Jeffco Public Schools

Superintendent's Corner

Dear Jeffco Families & Community,

January is upon us and the Colorado legislature is back in session. While the work of teaching and learning happens in our schools, it is also a time when we get serious about budget discussions.

This year’s budget process is made more complicated (in a good way) by the passing of ballot question 5A, which will bring $33 million more dollars into Jeffco Public Schools this budget year, and about $34 million more next year.

Fifty percent of the district’s funds were earmarked for employee compensation through a board of education resolution. Presently, we are working with our employee associations to determine the best way to provide that to our employees, but the good news for Jeffco Public Schools staff members is that they can expect a bump in pay this spring.

5A also included funds for increased mental health supports to improve school safety, career/technical education, increased student access to technology and curricular materials and expanded early childhood education. We have budget decisions to make for those funds in the current year, and going forward.

Looking to the next year, we will combine 5A funds with those that come to the district through the school finance act, a bill passed by the legislature each year that sets school funding for Jeffco and all other districts in the state.

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.

It's TIME! ENROLLJEFFCO BEFORE FEBRUARY 8!

Please go to www.EnrollJeffco.org and click on the Enroll Now button if you will have a student in Jeffco Public Schools next school year. Make sure your Jeffco Connect account is updated and you have the username and password that corresponds with the student(s) you are enrolling. New students will need to be added to Jeffco Connect before using EnrollJeffco.

Current students: Indicate whether your student(s) is returning to the same school, moving up, or applying for a different school.

New students: Whether preschool, kindergarten, out-of-district, or just moving here, you use EnrollJeffco, too. Just set up a Jeffco Connect account first.

HOW DO YOU INCREASE BANDWIDTH WITH LIMITED RESOURCE

In 1998, the average U.S. public school had one internet-accessible computer for every 12 students. Fast-forward twenty years… now the number of devices using Wi-Fi in a Jeffco school exceeds the number of students in the building. However, many of our schools have infrastructure older than most students’ parents. School funding in Colorado has been on the decline since 1982. Exponential demand, old infrastructure, limited resources -- how can Jeffco Public Schools provide fast, reliable connectivity now and in the future?

This is a question the Jeffco Public Schools Information Technology department (Jeffco IT) began asking themselves years ago. One solution was obvious: purchase internet services from commercial vendors. Obvious, but expensive. As many families know -- the more bandwidth you need or want, the more costly the service.

Though our schools meet national educational technology benchmarks, we are behind the FCC recommendations on connectivity. Students, staff, and guest users may find school internet service slow compared to private industry or home networks. Benchmarks aside, Jeffco IT aspires school internet connectivity to be faster and more reliable; that means building a redundant system and increasing bandwidth. Jeffco IT needed an innovative solution to increase capacity without stealing resources from other school programs. The solution? Build our own fiber network utilizing mutually beneficial partnerships.

Read more.

FROM CLASS TO COURT: D’EVELYN JR./SR. HIGH SCHOOL HOSTS COURTS IN THE COMMUNITY

Another school day was fully underway at D’Evelyn Jr./Sr. High School. On one side of the building, an AP physics teacher was going over project requirements for his students. On the other side of the building, another teacher goes over the basics of expository writing. While in the auditorium, the Colorado Court of Appeals had begun the first of two case reviews. D’Evelyn students had the rare privilege of witnessing actual legal proceedings, as part of “Courts in the Community,” an educational outreach program started by the Court of Appeals and the Colorado Supreme Court.

“The goal of the Courts in the Community program is to expose our citizenry, starting with our high school students, to what our appellate courts do,” explained Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Terry Fox. “By actually viewing some real live arguments, the students and their teachers have an opportunity to participate in a real oral argument presented by lawyers and presided over by a three-judge panel.”

“I always think it is great for us, as judges, to get out into the community and let people see what we do, let people see that we are real human beings,” added fellow Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Jerry Jones.

Read more.

Good News in Jeffco

Arvada West High School has officially started a local HOSA Future Health Professionals chapter. Read more.

Two Roads Charter School senior Ellyana Norton was featured in ColoradoParent magazine's article. Read more.

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

GOOD TO KNOW

Free and Reduced Price School Meal Applications:
Eligibility During Government Shutdown

During a temporary lay-off or federal furlough without pay, families can apply for free or reduced-price school meal benefits using current income information. The shutdown represents a temporary reduction in income and families experiencing these reductions have the opportunity to apply for meal benefits, if needed. Applications must include all other household income and be completed according to requirements. Once the shutdown ceases, families can request their meal benefits be terminated. To apply online, visit www.schoolcafe.com. For questions, contact Jeffco Food & Nutrition Services at 303-982-6748.

LET US HEAR FROM YOU

5A Funding Priorities Survey

The ballot language for 5A provided five specific areas for mill levy override funds. However, as Jeffco Public Schools begins to determine expenditures within these categories, we are seeking feedback on what you value and would prioritize. Click here to take the survey and share your thoughts. The survey closes on January 31.

IMPORTANT DATES

• January 22 - February 8 - EnrollJeffco window

BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS

• Thursday, February 7, 5:00 p.m., Study Session
• Thursday, February 7, 6:00 p.m., Regular 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.

ATHLETICS & ACTIVITIES

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! Click here to check out the latest from JPS-TV!

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.