ESD Board Meeting: Special Meeting for May 26, 2026

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[00:01:59]Mhm.

[00:07:44]>> Mhm.

[00:09:39]>> Mhm.

[00:11:34]>> Mhm.

[00:12:15]>> All right.

[00:12:16]You ready?

[00:12:17]Okay.

[00:12:19]All right, it is Tuesday, May 26, 2026, and I call this business meeting of the Elizabeth School District to order at 6:00 p.m. Can I get a roll call?

[00:12:30]Director Callahan? Here. Director Fletcher? Here.

[00:12:34]Director Hines? Here. Director Wilson?

[00:12:37]Here. And Director Pallesen is absent.

[00:12:39]Okay.

[00:12:40]All right, let's stand for the pledge.

[00:12:47]I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[00:13:03]Director Wilson, may I have the floor?

[00:13:04]Yes.

[00:13:06]Um I, for personal reasons, am resigning from the school board tonight, effective immediately.

[00:13:16]Um it was great working with all of you. I wish you guys the best of luck going forward.

[00:13:24]Um but I will be leaving the meeting now. Okay.

[00:13:29]Thank you.

[00:13:36]Okay, I move that the board approve the business meeting agenda for May 26th, 2026 as presented. Can I get a second?

[00:13:44]Second.

[00:13:45]Any discussion?

[00:13:47]Okay, can I get a roll call?

[00:13:49]Director Fletcher. Hi. Director Hunt.

[00:13:52]Hi.

[00:13:53]Director Olson. Hi.

[00:13:58]I keep waiting for them. I know. I do.

[00:14:01]All right. Um, I move that the board approve the minutes from uh, Board of Education special meetings on May 12th, 2026 and May 21st, 2026. Can I get a second?

[00:14:12]Second.

[00:14:13]Any discussion on those? Okay. Can I get a roll call? Director Fletcher.

[00:14:17]>> Hi. Director Hunt.

[00:14:19]>> Hi. Director Olson. Hi.

[00:14:22]All right. So, we have some recognitions tonight. And first up is District of Lifesavers achievements.

[00:14:31]And also student recognition.

[00:14:34]Always love those.

[00:14:39]Hold it down for a second.

[00:14:41]When you see numbers, it's good. Okay.

[00:14:46]Sure.

[00:15:03]Hi. Thank you so much for inviting us here tonight. My name is Jody. I am the Vice President of School Engagement for the American Heart Association in Colorado and Wyoming.

[00:15:13]And I just wanted to recognize the district first and foremost. Um, Superintendent Snowberger back in, I think, August, we put out a call to all the districts in our region and you were one of about 30 that took us up on going for the District of Lifesavers initiative, which really stemmed from a grassroots movement of superintendents that said we really want to build healthier and safer communities.

[00:15:44]And with that, the District of Lifesavers Challenge was that every school open the district would host Kids Heart Challenge or American Heart Challenge event and that you would have a cardiac emergency response plan in place for the district. And that's a really big accomplishment for the district and we had about 30 accept the challenge and you all are going to be the first one in Colorado to achieve it. So, Ashley Keith has done an amazing job working towards this and through that, Morgan, we found Morgan, um who was able to share her story with us. So, I wanted to first recognize Morgan this evening. So, Morgan, on behalf of the American Heart Association, we want to congratulate you on being a top student fundraiser in Colorado for the American Heart Association through Kids Heart Challenge at Running Creek Elementary School for the 25-26 school year.

[00:16:42]The American Heart Association is incredibly grateful for your dedication and generosity and the incredible bravery you showed in sharing your own heart hero story.

[00:16:53]By raising $1,257.42, you are helping fund life-saving research, advance medical care, and provide education that improves and saves lives for those affected by heart disease and stroke.

[00:17:09]Your efforts are also inspiring others to build healthier habits, creating a lasting impact in your community.

[00:17:16]Kids Heart Challenge is more than fundraising. It's about learning how to take care of your heart while making a difference for others. You embraced that challenge and truly stood out showing leadership, compassion, and commitment to helping people live longer, healthier lives. Your actions also inspired others around you to join in and be a part in the fight against heart disease.

[00:17:38]Reaching this milestone means that you are the 25th highest fundraising student out of 13,986 students who participated in this effort in schools across Colorado.

