Echoes from Cañon
Examples of Excellence
The district literacy makes plans to whisper coach.
I heard our recent Head Start informational meeting was a success. Director of instruction Adam Hartman reported the gathering was very informative and quite productive for the parents in attendance. He said, “hearing the immensity of the solid early experience we offer our youngest learners made me extremely proud to be part of the Canon City community.” “It takes a village to raise a child, and last night our Head Start was visited by the ENTIRE village.”
I also wanted to take a moment to offer special recognition to our district literacy team. Our literacy coaches recently took a big step toward increasing teacher effectiveness by engaging in whisper coaching. This technique requires them to teach lessons in front of K-3 teachers while another coach shares what could be done more effectively. This, no doubt, makes them feel extremely vulnerable. Whisper coaching requires extra preparation time to provide a differentiated approach for each teacher. After each session our literacy coaches willingly accept feedback from classroom teachers about how they could have delivered the lesson more effectively. It is our hope engaging in this process will make our teachers more comfortable and willing to collaborate with a focus on improving their instructional practices. Thank you for setting this fine example and taking the risk to become better!
I had the pleasure last Thursday of meeting with PCC Fremont Campus president Dr. Lana Carter about the absolutely amazing partnership we have developed over the years. As of next year we will be able to offer even more core academic courses for concurrent enrollment, while also expanding vocational welding, auto, certified nurses assistant, and computer assisted design concurrent coursework. An unbelievable statistic Dr. Carter shared with me was the growth in participation in PCC concurrent enrollment coursework participation by CCHS students since the 2012-13 school year. Back then only 218 Tiger students participated in college level coursework at PCC. That number actually dipped to only 180 during the 2013-14 school year. However, in 2014-15 enrollment increased to 232, that went up to 384 in 2015-16, and Dr. carter told me preliminary figures show 425 different Cañon City High School students taking one or more college level courses at PCC this year! This means more than a third of our high school student population is taking, and being successful t, college level coursework while still in high school!
On a final note this week I want to thank CCHS principal Bill Summers and the team of teachers he brought to participate in a Project based Learning course. Ande Davis, Michelle Curl, Jen VanIwarden, and Brian VanIwarden gave up a portion of their spring break to do this important work aimed at making instruction more relevant and engaging for students in the regular high school as well as in our soon to open Tiger Open Pathways alternative program.
I also wanted to take a moment to offer special recognition to our district literacy team. Our literacy coaches recently took a big step toward increasing teacher effectiveness by engaging in whisper coaching. This technique requires them to teach lessons in front of K-3 teachers while another coach shares what could be done more effectively. This, no doubt, makes them feel extremely vulnerable. Whisper coaching requires extra preparation time to provide a differentiated approach for each teacher. After each session our literacy coaches willingly accept feedback from classroom teachers about how they could have delivered the lesson more effectively. It is our hope engaging in this process will make our teachers more comfortable and willing to collaborate with a focus on improving their instructional practices. Thank you for setting this fine example and taking the risk to become better!
I had the pleasure last Thursday of meeting with PCC Fremont Campus president Dr. Lana Carter about the absolutely amazing partnership we have developed over the years. As of next year we will be able to offer even more core academic courses for concurrent enrollment, while also expanding vocational welding, auto, certified nurses assistant, and computer assisted design concurrent coursework. An unbelievable statistic Dr. Carter shared with me was the growth in participation in PCC concurrent enrollment coursework participation by CCHS students since the 2012-13 school year. Back then only 218 Tiger students participated in college level coursework at PCC. That number actually dipped to only 180 during the 2013-14 school year. However, in 2014-15 enrollment increased to 232, that went up to 384 in 2015-16, and Dr. carter told me preliminary figures show 425 different Cañon City High School students taking one or more college level courses at PCC this year! This means more than a third of our high school student population is taking, and being successful t, college level coursework while still in high school!
On a final note this week I want to thank CCHS principal Bill Summers and the team of teachers he brought to participate in a Project based Learning course. Ande Davis, Michelle Curl, Jen VanIwarden, and Brian VanIwarden gave up a portion of their spring break to do this important work aimed at making instruction more relevant and engaging for students in the regular high school as well as in our soon to open Tiger Open Pathways alternative program.
The Focus of Our Work
High School teachers attend Project Based Learning training.
