[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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",6487584,"mediaKeyId","5588621-44b948969e418a644bd726f4257e257e","parentId",5588621,"title","Board discusses revision to stakeholder grievance policy; administration clarifies scope and protections","audioSeconds",3362,"startMs",2785000,"endMs",6147000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5588621-44b948969e418a644bd726f4257e257e&start=2785&end=6147","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5588621-44b948969e418a644bd726f4257e257e/thumbnail_2785000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6487584/Colorado/Board-discusses-revision-to-stakeholder-grievance-policy-administration-clarifies-scope-and-protections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6487584-6dfe718e09859ed8f2f126c094892f18/orig.mp4?Expires=1775486599&Signature=Kb10dm0BpiAhKR5aEdoWyNofbcfT14bOJo3z55dRqBhppTz2FgM-wdG9UsXt9x7Vy3prnFRpi~0MLzQSw8DoLrJjp54dK944ek3pUbVln49Jyp3LY5gqyOtR3m5A7sNAnn01cUH00cb~9H0gPYBJDD4kgI5hMRgZIxVuglqMh4V1Ojjnt9N5ilC2MSn4lTjDkCKfoCEAsb04lwtKOgDk9xbQ~6tJDA8bBUInya~MYYEMc-lbk~fnn9oeX1gScZD5~KUaYdmVEqqlpXzOT-uhxkS2CSNiRqNm8Rk~SXJxTMYBzUEWCrnob55dEX1~TROatbSE4n05KcPIr08YTvVtAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","El Paso County Colorado School District 49","date","2025-08-15T04:20:30.62Z","article","The Board of Education reviewed proposed revisions to the district's stakeholder grievance policy (KEA) at the Aug. 14 meeting. Administration said the update is intended to clarify who may file a grievance, what matters are grievable and how the process proceeds.

Paul Anderson, executive director for People and Culture, and Sonia Marroquin Smith, human resources manager, presented the rewrite. Anderson said Sonia led the revision work and that the overhaul organizes the policy into clearer sections: purpose, applicability, grievable matters, process and timelines. Marroquin Smith summarized the substantive changes: the policy applies only to district-operated schools (charter schools maintain their own local governance and grievance procedures), it adds clearer definitions of stakeholders and it tightens language around timelines and objectivity.

\"In summary, the proposed revisions enhance the clarity of the policy. It's basically not altering the policy's intent whatsoever,\" Marroquin Smith said. Administration told the board the grievance office recorded about 114 grievances over the past five years; roughly 18 of those came from charter schools and were therefore not appropriate for district grievance handling.

Director Schmidt said the board had not been given a pre-review opportunity and suggested wording changes. Schmidt raised points including preferring the term \"fairness and respect\" instead of phrasing that could be read as tied to external executive orders, and asked that nonresidents be explicitly considered in the applicability language. School legal counsel advised that the board's internal grievance process is for stakeholders and does not create a parallel external right for nonresidents to use internal protocols.

Board members also pressed for protections for staff named in grievances. Administration pointed to a strengthened paragraph in the procedures: \"Individuals directly named in the grievance or those with a close association to the matter shall not participate in the review or decision-making process. Where appropriate, the district may engage an external investigator to ensure objectivity.\" The revised text also allows appointing a neutral process facilitator.

Several board members praised the policy's organization and role in reducing repetitive public comment at meetings. Director Lavere Wright, a member of the original policy team, said the grievance process has significantly reduced direct appeals to the board and allowed concerns to be addressed at the appropriate administrative level. The board reached consensus to move the revised KEA policy forward as an action item at a future meeting, and staff said they will return the redlined language with the small wording change requested by one director.

No final policy vote was held at the Aug. 14 meeting; the board's consensus sends the revision to a future action agenda.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","D49 Board of Education Meeting 8-14-25","oneSentenceSummary","The board reviewed a rewritten stakeholder grievance policy (KEA) that clarifies it applies to district-operated schools, strengthens neutrality protections and tightens timelines.","taxTitle","El Paso County Colorado School District 49, School Districts , Colorado","taxId",38500,"location","Colorado","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6487589,"District 49 named Baldrige national finalist; site visit scheduled for September",156,1275000,1431000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5588621-44b948969e418a644bd726f4257e257e&start=1275&end=1431","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5588621-44b948969e418a644bd726f4257e257e/thumbnail_1275000.jpg","/articles/6487589/Colorado/District-49-named-Baldrige-national-finalist-site-visit-scheduled-for-September","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6487589-37322cf181f94ddba753e19f0597470f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775486599&Signature=ObwGKeUF7K86Vg8Ad~jsusTcYF00TOzbgohhuBbDyd9caqtD0AQvCn4oXoPgD~KGeAhG8u189NPgT0YcuszXSgo6onWcBTlEBVvmjqXGcZACtIYHILd47oQTngzus8cPHwmXUfp5jh4iQHAtdpGKt7h-3Xg9M68NEhXLGfQC2Ush5nG1mckRrnUKBEg0K1POpJWomilL4TnyEvVu2-IBDvwEHOqK-Z2m-PCkbVIch~3KPMEJzqWQYUZWiN7y-tCanrhdKh-SwMFucFnOZ7quZx4wgJlwQt6drE1lARmkBFMR50iFCXrYKeN2yV5UAiYGsC9mKyvmvMWMgQp24yWLSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","El Paso County Colorado School District 49 was announced as a national finalist in the Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence program, Superintendent Peter Hiltz told the Board of Education at its Aug. 14 regular meeting.

