News from Sheridan School District No. 2
Contact: Mark Stevens [email protected]
303-495-8699 (mobile)
News Release
Oct. 14, 2019
Sheridan Board of Education Endorses Proposition CC
The Sheridan Board of Education last week (Oct. 8)
unanimously endorsed Proposition CC on the November ballot.
The proposal would allow the state to use taxpayer
revenue above current limits and divide the money among education and
transportation.
The ballot question states: “Without raising taxes
and to better fund public schools, higher education, and roads, bridges, and
transit, within a balanced budget, may the state keep and spend all the revenue
it annually collects after June 30, 2019, but is not currently allowed to keep
and spend under Colorado law, with an annual independent audit to show how the
retained revenues are spent?”
Information provided by Chief Financial Officer
Kristen Colonell estimated that successful passage of Proposition CC would
yield an estimated $1.4 million for Sheridan School District 2 during the
current school year. Since the 2009-2010 school year, added Colonell, the
state’s use of a budget stabilization factor has underfunded Sheridan by an
estimated $16.6 million.
If approved by voters, the proposal would require
that the money be spent only on nonrecurring costs.
Alice Terry Elementary in the Spotlight
Alice Terry Elementary principal Diego Romero and
assistant principal Jennifer Webster showcased staff and students and provided
on update on the school’s progress and challenges.
The presentation began with introducing three first
grade students, all English Language
Learners, who were reading on grade level as they
left kindergarten last spring. The students— Aishia Shakary, Ainara Orrantia,
Asma Mahrzad Naiman—are “always respectful, always responsible, always ready to
learn,” said Romero, adding that he spent time earlier that day with Asma and
noted her talent for analyzing math problems.
The entire kindergarten instructional team was also
recognized—three classroom teachers
(Mary Mobley, Stacy Waechter, Lisa Trail) and three
instructional assistants (Sylvia Trujillo, Ippy Farnam, and Paula Wheeler).
Romero lauded the team’s ability to support students and differentiate their
learning needs.
“They are really committed to the students and they
really hold the value of students first,” said Romero. “Intentional
collaborative planning” is key to improving student achievement, he said, as is
the addition of the instructional assistants, who allow for smaller group
instruction based on need.
Romero and Webster highlighted the school’s off-site
teambuilding work, the school’s emphasis on social and emotional learning, its
community partnerships with businesses and foundations, its use of restorative
justice to resolve disputes, a schoolwide emphasis on parent involvement, and a
staff culture that seeks to hold each other accountable.
Romero noted improvements in math and reading scores
compared to last year but added too many students remain below grade
level.
Principal
Romero also introduced the school’s new mission: “Alice Terry empowers all
students to strive for success and positively impact our changing world.”
Accreditation Appeal
Superintendent Sandos said the district is appealing
its preliminary rating under the state’s district performance frameworks. The
fact that the state requested additional data may be a good sign, he noted. The
district is .5 points from the cutoff to move up to the “Improvement” category.
A final decision from the state is due in early December.
Philadelphia Trip
Superintendent Sandos, two board members, and Chief
Operations Officer Cyndi Wright traveled in early October to Philadelphia to visit
a high school that focuses on Career & Technical Education in collaboration
with Johnson Controls. The trip was designed to gather insight about bringing a
similar model to Sheridan. “I think we
gathered enough information to decide if it is something that will work for
us,” said board president Bernadette Saleh, who added that the effort would
require considerable planning and organization to implement.
Superintendent Sandos emphasized that the work would
involve a community-wide effort. Since Colorado is a sunny state, he added, the
idea of training students for work in the growing solar industry might be a
good fit. “It’s definitely not something a school district can do on its own,”
said Superintendent Sandos. “But it’s definitely possible.”
Notes
• Initial
indications show pupil count is down about 70 students. The pupil count process
is continuing. On a positive note, the Early Childhood Center has added an
additional classroom and that might indicate a surge of pupil enrollment is on
the way.
• Board
members enjoyed the community-wide Sheridan Celebrates event in late September.
• Board
members are planning to attend the annual Colorado Association of School Boards
meeting in December.
• Superintendent
Sandos offered a wide-ranging list of the roles and responsibilities that
school principals assume and noted that October is National Principals Month. “They
have the most intricate, difficult job and we are incredibly fortunate to have
an incredible team of principals and assistant principals,” he said.
Consent Agenda
All consent agenda items were approved.
About Sheridan School District 2
Located southwest of Denver, Sheridan School District
2 seeks high-level post-secondary options for all students through continuous
improvement of quality instruction. More:
www.ssd2.org