Echoes from Cañon
Examples of Excellence
The new CCHS CNA classroom passed inspection this week.
Congratulations and thanks are due to Cañon City High School Assistant Principal Gayle Hinrichs for spearheading the approval process for our new Cañon City High School CNA program. Thanks to her we are now approved to start classes on January 9th. We received a one-year conditional approval, putting us on the path to full approval once we show student success. I have been told we already have 24 students vying for 20 program positions in these classes next semester!
I had the opportunity to visit five of our schools last week, Lincoln, Harrison, CCHS, CES and CCMS. While in Lincoln I observed a continued focus on science and technology, as well as outstanding work being done putting into practice our Early Literacy Grant priorities. While at Harrison I observed quite engaging instruction by the 8th grade team, and I learned about the progress the school is making on its vison and culture work. While at CCHS I walked around campus with Principal Bill Summers learning how we might leverage the opportunity we have through the passage of 3B to transform the high school campus. I also got to observe seniors presenting career opportunities to freshman in a language arts team teaching
I had the opportunity to visit five of our schools last week, Lincoln, Harrison, CCHS, CES and CCMS. While in Lincoln I observed a continued focus on science and technology, as well as outstanding work being done putting into practice our Early Literacy Grant priorities. While at Harrison I observed quite engaging instruction by the 8th grade team, and I learned about the progress the school is making on its vison and culture work. While at CCHS I walked around campus with Principal Bill Summers learning how we might leverage the opportunity we have through the passage of 3B to transform the high school campus. I also got to observe seniors presenting career opportunities to freshman in a language arts team teaching
Mountain View students prepare for their Celebration of Westward Expansion.
effort. During my visit to CES I talked to Principal Kelly Albrecht about how she is feeling about her transition to school level leadership. We also discussed the strengths of her staff, and how she might use 3B dollars to more effectively secure her main entry. We also talked about efforts being made by teachers to set classrooms up for more engaging exploratory learning. While at CCMS I observed clear evidence of the school’s focus on increased student engagement. Several of the classes I visited exhibited outstanding examples, including one where there was a very engaging team quiz, another in which students were grouped to create visual representations of content they were learning, and another in which students were given an opportunity to create and share videos with the class on a topic of instruction they were assigned. The excitement I saw in the eyes of students was quite encouraging.
Mountain View Core Knowledge School also continues to do exciting work. Last week second graders held a celebration of the Westward Expansion, as well as a Fiesta Night. MVCKS Director Karen Sartori reports Cathy Maxson is doing amazing work with her students.
Mountain View Core Knowledge School also continues to do exciting work. Last week second graders held a celebration of the Westward Expansion, as well as a Fiesta Night. MVCKS Director Karen Sartori reports Cathy Maxson is doing amazing work with her students.
The Focus of Our Work
Black Hills Energy employees present to Lincoln students about electricity on Super Science Friday.
On Tuesday in our Superintendent Advisory Council meeting, and on Thursday at the Cañon City High School Tech Deployment Committee meeting, much was accomplished toward establishing a budget, and making device and staff development decisions. We anticipate spending approximately $60,000 on start-up costs for this fiscal year, and our draft budget for putting devices in all high school student hands while guiding professional development and support toward doing so, is approaching $800,000. Decisions that still need to be made include what devices we’ll deploy, who we’ll contract for professional development support, and what, if any, digital learning management system we’ll use as we begin this work.
December 10th was the deadline for submission by folks who would like to perform Owner’s Representative services related to our upcoming construction projects. We have received six complete proposals. Director of Operations Jeff Peterson and I will review submissions this week and schedule interviews to take place on Tuesday December 19th. We hope to make a final recommendation to the board of education before Winter Break.
On Monday at our Board of Education meeting we’ll set our mill levy for the 2018 school year. We have locked in a 3.2% interest rate on our first year 3B bond sale and this will bring taxpayer payback costs down from what was advertised during the election at 6%. Director of Finance Buddy Lambrecht is also buying down the overage we have collected on the 2003 Harrison bond. This will allow for a reduction of nearly 1 mill to taxpayers on that front. Mr. Lambrecht will explain this at our meeting on Monday December 11th and I'll do my best to share details with readers in the coming weeks.
December 10th was the deadline for submission by folks who would like to perform Owner’s Representative services related to our upcoming construction projects. We have received six complete proposals. Director of Operations Jeff Peterson and I will review submissions this week and schedule interviews to take place on Tuesday December 19th. We hope to make a final recommendation to the board of education before Winter Break.
On Monday at our Board of Education meeting we’ll set our mill levy for the 2018 school year. We have locked in a 3.2% interest rate on our first year 3B bond sale and this will bring taxpayer payback costs down from what was advertised during the election at 6%. Director of Finance Buddy Lambrecht is also buying down the overage we have collected on the 2003 Harrison bond. This will allow for a reduction of nearly 1 mill to taxpayers on that front. Mr. Lambrecht will explain this at our meeting on Monday December 11th and I'll do my best to share details with readers in the coming weeks.
Last Week
Last week I conducted formal visits at five of our schools, attended to a number of district level student discipline matters, met with leaders about McKinley Elementary School’s academic improvement plan, held a monthly central office staff meeting, attended a meeting about a proposed housing development in the 4 Mile area, attended a gathering about an upcoming recreation center feasibility study, enjoyed our annual classified staff Christmas party and service recognition ceremony, and held touching base meetings with Director of Special Services Lynnette Steinhoff and Director of Personnel Misty Manchester.
This Week
CCHS Seniors share career interests with Freshman.
I’ll start my work week with a visit to Washington Elementary and a board work session and meeting on Monday. On Tuesday, I’ll attend a CCHS Building Leadership Team meeting and a Harrison K-5 gathering about crunching benchmark assessment data. I’ll also sit in on our monthly safety session with the Cañon City Police Department, and then attend a SAC meeting. That afternoon we’ll hold our monthly District Leadership Team meeting. On Wednesday, I’ll start my day in a classified association leader meeting. I’ll then drop in on Cañon City High School and Harrison K-8 delayed start professional development sessions. On Wednesday evening, I’ll attend Fremont County Human Services Director Steve Clifton’s retirement party, and then a Cañon City High School Parent Advisory Committee meeting. On Thursday, I’ll drive to Denver and back for an Early Childhood Leadership Commission meeting, returning in time to attend the next Cañon City High School Mobile Deployment Committee meeting. I end the week with a walkthrough of McKinley Elementary School.
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh