Echoes from Cañon
Examples of Excellence
Jamie Davis is the Director of the Early Career Education Council Pathway.
Last Tuesday I had the pleasure of attending the grand opening of the Pikes Peak Center for Teaching and Learning. This is an effort by the Pikes Peak Education Association to offer low and no-cost professional development and support to teachers to sharpen their skills. While there I learned Cañon City’s own Jamie Davis is key to this effort, as she will direct the Early Career Education Council pathway. This is quite in line with the great work Jamie does supporting and coaching new teachers here in Fremont RE-1.
I also learned this week that Cañon City High School/Pueblo Community College Automotive Trades teacher John Dusting has 101 students participating in his programs between the CCHS and PCC Fremont campuses. In contrast, Pueblo City Schools and the Pueblo Campus only have 40 total participants. What wonderful opportunities Mr. Dustin is presenting to our students.
Monday night in Pueblo, Cañon City board director Shad Johnson was honored with a Colorado Association of School Boards McGuffy Award. These are given to board members who display excellent governance behavior.
Shad has served the Fremont RE-1 school board for 4 years and has grown his ability to navigate the demands of board governance. He advocates a we can do better for our kids philosophy, working to define the duties of and outline a process to evaluate the superintendent of schools. Shad volunteered to work on the Colorado Education Initiative's SpaceLab project last spring, so impressing participants that he was asked to share his experience as a keynoter during the summer summit.
Shad has also been personally commitment to coordinating our community’s annual Senior Fun-Fest each year to keep students safe during the build-up to graduation ceremonies.
Congratulations Mr. Johnson, you are truly worthy of this honor!
I also learned this week that Cañon City High School/Pueblo Community College Automotive Trades teacher John Dusting has 101 students participating in his programs between the CCHS and PCC Fremont campuses. In contrast, Pueblo City Schools and the Pueblo Campus only have 40 total participants. What wonderful opportunities Mr. Dustin is presenting to our students.
Monday night in Pueblo, Cañon City board director Shad Johnson was honored with a Colorado Association of School Boards McGuffy Award. These are given to board members who display excellent governance behavior.
Shad has served the Fremont RE-1 school board for 4 years and has grown his ability to navigate the demands of board governance. He advocates a we can do better for our kids philosophy, working to define the duties of and outline a process to evaluate the superintendent of schools. Shad volunteered to work on the Colorado Education Initiative's SpaceLab project last spring, so impressing participants that he was asked to share his experience as a keynoter during the summer summit.
Shad has also been personally commitment to coordinating our community’s annual Senior Fun-Fest each year to keep students safe during the build-up to graduation ceremonies.
Congratulations Mr. Johnson, you are truly worthy of this honor!
The Focus of Our Work
Board director Shad Johnson received a McGuffy Award from Colorado Association of School Boards executive director Ken Delay.
As you know, the Cañon City School District has two questions on this November’s ballot, an override and a bond. Override proceeds will be used to provide personal technology devises for each student, update instructional resources, attract and retain highly qualified employees, increase safety and improve maintenance of facilities, and expand preschool services. The bond will provide over $50 million in facilities improvements, including a new Washington Elementary and Cañon City Middle School, and it will pay off the Mountain View Core Knowledge Charter School facilities loan.
The most common question I have heard is “what will this cost me?”
The override asks for a total of $1.385 million per year for a 10-year period. The cost per month per $100,000 of market home value will be $3.50, a total of $39 annually.
The bond question is asking to sell $18.2 million dollars in bonds and to pay them back at a cost of $1.55 million annually for no more than 20 years. The cost per month per $100,000 of market home value will be $3.72, a total of $44.64 annually.
The Senior Property Tax Homestead Exemption allows Cañon City School District property owners aged 65 years or older who have lived in their current homes for at least 10 years by January 1st to only pay half this tax increase up to the first $200,000 in market value. This exemption must be approved by the legislature on an annual basis, and taxpayers must apply for the exemption at the County Assessor’s Office each year before July 15th.
The most common question I have heard is “what will this cost me?”
The override asks for a total of $1.385 million per year for a 10-year period. The cost per month per $100,000 of market home value will be $3.50, a total of $39 annually.
The bond question is asking to sell $18.2 million dollars in bonds and to pay them back at a cost of $1.55 million annually for no more than 20 years. The cost per month per $100,000 of market home value will be $3.72, a total of $44.64 annually.
The Senior Property Tax Homestead Exemption allows Cañon City School District property owners aged 65 years or older who have lived in their current homes for at least 10 years by January 1st to only pay half this tax increase up to the first $200,000 in market value. This exemption must be approved by the legislature on an annual basis, and taxpayers must apply for the exemption at the County Assessor’s Office each year before July 15th.
Last Week
Last week I addressed expulsion matters, attended a CASB regional meeting with board members, presented information on our ballot questions at Chamber of Commerce and Fremont Economic Development Council meetings, and attended the launch ceremony of the Pikes Peak Center for Teaching and Learning. I also met with folks from Pueblo Community College about the Gateway to College program, attended a quarterly Facilities Corp meeting, attended regional and state superintendent’s meetings, touched base with Fremont County DHS director Steve Clifton, and worked on responding to Colorado Department of Education questions about our federal programs grant application.
This Week
Vocational Automotive Instructor John Duston is having a major impact on students in the Cañon City area.
Among other things this week I’ll address a few more student expulsion matters, attend a board work session and meeting, hold a SAC meeting, conduct an instructional leader PLC, finish up revisions to our federal programs grant application, attend a Fremont County Workplace Learning Board meeting, touch base with director of instruction Adam Hartman and director of special services Lynnette Steinhoff, and visit our partners at the Southern Peaks Learning Center.
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh