[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6389939,"mediaKeyId","2112903-1b76349a51adb99ea20e0b31587af1a6","parentId",2112903,"title","Board hears reports on snow-day decision, reading focus, staff certifications and facility leadership","audioSeconds",319,"startMs",2264000,"endMs",2583000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112903-1b76349a51adb99ea20e0b31587af1a6&start=2264&end=2583","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112903-1b76349a51adb99ea20e0b31587af1a6/thumbnail_2264000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6389939/Colorado/Board-hears-reports-on-snow-day-decision-reading-focus-staff-certifications-and-facility-leadership","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389939-535dcc5f6369bd6cfa1c1d3ebd25a0e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1773598498&Signature=jNyltfzAvpuxgDYh1ukkpPt536HDZyFCAL8TQx7ISeN3gaYZT0rEELTu3MfnWtrqgXv4AzOTZoT48ORLA1vmecmY2aPjwCRwi-Z1~mPW4GAAIxekDx5wKFGlkkF~t2B6eRScw75T5LMXWUUNo6LtKTMHgr778BAPjiMKwi5I74PanCvdMOEM5N4c0W1f2lQPsQvzVyQ0W-OuyVnOndRWXN8QQfD7rSzdvGCIpziE9J5rxNmP9jcoOmAWkF45wD-e1ipIMPqpsoQV~8KhqBylLl8-97iahtLQM0DOmA07DU-RtEnrWf0A-aR~c5ynmq0BsMjO1kS--i~jsrjsBxS6Kg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-14T13:58:50Z","article","The Elizabeth School District board received a set of reports on Jan. 13 covering operational decisions, student reading initiatives, personnel changes and upcoming community events.

Snow-day decisions and communications: District leadership reviewed the Jan. 9 snow-day sequence that began as a planned late start and shifted to a cancellation after weather worsened and a high-school fire alarm caused boiler shutdowns. The speaker said parking lots were cleared early but conditions and a subsequent boiler-room incident prompted the change. The speaker acknowledged the difficulty parents faced with a late-stage change and said the district aims to make notifications by 5:30 a.m. when possible.

Reading and dyslexia pilot: District leadership framed reading proficiency as a top priority, noting statewide proficiency rates the speaker cited as 42%. The board heard that the district is expanding focus on reading instruction, piloting dyslexia therapy this semester and planning to train five staff members this summer to become Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALT). The speaker said the district contracted a qualified instructor to deliver the CALT training and intends to expand the pilot to both elementary schools and the middle school next year.

Personnel and finance updates: The board celebrated Chief Financial Officer Rebecca Brooks achieving her SFO (School Financial Officer) certification. The board also acknowledged the recent retirement of long-time facilities director Mark Osler and introduced Andrew Rodriguez as the new director of facilities; Rodriguez was credited with organizing staff and clearing buildings during recent snow events.

Community items and events: Board members mentioned the district spelling bee (district-level event Wednesday at 4 p.m.), a book fair Feb. 6'015 run through vendor Skytree, a Chick-fil-A fundraiser Jan. 21 for the Elizabeth Education Foundation, and a remembrance for longtime educator Bonnie Galloway, who died last month.

Votes at a glance: The board approved two procedural motions at the start of the Jan. 13 meeting: removal of agenda item 9.1 from the business-session agenda and approval of minutes from Jan. 7, 2025, and Dec. 16, 2024. Roll-call votes recorded the following responses: Director Booth, Director Callahan, Director Olson, Director Powell and Director Waller all voted Aye on both motions; both motions passed.

Ending: District leadership said the next formal budget update will be presented in two weeks and asked the community to watch for mid-year diagnostics data after Jan. 24.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","ESD Board Meeting: Business Meeting for 1/13/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Elizabeth School District board received a set of reports on Jan. 13 covering operational decisions, student reading initiatives, personnel changes and upcoming community events.","taxTitle","ELIZABETH SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts , Colorado","taxId",55430,"location","Colorado","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6389945,"Running Creek Elementary highlights student activities, Colorado Shines preschool results and safety work",948,1013000,1961000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112903-1b76349a51adb99ea20e0b31587af1a6&start=1013&end=1961","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112903-1b76349a51adb99ea20e0b31587af1a6/thumbnail_1013000.jpg","/articles/6389945/Colorado/Running-Creek-Elementary-highlights-student-activities-Colorado-Shines-preschool-results-and-safety-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389945-9424c950456569a9fae77c21ac8663a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1773598498&Signature=o8P6gUbgTdYWeIRZIv7t-2DTs3~tsvpUuH89AxQW2vnrAKbdsiV-QQo3ixN76nJLiBFGK9HYsnblUMIRL3n1IgSjVODOBfKXeiT-HqCfJFz-~a2Gt-eRA0Q~n7Xavm-ADiPxbBweywIRz52uo6fshL0sopgyf-WMOWjJn71AdlWjKNe1AJHRTkfrDDKa4m23D13V6nLNJZfi-NQAOA44YbOYJXjHifUFUQljv5VRK7ES37kPYe59fxnxnVOZjYhMzcGdI3lLG8TKNmkWvgGASvrb8cGvtksi9rVYZiX4mlWumoX5kI~JpKN5JLKAuL5Cdg5yzT~ndJFmtifoA-d1Cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Michael Seifried, principal of Running Creek Elementary School, delivered a school showcase to the Elizabeth School District board on Jan. 13 highlighting enrollment, instructional programs, community events and safety preparations.

