Elizabeth Schools BOE Recap
Highlights from the February 2019 meetings
BOE recognizes Danny Wilcox
The Board of Education recognized Danny Wilcox for the contribution he made to the entire Elizabeth School District as campaign manager of the Ballot Issue 4A mill levy override initiative. Danny demonstrated a tremendous amount of leadership as the campaign manager and brought extraordinary commitment, skill and energy to the campaign. His dedication to the effort was a significant factor in its success.
Special Services Showcase
Elizabeth Schools is its own Administrative Unit (AU) charged with administering special education services, which gives the district the ability to independently make decisions on how to best support students who have special needs.
The state regularly evaluates our special education services and rates Elizabeth in the highest compliance category. To provide the highest quality of services, Elizabeth Schools has developed a number of programs to best meet student needs: Elementary behavior program, Opportunity, ASPIRE.
Special Services launched a new behavioral program at Singing Hill Elementary this year and all 11 students in the program are flourishing. The program is targeted to support students’ individual behavioral needs and help them be successful in regular classrooms.
The Opportunity Program serves students in grades 6-12 who need additional behavioral and academic support. The program is academically focused and designed to help students transition back into general education classrooms. This year, a wood shop and a foods class were added to the program’s electives options. Students also built and are maintaining a hydroponic system for science.
ASPIRE Transition Program serves students between 18 and 21 years old. The program helps students develop skills to become independent, self-sufficient adults who can work (paid or volunteer) according to their individual and unique abilities. The program has partnerships in place with community resources such as the Elizabeth Food Bank, Stayin Fit and Lovin It and Goodwill.
Elizabeth High School hires assistant principal
Mill levy override update
GETTech Initiative
The district’s technology team is introducing its Greater Entry to Technology (GETTech) Initiative to support the progression of a 1:1 student to technology ratio districtwide that’s possible as part of the mill levy override passage.
During the first year of the GETTech Initiative, there will be 30 pilot teachers to launch the Chromebook program. These teachers will attend four professional learning days and their classrooms will be equipped with a Chromebook cart. Great care is being taken with this program to provide support to staff to ensure integration and adoption of technology at all levels throughout the district.
School security grant update
The Elizabeth School District has been awarded a $103,392 School Security Disbursement (SSD) grant through the Colorado Division of Homeland Security to update security measures throughout the district. Elizabeth Schools will contribute a $51,717 grant match. Full payment of the grant is expected in April.
The district is in the process of getting competitive bids for all of the projects outlined in the grant application. Projects include updating campus camera, installing cameras on all school buses, adding cell phone boosters in school buildings and the addition of shatter-resistant window film. Another project is the Elizabeth High School camera system and locking relay that is currently being installed and tested. The school will soon implement and communicate a process for more controlled access to the building by students, staff and visitors.
The next Board of Education meeting is Monday, March 11, at 6 p.m. in the board room at the district office.
Elizabeth School District
Email: mhoelting@esdk12.org
Website: elizabethschooldistrict.org
Location: 634 South Elbert Street, Elizabeth, CO, USA
Phone: 303-646-1836
Facebook: facebook.com/elizabeth.schools.9
Twitter: @esdk12