On Friday March 17th the CCESPA and and school district representatives met to negotiate master agreement language. Topics addressed included how to better support bus drivers by enforcing discipline policies more consistently, how to make the grievance form more user friendly, the possibility of increasing the allotment of annual leave days based on long term experience and loyalty to the district, and the possibility of adding a lateral pay column for employees who complete a certain level of valuable training. The session was facilitated by PPEA Uniserv Director Melissa Longuil, using Interest Base Strategies, and ran from 9:30 AM until 4:30 PM. A highlight of the day was the corned beef that was prepared for lunch by CCESPA co-president Cindy Cline. Negotiators will come back together in early May to finish this work and discuss salary and benefits.
During spring break our technology department will be installing computer network wiring for our new Tiger Open Pathways alternative school.
During the pat two weeks operations manager Jeff Peterson has been working with Colorado Department of Education representatives to evaluate the educational condition of Washington Elementary School and Cañon City Middle School in advance of the decision that will be made in relation to our Building Excellent Schools today grant submissions.
During spring break our technology department will be installing computer network wiring for our new Tiger Open Pathways alternative school.
During the pat two weeks operations manager Jeff Peterson has been working with Colorado Department of Education representatives to evaluate the educational condition of Washington Elementary School and Cañon City Middle School in advance of the decision that will be made in relation to our Building Excellent Schools today grant submissions.
Last Week
Washington Elementary students share their school mission with adult visitors on Leadership Day.
On Monday I met with district literacy coordinator Gina Gallegos, worked on communication items and principal evaluations, and attended a board work session and meeting. Tuesday began with a monthly touching base meeting with the Cañon City Police Department, a Superintendent Advisory Council meeting, and a meeting with folks hired by CDE to do an assessment of the condition of our Washington Elementary facility. During the afternoon I attended a leadership book study, held a District Leadership Team meeting, and then a monthly Cañon City Education Association check-in meeting. On Wednesday I attended an operations department meeting in preparation for on site facilities assessments, met with RE-2 school district personnel about collaborating to set up high school student internships and apprenticeships, met with our probationary teacher development coach, and then attended a Communities That Care key leader meeting. On Thursday I had a meeting with PCC Fremont Campus president Dr. Lana Carter and some of her key staff members, attended Leadership Day at Washington Elementary, and attended a meeting with community members who are interested in attracting a Y.M.C.A. to Cañon City. On Friday I began my day by meeting with board director Shad Johnson, attended a Schoology webinar with director of instruction Adam Hartman, and then participated in an all day classified employee association bargaining session.
This Week
Though kids are on spring break, I have been working to complete principal and director evaluations, supporting the process by which CDE conducts our Washington and CCMS building condition assessments, attending a regional superintendent meeting, attending a legislative advocacy meeting, beginning the process of supporting schools toward submitting Unified Improvement Plans, and writing some informational stories to be published for the community in the Cañon City Daily Record and The Shopper.
The Way I See it
Over the years the burden of funding our schools has shifted from local to state.
Recently I have worked to educate readers about education funding issues in Colorado. Since January I have shared how schools are funded, where Colorado ranks nationally in school funding, the affects of inadequate funding on the Cañon City School District, and our state constitutional tug-of-war that has limited revenue growth leading to an inability to adequately fund our education programs.
So where do we go from here?
It is my opinion the solution to our funding shortfall is to do what many other Colorado communities have already done. Invest more local dollars in the education of our children.
As a result of the Gallagher Amendment’s ratcheting down of the residential property assessment rate, defined as the actual percentage of property value subject to taxation, Cañon City School District taxpayers have actually been asked to contribute a smaller portion of base funding required to educate its children. In 1983 a Cañon City house valued at $100,000 was taxed based on 21% of that value. In other words, at that time the property owner payed tax as if their house were worth $21,000. By 1990 a property valued at $100,000 was taxed as if it were worth only $16,000. Since 2003 such a property has been taxed as if it were only worth $7,960. Believe it or not, as a result of the continual ratcheting down effect of the Gallagher Amendment, the same property in 2018 will be assessed at only 6.56% of its actual value, as if it were worth only $6,560.
So where do we go from here?
It is my opinion the solution to our funding shortfall is to do what many other Colorado communities have already done. Invest more local dollars in the education of our children.
As a result of the Gallagher Amendment’s ratcheting down of the residential property assessment rate, defined as the actual percentage of property value subject to taxation, Cañon City School District taxpayers have actually been asked to contribute a smaller portion of base funding required to educate its children. In 1983 a Cañon City house valued at $100,000 was taxed based on 21% of that value. In other words, at that time the property owner payed tax as if their house were worth $21,000. By 1990 a property valued at $100,000 was taxed as if it were worth only $16,000. Since 2003 such a property has been taxed as if it were only worth $7,960. Believe it or not, as a result of the continual ratcheting down effect of the Gallagher Amendment, the same property in 2018 will be assessed at only 6.56% of its actual value, as if it were worth only $6,560.
