Across the Board

The following is a summary of the March 4, Board of Education meeting.

Watch the meeting on YouTube

Tuesday, April 8 | 05:00 p.m.

Watch on the DCSDK12 YouTube channel

The regular meeting of the DCSD Board of Education was called to order at 5:00 p.m. The meeting was broadcast live through the DCSDK12 YouTube channel and on Comcast Channel 54 (also recorded and archived here).

Planning Manager Shavon Caldwell reviewed the School Capacity and Boundary Analysis (SCBA) that was initiated in DCSD back in 2019. As part of this process, staff is recommending to the Board that Macanta neighborhood Phase II be reassigned to Sage Canyon Elementary, Mesa Middle School, and Douglas County High School in Castle Rock. Three potential scenarios related to this recommendation were presented.

Click here to view the presentation slides.

Chief Financial Officer Jana Schleusner provided a budget update and forecast. Chief Human Resources Officer Brian Condon provided an update on proposed staff retention strategies for the 2025-2026 school year. This included staff recommendations for potential compensation increases and benefits offerings.

Click here to view the presentation slides.

The Board voted 7-0 in favor of a resolution approving the staff recommendations for staff compensation increases for 2025-2026.

Chief of Staff Steve Colella and consultant Ray McNulty from Successful Practices Network (SPN) provided and update on strategic planning efforts to date.

Click here to view the presentation slides.

The Board conducted a first reading of proposed revisions to the following fiscal management policies. Please click the feedback forms to provide your input on the proposed edits.

• DB: Annual Budget (feedback form)
• DB-R: Annual Budget (SBB Model) Regulation (feedback form)
• DFA: Cash Management and Investment Policy (feedback form)
• DID: Capital Asset Reporting and Inventories (feedback form)
• DIE: Annual Audit (feedback form)
• DN: School Properties Disposal Procedure (feedback form)

The Board conducted a second reading of proposed Policy LBD-R-1, Charter School Procedure Manual.

A motion to make additional amendments to this policy and place it on the consent agenda for the April 8 meeting passed 7-0.

The Board discussed whether or not revisions to Policy JHCE: Medical Emergencies may be needed. Currently this policy does not allow school staff to follow Do Not Resuscitate orders (if applicable) during a student medical emergency. The current policy has school staff providing CPR and then notifying first responders about any DNR orders. The Board requested that staff provide an analysis of this policy, including implications of allowing a school nurse or medical professional to comply with DNR orders prior to first responders arriving on scene. This will be discussed at a future Board meeting. Any proposed revisions to this policy would be shared with the community for feedback.

Superintendent Kane presented Superintendent Monitoring Report on Executive Limitation 11 - Asset Protection.

The Board evaluated its Governing Process 1.6 - Board Committee Principles.

The Board reviewed its budget for the second quarter.

Levi DeBoer was named 2024 Eagle Scout of the Year by the Castle Rock Chapter and Colorado Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. The award is based not only upon Scouting participation, but personal achievements and community service. Levi is now waiting to hear if he will be selected to represent Colorado Eagle Scouts in the National Arthur M. and Berdena King Eagle Scout Contest in Washington D.C.

The DCSD Nutrition Services department was recognized by the Board of Education. To date, DCSD's Nutrition Services team has served over 4.4 meals to students and 266,000 meals to staff!

• Welcome to March. This school year is flying by. Spring Break is in two weeks and as we know the remainder of the school year will feel like a blur after that.
  
  

• There is a lot happening in March so I will list as many of the milestone events and celebrations as I can:
  
  

• Many of our schools are celebrating Read Across America Week with reading challenges, guest classroom readers and more.
  
  

• This week is also National School Social Work Week. We are incredibly thankful to our school social workers and all they do for our students.
  
  

• This week is Social and Emotional Learning Week as well as National School Breakfast Week.
  
  

• March is:

• Women’s History Month

• National Disabilities Month

• National Music in Our Schools Month

• National Nutrition Month

• Brain Injury Awareness Month

• Youth Art Month

• Athletic Training Month

• Middle Level Education Month

• Irish American Heritage Month

• Greek American Heritage Month
  
  

• Other important dates coming up in March include:

• International Women’s Day - March 8

• World Down Syndrome Day - March 21
  
  

• During the Parker State of the Town Meeting, our very own Jason Jacob, principal of Legend High School received the Impact Award from the Parker Rotary Club. This award recognizes an individual or group of individuals whose service to the Parker community exemplifies Rotary’s motto – Service Above Self. That certainly embodies who Jason Jacob is as a person and as a school leader.
  
  

• The DCSD Legacy Campus hosted its inaugural Career and Hiring Fair for students. The Legacy Campus partnered with the Arapahoe/Douglas Works! Workforce Center on this event. The fair gave hundreds of high school students the chance to speak with representatives from 63 different regional employers about possibilities in their specific career pathway, practice job-interviewing skills and, in some cases, even get hired on the spot. It was an incredible event.
  
  

• Congratulations to the DCSD library staff who earned the Highly Effective Schools Through Libraries (HESTL) Credential from CDE. This program recognizes outstanding school library programs and librarians while providing guidance for K-12 educators as they support student achievement and prepare learners for 21st-century success.

• Gina Bernacchi, Teacher Librarian at Highlands Ranch High School
• Gillian Blake, Librarian Assistant, Castle View High School
• Gail Golish, Librarian, Gold Rush Elementary School
• Gretchen Stulock, Teacher Librarian at Castle View High School
  
  

• DCSD recently honored its exceptional middle school and high school female athletes at the annual Girls and Women in Sports Luncheon. CBS News Colorado Sports Anchor Romi Bean hosted as we recognized our amazing students who are excelling on the field and in the classroom.
  
  

• Mountain Vista High School has earned another NATIONAL championship. They earned first place in the Medium Jazz Varsity category at the National Dance Alliance Competition in February. Congratulations to Legend High School for placing 6th in Large Game Day and 6th in Large Poms.
  
  

• The March Parent University webinar will focus on the topic of Empowering Student Athletes - Strategies for Combating Burnout and Stress. The guest speaker will be Mental Toughness Coach Stacy Ingram from Cultivate Your Courage. This takes place on Wednesday, March 26 at 5:30 p.m.
  
  

• Highlands Ranch High School is hosting its annual Hall of Fame Event on Friday, March 28. Congratulations to those honorees.
  
  

• The 2025 Apple Reveal Event, hosted by the Foundation for Douglas County Schools is coming up on Saturday, March 29 at the Legacy Campus. We can’t wait to find out who this year’s Apple Award winners will be.
  
  

• Just a reminder to move your clocks forward this weekend as we enter Daylight Savings Time.

At 9:05 p.m., a motion to adjourn the regular meeting passed 7-0.

The next regular meeting of the DCSD Board of Education is scheduled for 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 8. The meeting will take place at the DCSD administration building, 620 Wilcox Street in Castle Rock, and will be available to view on the DCSDK12 YouTube Channel and will be broadcast on Comcast Channel 54.