School to net $212,409 in one-time funding

    One-time funding in the amount of $212,409 will be received by Holyoke School District Re-1J as a result of Senate Bill 17-267, also known as “Sustainability of Rural Colorado.” Superintendent John McCleary reported the good news at the May 16 meeting of the board of education.
    SB 267 will give a $30 million boost for 2017-18 to be divvied up among the 147 school districts defined as rural by the state Department of Education.
    McCleary also reported that the recently approved school finance act calls for an average increase of approximately $285 per student in state funding.
    Using that information to lead in to budget discussion, McCleary cited an anticipated ending fund balance for 2016-17 at $1,469,260, an increase of just over $110,000 from a year ago.
    He also reported on proposed capital project expenditures for 2017-18, including repairs, technology, reading program, transportation, lighting, roofing and life skills classroom. Construction on the life skills classroom at the high school was scheduled to begin May 19.
    McCleary shared several health insurance options for paraprofessionals working in the district. After soliciting feedback from the budget and facilities committee, as well as updating the insurance committee, he will have a specific proposal.
    He said he’s been working with insurance providers to come up with a decent package to include GAP coverage for a blended shared cost with paraprofessionals who opt to enroll. McCleary added that the plan he’s looking at is a good starting spot for the budget, as well as for getting into compliance regarding offering insurance for all employees.

2 teachers hired
    Two new teachers were hired for the 2017-18 school year at last week’s board meeting. Prior to approving the new hires, the board accepted a resignation from JR/SR high social studies teacher Cody Jiru.
    Hannah Petersen was hired for the JR/SR high social studies position and will also serve as head HS volleyball coach. Jade Goldenstein will teach K-6 art in the upcoming school year.
    Petersen graduated from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs with undergraduate degrees in history and anthropology in 2014. She has completed the work for a postbaccalaureate degree at the University of Northern Colorado and will earn a secondary social studies license.
    She has served as a substitute teacher and paraprofessional since completing her undergraduate degree and has been an assistant volleyball coach at Poudre and Mountain View high schools and for the Northstars Volleyball Club.
    Goldenstein earned her Bachelor of Science degree in interior design from Colorado State University in 2001 and will enroll in the BOCES alternative license education program in August.
    She has been working as a freelance interior designer for the past five years and is currently the office manager and children’s ministry coordinator for First Baptist Church in Holyoke. She is an HHS grad and lives in Holyoke with her husband and four children.
    In other extra-duty assignments, Gary Sperber was approved as a volunteer HS football coach.
    
Committee makes suggestions for staff recruitment, retention

    Reporting for the Standards of Excellence Committee at last week’s board meeting, Tiffany Watson shared the group’s study on recruiting and retaining staff. The board had charged the committee to review the topic for the 2016-17 school year.
    Three goals were targeted for implementation, covering the areas of substitute teaching, professional development and financial incentives.
    Citing that substitute teaching greatly impacts instructional programs and student achievement, the committee recommends handbooks and possible mentoring programs, as well as professional development for substitutes.
    With regard to certified staff professional development, Watson reported on the committee’s recommendation to build a districtwide curriculum that would be vertically aligned, clear and ready to hand to new teachers who enter the district.
    Steps to achieve more fiscal incentives were also recommended by the committee. Watson cited the continued review of the certified staff salary schedule to keep up with cost of living increases, as well as maintaining the 13-month teacher contract to help teachers new to the district transition financially.
    Additionally, the committee recommended revising the classified staff salary schedule to incorporate health benefits. It was also suggested that paraprofessional salaries be increased when they cover a class for a day in the role of a teacher and that the district consider differing salaries based on experience and certification.
    The report included the development of additional incentives, even those that aren’t fiscal. These could include such things as loan forgiveness, housing funds and continuing education incentives.
    On another topic, Watson reported that the committee didn’t do a parent survey this year and will have more discussion about how to go forward with that.
    She reported on the staff and student surveys, noting that numbers have positively increased with regard to a look at student safety.
    They will be looking at ways they can reconstruct survey materials in order to give teachers something they can use. For example, rather than a question regarding students in grades 5-12, a more specific target (such as 10th-graders) could give a more defined area for teacher use.
    Watson reported the committee did a pre-survey with new teachers and will also be conducting a post-survey with them for the school year.
    
Other business
    In other business at the May 16 meeting, the school board:
    —Noted that board meetings will begin at 8 p.m. for the summer months, beginning with the June 6 meeting.
    —Renewed the Advanced Benefits’ health insurance package for 2017-18, citing there was a 0 percent increase in cost to the district.
    —Renewed the Colorado School Districts Self Insurance Pool as the property insurance for the district for 2017-18.
    —Approved Lauer, Szabo & Associates to conduct the district’s 2016-17 audit.
    —Approved first reading of five policies on school nutrition program, civil rights complaint procedure for school nutrition program, free and reduced-price food services, nutritious food choices and healthy beverages standards for schools.
    —Learned that the program used to record students’ lunch fund balances will not automatically transfer amounts to siblings.
  

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