Seifried said Running Creek has 291 students in grades K–5 and 54 preschool students; staff count is about 65. “We have 291 students in the K-5,” Seifried said.

Why it matters: the presentation gave the board a mid-year view of instruction, family engagement and student supports at one of the district’s elementary schools.

Seifried described classroom activities and instructional priorities: a focus on maximizing instructional minutes, small-group instruction (he noted use of the SPIRE program in small reading groups), and WIN (“What I Need”) groups for extra literacy support across K–5. He said the district hosted the CU Fiske Planetarium in the school gym for grades 3–5 and listed field trips and community partnerships with the fire and police departments, Long Creek Farm and Four Mile Park.

Seifried highlighted family- and community-facing events including movie nights, a preschool-only fundraiser, and increased parent involvement through PTCO and SAC meetings. He said Running Creek’s preschool has a Level 5 Colorado Shines rating; Seifried also referenced staff credential improvements and professional development days created for early childhood staff.

On safety, Seifried credited school resource and safety staff: “Jeff Dobak...is really doing very well in our building,” he said, and described joint training with district safety staff, drills and Safe2Tell training conducted Jan. 6.

He closed with routine communication reminders: weekly JAG TRAX messages, Facebook posts, meet-the-teacher features, and an invitation for parents to contact him by text or email.

Ending: Seifried encouraged community participation in school events and noted the district spelling bee and upcoming mid-year diagnostics window as near-term items for staff and families.","Principal Michael Seifried summarized programs and events at Running Creek Elementary, reported enrollment and staff counts, described new instructional emphases, community partnerships and safety work.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6389950,"Elizabeth School District expands infant/toddler slots, seeks grant for second toddler classroom",135,492000,627000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112903-1b76349a51adb99ea20e0b31587af1a6&start=492&end=627","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112903-1b76349a51adb99ea20e0b31587af1a6/thumbnail_492000.jpg","/articles/6389950/Colorado/Elizabeth-School-District-expands-infanttoddler-slots-seeks-grant-for-second-toddler-classroom","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389950-cf7b2ed698b990a89f7a0fb0e035476a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773598498&Signature=DNYIjSnL8Lkifz0tMBzCglB3TyUsLDXevI6ekuKFNm2THq~BUP0L4oRtspxL40e0-4N6oPRbfMdtgmsYXQySaN6o0AESZX1oqJPNItCqy1T3kZeGFqRswBeaiTYLJ06zwjcUBUpl-9zfVrTnpEy5hCAqS1uQYipGMYCj8~xbr-HdUbNVPpq-azw~lW9weYLY9cgmzzkFJg7X~JNcFi-i9itIg5DIYKhPo5GA~LzHwTPXDL1CgExPXrG~YGb4QJy9tllb2lTxCPOl6lTAgsP3SuWZZ0DAlymQr1IRkIifjWS0LpEPZ4GaWGzpF81pf1Ph5IY8zCWoPZ-EG9EDwgMrJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Karina, the district director overseeing early childhood programs, told the Elizabeth School District board on Jan. 13 that the district has opened an infant and toddler program and is pursuing grant funding to expand capacity.

Karina said the district converted space in the Opportunity building into two classrooms and opened the infant/toddler program Sept. 25, 2024. She said toddlers (18 months to 3 years) are fully enrolled and infants (6 weeks to 18 months) currently have six students of a 10-student capacity. “We opened doors September 25th,” Karina said.

The nut graf: the expansion aims to serve more district families and staff and to make the preschool program more accessible; the district is changing hours and applying for a grant to add an additional toddler classroom to meet demand.

Karina said the district will extend daily hours by one hour — from 7:15–4:15 to 7:00–5:00 — to help families whose schedules otherwise prevent enrollment. She said the planned classroom addition would expand toddler capacity from 20 to 30 students; the district’s current goal is to win the grant in April and ready the space over the summer to open in August.

She described staffing and program improvements made since taking the role in March 2024: filling roughly 20 positions across infant, toddler and preschool programs; implementing monthly professional-development Fridays for early childhood staff; and increasing family events and preschool fundraising targeted to preschool families. Karina also said half of current early childhood enrollees are district employees and half are community members.

Karina gave compliance and quality context: Running Creek’s preschool received a Level 5 Colorado Shines rating last year (the highest level), and Singing Hills is currently at Level 4 with a rating window that expires in April. She said many teachers raised credential levels this year — moving from lower levels into level 2–4 classifications under Colorado Shines standards.

District staff said they will also pursue visibility and outreach (including media/communications work with staff member Nikki Quinby) to build community awareness and the program’s wait list.

Ending: Karina said the long-term aim is year-round operation to better meet community need and to continue to build capacity if grant funding and enrollment allow.","District early childhood director reported fully enrolled toddler class, growing infant enrollment, a one-hour daily schedule extension, and a grant application aimed at adding a second toddler classroom to raise capacity from 20 to 30.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board hears reports on snow-day decision, reading focus, staff certifications and facility leadership

Running Creek Elementary highlights student activities, Colorado Shines preschool results and safety work

Elizabeth School District expands infant/toddler slots, seeks grant for second toddler classroom