This chart shows how Gallagher has ratcheted down the residential property tax assessment rate over time.
This means all Cañon City Schools residential taxpayers will once again pay less in property tax to support the operation of schools, the fire and recreation districts, and other basic services than they did this year.
As a homeowner I am a big fan of low residential property tax rates. As a realist I understand we get what we pay for. To maintain an effective fire department we must be willing to contribute our fair share. Same goes for an effective recreation department. Due to Gallagher’s affect on the assessment rate, our fire district will actually have to operate on $300,000 less next year than it did this year. Thanks to the affect Gallagher and TABOR restrictions have on our state budget, Cañon City Schools will deal with an increase in lost funding due to the increase in the negative factor I described several weeks ago.
It wasn’t always this way in Cañon City. From 1949 through 1951 school district taxpayers saw reason to replace the original Washington School, build a new Lincoln School, remodel the original Harrison School, and build a new elementary school in the East Lincoln Park neighborhood, calling it McKinley. This was not accomplished by using annual operations dollars. Community members approved a tax increase and the sale of bonds to do so, building three brand new schools and significantly remodeling another as a result of one community election.
This is not the only time our voters stepped up to address our school facilities issues. In 2005 we voted to provide the district with $26 million dollars to build a brand new Harrison K-8 School and to add a beautiful new wing to our high school.
What I am saying is, despite our state government’s inability to address the significant funding shortfall we are dealing with in our local education system, we the citizens and voters of the Cañon City School District have the ability to solve our problems on our own. Cañon City possesses the residential property wealth it takes. To do so the community will have to agree to make such an investment. As TABOR and Gallagher have been designed, we will have to agree our children are worth investing in. The most reassuring aspect of such a plan is, unlike when we are taxed by politicians in Washington and Denver, when we decide to make such a financial commitment as a community, to invest in ourselves, the dollars stay here, and we can hold our elected officials responsible for spending them wisely.
A very intelligent neighbor of mine recently said, “this is an economic issue for Cañon City.” “If we are unwilling to invest in ourselves, why would we expect anyone else to come here and do so?”
In my next submission I will explain some ideas the school district is working on to improve facilities and programs.
Thanks for listening!
George S. Welsh
As a homeowner I am a big fan of low residential property tax rates. As a realist I understand we get what we pay for. To maintain an effective fire department we must be willing to contribute our fair share. Same goes for an effective recreation department. Due to Gallagher’s affect on the assessment rate, our fire district will actually have to operate on $300,000 less next year than it did this year. Thanks to the affect Gallagher and TABOR restrictions have on our state budget, Cañon City Schools will deal with an increase in lost funding due to the increase in the negative factor I described several weeks ago.
It wasn’t always this way in Cañon City. From 1949 through 1951 school district taxpayers saw reason to replace the original Washington School, build a new Lincoln School, remodel the original Harrison School, and build a new elementary school in the East Lincoln Park neighborhood, calling it McKinley. This was not accomplished by using annual operations dollars. Community members approved a tax increase and the sale of bonds to do so, building three brand new schools and significantly remodeling another as a result of one community election.
This is not the only time our voters stepped up to address our school facilities issues. In 2005 we voted to provide the district with $26 million dollars to build a brand new Harrison K-8 School and to add a beautiful new wing to our high school.
What I am saying is, despite our state government’s inability to address the significant funding shortfall we are dealing with in our local education system, we the citizens and voters of the Cañon City School District have the ability to solve our problems on our own. Cañon City possesses the residential property wealth it takes. To do so the community will have to agree to make such an investment. As TABOR and Gallagher have been designed, we will have to agree our children are worth investing in. The most reassuring aspect of such a plan is, unlike when we are taxed by politicians in Washington and Denver, when we decide to make such a financial commitment as a community, to invest in ourselves, the dollars stay here, and we can hold our elected officials responsible for spending them wisely.
A very intelligent neighbor of mine recently said, “this is an economic issue for Cañon City.” “If we are unwilling to invest in ourselves, why would we expect anyone else to come here and do so?”
In my next submission I will explain some ideas the school district is working on to improve facilities and programs.
Thanks for listening!
George S. Welsh
