Estes Park School District Board Meeting 12/11/23

For more information (including members in attendance) see the full notes document here.*

View the meeting agenda.

A video recording of the meeting is available here.

$500,000 health insurance payment gap vexes the district

As of June 30, 2023 the district had an overall fund balance of $4.2 million. In question is reimbursement of $500,000 of health insurance benefits. Last week all current claim payments were frozen. A meeting is scheduled this week for an update on the situation.

More options considered for future paths of highschool students

Student Superintendents Council supercouncil@estesschools.org

4 members attended the Colorado Association of School Board meeting and discussed senior capstone projects. curriculum and career pathways, community involvement and community service hours, and jobs that give highschool credit. Many students signed up for concurrent enrollment with Front Range Community College.

Superintendent’s Report

Ruby Bode, Superintendent since 2022

• Due to staffing shortages, starting in 2024 the middle school will only serve breakfast; middle schoolers will attend the high school for lunch. Schedules are being updated and will be communicated to parents.
• The district has received its first funding for 3-year-old preschool.
• District wide attendance is 90.1%

School Administrator Reports

• The elementary school held an accountability meeting to discuss the Unified Improvement Plan and staff discussed the plan. 2 parents attended the meeting. Director Wyss asked how to increase future engagement. Discussions included adding additional topics and changing the meeting time and/or date.
• The elementary school is conducting mid-year writing assessments. Director Kendall asked about different genres. Current assessments are narrative and will change to persuasive and opinion later in the year.
• Positive office referrals have increased 90% at the elementary level.
• Highschool students will start mentoring middle school students in 2024.
• Middle school language learners have been focused on writing with scaffolding starter ideas. Structure is offered with peer feedback and there is a data wall for progress.
• Middle school attendance was 90.7% in November.

Board Approvals

• Superintendent Contract Renewal
• Service Animal Policy Second Reading
• School Board Financial Disclosure Second Reading gift increase to $75 from $65

Questions to Consider

• When will the $500,000 health insurance payment issue be resolved?
• What numbers are needed to decide when middle school students can return to lunch in the middle school instead of doubling up with the high school?

Next Meeting

January 9 at 2 p.m.

*Citizen Observers further the commitment of the League of Women Voters to its principle of Citizens Right to Know, however, we are not acting as journalists. Omissions and errors are possible. It is assumed that users of this information are responsible for their own fact-checking. This could include contacting a government clerk, conversing with an elected official or staff, and/or asking us to speak to the Observer who attended.