[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,76,87,99],{"_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":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6539780,"mediaKeyId","3585988-6f759538890f8650813b6445800c506b","parentId",3585988,"title","Three charter applications reviewed: East Hills, Spruce Community and Gateway for Success","audioSeconds",800,"startMs",5580000,"endMs",6380000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3585988-6f759538890f8650813b6445800c506b&start=5580&end=6380","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3585988-6f759538890f8650813b6445800c506b/thumbnail_5580000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6539780/Colorado/Three-charter-applications-reviewed-East-Hills-Spruce-Community-and-Gateway-for-Success","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539780-5cfa0742a383178157980718400542b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770481151&Signature=E-7tDSd8X896-QG4lKc9hMTU7Je2RQ8QXwZCa-l155TJp2sauAiDp5wMqPc9RLlYrBUXH1v9wUwBk4xYa3HQG1uz1zinKcHM~7uya7z8KkdDe5~U~eesK4j3uQ1IHuqehp-hH3UsmhrmbG~ZAaivS8xZPUXO3u-TTMLVWDSsDix1SebAhYvPPcYWkU9mlfiOknEr4Da9Mcmm4NSQfryhWp0XphDRXtHdUfKTWSzfAaqn22R0eVuMryVobwQv9sYRm-xwdhgo2eJcM3nqLvVVZ0t2YJuHaetTERTvtFS4XFTMSlsxI8yV7SSNN72JCxYu1uP0XrhrLPh62~UYOdPRSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Colorado Springs School District No. 11","date","2025-05-29T04:44:06.703Z","article","COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Board of Education heard presentations from three groups seeking charter authorization in District 11: East Hills Academy, Spruce Community School and Gateway for Success. District staff and the District Advisory Committee (DAC) provided reviews of each application and trustees asked detailed questions about enrollment projections, facilities, special-education services and financial contingencies.

East Hills Academy: Dana Jing and founding board members described a classical education K'model focused on a core-knowledge curriculum, character education and a plan to provide transportation to overcome access barriers. The group said it has collected signatures of interest and is evaluating sites in the district's southern neighborhoods; scenarios included a K-only launch (88 students) or a K'0 opening with smaller classes. Weather and procurement questions were not applicable; trustees pressed for more detail on special-education, ML and GT services and contingency budgets.

Spruce Community School: Founder Lauren Kasowski and founding board members described a project-based learning model emphasizing community partnerships, small class sizes and substantial start-up funding already pledged. Spruce said it has secured approximately $500,000 of year-zero funding and has multi-year philanthropic commitments to support a mindful phased opening (64'72 students planned initially). District and DAC reviewers rated Spruce's application as \"fully developed\" in many sections but requested clarifications on certain operational details (regulatory alignment, discipline matrices and special-education staffing ratios).

Gateway for Success: A charter-management network presentation outlined a blended credit-recovery and individualized-learning program intended to serve older students and those in need of alternate pathways to graduation. The management group described existing campuses in other states and told trustees it could front start-up costs via the management organization. District reviewers judged Gateway's application \"partially developed\" and sought more local board membership detail, more local partnerships and clearer curriculum alignment for transfer back to a comprehensive district school if students return. Trustees asked for stronger evidence of board and local governance in Colorado.

District and DAC reviews: For each applicant trustees received the district's technical review and the DAC's advisory recommendations. Spruce and East Hills both received mostly strong reviews in the DAC materials; Gateway received a mixed review and staff asked for more local governance details. Trustees asked for follow-up answers on staffing plans for special needs and MC Kinney-Vento supports, audit and reporting timelines, and facilities contingencies.

Why it matters: Charter authorizations change district enrollment, facilities planning, and the district's portfolio of schools. Trustees said they will consider staff follow-ups and the district's contract language should an authorization be granted.

