Colorado Springs School District 11

The DAC Budget Subcommittee meeting focused on feedback from two principals regarding staff recruitment/retention and student attraction/retention. Key challenges cited for hiring include higher student/teacher ratios, building conditions, and competitive pay, while positive aspects included the insurance package and smaller school atmospheres. To attract students, principals emphasized unique program offerings and facility appearance. Financial needs not addressed by current measures include expanding alternative schools, ensuring reliable computer networks, and upgrading facilities. Budget priorities for schools were identified as student learning, professional development, and safety. Principals plan to raise awareness through accountability committees, community meetings, and projecting a positive outlook. Concerns regarding funding sources highlighted reliance on fundraising at high schools versus grants and foundations for alternative schools. Parent concerns centered on resources and facilities, while staff focused on technology, fair wages, professional treatment, and training. Further discussion covered teacher development, building management, the unsustainability of grant funding, and addressing student resource gaps. The Director of Budget and Planning provided an update on budget development, noting a flat student count and the schedule for mid-year budget review.

The subcommittee meeting focused on two primary agenda items: Loop Closure, which addressed the scheduling of Performance Matters training beginning in February and the current status of Hoonuit data processing following its shutdown; and Benchmark Testing and Value of Growth. Discussions on benchmark testing emphasized its core purpose of analyzing student performance against grade-level expectations and the vital importance of reiterating and assessing foundational skills, particularly in Mathematics, across grade levels and schools. The importance of growth measures for performance frameworks, as mandated by the CDE, was also highlighted as a key factor in determining district success.

The primary focus of the work session was the Palmer renovation project and determining the next steps, specifically regarding the architectural Design Services contract, which followed a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process. The discussion provided context on the history of facility challenges, including a failed 2021 bond initiative and the subsequent decision to pursue funding via Certificates of Participation (COPs) instead of a new tax levy. The board unanimously authorized $120 million in COPs, with $100 million earmarked for the Palmer renovation. The session included feedback from an advisory board comprising community stakeholders, alumni, students, and downtown representatives regarding the RFP evaluation process. The next steps involve engaging the selected design firm for the design development phase, pending board approval.

The meeting focused on two primary agenda items: Enrollment and Accredited with Distinction schools. Discussions regarding enrollment covered the evaluation of centralized enrollment processes, the interface between central and school registrars, and utilizing mapping software to identify potential students within the district boundaries. For Accredited with Distinction schools, the committee debated and ultimately voted to change the cutoff threshold for School Performance Framework (SPF) ratings from the previous standard to 74, matching the state's district accreditation standard. This change resulted in nine schools being recommended for Accreditation with Distinction. Further discussion touched upon the structure of the School Performance Framework, noting the importance of school climate alongside academic outcomes, and improving parent access to student assessment data.

This mid-year data report for District 11 presents an analysis of student performance in Mathematics and English Language Arts, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels. It details district benchmark results, percentile rankings, performance levels, and median growth percentiles. The report identifies strengths, challenges such as slower growth rates and achievement gaps, and outlines adjusted actions based on data for each school level and priority schools, focusing on best first instruction, coherence, professional learning, and differentiated support.