John Scarffe, Gilpin County. Gilpin County Schools will start remotely and online on August 10, 2020. Teachers returned on August 3. Gilpin County Schools Superintendent David MacKenzie updated the Gilpin County Schools Board of Education during a work session on July 28, 2020, and hosted a Town Hall meeting to discuss the opening and answer questions on July 30, 2020.

MacKenzie said that afternoon he spoke with Dr Mark Johnson with Jefferson County Public Health, because Gilpin County contracts with them for public health services. On June 5, the Governor saw no reason students couldn’t go back to school, and at the end of June, superintendents met with public health medical directors who concurred with returning to in-person learning, by wearing a mask, social distancing, washing hands, etc. 

The school sent out a restart plan, surveyed parents and got a lot of feedback. In the middle part of July, during another conference call with the Education Commissioner and the Colorado Department of Health and Environment epidemiologists, they updated the social distancing information and made a shift to more emphasis on cohorts for kids so they stay in the same group all day and don’t come into contact with other student cohorts. 

MacKenzie said the school considered the updated requirements to maintain social distancing, and they had a lot of concerns about maintaining the cohort groups in the way they were asked. It really boils down to any in-person learning and bringing kids into the building. 

A likelihood exists that some student or staff member will contact the virus, and that plan assumes we can keep the kids in one independent group. “If we have to close schools for two weeks because of a positive test, the whole plan results in the inevitable. 

“Someone will get sick, and the school will be on quarantine for 14 days. Then it could be off and on for the whole school year,” MacKenzie said.

“We are trying to get kids back into school, and that has been a demand of many parents, but as many people are well aware, the number of COVID cases are on the rise in Colorado.” Denver Public Schools and Jefferson County are pushing starting days to the end of August and then starting with remote learning. Gilpin Schools are providing training on taking temperatures and cleaning tables. 

Denver Public Schools couldn’t get a cohort small enough because they have 1,500 to 2,500 kids. Gilpin Schools will be lucky to have 100 kids, but the size difference doesn’t make that much of an impact, because it just takes one student or adult in the environment to get COVID. It’s better to make a decision based on the School’s mission statement of a safe and caring environment to start 100 percent remotely with the online learning plan option instead of waiting to see what happens. 

On August 10, students will start school by picking up Chromebooks and other work-at- home materials from school, and go through August remotely while training teachers to prepare for the possibility of coming back to a Monday through Thursday schedule, but keeping the Gilpin Online Learning Program as an option for students. They will focus on making it work and have the month to see how COVID is progressing, MacKenzie said. At the end of August, they can decide what to do. 

Options include doing a hybrid one day a week, come back for the regular schedule of Monday through Thursday classes or stay remotely. MacKenzie said he hoped the Board is in favor of moving forward with the remote learning and online program options to start school, and everyone is in focus can provide the best educational program and doesn’t have to worry about someone getting COVID.

For students who can’t get online, the number wasn’t substantial, but School staff will track down these students and provide pencil and paper opportunities. MacKenzie said they have a lot to do, including a lot of communication with parents, but it boils down to individual needs and that takes time. 

On August 10, students can come to school, meet their teacher and pick up their books. They will try to get remote learning started that week with teachers reaching out and creating some sense of classroom. They can then go through the month, 12 school days, and see what’s going on. 

At the Board of Education meeting on September 1, the status of COVID-19 can be reviewed, and they can make a decision for classes on September 8, the day after Labor Day, on one of the three options for students and teachers. MacKenzie informed the Board that the Gilpin Online Learning Program will now provide a teacher for grades 6-12. Students in grades 6-12 will still have the option to take online courses independently without a teacher.

Board members expressed concerns that training for the staff and teachers would take place. When they first started remote learning, it was very inconsistent, and teachers did not have set standards for their expectations so students could understand them. MacKenzie said the first week will be teacher training for remote learning. 

The school will have revenue and money problems for the next couple of years. “We have to keep as many students as possible. If neighbors get together and want to do their own homeschooling, we will provide resources if they stay enrolled,” MacKenzie said.

