On Aug. 27, the Roaring Fork School District Board of Education discussed the start of the school year, considered policy adjustments in response to state legislation and reviewed academic strategies.
Following adjustments due to unexpected challenges last school year, the district will move forward with a strategic plan put in place at that time. Notable goals within the plan include academic growth and minimizing student demographic achievement gaps.
Superintendent Dr. Anna Cole shared that navigating financial challenges continues to be top of mind for the administration. The topics of concern included enrollment levels, cost of living, staff health insurance and federal and state funding. She expressed optimism in the district’s ability to navigate the challenges. Cole also reminded those present about the upcoming board elections in November, and noted that the district will co-host a candidate forum in October.
Cole also previewed themes for upcoming board meetings. In September, the focus will be on attendance expectations and goals, details regarding year two of the strategic plan and election information about board candidates and ballot items related to school meals and the formation of an early childcare taxing district. In October, the board will address healthy reading habits,parent-teacher conferences and a staff-housing master plan. November and December objectives include student wellbeing, financial review and training of new board members.
After a quick review of some staff changes and minutes from the June meeting, the board approved its consent agenda, which included the emergency approval of policy adjustments, prompted by state Senate Bill 25-276. The first addressed the release of information on students. The next two were policies articulating district relations with state and federal agencies for the sake of student safety and, more specifically, relations with federal immigration officials.
According to Jonathan Landon, the district’s senior project manager, the temporary verbiage included in the emergency policy approvals, required by law to be in place by Sept. 1, will be adjusted during upcoming board meetings per board governance policy.
The meeting proceeded to other policy reviews, including: name changes; nondiscrimination and equal opportunity; harassment and discrimination investigation procedures for students and employees; sexual harassment investigation procedures; and student interviews, interrogations, searches and arrests.
The board also reviewed a resolution to adopt a Section 125 Premium Only Plan for pre-tax employee health benefits, including various insurance options, health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts. While this had been communicated to staff prior to July, the board had not yet officially passed the resolution due to limited summer meetings.
On Sept. 2, Crystal River Elementary School hosted a program called “Art for the Sky” with artist Daniel Dancer, when students created a collective design for an aerial photo and video. For a glance of the photo, check out this week’s cover!
Roaring Fork School District Board of Education meetings occur every other Wednesday at 6:15pm at the Carbondale District Office and are livestreamed on YouTube. The next regular meeting is Sept. 10.