The Board of Education has two meetings scheduled for Thursday, May 15 beginning at 4 p.m. at the administration building, 900 Grant St.

The work session at 4 p.m. in Room 706 will include a review of the Board Meeting Agenda Items. Some items may not be considered until after the 5 p.m. regular meeting. The work session will also include discussion of:

• The process for selecting a bond underwriting team and bond counsel
• A request for a staff analysis of adding arts as a graduation requirement
• Enrollment projections for the 2003-2004 school year

The agenda for the 5 p.m. Regular Meeting in the first floor Board room includes presentation of a revised plan for shifting the eligibility date for students entering kindergarten.

Currently, children must turn five years old on or before Sept. 15 to enter kindergarten. A proposal presented to the Board in April suggested that all children who turn five before Nov. 15 could be enrolled in kindergarten.

The revised plan provides some school-by-school flexibility to that concept. The revised plan that will be presented this week would create three groups of schools. The first group of schools would include those schools that can readily accommodate the shift from Sept. 15 to Nov. 15, meaning they have the capacity to handle more students. The second group would include schools that would start a waiting list for students born between Sept. 15 and Nov. 15. This second group would decide in August, based on this year’s demand, whether they can accommodate making the switch for the 2003-2004 school year. A third group would include schools that simply don’t yet have the necessary room to make the change. Those schools would wait for the 2004-2005 school year.

Under the revised plan, each school principal will work with the Area Superintendent to determine by Thursday, May 29 which option works best. Adjustments would be made for first-grade and early childhood education (for four-year-olds).

If the Board tentatively agrees to the revised plan, public comment by letter and e-mail would be sought prior to an anticipated Thursday, May 29 approval. The main DPS web page, www.dpsk12.org, will provide ongoing information about the revised plan, the channels for providing public comment, and the plan’s implementation if approved.

Also on the 5 p.m. agenda are consideration of:

• A motion to eliminate life insurance for all active employees who retire after Dec. 31, 2005.
• A construction contract for the landscape project at Rachel B. Noel Middle School.
• An agreement between the city of Denver and the Board of Education to provide a bike path / trail near Holm Elementary School (3185 S. Willow Ct.).
• A new contract with the Denver School of Science and Technology Charter School.

For more information, please call the Public Information Office, 720-423-3414.