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June 29, 2022
Dear DCSD Families,
I hope your summer is off to a fantastic start!
As we approach July (where does the time go?) I want to update you on a number of important issues, including where we are with respect to a potential Bond/MLO initiative. Hopefully you can relax, find your favorite summer beverage, and take some time to read through this information and watch the videos.
Status of a Potential Bond/MLO
At the June 21 Board Meeting, the Board of Education voted 7-0 to notify county officials of potential ballot initiatives in November. DCSD staff as well as our Fiscal Oversight Committee will be presenting formal recommendations to the Board on August 9. On August 23, the Board will decide if they are moving forward with putting something on the ballot, and if so, approve the ballot language. In the meantime, we have been out in the community in every way possible to provide education about how our schools are funded and what our needs are to ensure that our 64,000 students continue to receive the best public education possible.
NEW VIDEO: How Funding Works in DCSD
Please take 5 minutes to watch this video animation which does a great job summarizing how funding works in our school district and what our priority needs are. Please feel free to share this video far and wide!
Mill Bond Exploratory Ad Hoc Committee (MBEC) Recommendation
On June 7, the DCSD Mill Bond Exploratory Ad Hoc Committee (MBEC) presented its recommendations to the Board regarding whether DCSD should pursue a Bond and Mill Levy Override in November 2022. The MBEC is a group of 22 volunteers consisting of DCSD residents, parents, grandparents, and staff with many different viewpoints and backgrounds. They met weekly for three months and had some heated yet respectful conversations. But, they worked tirelessly together to come up with recommendations to present to our Board. I strongly encourage you to watch this video of their presentation. In the context of our often polarized world, their passion, call for unity, and hopeful messaging were inspiring and set an incredible example for our kids. I promise - this one is worth watching!
myDCSD Forums - Funding and Q&A
Earlier this month, I held three virtual myDCSD Forums that were open to all DCSD staff and our community, to discuss funding, needs, and to answer questions. You can watch the recording of one of those forums here. I will conduct two more in July - I hope you will consider joining us and will bring your questions!
Monday, July 18, 12:00 p.m. -1:00 p.m. (Zoom Link)
Wednesday, July 20, 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Zoom Link)
Here are a few of the common questions that have come up in the forums so far:
What are the highest priority growth areas for DCSD?
We need to build elementary schools in Sterling Ranch, Crystal Valley, and the Canyons neighborhoods in order to address our district’s most urgent growth needs.
Is DCSD experiencing high turnover?
So far, our turnover is within a percentage point or two of prior years. As of last week, 1,160 employees have let us know they are leaving our district. Last year, that number was 1,146 as of June 30, 2021.
How will we know the MLO and Bond are being spent appropriately?
In 2018, the Board established a Mill Bond Oversight Committee (MBOC) to oversee the use of the 2018 Bond and MLO dollars. This citizen committee would oversee future Bonds and MLOs as well. The committee compares the actual expenditures to the ballot questions and the spending plans to ensure the funds are being spent as promised. This committee reports regularly to the Board and the public. The MBOC currently has openings if you are interested in joining!
You can learn more about DCSD’s funding challenges and needs on our website at www.dcsdk12.org/funding. Please share information on how we are funded (including the five-minute video) anywhere you can and if you are interested in hosting a get together or are aware of a community gathering where we can come speak about funding, please email Alison Rausch ([email protected]), Director of Parent, Community, and Civic Engagement. It will take all of us working together to educate our community!
We Need You!
Due to the tremendous nationwide labor shortage, we have urgent openings in positions throughout our district. Are you interested in picking up some paid hours as a bus driver or education assistant on a bus or in one of our schools? Or maybe you have thought about teaching someday. Did you know that with a Bachelor’s degree, you can apply for Alternative Licensure through the Colorado Department of Education? Some of our best Career and Technical Education teachers come right out of industry! See these and all of our opportunities on our Careers Webpage.
Thank you for reading through this and, please, get back to enjoying your summer!
Erin Kane
Superintendent
Douglas County School District