[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6479830,"mediaKeyId","5692081-208b1cd5137a65d4eea03fae0bf678d9","parentId",5692081,"title","Board agrees by consensus to read Colorado Constitution preamble at future work sessions","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",3928000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692081-208b1cd5137a65d4eea03fae0bf678d9&start=3928&end=3928","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692081-208b1cd5137a65d4eea03fae0bf678d9/thumbnail_3928000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6479830/Colorado/Board-agrees-by-consensus-to-read-Colorado-Constitution-preamble-at-future-work-sessions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479830-ae9cf16061fccaa9ae9e1c90e23e726b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770570398&Signature=EuIKwzy62Id37vf8H3kfCd4N4GZmL5hI-aVoLaS6C8RQyOs6Or9xnjvauJIlzs~9PoH422cBzHcLbh~dGwIugbkH1vM9v9uBgjvjnAtPrBd6QOU-zPAJ8gzAIvdsjrcPTjAwBftjg0WZGPAjVB8be08Wc5R7Tn61ol-Uejju1t3o75yjK3e4dnYt8fPGMK1pu9SvNU6WoMtBy6mzXxBvlKqQSfV815bj1KvQJ~~X1bKzgYpBYz~32DikRlxA2DIR1b46OkcYmPNy0R0Wn~gKKNeCvElFXK9XH6jv-oO0kX86dXI6VitHKAN32I~3hNwUr0R8uZojTjiE88I34YEUaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","El Paso County Colorado School District 49","date","2025-08-28T14:25:04Z","article","Board member Director Dovola proposed adopting a practice of reading the preamble to the Colorado Constitution at the start of board work sessions and offered background on why the preamble fosters civic understanding.

Director Dovola said the preamble “serves to remind us of the principles and values upon which our state was built” and noted that board members had sworn to uphold the Colorado and U.S. constitutions. Director Schmidt argued that reading the preamble “can serve as a reminder of shared goals and ethics” and that the preamble’s first phrase, “We the people of Colorado,” underscores popular legitimacy.

Director Heil raised a practical objection, asking whether adding the reading would lengthen meetings and noting that the board’s usual audience is already civically engaged. To demonstrate length, another board member read the Colorado preamble aloud; the reading took about 26 seconds. The board clarified the proposal applied to work sessions rather than all board meetings.

After discussion about the wording of the agenda item and whether to expand readings beyond the preamble, the board chair asked for a consensus to adopt the practice of reading the Colorado preamble prior to work sessions. Multiple directors responded affirmatively on the record and the chair said the cover sheet will be updated to reflect the preamble reading. The transcript records the consensus responses but shows no formal roll‑call vote.

Board members discussed how readings could be tailored to civic education and noted students present supported the idea. Staff will update meeting materials to reflect the practice.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","D49 Board of Education Meeting August 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After discussion, board members signaled consensus to add a brief reading of the Colorado Constitution preamble at the start of work sessions; trustees debated civic value, time cost and whether to rotate other readings.","taxTitle","El Paso County Colorado School District 49, School Districts , Colorado","taxId",38500,"location","Colorado","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479835,"District announces May graduation schedule for main high schools; some smaller schools to set separate dates",248,3492000,3740000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692081-208b1cd5137a65d4eea03fae0bf678d9&start=3492&end=3740","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692081-208b1cd5137a65d4eea03fae0bf678d9/thumbnail_3492000.jpg","/articles/6479835/Colorado/District-announces-May-graduation-schedule-for-main-high-schools-some-smaller-schools-to-set-separate-dates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479835-610602cb4aa3dc2ce9a250b8a02eb6b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770570398&Signature=GgC3xaDG6lWOhSHdkN2tzoOJr9kHn7Cr4-2~JrNxKntMkvkHisLVqJ-QeRLoqNDaChdo1cWGj1Z8bZ4Zm8N5SaQbGx2KzGpOs64RM34OcD3c0PGd4Tqf-aux0Nvkv4nb~aZeLLuxc2YaZv1A~T4vfulfcRNzXTuAmnPgzDgHxxpLGlRyEMK2lMAWDAmeNWwUMvNvN~wz2UCl-7VGGtbsGjOJ6uEvi6p2SRMXKaL3AzJ1v1JVk4bFLStGE-I1uJNsxhdSjrUjAcVE3HKxvU8v0i8jWieOOIViDkMfsJLR~oklvA93Degg7kMrjRkNHBkowKGNfk~XEAzoYxf02CwMTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Peter Hiltz, superintendent of El Paso County Colorado School District 49, told the board that district graduation ceremonies for the coming year will be held at the World Arena and provided dates and times for three main high‑school graduations.