Next steps: Trustees asked applicants to provide additional documentation and clarifications; the three charter items were scheduled to return for action at upcoming board meetings subject to staff follow-up.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOE Special Meeting/Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","Three charter-school applicants presented distinct models — classical elementary with transportation (East Hills), project-based K' start with pledged startup funds (Spruce Community), and a blended credit-recovery network (Gateway for Success) — and trustees asked for follow-up on special-education, finances and facilities.","taxTitle","Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the cou, School Districts , Colorado","taxId",12901,"location","Colorado","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_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":74,"_75":74},6539785,"State board accepted Mitchell High School innovation plan; local board told plan aims to raise instruction quality",0,5039000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3585988-6f759538890f8650813b6445800c506b&start=5039&end=5039","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3585988-6f759538890f8650813b6445800c506b/thumbnail_5039000.jpg","/articles/6539785/Colorado/State-board-accepted-Mitchell-High-School-innovation-plan-local-board-told-plan-aims-to-raise-instruction-quality","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539785-ad1c3cb8bf0b69ba466b210e8516a5b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770481151&Signature=m66ToEvqN88Op6-nX~PiWY~G9G3sz8Sok5oZAN46DYxYFlUilIdS8Em5X4vEwpA2bYWWLw42sjS0MaHrGGAQJtoClov81gElrZsenz33aYs-XMfquDOf68mAs9AW2tgvOHzdxAqq0vMncTxGznvecrsaDS-iyQDoeWdqomd-nfTgRpKiFV~N8zNbM91FLh045tkfo-oURDrh0gjdWcl2zrMIjjgCiUi3KbmLaE-ugfNGQdwZS-o3U2p8R4JzmTVxQJX5HNnMW34-FlkRkHct8u3FIzE6m~K7ZdJlSf7LQk3Z49HmO3QDb7i7UARaATPtocSWjJjwWytCOH5pRz8bPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Trustees were briefed Wednesday that the Colorado State Board of Education unanimously accepted Mitchell High School's innovation plan and the district is preparing to implement a two-part strategy combining an external partial academic manager with the school's existing innovations.

Area Superintendent Lehi Callback and Mitchell principal George Smith summarized the plan, telling trustees the state board voted 9-0 in favor of the proposal. The department described the local plan as emphasizing \"partial academic management\" from an external partner and continued use of the innovation plan's waivers; the innovation plan itself remains unchanged and state law requires the local board to review innovation plans every three years.

Dr. Comfort and area leaders said the root causes the plan targets include weak day-to-day classroom instruction, gaps in hiring and compensation, and insufficient talent development and evaluation systems. Trustees asked for evidence of progress monitoring; administrators said progress-monitoring reports they share with the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) are publicly available and they would provide links and updates.

The state-approved strategy focuses on intensive on-site instructional support the district said has produced improvements at other D11 schools where the same partner has worked (examples offered included Galileo and Adams). Mitchell administrators said student intake levels for reading and math show students entering far below grade level in many cases, which underlines the urgency of focusing intervention on instruction.

Why it matters: Mitchell is on the state's priority list for improvement; officials said the new implementation step emphasizes getting coaches and specialists into classrooms to support teachers and accelerate progress rather than relying only on longer-term systemic changes.

Next steps: Administrators said they will provide the board with the plan's progress monitoring and data that go to CDE and will increase local reporting to trustees. The board signaled support for monitoring the plan's implementation and asked staff to bring back specific updates in the months ahead.

Ending: Trustees and staff portrayed the plan as urgent work to accelerate classroom instruction and said they will provide regular progress updates to the board and the community.","The board received an update that the State Board of Education unanimously approved the Mitchell High School innovation plan and learned the district will add an external partial academic manager to accelerate teacher supports, instruction and student progress.",{"_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":74,"_75":74},6539789,"Trustees approve roof contract, authorize $4.175M property purchase and approve sale of charter building",341,1449000,1790000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3585988-6f759538890f8650813b6445800c506b&start=1449&end=1790","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3585988-6f759538890f8650813b6445800c506b/thumbnail_1449000.jpg","/articles/6539789/Colorado/Trustees-approve-roof-contract-authorize-4175M-property-purchase-and-approve-sale-of-charter-building","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539789-6d875ce60ee04ac24d8b5c4ab85c16c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770481151&Signature=PT69MT~f8m1iQab6FKD8X6QhSyiKRCLusEHmZ7NnrgweBT4tgLrPkVoo3azHMxkzGNySeKhKkdU7GHLZEWAYcbo4RVuKxraimum97DFQodkIIuX2e8WwUWLkTobZrbjN2TvYU~4cS9oRT-rVDbsVAOWvwCWVxld6NFu7dqe6k1z5qYtSzycB52nSeNwmk~DAHe0SApGyki18SDTGKcGnoWNn88Pvhassd0hBEIMJmvCxRdDxop~~b7d00t6r1zjssHRF9LIqcCkTAnZzzqouBr2vQ3ONebiFAmQzTUZpYMeOKwK76zPwT6-k7t6G7FnlIfW1e1QhyIIYTdcqy0Ealg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Board of Education of Colorado Springs School District 11 approved three formal transactions at its May 28 special meeting, recording motions to award a construction contract, authorize property acquisition and to approve a property sale to a charter operator.

