Board News
August 19, 2005
Board Of Education Sets New Schedule For 2005-2006 School Year, Including Extended Study Sessions On Student Achievement
The Board of Education this week unanimously approved a new meeting schedule for the balance of the 2005-2006 school year that establishes a regular, extended study session for the Board members on issues directly related to student achievement.
"This schedule will commit us to emphasize what we all care about and that's student achievement," said Board of Education President Les Woodward. The changes, he added, will yield a "better use of our time, better use of staff time and the opportunity to focus the time that the Board is in session on matters that we believe are the most important to the district."
The changes include:
- Establishing four "Focus on Achievement" study sessions - four hours in length each - throughout the school year. These meetings will be held from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of October, February, April and June.
- Scheduling one Regular Meeting each month (instead of two). This meeting will be held on the third Thursday of each month, followed by the public comment session.
- Scheduling work sessions to prepare for the Regular Meetings to be held on Monday prior to the Thursday Regular Meeting. These meetings will begin at 4:30 p.m. and also will include discussion on education agenda items.
- Posting the agenda for the Regular Meeting on the Board of Education's web page (board.dpsk12.org) by Friday prior to the Thursday legislative meeting.
Board member Michelle Moss emphasized that policy agenda items will run a full cycle of consideration - over the course of at least two legislative meetings and one public comment session - to ensure maximum public involvement in the decision-making process. But Moss urged community members to use a variety of means to reach the Board with their thoughts about proposed changes including e-mail (board@dpsk12.org), U.S. mail (Board of Education, Room 706, 900 Grant St., Denver, CO 80203), and the telephone (720-423-3210) or fax (720-423-3216).
"We want public comment, we want your participation, we want to understand what the issues are in the community," she said. "There will be opportunity for you to participate."
Superintendent Michael Bennet supported the changes and said the new schedule will allow district staff to prioritize work on student achievement issues.
The changes begin immediately. The new schedule for the 2005-2006 school year is:
- Monday, Sept. 12, Work Session, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Sept. 15, Regular Meeting, 5 p.m.; Public Comment, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Sept. 29, Special Meeting, 4:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 6, Focus on Student Achievement, 4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
- Monday, Oct. 17, Work Session, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 20, Regular Meeting, 5 p.m.; Public Comment, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 3, Special Meeting to decide Charter school applications
- Monday, Nov. 14, Work Session, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 17, Regular Meeting, 5 p.m.; Public Comment, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
- Monday, Dec. 12, Work Session, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Dec. 15, Regular Meeting, 5 p.m.; Public Comment, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 12, Work Session, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 19, Regular Meeting, 5 p.m.; Public Comment, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Feb. 2, Focus on Student Achievement, 4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
- Monday, Feb. 13, Work Session, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Feb. 16, Regular Meeting, 5 p.m.; Public Comment, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
- Monday, March 13, Work Session, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, March 16, Regular Meeting, 5 p.m.; Public Comment, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, April 6, Focus on Student Achievement, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Monday, April 17, Work Session, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, April 20, Regular Meeting, 5 p.m.; Public Comment, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
- Monday, May 15, Work Session, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, May 18, Regular Meeting, 5 p.m.; Public Comment, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, June 1, Focus on Student Achievement, 4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
- Monday, June 12, Work Session, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, June 15, Regular Meeting, 5 p.m.; Public Comment, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Meetings are held at the administration building, 900 Grant St. Stay tuned to Board meeting information via e-mail by signing up at piolists.dpsk12.org. Check "Board News" and "Board of Education Meeting Agendas" in the sign-up form.