School Board Snapshot: 02/11/2025 BOE Meeting

Catherine Lees
Feb 15
4 min read

Douglas County Parents Public Comment

Our mission centers on empowering community members to actively engage with the school district and advocate for transparent, student-focused policies. A key component of this involves holding the current Board of Education accountable by participating in meetings and providing public comment on agenda items and past decisions.

This month, DCP Board Member Kelly Mayr has commented on Policy FCB concerning school closure policy, legislative priorities, and Dyslexia screenings.

We would like to acknowledge the frustrations and heartache that are occurring due to the need to consolidate some schools. DCP has witnessed many of these conversations over the years. We hope the efforts of the North Planning Area Engagement Group to explore and understand the challenges and feelings of those involved are successful. Working together to find solutions for our schools and the people they serve is the right thing to do.

There are quite a lot of bills for your lobbyists to consider for the benefit of DCSD students and staff. Many need a DCSD’s commitment and attention. Douglas County Parents supports the following legislation that encourages public education for all.

HB25-1037 is for eligible teachers to receive income tax credit.

HB25-1038 would create an online platform that would provide information about academic credit transfers.

HB25-1075 concerns regulation for speech language pathology assistants

HB25-1149 Comprehensive Black History and Culture Education k-12. This one is specifically important to DCSD in light of the Department of Justice’s continuation of their investigation of practices in DCSD. Show them you value this work and get ahead of the potential lawsuits.

HB25-1178 Banning student seclusion. Especially in light of policies passed at the last board meeting.

SB25-027 Trauma-informed school safety practices

SB25-063 Library resources standards

SB25-123 Education Curriculum on Genocide against Native Americans

There are many more bills we would encourage DCSD to explore and commit to in order to safeguard our teachers and their students. They deserve our consideration.

Lastly, we are looking forward to this evening’s reflections on the Dyslexia lunch and learn. We hope strides have been made to the commitment of a dyslexia screener since there are no guarantees that any bill will pass to support this extremely important priority of Literacy for our students.

AI Generated Summary

DCP volunteers watch the board meetings, but don't always have the bandwidth to create a summary. We have used AI to create transcript summary of the board meeting to create the following highlights that have been reviewed for accuracy.

Meeting Overview The meeting focused heavily on the district's growth and decline, particularly regarding school consolidations and the financial challenges facing the district. Public comments reflected concerns about transparency, the impact on students (especially those with special needs), and the potential loss of community identity. The board discussed and ultimately adopted Policy FCB, related to school closures, and also addressed legislative updates concerning school finance. Presentations and Conversations

School Consolidation: Much of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the potential consolidation of schools due to declining enrollment and financial pressures. District staff presented information on the criteria and considerations that would be used to make these decisions, emphasizing that no decisions had been finalized. They also addressed concerns about the impact on staff and students, outlining plans for support and transition.
Policy FCB: The board discussed and ultimately adopted Policy FCB, which outlines the process for school closures. There was some discussion about amending the policy to include more explicit language about the consideration of student needs, but ultimately, the board was satisfied with the current language.
Legislative Updates: The board received an update on legislative matters, particularly concerning school finance. There are significant financial challenges, with potential cuts to K-12 education. The district's lobbyist discussed the complexities of state budget issues and the potential impact on the district. Concerns were raised about the proposed changes to the school funding formula and the potential for significant budget reductions.

Key Points of Discussion

Transparency: A recurring theme in public comments was the desire for greater transparency in the decision-making process. District staff emphasized their efforts to engage the community and gather feedback, but some members of the public felt they lacked sufficient information.
Student Needs: There was significant concern about the impact of school consolidations on students, especially those with special needs or who rely on specific programs. The district stated its intention to minimize disruption to student cohorts and provide support services.
Staffing: The district outlined its staffing plan in the event of school consolidations, with a focus on supporting staff transitions and providing opportunities for staff to remain with their students.
Financial Challenges: The district is facing significant financial challenges due to declining enrollment and state budget issues. These challenges are driving the discussion about school consolidations and the need to find cost savings.

Votes

Policy FCB: The board voted 7-0 to adopt Policy FCB.

Overall

The meeting reflected the difficult decisions and complex challenges facing the school district. The board and district staff are attempting to balance financial realities with the needs of students, staff, and the community. Public comments highlighted the emotional and community-level impacts of these decisions, emphasizing the need for clear communication and careful consideration of all stakeholders.