[00:17:53]So, look.

[00:17:54]We also want to say a heartfelt thank you to Principal Furr, Ashley Keith, and Matt Sandquist for bringing this program to light for the Running Creek community and Elizabeth School District and inspiring the next generation of lifesavers. So, Morgan, thank you for putting your heart into this mission. We are so proud of you and all that you have accomplished. If we could share in recognizing Morgan >> [applause] >> We have a Heart of Gold Certificate of Appreciation for you. So, thank you so much and thank you to all of you for your support and dedication in building longer, healthier lives.

[00:18:33]Thank you. And I must say thank you because it's a cause near and dear to my heart because my mom has suffered from heart issues as long as I can remember.

[00:18:43]So, thank you. Thank you very much.

[00:18:46]Congratulations. Yeah, I think good job, Morgan.

[00:18:49]>> [laughter] >> Do you want to just stand up here?

[00:18:52]>> With your award?

[00:18:59]I don't know if you want to get my half of the board or not. Do you want to do the whole board or Yeah. Let's do the whole Let's do the whole first, yeah.

[00:19:05]>> Yeah. Like for maybe all of you to get around.

[00:19:08]>> Yeah.

[00:19:09]That would be great.

[00:19:13]Let me check where you're going.

[00:19:27]Thank you. Thanks.

[00:19:29]Thank you. Thank [applause] you.

[00:19:43]All right.

[00:19:45]Next up, we have a certificate of appreciation for one of our teachers who is leaving us this year, Adam.

[00:19:57]And it says, "In profound gratitude for your years of exceptional dedication, inspiring leadership, and unwavering commitment to the student, staff, and community of Elizabeth School District, beyond your incredible impact in the classroom, we recognize and honor your invaluable contributions to our school culture through your tireless service on many committees I've been on here.

[00:20:20]>> [laughter] >> I've been on one with you. And you leave behind a legacy of excellence that will shape our school for years.

[00:20:28]So, thank you. [applause] We wish you all the best.

[00:20:35]All the best in your new adventures.

[00:20:39]I'm really happy.

[00:20:41]Try not to break them.

[00:20:48]Thank you. Thank you.

[00:20:51]Two more cookies for us. I know.

[00:20:56]All right. Thank you. Yeah.

[00:20:59]Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Nice to see you. Thank you. Back to saving our cookies. Thank you.

[00:21:08]I don't know if they're going to issue any.

[00:21:10]>> [laughter] >> They're very good cookies.

[00:21:13]It's a It's a combo deal.

[00:21:17]>> [laughter] >> Thank you. Thank you, Adam. Thank you.

[00:21:20]Thank you.

[00:21:22]>> [snorts] >> Okay, so next up we have um board member reports.

[00:21:29]You want to kick it off? I'll start. Um just wanted to say I had the opportunity to attend the Elizabeth High School graduation this past Saturday and it was really special event. Since this is my first time serving on the board, it was my first time to attend that as a school board member and I just thought it was really inspiring just to see not only the excitement of the kids, but like the opportunity that they represent. Like I think they're going to make a difference in the world and I'm not their mom, but I'm so proud of them.

[00:21:58]>> [laughter] >> Um yeah, I was just It was special to listen to each one of them speak, the ones that had the opportunity to speak and even the ones that walked through. I got some really good handshakes from every single kid out there. Some [laughter] really firm handshakes. There are a few A few of those boys have very, very firm handshakes.

[00:22:14]Um however, you know, and then just to look up to the stands and to see so many uh families that were just so proud of their children. Uh that's what it's all about and so I just wanted just to take a minute to say that was a special opportunity to celebrate with families and students and I'm looking forward to that opportunity to do that again.

[00:22:32]It was nice. It was quite the fan club.

[00:22:34]There was a lot of them there.

[00:22:36]I was I congratulated them on graduating and also the fan club. The number of cheers that they got. I don't know how much louder it got. And our talented choir and band, it was just It was just such a a great experience.

[00:22:50]Always enjoy that.

[00:22:55]It's been a It's been a wild week. My In case anybody's curious, my wife is out of the hospital, so the I haven't really done much. I will say though that Morgan out raised I was in marching band. I was in you know, middle school band. I never raised that much money probably in all the fundraisers I did combined. So she that that's truly amazing. So All right.

