Echoes from Cañon
Examples of Excellence
Mr. Butts has served the students and staff of CCHS for many years.
As I began this week’s entry I realized I just have too many examples of excellence to be able to share them all. What a wonderful problem to have!
Let me begin by thanking Mr. John Butts for the many years of service he has provided to the students and staff of Cañon City High School as the building’s head custodian. John is a hard working, motivational leader who greets everyone that enters the building with a smile and a cheery disposition. He and his crew take tremendous care of the CCHS facilities, and I have even observed him personally pitching in to support some of our more challenging students when a caring adult is needed. Unfortunately for us, John plans to retire from his position at the end of this year and I have no doubt Cañon City High School just won’t be the same without his presence. John, my father was a school custodian. He was the smartest, most resourceful, and kindest man I have ever known. Based on all I have learned about you in my short time here, you are much the same. Thanks for all the work you have done over the years to keep our staff teaching and our kids learning!
I’m sure many of you know students are in the midst of taking Colorado’s annual statewide academic achievement tests. I would like to thank director of student services Dominic Carochi and his staff, as well as director of technology Shaun Kohl and his crew for doing such a great job getting our systems ready for this year’s testing processes. I know there has been much talk about over testing children and the value of achievement testing in general during the past few years and want to ensure everybody that our goal as a district is to administer required tests to students, encourage them to do their best, and to learn from the results in order to improve overall classroom instruction. A simply wonderful example of this kind of positive attitude was displayed by Krsita Limitone and Julie Campbell’s McKinley Elementary students as they made this fun video in anticipation of upcoming tests. I encourage you to watch it at this link
Let me begin by thanking Mr. John Butts for the many years of service he has provided to the students and staff of Cañon City High School as the building’s head custodian. John is a hard working, motivational leader who greets everyone that enters the building with a smile and a cheery disposition. He and his crew take tremendous care of the CCHS facilities, and I have even observed him personally pitching in to support some of our more challenging students when a caring adult is needed. Unfortunately for us, John plans to retire from his position at the end of this year and I have no doubt Cañon City High School just won’t be the same without his presence. John, my father was a school custodian. He was the smartest, most resourceful, and kindest man I have ever known. Based on all I have learned about you in my short time here, you are much the same. Thanks for all the work you have done over the years to keep our staff teaching and our kids learning!
I’m sure many of you know students are in the midst of taking Colorado’s annual statewide academic achievement tests. I would like to thank director of student services Dominic Carochi and his staff, as well as director of technology Shaun Kohl and his crew for doing such a great job getting our systems ready for this year’s testing processes. I know there has been much talk about over testing children and the value of achievement testing in general during the past few years and want to ensure everybody that our goal as a district is to administer required tests to students, encourage them to do their best, and to learn from the results in order to improve overall classroom instruction. A simply wonderful example of this kind of positive attitude was displayed by Krsita Limitone and Julie Campbell’s McKinley Elementary students as they made this fun video in anticipation of upcoming tests. I encourage you to watch it at this link
Steve Huskey serves as School Resource Officer at Cañon City High School
Last week Cañon City Police Officer/Cañon City Schools resource officer Steve Huskey arranged an opportunity for high school students to participate in a ThinkFast assembly. ThinkFast is a one hour program designed to offer Colorado schools an effective teen driving safety program that has been statistically proven to produce measurable results. The Colorado Department of Transportation funds this initiative as a commitment to driver and passenger safety, and to help eliminate teen accidents and fatalities. Thankfully for us, Officer Huskey seized the opportunity to bring the program to CCHS to share with the many emerging drivers that populate a typical high school campus. Thanks Steve!
At Monday’s board of education meeting we honored regional health and wellness coordinator Kristi Elliott for the outstanding work she is doing establishing a community wide culture of personal wellness. I have been impressed with the work Kristi does securing grants and making resources and training available to our instructional staff members on this front. As great leaders tend to focus the spotlight toward those they work with, Kristi asked that we also honor Cañon Exploratory teacher Carrie Hanenberg and Washington Elementary teacher Pat Stott for providing outstanding professional development training to teachers, both in our district and throughout our region, regarding the benefits of active learning. Thank you Carrie and Pat for sharing your expertise!
At Monday’s board of education meeting we honored regional health and wellness coordinator Kristi Elliott for the outstanding work she is doing establishing a community wide culture of personal wellness. I have been impressed with the work Kristi does securing grants and making resources and training available to our instructional staff members on this front. As great leaders tend to focus the spotlight toward those they work with, Kristi asked that we also honor Cañon Exploratory teacher Carrie Hanenberg and Washington Elementary teacher Pat Stott for providing outstanding professional development training to teachers, both in our district and throughout our region, regarding the benefits of active learning. Thank you Carrie and Pat for sharing your expertise!
