Board schedules off-site retreat for March 12 after debate; one director expresses frustration

The Colorado Springs School District No. 11 Board of Education discussed upcoming meetings and scheduling on Feb. 19 and set an off-site board retreat for March 12 after members raised differing preferences about timing and location.

Director Jorgensen requested a calendar update and reminded the board of items she had planned to raise. The board president said the retreat had been scheduled for March 12 at an off-site location after feedback that an off-site setting would better suit the session. The president also said the board had requested a pattern of one board meeting and one work session per month and that no meeting was currently scheduled for Feb. 26; the regular March meeting is set for March 5.

Director Nelson criticized the delay in holding the retreat and the board—s ability to set priorities. "I just would like to comment that, I requested the retreat at the January and we could have still gone to an off-site this evening. So, it is incredibly frustrating that we as a board have not been able to come together and discuss what we would like to accomplish in the second half of the school year," Nelson said. "I feel like we are sort of just I don't know what we're focusing on as a board. ... this is not okay."

Board leadership said it had considered feedback from an agenda-setting meeting and had proposed a work session on board priorities as an alternative to a retreat; logistical concerns and the desire to hold the retreat off-site informed the March 12 scheduling. No formal action or vote was required to set the retreat date during the special meeting.

The president closed the meeting after confirming there was no further business.