[00:23:25]That was my big thing as well.

[00:23:27]Congratulations. So that was a lot of fun.

[00:23:31]All right.

[00:23:31]>> Okay.

[00:23:32]Well, graduation of course was a highlight for all of us and all of the end of the year ceremonies of fifth grade promotion ceremony, the kindergarten promotion ceremonies.

[00:23:42]It was just so exciting to see students cross this that milestone. And I'm announcing a crossing of a milestone a little sooner than I had planned.

[00:23:53]But really have done a lot of thinking.

[00:23:54]I had the opportunity of attending the interview of the sole finalist to become the superintendent of Elizabeth last Thursday and I I left that meeting with a lot of pride and a lot of excitement for where the district is going and and what Mr. Knight can can do here in this district and I have decided that I am going to go ahead and retire at the end of this month. So I will be parting in the district and moving on to future challenges and excitement.

[00:24:26]But I just want to thank everyone for their support and the work that you've done in the district. It's been three and a half exciting years for me and certainly three and a half years that I will treasure for a long time.

[00:24:40]That being said, I also want to introduce Michelle Boot who is our new director of human resources. I don't know that everyone's had a chance to meet her, but she happens to be in the audience. So it's a great chance for me to introduce and of course Mr. Hofer who's been our interim principal at Running Creek.

[00:24:54]Really appreciate you being here tonight. Kevin, thank you.

[00:24:59]I think that's it. Okay. So, next up we have public comment. Any new sheets? No.

[00:25:05]Okay. Uh next on the agenda is the consent agenda.

[00:25:09]Um so, I move that the board approve consent items 9.1 through 9.3 as presented. Second.

[00:25:16]Okay. Can I get a roll call?

[00:25:19]Director Fletcher? Hi. Director Height?

[00:25:22]Hi. Director Olson? Hi.

[00:25:27]And we don't have much as far as action items tonight, but they are substantial.

[00:25:32]So, let's go ahead and kick it off with um our 26-27 proposed budget.

[00:25:38]So, we have posted our um 26-27 proposed budget. It is a draft, um meaning we are continuing to process through it. Um Uh I have also taken on the role of CFO um over the last 4 weeks and have been really crunching our budget, looking at our expenditures, looking at our revenues. Um and I will just say that I am concerned that our fund balance um at the end of the year. So, as we continue to work through this budgeting process, I just want to be transparent that um that is a concern um that we will uh be working. Uh Mr. Knight's already started his work with next year's budget since it is one that he will own um and looking at any opportunities we can find for cost savings. Um this budget um does represent uh basically a steady enrollment and that's most likely or more than likely because of the fact that we do have a charter school opening. So, um the fact that we have a charter school opening and will be attracting some new students. We have been in a declining enrollment situation the last couple of years. Um this uh budget um also um uh continues to fund our athletic program at a about a half a million dollars. Um and uh restores our capital improvement fund. Um and next year all of our capital uh dollars collected for improvement fees and cash in lieu fees uh will go into our fund 43, which is our capital improvement fund, that'll allow the district to continue to improve upon its facilities.

[00:27:15]Um most of the salaries uh are representative of either where schools might be losing enrollment um and shrinking um as well as some streamlining. We have added in this budget math interventionists. And one of the things we committed to do was to try to find equal number of cuts so that we're not just adding staff, but that we're also keeping staff uh consistent.

[00:27:38]Um as as Mr. Nites said, you know, keeping the main thing the main thing.

[00:27:42]Uh reading and math are critical functions for us here in the district, and so we are continuing to look at prioritizing that staffing uh while we uh continue to look for opportunities to streamline our budget. Um you will notice that um the um actual budget expenditures have a slight increase um over last year. Um we are expecting an increase in insurance uh property liability insurance, which we do not have a quote yet, but we are projecting roughly a 17% increase. I think all of us are experiencing that in our own um uh in a home insurance as well. Um again, this is a draft budget, meaning that we continue to look at it. We continue to um uh go through it with a fine-tooth comb and look for opportunities to be more efficient. Um I will just point out a couple of things as you compare staffing.