Carrie Hanenberg, Pat Stott, and Kristi Elliott were honored at Monday's board meeting.
I would be remiss if I were not to at least mention two other examples of excellence I observed last week. First I want to highlight the hard work and time JROTC commanders Andrew Ornelas and Paul Vertrees put in to coordinate the 2016 Eco Park Raider Challenge during which CCHS and other JROTC programs were able to test the limits of their physical and teamwork abilities. Meanwhile our high school performing artists put on, in my opinion, a professional quality 4 day run of The Addams Family Musical. These are both fine examples of the excellence our students and staff are capable of achieving.
Finally, how often does a board of education receive a check worth tens of thousands of dollars from a student? Well, at Monday evening’s board of education meeting Tiger Pride Drum Major Anna Flynn, on behalf of all CCHS Band Boosters, presented a check for $22,000 to the school district in support of a new band uniform fundraiser. This represents the effort to date of many parents, students, staff, and community members who are truly dedicated to sustaining excellent performing arts opportunities for ALL our students.
Finally, how often does a board of education receive a check worth tens of thousands of dollars from a student? Well, at Monday evening’s board of education meeting Tiger Pride Drum Major Anna Flynn, on behalf of all CCHS Band Boosters, presented a check for $22,000 to the school district in support of a new band uniform fundraiser. This represents the effort to date of many parents, students, staff, and community members who are truly dedicated to sustaining excellent performing arts opportunities for ALL our students.
Drum Major Anna Flynn presented a check for $22,000 to the board of education.
The Focus of Our Work
Bret Meuli speaks at the community 9-11 memorial event.
At Monday’s board of education meeting Cañon City High School principal Bret Meuli’s resignation, effective at the end of June, was accepted. On Tuesday morning Bret had the opportunity to share this news with his staff. Mr. Meuli, though he has truly been committed to the advancement of education programs at CCHS, has realized he lost his passion for filling the role of principal on a day to day basis. This past year I have observed Bret shaping plans that could transform Cañon City High School in the future. Plans that include greater focus on preparing all young men and women who graduate from high school for college and careers. Plans for teaching students content that is fully relevant to this end. Mr. Meuli aims to continue his work in education at a level that will engage him more personally in the lives of students. We’ll continue the work toward which Bret has already laid a strong foundation by seeking a replacement who has the leadership skills to execute these plans.
Toward this end, we have been working diligently on an application for an Expelled and At-Risk Student Support grant. If successful, this program could bring in dollars allowing us to support the academic advancement of all students, especially those we have observed falling through the cracks early in their high school careers. Grant dollars would ago toward providing before, during, and after school academic supports through the application of Work Sessions, establishing a robust, restorative In School Suspension program, and more closely tracking and supporting students who struggle with regular attendance. This grant application is due to be submitted at the end of the day Monday April 4th.
A replacement for Beth Gaffney, our retiring Cañon Exploratory School principal, will also need to be chosen. Director of personnel Misty Manchester has already prescreened qualified applicants and soon a committee of staff members will continue this work, with the goal of inviting a number of finalists to come to the school for an interview in front of staff and community leaders. If all goes well we should have a recommendation in front of the board of education in time for its April 25th meeting.
Toward this end, we have been working diligently on an application for an Expelled and At-Risk Student Support grant. If successful, this program could bring in dollars allowing us to support the academic advancement of all students, especially those we have observed falling through the cracks early in their high school careers. Grant dollars would ago toward providing before, during, and after school academic supports through the application of Work Sessions, establishing a robust, restorative In School Suspension program, and more closely tracking and supporting students who struggle with regular attendance. This grant application is due to be submitted at the end of the day Monday April 4th.
A replacement for Beth Gaffney, our retiring Cañon Exploratory School principal, will also need to be chosen. Director of personnel Misty Manchester has already prescreened qualified applicants and soon a committee of staff members will continue this work, with the goal of inviting a number of finalists to come to the school for an interview in front of staff and community leaders. If all goes well we should have a recommendation in front of the board of education in time for its April 25th meeting.
Last Week
Molly Merry answers student questions about the beginnings of Cañon Exploratory School.
Last Monday I had a meeting with Beth Gaffney about technology purchases and staffing levels for CES. On Tuesday I started my day at the CCHS staff meeting, attend our superintendent’s advisory council meeting, participated in a meeting about new college placement processes being considered at PCC, and participated in an evaluation task force meeting related to spring contract negotiations. On Wednesday I worked on EARSS grant writing and finalizing follow-up responses for the BEST grant we submitted at the end of February. I also met with director of student support services Paula Buser and health and wellness coordinator Kristi Elliott about writing health education and wellness goals into our annual Unified Improvement Plan. I did more grant writing on Thursday and attended the 7 PM performance of The Addams Family Musical. I attended a ceremony honoring Molly Merry for her role founding Cañon Exploratory School, and then was a “celebrity waiter” at a PCC scholarship fundraising meal. Those who did not attend will be happy to have missed Bret Meuli and me line dancing with the PCC Panther mascot!