The Board reviewed and discussed potential revenue adjustments, reductions and use of reserves for consideration for the 2020/2021 budget. Revenue is down half a million dollars because some homeowners and businesses haven’t paid property tax. The Black Hawk Educational Enhancement Tax (EET) revenue is down $1 million as the casinos have been closed. The EET offsets property tax, keeping the mill levy low for property owners.  

The School will get property tax revenue after October 1. The EET is dependent on casino patronage and that revenue is tentative at best.

MacKenzie recommended taking $2 million out of reserves and putting it in the capital fund for the wastewater treatment plant improvements, and they are working on a DOLA grant for the other $2 million. If the boiler blows up, the school needs to have a little bit of money for capital. 

The waste water plant improvements would be a $4 million project with GCSD paying $2 million, and the DOLA grant paying $2 million. In December, they will apply for a planning grant and the next phase would be a construction study. MacKenzie recommended maintaining the same zero-based budgeting be in place for the 2020/2021 school year. 

“Money is going to be tight, and we will do our best to be fiscally responsible. I have a whole list of things to cut. We can be fiscally responsible.” MacKenzie said. 

The Board needs to consider a mill levy override question on the November 2020 ballot for voters. because the District is facing a shortfall of more than $1 million for operating revenue. “If we could get a mill levy override passed, we will be able to operate, but conservatively moving forward,” MacKenzie said. 

They will have to get the question on the ballot by August 24, through an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Gilpin County Clerk, so they need to approve that on August 18. A successful mill levy override vote would support the recruitment and retention of teachers. With a $35,117 starting pay, Gilpin teachers are about $5,000 behind starting salaries offered by districts up and down the front range.

MacKenzie invited the public to a Town Hall meeting on July 30, 2020, to discuss the opening of school, the learning programs to be offered, and answer questions. MacKenzie explained a plan that will offer breakfast and lunch meals during remote learning, starting on August 17. The tentative draft plan has Food Service preparing and bagging the meals and transportation delivering the meal bags to bus stops and other predetermined locations for student and parent pick-up on Monday and Wednesday. 

The District is planning a Back to School Week August 10 through August 13. Planning is taking place now, and information will be sent via separate email with details, processes and procedures. Students will meet teachers and pick up Chromebooks and other school resources to take home.

One change to remote learning will be that students won’t meet with teachers every day but will have teacher communication and teacher impact throughout the week. The Gilpin Online Learning Program will enroll students in pre-made online courses with Colorado Digital Solutions, and teachers will connect with students and do small groups or one-on-one teaching. The District will be issuing Chromebooks to students. 

T-Mobile and AT&T can help families get a connection. The School building will be opened and will be used on a limited basis. 

Secondary Principal Alexis Donaldson said the school also is working on creating social opportunities during remote learning for students as a priority, because kids need that. Elementary Principal Heather Huntoon said that if students are not getting what they need for social opportunities, they should reach out to the teachers. 

Donaldson said that remote learning will be delivered differently in 2020/2021 than it was last school year. Huntoon said Montessori teachers are purchasing supplies and will follow up with Montessori families. 

If students choose homeschooling, they can still get resources from the School, but they need to be enrolled to get Chromebooks, textbooks and resources. They can homeschool, but it’s not unusual to the School to provide support programs. “Keep your student enrolled in the school, and you can be the teacher as a homeschool parent, but if we can help provide the resources and keep the student enrolled, then we will get that funding to provide those resources, MacKenzie said. 

If a staff member gets sick, through the CARES act, they will get two weeks paid time off and won’t be charged. They can apply for extended leave and can extend that leave without pay. They will keep their jobs, but the School might get a substitute. 

On the first day for teachers on August 3, they will be doing social distancing and the staff will be getting ready for August 10. Teachers will be ready to meet with students at a 6-foot distance. Schedules and contacts are forthcoming. 

“A lot of the questions are specific to your child and learning needs,” MacKenzie said. He said to reach out to the principals and let them know your concerns. “We are here to help you and will be doing a lot of outreach in the second week to answer questions.

“Thanks everyone in the whole school community. This has been quite the ride and it’s not over yet. We ask for your grace and understanding. Contact us so we can provide the best education for your child.”

(Originally published in the August 6, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)