Originally published on April 26, 2018.

Brandy Hale, Gilpin County.

The Gilpin School Board met on Tuesday April 17, 2017, with a presentation by middle school students Madison Altman and Haley Stundon on their teacher Randi Reiner’s program of ‘Shared Learning Targets.’ The exercise is applied in all her classes, but Madison and Haley found it especially useful in their language arts class, helping to focus time management, ensure target goals were completed, and that the overall purpose of the assignment (in this case, a web video on a person who displayed multiple intelligences) was accomplished. Ms. Reiner distributed charts to the board displaying her research on the use of the method, showing that 75% of students found it useful and referred to it while working. By focusing on specific task-related goals, students can self-moderate and understand what they should accomplish during the time allotted, and Ms. Reiner said she finds it useful herself when organizing lesson plans. The Board was impressed and commented that incorporating the program would probably benefit them as well.

The Board then followed with a discussion led by Superintendent MacKenzie on the proposed fee schedule increases on cafeteria and athletic fees, with school year 17/18 expenses as compared to projected 18/19 increases, as well as comparison to neighboring school district fees. The last increase in meal fees was $0.10 in school year 16/17, with no increase last year. The proposal is for an additional $0.10 per meal ($0.25 for adult lunches) for a grand total (breakfast and lunch, students and adults) of $3884.15, which would leave GPS cheaper in all grade meals compared to Jeffco, Platte Canyon and Boulder Valley, and comparable to Clear Creek. If approved, the new elementary breakfast/lunch would be $1.45/$2.75, and middle and high school breakfast/lunch would be $1.45/$2.95. Only food costs are covered by the meal fees, not the labor of cooks, or operational costs. The county general fund covers what the fees do not, paying out nearly $58,322 in school year 16/17, with this year and next projected to be similar.

The athletic fee increase was for either a $10 or $15 increase in all sports except football. For middle school, the new fees would make the first and second sports $60 or $65 each, the third sport $35 or $40, with a student maximum per year of $155 or $170, and family maximum of $250 regardless of increase amount. GPS is cheaper than both Clear Creek and Nederland for middle school sports fees. The high school increases would make the first sport $110 or $115, the second $85 or $90 and the third $60 or $65, with a student maximum of $225 or $270 and family maximum of $385 per year. These fees are significantly cheaper than Nederland, but slightly higher than Clear Creek for the first and second sports, but cheaper for the third, and slightly higher than the family maximum. Based upon transfers from the general fund in previous years, about $12,000 will have been used by the end of this school year for athletics.

Next, superintendent Mackenzie reported that progress continues to be made with the safety committee. A VOIP upgrading during the summer break of phones and the intercom system will improve communication between classrooms, with police and EMS personnel and allow non-auditory messaging for teachers to communicate in case of a lockdown with an active shooter. The school continues with “skill and drill” practices on a monthly basis, and the protocol for fire emergencies has been amended to call for ‘lockdown’ to prevent evacuees from becoming targets as they were in the Florida shooting. Instead, the new protocol requires classes to hold and stay in place until further notice. Investigation is being done into whether or not the school actually needs pull-box fire alarms, which students are notorious for pulling as pranks at schools nationwide, since buildings with sufficient sprinkler systems can be exempt from the requirement. The standard response protocol has been overhauled and revised and all staff have the new plans, and a crisis response team has been created to respond as soon as possible in the event of an emergency.

Superintendent MacKenzie finished his address with a projection of the new GPS website, an achievement he stated was 5 years in the making. The new site scrolls through pictures that are updated regularly that represent the school, with links, news and a calendar of upcoming events at the bottom of the homepage. The addition of a Facebook link opens to the school’s new Facebook page where community members, such as the PTA and associated groups, can follow announcements. The superintendent is hoping to build community relations, and relations between community and staff, with a goal of 30% community feedback on Facebook.

The Board then announced an extensive list of the school policies that were up for repeal. The ones listed are on the slate because they no longer rise to the level of being ‘policies,’ but belong in handbooks or rulebooks, or because they are redundant and conflict with newer policies. MacKenzie stated that he wants to work with CASB (the Colorado Association of School Boards) to review the policies and ensure the new manual meets state and federal guidelines. The Board will pass the changes to their policy committee, and the first reading will be during the May 1st meeting.

Finally, the Board wanted to make a special note of thanks to the casinos that provided the booster breakfasts to the school during testing week. Grand Z, Isle of Capri, Lodge Casino, Dostal Alley Saloon, Century Casino, Red Dolly, Easy Street/Bonanza and Wild Card all contributed to helping students perform their best during the week of testing, and the Board is grateful.