By Chelsea McNerney-Martinez
MONTE VISTA—The Monte Vista School District Board of Education met last Thursday, May 10 for their monthly meeting. The MVHS SkillsUSA club presented on their recent successes at regional and state competitions and the importance of their organization in preparing students for careers of all kinds upon graduation. The board also heard budget updates, a report on the math curriculum, approved the drug testing policy guidelines and began discussing the policy for administering epinephrine to students in the event of an emergency.
SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA chapter members Andres Villa, Daniel Miller, Brantlee Webster and Irene Aguilera presented to the school board about their recent competitions. Villa competed in cabinetmaking and extemporaneous speaking, Miller in electrical construction wiring and Webster in carpentry. Villa, Webster and Miller all went to the state competition with Miller qualifying for the national competition as well. The chapter advisor, Aaron Woodke, also required each student to compete in the job interview event. Villa explained the chapter members also went throughout the community seeking sponsorships earlier in the school year and although they didn’t receive any, they have good ideas for the 2018-19 school year. Webster noted they also built a good practicing relationship with the Centauri High School chapter and used the concession stand for school sporting events as an alternative means of fundraising, “We’ve come to appreciate the outcome of our work.”
Villa discussed the intensity of their competitions and how they balanced that with maintaining a professional appearance, noting they distributed business cards and sent thank you cards to all of the judges involved. Other school staff also assisted in their preparation for the job interview events with mock interviews. “That experience pushed us further than we originally thought… but it’s not temporary, these are skills we’ll carry on with us and use throughout our lives.” Webster also noted the confidence and skills she gained helped her to ask for, interview for and successfully obtain a carpentry internship this summer.
Miller explained the chapter’s future plans include not only preparing for his national competition next month but also finding effective means of fundraising for the coming year and getting more positive exposure about the importance of SkillsUSA, even for students not entering a vocational field after graduation. The chapter asked for the school board’s future support in expanding membership and gaining community support with Villa concluding “Us as a student body, we are the next generation of innovators, leaders and builders and SkillsUSA is going to help us get there.”
Board reports
During the board reports portion of the meeting, board member Gary Wilkinson noted the Education Foundation is looking for more exposure in the community and will be considering supporting Miller’s trip to nationals. Wilkinson also thanked Transportation Director Mark Hotz for the extra efforts made by their department during a busy season for field trips and sports, noting he attended the MESA Science trip the same day five other trips were completed with only four drivers. Vice President Dave Reschke noted he attended the city/district meeting, which indicated promise for the removal of the train cars being stored on school property. The city’s plans to fine the train cars owner, Donald Shank, $400 a day until his properties are cleaned up and the train cars are removed should go far in helping with that process. Superintendent Robert Webb noted he had also recently talked to Shank, who was unaware the school has owned the property the cars are on since 1996.
Superintendent report
Webb presented a Platinum Sponsor plaque from the Crane Festival for the school district’s providing buses and drivers throughout the weekend for tours at the wildlife refuge. He then displayed a new film that will be placed on windows to improve security by holding it in front of him and requesting MVHS Principal Scott Wiedeman stab it with scissors and then rip the film, to demonstrate how the film should hinder a potential intruder from breaking the windows to get into a classroom when added to the glass. Webb noted in an incident, it takes between three and four minutes to get law enforcement to respond, so the school’s security measures should be as efficient as possible to hinder someone for that length of time. The window film to be placed throughout the Monte Vista campuses shouldn’t cost more than $6,000 which will come out of the $36,000 left in bond funds. Webb also noted the recently passed state funding for improving school security will be distributed as a matching-fund grant.
The results for the 2018 Teaching and Learning Conditions Colorado Survey (TLCC) completed by educators biannually were available, with Webb reviewing some of the highlights. Eighty nine out of the 151 staff members in the district responded, with 78 of those 89 being teachers; the other 11 were paraprofessionals and other support staff. The overall favorability was 78 percent, compared to the statewide average of 77 percent; 78 percent of new teachers responded they feel they have received adequate support, eight percent higher than the state average; 83 percent of Monte Vista teachers feel they have leadership opportunities, four percent higher than the state average; 78 percent of staff feels the school is a safe place for students to learn regarding managing student conduct and 82 percent believe “Our work together is guided by a shared vision that is student focused;” 85 percent of respondents believe the staff seeks new and improved ways of providing instruction; 85 percent believe class sizes are reasonable and 96 percent of respondents stated Monte Vista was a good place for students to learn and that district leadership takes steps to solve problems. Full TLCC results can be found by district at TLCCsurvey.org Webb noted the district will use the survey to look at gaps between buildings and look for overall changes they can make to improve staff experiences.
Webb also noted some PERA changes, including a two percent increase from staff to 10 percent, although the increase will be phased in over three years. The district will also have to increase their contribution .25 percent to 21.4 percent starting in the 2019-20 school year. For staff starting that year the retirement age will now be 64.
Webb noted the rural school relief amount will again be $190,000, which will likely be put partially to the Marsh School roof and possibly heating in the middle school. The negative factor was decreased by 150 million statewide, which should increase per student funding by about $408. Webb also reviewed the 2018-19 budget and projections in great detail, which will be presented at a special meeting on May 23 at 7 p.m.
Math curriculum
Dirk Oden, who retired as the director of the Delta Center/Online Academy after the previous school year, presented to the board his work coordinating the math curriculum. The full curriculum and summary of the process used is now available on the district’s website under “Administrative Info.”  Oden explained that the team, comprised of math instructors, analyzed over 1,200 evidence outcomes and selected the Big Ideas Curriculum at the elementary and middle schools. The new curriculum will explain the scope and sequence of math standards across grade levels, implement 21st Century skills and emphasize the eight practical universal processes mathematicians use. The new curriculum also has print based and technical intervention resources and a guide for class days dedicated to each concept. The website now has a parent resource section explaining how each concept will be taught and videos to explain milestones parents can expect at each grade level. Oden noted the Big Ideas Curriculum also has robust support online for teachers and students and provides regular training for teachers. Oden will use a similar analytical committee process to choose a science curriculum in the 2018-19 school year and social studies and language arts may be considered in coming years as well.  
Policy discussions
The board held a first reading on a policy to keep epinephrine injectors in every building, for use in emergency allergic reactions. The injector will be administered and dosed according to state law. The board held a first reading for a general medication administration policy that stated medications are only to be administered to students with appropriate documentation and if there is no way the student can administer and a parent is not available. The board mentioned students with asthma knowing how to self administer their inhalers has been important to staff at the individual schools.
The random drug testing guidelines were passed on their final reading. Students will be randomly selected by their student ID number through a computer program for UA tests. Hotz will be the UA program coordinator as he has the most experience with testing drivers in the transportation department. Roughly five students who participate in school sports, clubs and other activities will be tested every two weeks. If the UA is positive for any substance, the parents of the student will have one hour to take the student to another lab facility for a second test at their expense if they choose to challenge the results. The first positive result for a student will result in suspension from 20 percent of scheduled school events and activities but more importantly, as Webb emphasized at the April meeting, they will be provided with necessary help and resources to prevent a reoccurrence. “We want students to know this is about getting them help,” he stated.