Hiltz said Sand Creek High School will graduate at 9 a.m. on May 23, Falcon High School at 1 p.m. and Vista Ridge High School at 5 p.m. He said the district is securing contracts and that some smaller schools formerly organized under the iConnect zone may hold separate ceremonies and that their venues and dates are still being finalized.

Board discussion clarified that Patriot High School’s graduation is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, with the location “to be determined, possibly the Antlers.” Hiltz said staffing and funding calculations for smaller school ceremonies have changed this year and that final dates and venues will be provided before fall break or within the next 10 days.

A board member noted that some small‑school graduations may be scheduled on different days to accommodate school size and student preferences. The transcript indicates the graduation schedule item “will be moved to action,” but no formal vote or recorded action outcome appears in the work‑session transcript.

Board members and staff said they will return with finalized dates and venues for smaller schools and that families and principals will be informed when contracts are confirmed.","Superintendent Peter Hiltz told the board the district will hold major high‑school graduations at the World Arena on May 23 and that smaller or formerly iConnect schools will have different schedules and venues; some dates remain to be finalized.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479839,"District 49 reports widespread gains in math and marks Allies Elementary in performance",1332,2035000,3367000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692081-208b1cd5137a65d4eea03fae0bf678d9&start=2035&end=3367","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692081-208b1cd5137a65d4eea03fae0bf678d9/thumbnail_2035000.jpg","/articles/6479839/Colorado/District-49-reports-widespread-gains-in-math-and-marks-Allies-Elementary-in-performance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479839-b413a7853c8b66d0de20ac791fe6fc1e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770570398&Signature=fB0dU9mWNXeEyeGbIBCdzqiiTZhgM4r96dKcU4RH6vRYsIcPKbOTAA1me59DcAFw1AbKOixtoYoV-HSawlrCFr6IaTJ68RqpWkmb7-pkTMhPqHdy7IZOrGK~uY9AeRkvxd5Slkjogxtz~KBpsC3ihUklqQ9OWv4y4nFMKIVAJxjdwFOMtrqliGI22rV53AUmKymsMzlRFag4VOcYvYt0Hg9v-SPBgdmjoUQ~-g-uuru8jwMTOoLLivDk5qh2V3XD0pZES1b-loB5I3waBR4yc77u3N7HwtwMWmtdkjZXA5wwR5n969feIDOjulpdy2e34SaVDdtw0lxrlT6WubTwMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kathleen Grama, director of academic performance and data services for El Paso County Colorado School District 49, presented assessment results to the board on Aug. 27, highlighting gains in math, school‑level growth metrics and stronger participation on College Board high‑school assessments.

Grama said the district evaluates “measures that indicate the acquisition of learning,” including Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) reading and math, median student growth percentiles and the College Board PSAT/SAT results. She summarized multi‑year trends and noted the testing interruptions in 2020 and low participation in 2021 before focusing on 2023–25 changes.

Grama highlighted that “a quarter of our schools have exceeded their pre‑pandemic levels in reading. Over half of our schools have exceeded that level from 2019 in math, and nearly three quarters of our schools have exceeded that 2019 level in science.” She said half of district schools have a median student growth percentile of 50 or higher in math.

Grama singled out specific schools and leaders. She reported that Allies Elementary School stands out as “one of the spongiest, highest growth schools,” and that Principal Amy Seifel attributed outcomes to staff work and targeted interventions for students with dyslexia. Board members amplified that point: one board member said Allies’ results mean the program is working “and this is the first year that a school dedicated to serving students with dyslexia has achieved the performance level.”

Grama also praised Falcon Middle School, Ridgeview, Pikes Peak School of Expeditionary Learning and Vista Ridge for strong growth. She noted that College Board participation in the district was about 93 percent compared with about 85 percent statewide and that the district’s combined college‑level proficiency across grades 9–11 was 59 percent in reading.

Board members discussed implications for charter schools and district accountability. Director Hile pointed to consistently strong results in the district‑operated portfolio and a more uneven charter picture; Director Olivia Wright emphasized that charter contracts include expectations to match or exceed district performance and said the data should inform accountability conversations.

Students on the student board and two visiting students, Emma (Sand Creek High School) and Mariah (Patriot High School), also commented. Emma praised district progress and said the gains are meaningful for students who have struggled with dyslexia and dyscalculia. Mariah and other staff noted school practices such as data cycles, consistent curriculum use and professional learning communities as contributors to growth.

