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The Greeley-Evans School District 6 Board of Education received feedback during its Monday work session from community listening sessions that took place earlier this spring.

The focus areas of the three April sessions were separated into four categories: Student Learning and Achievement; Strengthening Partnerships; Climate & Culture and Operational & Organizational Effectiveness.

Community members provided 24 pages worth of advice and feedback to the district and board of education related to each category.

One comment offering advice on the district’s climate and culture said: “Make an intentional, strategic effort to ensure there are diverse voices at the table when decisions are being made. We all have blind spots, but if we invite multiple perspectives to the problem-solving process, we end up with solutions that work for most everyone.”

Multiple other comments focused on parent involvement and improving the level of engagement among parents. The theme of giving voice to students and teachers was also prominent, along with diversity, supporting teachers and staff, and transparency.

Backed by Jefferson High School students, parents, teachers and administration, the board OK’d the school’s switch to a four-day week this year.

Jefferson, an alternative high school for students who did not succeed at a traditional high school because of learning disabilities or behavior issues, will transition to a Monday-Thursday school week.

Jefferson High students will take six classes from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on those days, joining students at Greeley-Evans Alternative Program/NEXT Greeley-Evans already in a four-day week. Jefferson students will have Friday to seek help from teachers. Teachers’ contracts are the same.

Assistant superintendent of secondary schools Anthony Asmus said one of the reasons for the change is to give Jefferson students the chance to accelerate credits to improve attendance and on-time graduation rates (in four years).

“This came from the kids,” Jefferson High principal Larry Green added in remarks to the board. “Any time we bring a problem to the kids and they come up with a solution, ‘OK let’s try it’ and see if it works.’ I think it will be good for all kids.”

A large number of items appeared on the consent agenda at Monday’s meeting. Five of the 24 items were pulled for further inspection and conversation at the request of board members Taylor Sullivan and Rob Norwood.

A consent agenda is a part of an organization’s meeting agenda in which like items are bundled and voted in one motion and without discussion.

The five items totaled a little more than $16 million. Two of the items raised for questions by Sullivan were for bond-related construction at Franklin Middle and Northridge High schools.

The $4.3 million at Franklin was an addendum to the original contract with Adolfson & Peterson Construction out of Fort Collins for renovation and addition. An approved $9.75 million budget with AP for construction and renovations at Northridge include improved HVAC, a secure vestibule, new flooring, auditorium upgrades, and the renovation of labs and classrooms.

Assistant superintendent of support services Kent Henson explained the board on Monday was approving pre-construction work at Northridge for $21,000 and $12,647.

The Franklin work was approved by the district’s Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee and was paid for with bond proceeds — allowing the school to eliminate portable classrooms and to create office space.

Superintendent Deirdre Pilch described the additional work as a “change of scope” with the project. Pilch said the addition of classrooms at Meeker Elementary fell into the same category. Similar work was designated at Jefferson High School and the development of the career and technical education center.

Those projects also were not outlined in the original bond but were approved by the bond oversight committee and paid for with bond proceeds.

Pilch said more than $1 billion worth of work was identified in the district’s facilities’ master plan prior to the district selecting a $395 million bond package for voters in 2019. The $1 billion plan still exists and as the district has proceeds from bonds, it’s reviewed the original master plan for priorities. One of the district’s top priorities is to eliminate portable classrooms, Pilch said.

“We’ve been able, with those bond proceeds, to tick away at some of those things we had to cut from the original bond issue (the $1 billion version),” Pilch said.

Henson said the district has eliminated about 72 of its 142 portable classrooms.

Sullivan also asked about $750,000 the district is spending to renew its contract with Aims Community College allowing Early College Academy students to earn dual credit at no cost. The contract covers books and tuition, and District 6 is billed for student credits that vary from student to student, according to Pilch and Chief Financial Officer Meggan Sponsler.

“By no means am I trying to take away from this program because this is an opportunity I wish I would’ve had available when I was in high school,” Sullivan said. “I just want to understand what I’m signing my name to when I vote.”

About 370 students in ninth through 12th grades are projected to attend ECA next year. Most students who graduate from ECA also earn an associate degree from Aims, and they do so without any debt.

Norwood inquired about two $644,000 contracts with Zero Dropouts LLC in Denver for seven attendance advocates at four high schools. The advocates identify students who are at risk of chronic absenteeism, and help students re-engage with their school or find an alternate educational program.

Zero Dropouts also has seven course recovery specialists at Greeley Central High, Greeley West High, Northridge and Jefferson High. Course recovery specialists monitor grades, attendance, behavior and academic progress.

The district is using COVID-19 relief money known as ESSER (Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief) funds to pay for the contracts, according to district documentation. The contracts will be completed by June 30, 2023.

In the board discussion on the contracts, Norwood asked if the cost would be less for the district to do the work in-house. He also wanted to know if District 6 teachers could take over the responsibilities for the Zero Dropouts personnel. Norwood also asked what happens to these contractors when the ESSER money runs out.

Pilch said the work done by the Zero Dropouts employees is specialized and focused. Pilch said she has about 15 years experience with the company during her educational career.

Zero Dropouts’ work for the district is happening because of COVID-19, and the intent of the ESSER money is “you’re doing this very hard, heavy lift, this big push to get kids back on track in three years, Pilch said.

The board unanimously approved all of the items pulled out by Sullivan and Norwood following the discussion.

The board approved a resolution authorizing Pilch to enter into any contract deemed reasonable and necessary over $250,000 for district’s operations during the summer. An example of this might be if action was necessary to ensure a school opens on time.

The board doesn’t meet again until Aug. 8

Prior to the board’s action, Pilch had the authority to enter into contracts up to $250,000 without board approval.

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