[00:28:39]For some reason last year not all safety and security staff were moved into the safety and security budget. We still had a handful of our armed security specialists who were who were reporting under the school cost center.

[00:28:50]We do want to make sure that we can represent that team and that they are funded out of a a particular budget and so you will notice and there are some notes there to indicate that we have made some switches within those budgets to make sure that we get people charged to the right location.

[00:29:10]And then we last year's budget we had some interesting things that our prior CFO had done and and and how Jamie who both serves the board and serves as my executive assistant how she was charged and so we've tried to correct that within this budget as well.

[00:29:28]So again, this is a draft budget. We will have a budget hearing at the next meeting June 9th. So members of the community after reviewing this budget, we will continue to update it present our latest version prior to that meeting but we are inviting the community next meeting to come during public comment which will be our public comment our public hearing segment to address any thoughts, ideas, concerns, priorities that they'd like the board to hear before ultimately approving the budget prior to the end of June. So please note that the next meeting June 9th 6:00 here during public comment will also be our public budget hearing for members of the community to give feedback on this budget. In the meantime, I'm certainly happy to answer questions, emails from individuals who may have questions about the budget and the expenditures. Again, at this point in time we're still calculating final fund balance this year as well as trying to refine all of these expenditures to great degree to make sure that it's the budget that we intend to move forward with. So with that if board has any questions, I'll then move on to the other budget or the other funds.

[00:30:42]Okay.

[00:30:44]Um so, I move the board accept the 26-27 proposed budget as presented. Can I get a second?

[00:30:51]Second.

[00:30:53]Any >> Before you Before you vote, we also have to do the other budget. It's part of that same package.

[00:30:59]Oh, okay.

[00:31:00]>> both included. Sorry about that.

[00:31:01]>> Okay, yeah, they're just listed as So, the other funds >> make sure, please? The uh >> [clears throat] >> just I know cuz I know there's somebody out there who's going to look at that and say board of education salaries and benefits we still are not getting paid.

[00:31:18]So, >> Board members are not. Your board members are not.

[00:31:21]The board clerk who serves the board um half of her salary is charged to that budget. Yeah. And so, that's that's a salary line that's in there. Thank you.

[00:31:30]Yeah. And they watch your back.

[00:31:31]>> It's a It's a very uh uh contentious uh line item.

[00:31:37]>> Yeah, it's absolutely.

[00:31:39]Um the other funds uh so, the district maintains a general fund, which is our general operating budget. We also maintain um four other funds. Actually, it'll be five other funds next year. Um food service fund, we keep that separate um and we track expenditures as well as revenues from our food service program.

[00:31:59]Um that includes Legacy Academy that currently is utilizing our food service program. We track grants, and grants are really money in, money out. So, the board has to approve that we are collecting grant money, and we are expending that grant money as as directed by those grants. Um we do not keep a fund balance in grants, but we do keep a fund balance in food service.

[00:32:21]Um people activity fund is our sports and athletics. And so, again, you'll see um the fees we collect from students, the transfer from the general fund, and gate fees that we collect during the year.

[00:32:33]Um as well as uh salary and benefits for our coaches, purchased services for our referees, as well as materials and supplies that we also collect or that we spend during the year. We also have a student activity fund and that student activity fund is for clubs for sports that have a separate booster club that may be raising money through other fundraising efforts to improve their experience in their sport.

[00:33:03]We pay for the basics of of our sporting >> [clears throat] >> activities and students and teams can raise additional money for additional trips and additional competitions, things like that. So, that's our student activity fund, fund 26.

[00:33:18]Next year, we will refund our capital reserve fund. That fund did go away this year. We are restoring that fund for next year. Again, all money collected for fees and lieu and impact fees will go into this fund and then we are currently looking at projects that we can look at engaging with next year.

[00:33:40]And then the last fund is a new fund that we're restoring and that's our self-insurance fund.

[00:33:45]We are moving from CEBT insurance to 550 advisory, which is a broker that is working with us on on a self-insurance initiative that also includes very low cost provider to our staff who wish to take advantage of that family medical care. And so, we have to restore that fund because that will be premiums coming out of checks and the district contributing to staff going into that fund and then that fund pays premiums, it pays expenses incurred by the insurance fund. And so, that fund is being restored and those are the best estimates that we were able to work on with our insurance broker as to what a typical district starting this program will experience in the coming year. And so all of those funds by you approving them ultimately at the end of June allow the district to both receive money and expend money in those different areas.

