Parents upset kids used as props at Capitol rally
DENVER – Parents of Douglas County fourth-graders who appeared at a press conference at the Colorado Capitol Monday in support of a tax increase are complaining they were never asked permission for their children to be part of the event. Watch the report on 7NEWS.
Drive to boost school funding underway
Colorado citizens this fall could get their second chance in three years to vote on new funding for the state’s schools and colleges. Sen. Rollie Heath and four advocacy groups announced Monday they’re pushing ahead with a campaign to put the funding boost on the November ballot. If passed, the change would raise an additional $3 billion for schools over five years. Read more in Education News Colorado.
District 38 trims personnel, bus routes, work days
Lewis-Palmer School District 38 board members on Thursday previewed a preliminary budget of $35 million for 2011-2012, a decrease of $2.9 million over this year. The cuts include eliminating seven non-teaching positions by attrition, eliminating the curriculum department, reconfiguring two bus routes, and tweaking the calendar so school starts five days later than planned. Read more in the Colorado Springs Gazette.
Mill levy override, enrollment increase help D-20 budget
A recent mill levy override and increased enrollment helped lessen the budget blow in Academy School District 20, but it still must cut about $5.5 million from its 2011-12 budget. The district plans to eliminate 16 positions, suspend textbook purchases and change technology purchase plans, among other things. Read more in the Colorado Springs Gazette.
D-2 expects to cut nearly 100 positions
The Harrison School District 2 budget for 2011-2012 is estimted to be about $69 million, a decrease of $4.8 million over this year, according to preliminary numbers. The school board on Tuesday received a preview during its monthly meeting, but won’t vote on the budget until state funding is locked in next month. The cuts include closing a school, an adult education program and two alternative programs for high schools students. Read more in the Colorado Springs Gazette.
Two Jeffco schools closing due to budget cuts
WESTMINSTER – After three decades, Zerger Elementary School in Westminster will shut its doors for the last time next week. Severe budget cuts to education forced Jefferson County Schools to cut $40 million from next year’s budget. Watch this KWGN report.
Committee suggests Pueblo district close schools
PUEBLO – An advisory committee is recommending the Pueblo school district close at least four schools to provide a high quality education in the face of a shrinking budget. Watch the 7NEWS report.
Four furlough dates set for 2011-12 school year in Greeley schools
GREELEY – At its meeting last night, the District 6 Board of Education approved the schedule for four furlough days to be taken by all district mployees during the 2011-12 school year. The furlough days will be taken to reduce expenses and balance the budget. The dates were recommended to the Board of Education by the district’s Calendar Committee, which is made of about 18 teachers, support staff members, parents, and administrators.
Each of the selected dates falls directly before or after a holiday or other non-school day. The dates are:
- Tuesday, September 6, 2011 (Monday, September 5, is Labor Day)
- Thursday, October 20, 2011 (Friday, Oct. 21, is a previously scheduled vacation day)
- Tuesday, February 21, 2012 (Monday, Feb. 20, is Presidents Day)
- Monday, April 16, 2012 (the prior week is spring break)
On the four furlough days, students will not attend school, and school buildings and offices will be closed. District employees will not report to work and will not receive pay for that day.
Like several other districts across Colorado, District 6 requested and received a waiver from the Colorado Department of Education on the state’s minimal instructional time requirements for the 2011-12 school year.
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