Platte Canyon School Board discusses facilities design updates, approves contracts

The Platte Canyon School Board of Education met for their regular board meeting on April 8. All members were present and after roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance, the board moved into approving the agenda. 

With no public comments, the board had their Husky Highlight, recognizing Doug Bode, a PCHS graduate and local business owner along with Irene Beck, PCSD staff and PCHS graduate. 

The board also presented the Flume People’s Choice Awards, acknowledging Dean Carlstrom as Best Teacher Middle/High School, Katie Walters as Best Teacher Preschool/Elementary and Platte Canyon School District as Best Employer. 

The board recognized Public School Volunteer Week will be held from April 22 to 26 with the Teacher Appreciation Week held from May 6 to 10. The board expressed gratitude to the many volunteers that give their time and talents to the school district encouraging everyone to personally thank those who volunteer. 

“During Teacher Appreciation Week, I’d like to encourage each individual to take pause, and personally reach out and thank our teachers for their work,” said Dr. Theresa Gilliland. “From my fellow board members and myself, we appreciate the teachers at Platte Canyon School District from the depths of our heart. We would like to acknowledge all the teachers for the difference they make in the lives of our children, their families, the community, and throughout Colorado.” 

Mrs. Ashley Stephen and Superintendent Mike Schmidt then present to the board budget priorities for Fiscal Year 2025 as well as a legislative update. 

Stephen highlighted some essential legislative developments including nutrition programs that might affect the district. With Colorado’s free school lunch program, Stephen said breakfast is up 35 percent and lunch is up 31 percent statewide despite legislation to fund the program targeting a 25 percent increase. 

“They’re currently looking into additional revenue sourcing,” said Stephen. “For right now, it looks like they’re going to go ahead with programming we had this year knowing that we’re going to see some budget shortfalls.” 

At the elementary school, Stephen said funds have been requested to continue the literacy programming for one more year along with retaining the early literacy interventionist. They will also be continuing field trips on Fridays as it was popular during the year and provided additional support to families with the shortened school week.

At the middle school, renovations continue to provide current and future programming for students, including the additional expense of the newly remodeled science room. They will also be receiving a new math curriculum. 

At the high school, Stephen said the drama program is going to be reimagined while the district continues to work on technology upgrades and security measures, including gate security to be implemented for the fall of 2024. 

She also mentioned increases to staff compensation and benefits. “We are anticipating another jump in our health and medical benefits,” said Stephen. 

Superintendent Mike Schmidt jumped in with four recommendations from the District Accountability Committee (DAC). Those included keeping the school resource officer in each location, classroom technology upgrades including upgrading internet infrastructure, retaining the elementary literacy coach position, and continuing to offer and expand field trips in conjunction with better incentivizing bus drivers and coaches for extracurricular trips. 

The board then saw a facilities design presentation f from RTA Architects and Artaic Group representatives who presented progress updates to the board, including budget and design developments. Later in the meeting, the board considered the approval of several action items related to the ongoing construction work. 

Mr. Joseph Harker, PCHS science teacher, presented a proposal to pilot a hydrology elective course for implementation during the fall 2024 semester. The course which studies groundwater and surface water, was prepared on behalf of Colorado Parks and Wildlife. 

“They’re having trouble finding Colorado residents, young people interested in a career in hydrology without advanced engineering degrees, so they’re trying to set up this career development incentives program,” said Harker. 

Units of study would include watersheds, physical habitat, water use and demand, a high school introduction into Colorado water rights along with field work in the South Platte River and Geneva Creek. 

Following a five-minute break by the board, Mrs. Abby Theobald, PCHS Post-Graduate Adviser, presented a proposal to pilot a swimming elective course for implementation during the fall 2024 semester. Theobald spoke to the health benefits of swimming as a life skill along with the personal safety benefits and a high interest from students for taking the course. 

Superintendent Mike Schmidt then presented updates including mentioning recent community events, including a community screen held on the previous Friday. He mentioned parents working on organizing after prom, the Deer Creek dean position being filled but still looking for a social worker/counselor and an improvement in quarter three attendance compared to last year. 

“I don’t know if you noticed but there was a solar eclipse today,” said Schmidt. “Mr. Harker was instrumental in bringing out our telescope and having students take a look so there was a lot of excitement about that.” 

Moving on to action items, the Board approved a change order in the amount of $553,410 related to Phase II of the Facilities Master Plan to move the Middle School into a portion of the existing High School building. 

The board also approved contracts for Phase III of the Facilities Master Plan to renovate the existing Middle School building to become the new Elementary School for the following companies: Owner’s Rep, Artaic Group in the amount of $271,530; Architect, RTA Architects in the amount of $1,079,940; and General Contractor, GH Phipps in the amount of $35,000, for Pre-construction Services Only. 

The board additionally approved the purchase of a boiler for the Platte Canyon East Building in the amount of $227,703 from U.S. Engineering Construction Company. 

In their last action item, the board approved the purchase of math curriculum from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company for $158,909.26. 

The board heard citizens’ comments pertaining to school or district operations from Charlotte Wyatis, president of the Park County League of Women Voters. 

“My representatives are trying to register voters and would like to come into Platte Canyon High School and register kids so they can vote when they’re 18,” said Wyatis. “There is an award that is available if we get 85% of our high school seniors signed up to vote.” She also added, the League of Women Voters recently got permission from South Park High School to do the same. 

Before the meeting was adjourned, the board highlighted upcoming dates including the Monday, April 22 work session to be held at 6:00 p.m. in the District Complex Boardroom and the Monday, May 13 regular meeting, also held at 6:00 p.m. in the District Complex Boardroom.