This Week
Monday will be spent finalizing our EARSS grant submission. However, I’ll break away from this in the evening to attend a suicide awareness meeting at 5 PM. On Tuesday I’ll go to a Rural Philanthropy Days listening session, then make a trip to Denver and back to chair a quarterly Colorado Safe Schools Resource Center advisory board meeting. On Wednesday we have an admin office staff meeting, I’ll attend a Junior Achievement informational meeting, I’ll engage in some superintendent legislative advocacy, and then spend my late afternoon/evening in master contract negotiations with teacher leaders. On Thursday I just have a series of routine meetings, and then on Friday I’ll attend the Pikes Peak Area Superintendent’s meeting and a Fremont County Retired Teachers luncheon meeting.
The Way I See It
Last week, in an effort to increase awareness about education funding in Colorado, I explained in general how schools are funded. This week I would like to ask: Is there actually a problem with Colorado’s system of education funding?
A common place to start is where Colorado has historically ranked in per pupil funding compared to the rest of the nation. As seen in the Great Education Colorado chart provided, from 1970 through most of the 1980’s Colorado hovered right around the national average. At its height,
A common place to start is where Colorado has historically ranked in per pupil funding compared to the rest of the nation. As seen in the Great Education Colorado chart provided, from 1970 through most of the 1980’s Colorado hovered right around the national average. At its height,
Colorado’s per pupil funding was actually 203 dollars above the national average (1986). However, beginning in 1988, and virtually every year since, Colorado’s per pupil funding rate has fallen further and further away from the national average, with the most recent data available (see Quality Counts comparison chart) showing as of 2013 we fund each student $2,681 less per year than the average state. Another chart provided shows how from 2008 to 2013 Colorado actually decreased overall education funding by 12%, ranking it among the 5 states in the US that have made the deepest education cuts during this time period.
Ironically, the deepest cuts in Colorado education funding came on the heels of passage of Amendment 23, a constitutional initiative approved by voters in 2000 designed to solve the slip that began in 1988 by increasing education funding each year by the annual inflationary rate plus 1%. Amendment 23 increases were designed to level off to include only inflationary increase requirements in 2010, but the onset of the Great Recession and the revenue crisis caused by it led the legislature to create something called the Negative Factor. Last week’s readers might recall finance funding factors I referenced such as percent of free or reduced lunch students, district size, and cost of living. The Negative Factor was added to Colorado’s school finance act to actually subtract dollar allocations from each school district in order to balance the overall state budget.
Ironically, the deepest cuts in Colorado education funding came on the heels of passage of Amendment 23, a constitutional initiative approved by voters in 2000 designed to solve the slip that began in 1988 by increasing education funding each year by the annual inflationary rate plus 1%. Amendment 23 increases were designed to level off to include only inflationary increase requirements in 2010, but the onset of the Great Recession and the revenue crisis caused by it led the legislature to create something called the Negative Factor. Last week’s readers might recall finance funding factors I referenced such as percent of free or reduced lunch students, district size, and cost of living. The Negative Factor was added to Colorado’s school finance act to actually subtract dollar allocations from each school district in order to balance the overall state budget.
The result of the implementation of this Negative Factor is clearly illustrated in the chart showing how much education funding decreased in Colorado, compared to the rest of the United States, during the period of time from 2008 to 2013. What does this mean to the Cañon City School District? As it currently stands our negative factor sits at $3,471,749 per year. This is how much CCSD students are funded below the intent of the electorate that voted in favor of implementing Amendment 23. By the way, the negative factor for the entire state of Colorado now sits at $830,000,000.
This all being said, I have not yet answered the question I asked at the beginning of this piece. As a result of all this is there actually a problem with Colorado’s system of education funding? To address this question we have to ask if there have been any negative effects on education outcomes in the CCSD as a result of these finance cuts. My answer is, though over time this district has taken tremendous measures to reduce personnel costs, consolidate facilities, make the most of its financial resources, and keep important programs afloat: yes. Yes, we have a problem. Both in Cañon City and throughout the state.
I will dedicate time next week in this section to explain what this looks like, specifically in Cañon City.
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
This all being said, I have not yet answered the question I asked at the beginning of this piece. As a result of all this is there actually a problem with Colorado’s system of education funding? To address this question we have to ask if there have been any negative effects on education outcomes in the CCSD as a result of these finance cuts. My answer is, though over time this district has taken tremendous measures to reduce personnel costs, consolidate facilities, make the most of its financial resources, and keep important programs afloat: yes. Yes, we have a problem. Both in Cañon City and throughout the state.
I will dedicate time next week in this section to explain what this looks like, specifically in Cañon City.
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh