Jason P Phillips

The meeting will include reports from principals, directors, the superintendent, and board members. There will be updates on capital projects, federal programs, and the Go Fan digital ticketing and fundraising portal. Action items include approving financial reports and budget adjustments, setting a date for a second budget workshop, and approving various requisitions for capital projects, including a high-impact tutoring lab, security upgrades to the RHS gym, and new equipment for the RHS weight room. Other action items involve approving a resolution for property disposition, a grazing lease agreement, and appointing members to the finance and audit committees. An executive session will be held to discuss personnel matters, specifically the superintendent's evaluation and contract, followed by discussion and approval of the superintendent's contract.

The meeting focused on reconnecting schools and addressing challenges from the previous year, including communication issues between students and teachers, the need for interventions and remediations, and parental support. Discussions centered around using ARP funds for academic improvement, interventions, and social-emotional learning (SEL) support. Breakout sessions addressed academic supports, SEL initiatives, and support for low-income students, generating suggestions for re-engaging students, improving communication, implementing consistent SEL programs, providing more parental support, and increasing access to resources. The meeting concluded with a review of response efforts to COVID-19, including facility repairs, addressing student needs, and purchasing educational technology.

The meeting provided updates on graduate profiles, including plans for creating high school pathways to match skills with careers, utilizing student ambassadors for presentations, and conducting community surveys. Reports on near-peer tutors, who began working with students in grades K-8, and educator fellows, a two-year program funded by the American Rescue Plan Act to create a new teacher pipeline and improve student-to-teacher ratios, were also given. Budget updates included teacher salary increases, a 3% increase for all staff this year and a 4% increase for the 2022-2023 school year, and exploration of raising the minimum wage to $15. Future plans include a needs assessment, federal funds applications, and quarterly meetings focusing on career-connected learning, social-emotional development, graduate profiles, and career pathways.

The meeting focused on the purpose of the Equity & Innovation Task Force, which is to improve education for students through stakeholder support and collaboration with the Colorado Education Initiative. The American Rescue Plan (ARP) and its funding, focus, assessment, accountability, and data conversation on subgroups were explained. RPS data from 2019 New Mexico Vistas was presented, and subgroup prioritization was discussed. A community forum was scheduled for August 2nd, 2021.