Hiltz said the district learned the news the day before the meeting and that NIST (the National Institute of Standards and Technology) examiners will make a site visit in September. \"We learned yesterday that El Paso County, Colorado School District 49 is a national finalist in the Baldrige Performance Excellence program,\" he said.

The recognition is given to a small number of organizations each year after a review of performance results and, for finalists, an on-site evaluation. Hiltz described the district's multi-year effort to improve operations and instruction and said the nomination reflects work starting as far back as 2015. \"We will know more about why we were recognized, what our strengths were,\" he said, \"but there are some folks that I know I can thank already because this award and recognition rises on the strength of the people of District 49.\" He added that the district will receive an extensive feedback report following the site visit.

Student board members who spoke during the meeting applauded the announcement. Student board member Vivian Barr said she was proud to represent a district that has attracted students by choice: \"As a student who did choice into District 49 for its excellence and for its program, I think it's very, very cool that we are now on this big platform at a national scale representing how wonderful District 49 is.\" Student board member Nikos said he and other student representatives were excited by the recognition and by opportunities the district affords students.

Administrators said a site visit in September will clarify the district's strengths and provide recommendations. Hiltz emphasized the recognition does not guarantee an award, but said being a national finalist is an \"incredible achievement\" that highlights long-term work on continuous improvement across schools and departments.

District officials noted the recognition connects to a broader emphasis on customer service, operations and learning. Hiltz referenced the district vision and thanked staff and families for their role in the work: \"Our students are blessed to learn from you. The government of the United States of America says that you are an example for others to follow.\" The district will post updates after the Baldrige site visit and when the final decision is announced.

The board did not take formal action on the Baldrige announcement; the superintendent presented the update as an informational item.","El Paso County Colorado School District 49 was named a national finalist in the Baldrige Performance Excellence program. Superintendent Peter Hiltz announced a site visit in September and credited district staff and community for continuous improvement work that produced the recognition.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6487579,"Votes at a glance: Board approves charter-relations job description and November election agreement",252,2784000,3036000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5588621-44b948969e418a644bd726f4257e257e&start=2784&end=3036","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5588621-44b948969e418a644bd726f4257e257e/thumbnail_2784000.jpg","/articles/6487579/Colorado/Votes-at-a-glance-Board-approves-charter-relations-job-description-and-November-election-agreement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6487579-284a3bedc7e27ef86ef975586d2b8a6e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775486599&Signature=FnFRKCVOjujG21W8e0MJ-Sx7SK0GvIhE6HaNIWv9FrYbMikYhH9aT4qL5Z3DMeRX~v4IbDON9BfKUNtcVFz9ikmZWN~xCNAKZ0UT-LEa9MMzfUk04OTKXv0tNeTVq-qcdRmvo6M2tmUpDevRL5J7aqe0OUgKhBUNbdHYz7qm9zhtoaY-zAQv9dgIEGYfcQXpZ4RO2EgDSz5~BjJdJO0tg8gBx8VC9dz0cP~5WOssrgrWEALNUqI3OlVICxnHk3KtyesS3jdAiB3-jCRomMHRHeaWZc271oHCU2jSc1FVmsO0DgpDhC3L3X95hSNktMtHUoNeHiph9c-Mz2HuxrwYnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Education took several formal votes at its Aug. 14 meeting, approving a job description for a Coordinator of Charter School Relations and authorizing an intergovernmental agreement for administration of the November election.

Coordinator of Charter School Relations (Action Item 7.1)
The board voted to approve the job description for coordinator of charter school relations. A board member moved the motion and another board member seconded it. During discussion a board member asked whether the motion should explicitly include a retroactive pay date noted on the cover sheet. Superintendent Peter Hiltz said he would understand an approved motion to be \"retroactive to July 1,\" citing the board's intent. The motion passed with recorded ayes: Tuvala; Haile; Lavere Wright; Schmidt; Thompson.

Intergovernmental agreement for November election (Action Item 7.2)
The board voted to authorize execution of an intergovernmental agreement with the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder to run the November election. Administration said the agreement carries an estimated budget impact in the district's annual budget of roughly $76,000; staff explained that coordinating with the county during its election cycle reduces the district's costs versus running a stand-alone election. The student board asked clarifying questions about candidate age and process. The motion passed with recorded ayes: Devala; Haile; Lavere Wright; Schmidt; Thompson.

Other routine votes
The board also approved the Aug. 14 meeting agenda and the consent agenda earlier in the meeting by roll call votes.

What passed (summary)
- Approval of meeting agenda — passed (roll call)
- Approval of consent agenda — passed (roll call)
- Job description: Coordinator of Charter School Relations — passed (vote recorded)
- Authorization of intergovernmental agreement for November election (budget impact ~ $76,000) — passed (vote recorded)

No vote was recorded at the Aug. 14 meeting on the proposed job description for an information-technology specialist; that item was moved to discussion and the board granted consensus to return it as an action item at a future meeting. Several other items (policy revisions, community-organization membership proposals) were advanced by board consensus for future action and will return to the board for a formal vote on a subsequent agenda.","At its Aug. 14 meeting the District 49 Board approved a job description for a Coordinator of Charter School Relations (motion carried) and authorized an intergovernmental agreement with the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder to run the November election; the election agreement carries an estimated budget impact of about $76,000.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board discusses revision to stakeholder grievance policy; administration clarifies scope and protections

District 49 named Baldrige national finalist; site visit scheduled for September

Votes at a glance: Board approves charter-relations job description and November election agreement