John Scarffe, Nederland. The Gilpin County School District, RE-1, Board of Education approved the first reading of a fee schedule that will keep fees the same for the 2020-2021 school year as this year, except for a 10-cent increase in cafeteria fees, during an online meeting on April 7, 2020. The Board also approved the Colorado Association of School Board’s Online Policy Solutions and heard Superintendent David MacKenzie’s update on the schools in light of the COVID-19 virus.

During New Business, Superintendent MacKenzie recommended that student fees be kept the same for the 2020 to 2021 school year except for cafeteria meal fees. According to the meal fee calculator used by the Colorado Department of Education, current meal charges are below by 10 cents. 

He recommended adding 10 cents to staff and student breakfast and lunch charges for 2020-2021. Even with the 10-cent increase, GCSD charges are below what four other nearby districts charge to staff and student breakfast and lunch.

A few years ago, the District had to transfer funds from the general fund to the food fund to cover the low cost charged for meals. If approved on first reading, the Board will see the second reading at the first meeting in May. The Board approved the first reading.

Board Vice President Sarah Swanson called for a motion to approve the second reading of Colorado Association of School Board’s (CASB) Special Policy updates. During new business at the February 18 meeting, MacKenzie stated that the January CASB update is comprised of six policies with minor and legal reference updates. 

Each of the six policies and the CASB recommended changes were discussed at the March 3 meeting. The Board approved the policy edits during first reading. 

CASB offers a menu of policy services designed to promote effective school board governance and assist boards with their essential policy role. The Online Policy Solutions are designed for more effective local policy leadership and consist of the Policy Support System and Online District Policy Maintenance, according to their website.

The Board approved the second reading of CASB Policies, consisting of Concurrent Enrollment, Concurrent Enrollment – Regulation, Code of Conduct and Suspension/Expulsion of Students (and Other Disciplinary Interventions).

During his Superintendent’s report, MacKenzie said that, since school facilities are closed due to COVID-19, custodial services personnel are spraying and disinfecting classrooms and will continue in the gyms, carpet cleaning, and getting spraying done. The custodial cost for additional disinfectant is neutral, since they don’t have to do routine cleaning every day.

Regarding remote learning, Mackenzie said the District has six students who have reported they don’t have internet access, so teachers have compensated with pencil and paper. Only one high school student has reported no internet access, and some students have limited broadband width. 

They are suggesting families contact their internet or cell phone providers, and in many incidents, they will not be charged for internet services or increased bandwidth. Students should contact their principal for connectivity assistance, because they do have solutions like hot spots. 

“We might continue to do remote learning in the future such as during a snow day. We are going to make this work as good as we can, and where we fail, we trying to get a better plan in the future,” MacKenzie said.

If students have mental health issues, Gilpin Schools have a counselor, social worker, psychologist and a school-based therapist. They can also contact Jefferson Center for Mental Health. Students should reach out to their principal, and they can get them connected. 

MacKenzie recommended taking preschool March payments and applying them to the August payment in the fall. The School would refund families in April and May. They also discussed activity fees for spring and would like to apply spring sports fees to the past due balance or apply to fall sports.

If families don’t owe money, they can apply payments to fall sports or get a refund. MacKenzie said the Board doesn’t have to vote on this, but the Board agreed to these proposals.

On April 3, Colorado Governor Jared Polis had a conference call with superintendents, and he is waiting until April 20 to decide whether he will close schools until the end of year, so MacKenzie suggested waiting until the Governor makes a decision on the remainder of the school year. So far, 14 school districts announced that they will close for the rest of the year, but the other 164 districts have decided to wait for the Governor’s decision. 

The legislature will be back in session at some point, and the Governor said that the state budgeting process would be completed by June 30. The legislature will work on the state budget first and then moneys to schools will be distributed from the school finance act. 

The District will not know how much state funding will be allocated until late June or early July. “It is very unlikely students and staff will return to the school building this year, but I want to see what the Governor orders for the rest of the school year,” MacKenzie said.

(Originally published in the April 16, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)