your service.
It's your call.
>> I'll pass my fellow board members and
I'll do whatever anybody else doesn't
want to do.
>> Great. Um, so then the next one would be
Alex and Jason if you guys have any I
mean as far as
I don't really know how to go through
these time constraints or level of you
know interest, but if either of you I
know U Jason is the current CASBY
delegate. If you no longer want to do
that, that is entirely fair. You can
make that known because two years is at
our commitment is two years. And I don't
want to saddle you with something that
you don't want to do. And then the other
one available is Dak. So you've got two
left, Dak and Casby, at the will of the
rest of us at the will at your will.
What I'm gonna have to do next
will do Casby. That sounds lovely.
>> Thank you, Lenia.
>> Um, so then
Alex Jason Dak J Alex.
>> Um, I'm interested and able to serve on
the DAC. Um, but I understand uh that
and I look forward to not talking very
much there. um because it seems like
they are really hitting it on all
cylinders and we want to encourage and
support that. But I I think it's a great
way to learn um a lot more about what's
going on. So I'd like to be there.
>> You don't wish for CASBY.
>> Um I'm glad to offer strategic advice on
CASBY. Um I think at different times it
can be a very powerful thing to do. Um,
and other times they're working on stuff
where we're going to be outliers anyway,
so our influence is limited. In the
past, I will say we have had between
Kathy and Stacy, uh, former board
members, they played incredible
leadership roles in the organization and
leveraged it to great effect for our for
the state and for Boulder. Um, and at
this point, CASBY has been less than
helpful to a lot of BBSD's interests and
agenda. So, some defense might be in
order at CASBY. um and playing a role in
it if you're going to do it rather than
being one of 300 votes. Um I think it's
worth doing uh to to really probably
play defense in terms of Casby's
endorsements, but they'll also be
endorsing big B budget stuff uh and have
a lot of conservative rural districts
involved. So it's it's kind of a big
deal or not is the way I think about
CASBY.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
Thank you. Board members, committees
have been assigned. Jason, you will have
to attend those quarterly audit
meetings. So, you will have some extra
meetings there. Uh, which is exciting.
And then just know because Jason and I
do not have additional committees, we
can help fill in as needed for sure if
there are things you cannot attend. So,
reach out on that one. And board
members, thank you for your willingness
to help continue to engage with the
community on these really important
board advisory topics.
With that, our business for today is
concluded
and I will make a motion to adjourn.
Thanks everybody.
So fun.
You guys are