Grama closed by saying the results show evidence of “neuroplasticity” and urged continued support for teachers and principals. The board asked staff to continue monitoring trends and to bring deeper grade‑level breakdowns and intervention timelines where relevant.","District director presented CMAS, growth and College Board results showing increases in math proficiency, several high-growth schools, and that Allies Elementary — a dyslexia‑focused school — reached performance status this year.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479842,"District 49 projects higher student counts but shortfall, to use $9 million of reserves",831,888000,1719000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692081-208b1cd5137a65d4eea03fae0bf678d9&start=888&end=1719","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692081-208b1cd5137a65d4eea03fae0bf678d9/thumbnail_888000.jpg","/articles/6479842/Colorado/District-49-projects-higher-student-counts-but-shortfall-to-use-9-million-of-reserves","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479842-95b97a2ff4055978245f12556d537d44/orig.mp4?Expires=1770570398&Signature=gQBxeAxa4PZq4sS-jmQlVo6eNxe-svrdV79s9mEgCRCZvntKyTmiSslagQ2klyXFDhdn8Ixx2esMC7VjiMLFNobaLtuXKaq22XsMIDHzriP1IrjLg2Du4V4kLLwh-TeB4PezVjM52ymPJA5JF-Hru01ZC7WZBaj0AfFJTqJiaOQvt0~5toq1gTbfkCeEJre5D5dz4alSM-dMoca25l-0qMUcmQf6cWGofiZVJy1tgUBPscCbOHk6bOkt9nCuU6BR6XvDq6y4sr467aiPTlM4suISoC8ovoYd~ETlslxgPm7NyhBEgrk3r-Qa1w~53awK1sKjGUzGFLKhNRkTAYT3Qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rebecca Brooks, presenting the student count and budget update to the El Paso County Colorado School District 49 Board of Education on Aug. 27, said the district’s per-pupil revenue assumption and fund-balance figures have changed and that those updates will factor into the midyear amended budget.

Brooks said, “We built our budget off of $11,185 per pupil based on the school finance act spread amended budget. So it's actually 11,178 per student,” and that the district has already planned to spend $9,000,000 of its fund balance for 2025–26. She told the board the district now expects a 2024–25 ending fund balance closer to $17,200,000, down from a prior projection of $22,800,000, and that this will be the beginning fund balance for 2025–26.

The presentation showed district-operated student counts trending above the budget line in the early weeks of the school year. Brooks explained the charting conventions and projection method: solid lines indicate actual counts, dotted lines are projections and the projections are based on a three-year historical average. She emphasized that the district-operated portfolio figure excludes charter schools and BOCES and that much of the extra revenue tied to higher counts will “pass through” to charters or BOCES rather than remain at the district level.

Brooks also called attention to a staffing assumption change: the district changed a prior personnel-expenditure assumption from 97% to 98% of positions filled. She said the district is “at an all time high for a percentage” of staffing and that the 98% assumption will be handled in the midyear budget amendment.

Brooks warned of external uncertainty at the state level: she summarized recent reporting that Colorado’s special legislative session reduced an initial $1.2 billion shortfall estimate to about $800 million and that Governor Polis has authority to make cuts. “A rescission is unlikely, but it's always possible,” she said.

Brooks combined these items into a warning about structural budget pressure: using the district’s planned $9,000,000 of fund balance and current expenditure plans, she said it would take 13,187 students “just to cover the expenditures we already have budgeted,” while district projections for the year stand at 12,517.

Board members asked for clarifications about charts and trends. Director Hile asked why some trend lines dip near the end of the year; Brooks responded that the dotted projections are a three‑year average and that the late-year dip reflects historically funded-count adjustments. Board discussion also clarified that charter count data are sometimes provided directly to the district and that not all charters are on the district’s student information system.

Brooks concluded that while projections currently show district-operated counts above the budgeted line overall, most of the apparent revenue increase will be passed through to charter schools or BOCES and therefore will not fully offset the district’s planned usage of fund balance.

The board did not take a formal vote on the budget presentation at this work session; members requested further detail for the midyear amendment and directed staff to bring follow-up data to future meetings.","Finance staff told the Board of Education that district-operated student counts are trending above budgeted projections but most of the revenue increase passes through to charters and BOCES; a planned use of $9 million in fund balance and a possible state budget shortfall leave the district projecting a structural gap.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board agrees by consensus to read Colorado Constitution preamble at future work sessions

District announces May graduation schedule for main high schools; some smaller schools to set separate dates

District 49 reports widespread gains in math and marks Allies Elementary in performance

District 49 projects higher student counts but shortfall, to use $9 million of reserves