The RE-1 Valley School Board got a sneak peek of Campbell Elementary School’s new SmartLab on Monday.
SmartLabs are easy-to-use, integrated digital platforms with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) focused and standards-aligned project starters that support the skills students need to problem solve, think critically, and build deep learning in a personalized way.
The labs were installed at both Campbell and Ayres over spring break and the remaining schools will get theirs in June. Students at all the schools will be able to use the labs starting next fall and open houses will be planned to allow parents to get a look.
Campbell’s lab, which is still a work in progress, features desktop computers that rotate, a 3D printer, iPads and kits to help students make projects. The students will sit two to a computer. Principal Chanda Fleckenstein said they’re hoping to keep class sizes under 24 “so there’s something for everyone.”
Next door to the SmartLab is a SmartLab Studio, featuring robust video production and broadcasting systems. All schools except Ayres will have studios as well.
The celebration continued during the board’s business meeting when they accepted the recommendation to name Alyssa DeSoto, fourth grade teacher at Campbell Elementary; Annette Lambrecht, choir director at Sterling High School; and Janelle Nicolaus, music teacher at Campbell, as this year’s Frances Gillespie Award recipients. The award was established to recognize employee excellence in job performance with students and or coworkers. Recipients are nominated by two district employees.
The award winners will be recognized at the Staff Appreciation and Retirement Celebration on May 1 and the district’s back-to-school inservice in August.
Later, the board approved the contract of Luke Janes as chief financial officer for RE-1 effective July 1. Janes previously served as the CFO after County retired in 2018 but resigned in January 2021.
Dr. Foster noted that when he was first brought on almost two years ago there had been quite a bit of changes, a lot of turnover, and one of his duties was to get the business side of the district in line, which he was able to do with the help of Deb County, interim CFO. With that in mind, he knew how critical it would be to find the right replacement for her.
After posting the position for several weeks there were three applicants and all were interviewed by a team of six individuals including Dr. Foster; Deb County, interim CFO; Mike Manuello, district maintenance/transportation director; Brenda Kloberdanz, assistant superintendent; Heather Forster, payroll accountant; and Patrisha Thompson, accounts receivable accountant. While three applicants might not seem like a lot, Dr. Foster said that’s typical for districts nowadays.
According to the superintendent, all three applicants brought different kinds of things to the table but it was the unanimous decision of the team to select Janes.
“I’m thrilled; we’ve got a young man here who lives in our community, loves our community, is very involved in our community, knows our school district and comes highly recommended,” Dr. Foster said.
County told the board that everything she sees from Janes in regards to his professionalism and business ethic, “that’s what this district continues to need and I am very happy that he will be my successor again. I think we’re in a great place and we’ve all grown from so many pieces that have transpired.”
“I’m happy to be back and I appreciate the support from everyone; it’s been a dynamic last few years for everyone and I really enjoyed being in this role when I was here, for that reason I decided to come back. I have a lot of respect and loyalty toward the district,” Janes said.
Earlier in the meeting, County presented the quarterly financial report ending in March. At this time, the district has now started to see its property tax money come in and while other districts, following the failure of Proposition HH and the delay of assessed valuations, have noticed some slight decreases in revenue coming in from property taxes RE-1 has not seen that.
“It’s pretty much stable,” she said.
She noted that the district budgeted $593,740 for specific ownership tax revenue and the district has already received $757,997. Under state equalization, the district is right on target with 73.9 percent collected.
Overall, the district is in a good place with $15 million in revenue and expenditures 10 percent below what was anticipated by this time of the year.
The report is broken down into detail showing expenditures by school and department and it shows that some schools are running well below budget. County told the board her office is doing a lot of cleanup regarding preparing for the Fiscal Year 2025 budget to be more realistic per line item.
In regards to budget planning for next year, County shared that at a meeting with Northern Colorado school business officials, districts reported a 5 to 7 percent increase in their health insurance for next year. RE-1 will get details about its likely increase at a district health insurance committee meeting on April 17.
The board will hear an update on that at their May 6 meeting. At that time, district officials will also share what they think can be done regarding requests related to salaries, benefits and working conditions that were presented by employees on April 1.
Certified and classified employees represented by the South Platte Education Association have asked for a 15 and 20 percent salary increase respectively. Dr. Foster didn’t give any indication about what RE-1 is looking at for salaries but told the board that he recently attended a meeting for superintendents in Centennial BOCES and Morgan County School District said it is looking to move its base teacher salary to $50,000 next year, the other schools are well under that and RE-1’s base right now is $40,000. Closer to the Front Range, base salaries are at $50,000 or above but they have enrollment growth.
Additionally, Dr. Foster also shared that he has been talking to Banner Health/Sterling Regional MedCenter about a partnership for an athletic trainer shared mostly between Sterling and Caliche High Schools. There will be an intergovernmental agreement between the two entities and while details are still being ironed out, the agreement would state that the athletic trainer is to be a Banner employee and that Banner would provide all the necessary equipment and assure the district that the trainer is qualified. That individual would then provide service to the district during the school year and during the summer they would work exclusively for Banner.
The superintendent told the board the district will continue to keep the trainers it already has in place and they would be overseen by the Banner trainer. It would also open up a portal to get RE-1 students in immediately to see doctors and the district would work with local physicians to have doctors at the bigger home events.
Later, the board approved the repeal of policies BEDA-E, notice of virtual school board meetings, and DJE-R, purchasing procedures-regulation; and approved the following policies for second reading: ADD, safe schools; ADD-E, safe schools exhibit; BEC, executive sessions; DJB, purchasing procedures; DJB-R, federal procurement; DJE, bidding procedures; GBGF, federally-mandated family and medical leave; GBGF-R, federally-mandated family and medical leave; JFAB, continuing enrollment of students who become nonresidents; JFABA, nonresident tuition charges; JFBA, intra-district choice open enrollment; and JFBB, inter-district choice open enrollment.