[00:35:01]Nothing else. Sorry.

[00:35:03]I [laughter] thought we were finished after the first one. I know. I know.

[00:35:06]Sorry about that. All right.

[00:35:08]So I move that the board accept the 26-27 proposed budget as presented. I think you already >> Second. Seconded.

[00:35:15]Any further discussion on this one?

[00:35:18]Okay.

[00:35:19]Can I get a roll call? Director Fletcher. Aye.

[00:35:22]Director Hunt.

[00:35:23]>> Aye.

[00:35:24]Director Olson. Aye.

[00:35:27]Next up, 26-27 Legacy Charter School budget.

[00:35:33]Do you want to comment on >> Sure.

[00:35:35]As a as one of our schools, since we're the LEA, local education agency for Legacy, since we are their authorizer, their budget after being approved by their board does have to come to our board. And so this budget is coming to you for your formal approval. Their board has already approved it.

[00:35:54]Okay.

[00:35:56]So I move that the board approve the 26-27 Legacy Charter School budget.

[00:36:01]Second. Any further discussion on this one?

[00:36:05]Okay.

[00:36:07]Can I get a roll call? Director Fletcher. Aye. Director Hunt. Aye.

[00:36:11]Director Olson.

[00:36:11]>> Aye.

[00:36:14]And last up, the review of policy DJ DJA purchasing purchasing authority.

[00:36:23]So this is the one that I wanted to take a look at regarding P-Card limits.

[00:36:31]Um I know that we had brought this to the board Was it last year or the year before?

[00:36:37]Last August.

[00:36:37]>> And and what was it originally like 13, 15, something like that and we bumped it up to 50? Mhm.

[00:36:46]Um So, this is something for us to consider knocking that back down and maybe looking at putting some controls in place to basically I come from a world where I'm in you know, I'm in education and it's it's it's pretty tight reins on the on the P-Cards. So, I'm wondering if we need to tighten up the policy.

[00:37:14]So I'm not as I mean I'm more interested in who has the cards than their limits on the I mean cuz I mean if somebody was to go out and use the card and we haven't approved it if they bust through the limits like we're going to hold them accountable, right?

[00:37:39]So Well, and you know, again throwing my name out there, most people that have a P-Card have a $2,500 per purchase.

[00:37:48]Um very few people have like a five, maybe a 10. I mean I I was thinking >> is 50 is a little excessive.

[00:37:57]>> [clears throat] >> Yeah, I would assume like the guy who buys all the network equipment >> Mhm. uh for the So, you need PRs before?

[00:38:04]Yeah, exactly. [laughter] Uh those were those were all bought you know, on you know, purchase requests, but the uh I I I'm I'm more I'm more interested in who has them than the limits that they have.

[00:38:21]I would like to limit in both.

[00:38:23]>> [laughter] >> Who has them and what is the limit?

[00:38:27]Um yeah, I mean I think it's reasonable to set that much lower.

[00:38:31]So maybe I can provide you with a list of individuals and their limits right now. Yeah. That way you can think it through and make revisions to the policy Okay. before the next meeting. Does that We can bring it forward at the at the next meeting. Sure. At the next meeting.

[00:38:48]Thank you.

[00:38:50]All right.

[00:38:54]Okay.

[00:38:56]And since this was just a review, I don't think that we need a motion on this.

[00:39:05]>> Yeah, I don't think so. We reviewed >> Approve the review? I mean, we can call it a first reading if you want to do it as the first reading or we can wait.

[00:39:12]>> Okay.

[00:39:14]Um so I move that the board approve the review of the policy DJ DJA purchasing purchasing authority.

[00:39:25]So we just reviewed it, so >> [laughter] >> Any further discussion on this one?

[00:39:30]Okay, can I get a roll call?

[00:39:34]Director Fletcher?

[00:39:35]Hi. Director Hunt? Hi. Director Olson?

[00:39:38]Hi.

[00:39:40]So our next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for June 9th, 2026 here in the board room, district office. And with that, I adjourn this meeting at 6:27. Can I get that on the record?

[00:39:54]Not >> Mhm.