Jeffco Public Schools

Superintendent's Corner

Dear Jeffco Families,

Springtime for schools also means budget season, and I’ll be writing my next two communications looking at the short and long-range budget considerations we’re thinking about for Jeffco Public Schools.

In this edition of Chalk Talk, we’ll take a look at the budget process for the next school year and how that’s shaping up. For the next edition, I will touch on a statewide effort to increase school funding through a state constitutional amendment effort called Initiative 93, and I will discuss where the district is regarding a possible bond question for this fall’s ballot to make facilities improvements.

Jeffco Public Schools is currently in the middle of our budgeting process for the next school year. School budgeting in Colorado is iterative – a process of making some assumptions and estimations about what we think will happen, then closely observing signs and decisions from the Colorado Legislature to check those assumptions, and finally making adjustments throughout the spring as things become clearer.

Based on our current assumptions today, Jeffco Public Schools is planning to receive around $37 million in new funds through the School Finance Act. This is determined entirely by the legislature, and this assumption can change. We move about $4 million of this to our charter schools (their proportionate share), which leaves us around $33 million in new funding for next year.

$33 million sounds like (and is) a lot of money. However, given the size of Jeffco Public Schools, we have to put it into context.

Read more.

Jeffco students, parents, families, staff, and community members may engage with Dr. Glass via Facebook, Twitter @COJasonGlass, and through his blog, advancejeffco.blog.

JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS EARNS CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING

The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to Jeffco Public Schools by Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

The district has earned this award annually since 1983, evidence of Jeffco's commitment to going beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles to prepare comprehensive annual financial reports in the spirit of transparency and full disclosure.

The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive "spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.

Congrats to the finance department and all those involved in financial reporting that contributes to the award-winning CAFR! 

JEFFCO’S 21ST CENTURY VIRTUAL ACADEMY OFFERS ENGAGING ONLINE OPTION FOR STUDENTS

Jeffco Public School's 21st Century Virtual Academy (JVA) is an option school with many exciting and engaging online course offerings available to all Jeffco students at no cost. JVA’s courses are aligned with Jeffco’s curriculum and are offered through Schoology. JVA’s teachers are experts in online instruction and course development. The school follows the district school calendar and all policies. However, students have control over the time, pace, place, and often, the path of their learning because courses are available 24 hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. Flexibility is a big draw for JVA students and families along with small class sizes for on-campus days. JVA also offers monthly social activities and clubs driven by student requests. JVA has the right program to fit a variety of needs: middle school, traditional high school, and Targeted Actions for Graduation (TAG).

RECEIVING MESSAGING & INFO FROM JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS: YOU CAN MANAGE YOUR PREFERENCES

In Jeffco, both our schools and the district use a system called SchoolMessenger to communicate with the families of our 87,000+ students via email, phone call, text message, and push notifications to our Jeffco mobile app. Any combination of these communication methods might be used with each message sent. The contact information SchoolMessenger uses to send you an email, call, or text comes from what you have entered for Notification Preferences in JeffcoConnect.

Good News in Jeffco

Rose Stein International Elementary’s VEX Robotics teams took first and second place, as well as the Judge’s Award, at the state qualifying competition. Read more.

North Arvada Middle School’s chapter of the Technology Students Association competed at the State Conference, winning 21 medals! Read more.

Baker Concrete Construction donated their time and resources to teach a week-long course, ROCK Week, at Warren Tech. Read more.

Mitchell Elementary student Daniel Xia is still learning English but shares a common language with School of Mines student Fritz Hilbirk: math. Read more.

Lawrence Elementary hosted its International Night, where sixth-graders prepared each activity room based on their social studies content. Read more.

Clint Boston and the students of the History and Social Impact of Rock and Roll class at Green Mountain High School asked a radio legend to stop by and share his story. Read more. 

For more good news, visit the Good News Blog and see Jeffco in the News.

GOOD TO KNOW

School Safety Task Force

The initial information meeting about school security and safety was held March 20, 2018. Jeffco Public Schools is now assembling a task force to further examine our security practices across the district. If you are interested in working with this team, applications will be accepted through Tuesday, April 10 (application in Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese). The goal is to have the first task force meeting before May 15. Learn more here.

Last Chance to Give the Board of Education Your Input on the Budget

Superintendent Dr. Glass has been facilitating community conversations about school district finances. See more about these presentations and give your input on the budget here.  

Board of Education Advisory Committee Application 2018-19

The Board of Education is seeking engaged parents, staff, and business and community members to support the district by serving on Board of Education advisory committees. Committee vacancies will be filled by the Board of Education in June with screening and interviews with the Board prior to that time, so members appointed can begin committee work for the 2018-19 school year. Click here to learn more.

Check Out the Latest from JPS-TV

Emmy®-nominated JPS-TV is the official YouTube channel for Jeffco Public Schools. It features stories about Jeffco kids, teachers, and staff who are building bright futures! Be sure to check out the latest from JPS-TV here. 

Keep Up with Jeffco Athletics

To get the latest on Jeffco’s high school athletics, be sure to check out the CHSAANow.com/jeffco website, JPS-TV Sports, the Jeffco Athletics Facebook page, and scores and photos via @JeffcoAthletics on Twitter.

HAPPENING IN JEFFCO

Fletcher Miller/Sobesky Secondary Art Exhibit 
April 3-29

Lakewood Cultural Center, 480 S. Allison Pkwy., Lakewood, 80226, 303-987-7000
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Jeffco Public Schools Community Night
with the Colorado Rockies
April 7

Hosted by the Jeffco Schools Foundation
6:10 p.m. at Coors Field
Order tickets online here.
Click here for more information.

Jeffco Schools Foundation Elevate Education Gala
April 26

A Night in Brazil at the Arvada Center. Click here for more info. Order tickets at jeffcoschoolsfoundation.org.

Community Wellness Fair
April 28

Saturday, April 28, 9:45 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (free food 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.)
Golden High School
701 24th St., Golden
See the attached flyer for more info.  

JA Business Week
June 10-15

JA (Junior Achievement) Business Week is a one-of-a-kind summer program that lets high school students experience the business world, develop leadership skills, and focus on their futures. Students currently in grades 9-12 learn about business from hundreds of professionals while working on "Shark Tank"-style projects. They also get a taste of college life by living on a university campus. Click here for more information and to register.

IMPORTANT DATES

• April 27 - K-8 Early Release, No School for Jefferson Area

BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS

• Monday,  April 9, 9:00 a.m., Special Meeting 

Meetings are held at the Jeffco Ed Center Board Room, 1829 Denver West Drive #27, Golden. Meeting schedules and agendas are posted on BoardDocs. Please note these study session schedule changes: 9:00 a.m. on May 7 and June 11.