What passed
- Roof contract at Audubon Elementary: The board approved contract C2025-1019 with Weathercraft Company of Colorado Springs for $1,149,130 and granted the superintendent and the administration authority to allow an additional 10% for approved contract modifications without further board contract approval. Weathercraft is the project's selected contractor; staff said the roof work would begin as soon as May 29 and the contract includes daily liquidated damages of $500 and a 20-year warranty on the built-up roof.
- Authority to acquire four adjacent properties for Palmer High School project: Trustees approved Resolution 2025-45, delegating authority to Chris Odom, the district's chief operations officer, to negotiate and sign purchase agreements for four properties near Palmer High School at a not-to-exceed sum of $4,175,000. The board reviewed the properties in executive session earlier and staff said the parcels lie inside the Wasatch Weber historic neighborhood; district staff told the board the specific parcels are not on the historic register and the district would continue community and preservation board conversations about options for preserving historical elements.
- Sale of Roosevelt Charter Academy property: The board approved Resolution 2025-46, authorizing Chris Odom to finalize the sale agreement for 205 Byron Drive to Roosevelt Charter Academy at a sale price of $8,150,000.

Roll-call results
- Resolution 2025-45 (Palmer-area property acquisitions): vote recorded as 7-0 (Bankes/Carey/Hafeli/Jorgensen/Malpakam/Nelson/Ott — all aye). The board chair announced \"The ayes have it. The board has approved 2025-45.\" (Transcript roll call at 19:65:xx).
- Resolution 2025-46 (Charter sale): vote recorded as 7-0 (Bankes/Carey/Hafeli/Jorgensen/Malpakam/Nelson/Ott — all aye); recorded in the minutes as approved by the board.
- Contract award for Audubon roof (C2025-1019): staff presented the bid evaluation and recommended Weathercraft; the motion to approve the contract was moved and seconded on the record and the board confirmed approval during the meeting. (Motion text and contract terms recorded on the public agenda.)

Why it matters: The roofing contract is part of a broader set of facilities projects including work at Palmer High School and Jenkins Middle School. The property purchases for Palmer will advance the district's site plan discussions and require coordination with historic-preservation stakeholders. The charter property sale moves a district-owned building into charter ownership for an agreed price and expedites the campus transfer to the new operator.

What trustees asked: Board members requested assurances about historic preservation and asked for follow-up reports to the board and community on discussions with preservation groups and city planning.

Next steps: Construction at Audubon was expected to start the day after the meeting (Weathercraft told trustees it could begin May 29), and the district will move forward on closing documents for the property purchases and the Roosevelt sale under the delegated authority of the chief operations officer.

Ending: The three items were recorded in the minutes as approved, and staff said the district will update the board and public about project timing and next steps.","At the May 28 special meeting Board of Education approved three formal transactions: a roof replacement contract at Audubon Elementary, delegated authority to acquire four properties near Palmer High School and authorized the sale of the Roosevelt Charter Academy property.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6539795,"District 11 unveils budget prioritizing instruction, 10% pay increase and use of reserves",2165,752000,2917000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3585988-6f759538890f8650813b6445800c506b&start=752&end=2917","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3585988-6f759538890f8650813b6445800c506b/thumbnail_752000.jpg","/articles/6539795/Colorado/District-11-unveils-budget-prioritizing-instruction-10-pay-increase-and-use-of-reserves","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539795-6bfebb38864084e01f0764b35dd6ced4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770481151&Signature=DkLL-bkrEpIH6q~X8ndyO5RiehXR4NbTUSiEgmdPLceLmnTRZxvbrzP4TR9LRhNJV6-6nCMs5ylgieY3dPr4a6e7wNro3ORjP5fIcROk9MVMs7h0dTeVmaW4mAtTknmN9SMqStAEDhEsCUPxxihkjgadCB4wRThN4PZXdj2OIPSTEY~kLFTuPO97eoqCoKjGLZVEocmhj9~ol7sr3PYrGKpZtms8RF7vMn0r~xpEdND~qoDHDqjt7Kxx4ZEyev3~wDHt7l4hC7bS7owj1wMT~ZqAbuqUansUWM4UQMwfVTtb15wmcagTCr7DpzfMA67GMnAXGvYmrkyRmAgplUPNsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Board of Education of Colorado Springs School District 11 on Wednesday heard the administration's proposed 2025'026 budget, which places a top priority on instruction and proposes a districtwide 10% salary increase while tapping fund balances to pay for one-time and recurring costs.

Superintendent Randy Goll opened the meeting's public session by reading his letter to the budget book and said the district will keep putting \"dollars closest to students.\" Deputy Superintendent and Chief Resource Officer Dr. Brandon Comfort then reviewed assumptions underlying the proposal, including a projected per-pupil funding amount of $11,546 and roughly $100 million in combined fund balances across multiple funds.

The budget shifts more of the district's resources to classroom instruction, showing an instructional share of general fund spending that Comfort said rose to 59.9% from roughly 57% two years ago. \"You've got to remember every single percent represents 1% of $353,000,000,\" he told trustees, noting the district had redirected roughly $7 million toward instruction over two years. He described the package as focusing on compensation, facilities and \"hands-on learning\" including apprenticeships and site-based budgeting.

A public hearing drew one commenter: Becca Kenderdine, a District 11 teacher, told the board she had participated in a pilot for the district's CKLA curriculum but could not get materials for English learners despite repeated requests. She said she later found \"unspent money in last year's budget\" on board documents and urged the board to investigate and ensure timely distribution of classroom materials.

Budget details disclosed to trustees included:
- A 10% across-the-board proposed raise for staff (Comfort said the 10% does not include benefit increases).
- Increased recurring funding targeted to roles that support instruction and $9 million of MLO money appropriated to compensation.
- $198 million in capital appropriations (largely driven by multi-year borrowing and projects in progress), with $18 million of MLO set aside for capital projects.
- A move to a site-based budgeting model and $700,000 set aside for SBB implementation and fall adjustments.
- School discretionary funds consolidated partly by moving Title I discretionary funding into the general fund for easier local management.

Board members asked detailed questions about restricted fund balances, preschool accounting, the mill levy override (MLO) unallocated balance and how the district will ensure funding sustainability. Comfort said the district carries large reserves \"north of $100,000,000\" and that the MLO is already largely appropriated for capital and compensation but that a nonrecurring MLO balance remains for one-time items.

The board discussed procedural next steps: the budget items on the agenda were presented as non-action items Wednesday and were scheduled to return as action items at the board's regular meeting the following week; trustees also signaled interest in additional executive-session legal advice on personnel and employee-group issues that could affect budget line items.

Why it matters: District 11's budget priorities shape pay, class services and capital work across 54 schools serving tens of thousands of students. Proposed recurring increases in compensation and continued shifts of central dollars to schools are intended to keep staff and focus resources on instruction in a district that has sought to reverse long-term enrollment declines.

What to watch: The budget returns as an action item at the June 4 regular meeting, with board votes due then; trustees also asked for follow-up clarification on preschool accounting, the MLO nonrecurring balance and staff positions that have been carried for employee-group representation.

Ending: The administration and the district's budget advisory committee said they will keep refining assumptions ahead of next week's action vote and will supply additional detail to trustees on the items raised during Wednesday's hearing.","Superintendent Randy Goll and Deputy Superintendent Brandon Comfort presented a $2025–26 budget that increases pay, boosts school-based spending and uses fund balances; the board held a public hearing and heard a teacher complain about unspent materials funds.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Three charter applications reviewed: East Hills, Spruce Community and Gateway for Success

State board accepted Mitchell High School innovation plan; local board told plan aims to raise instruction quality

Trustees approve roof contract, authorize $4.175M property purchase and approve sale of charter building

District 11 unveils budget prioritizing instruction, 10% pay increase and use of reserves