D11 leaders form employee engagement group to draft handbook amid public outcry over master‑agreement nonrenewal

Colorado Springs School District 11 officials on Wednesday outlined plans to form an Employee Engagement Group to develop a consolidated employee handbook and to guide ongoing employee‑engagement efforts.

Dr. Comfort, the district—s chief human resources official, told the board the group will include representatives from the district—s three employee groups (executive professionals, teachers and education support professionals), and CSEA will be invited to have a seat at the table. The application period opens Monday, Jan. 13, will run two weeks, and the first convening is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 28; members are expected to meet monthly for approximately two hours, officials said.

"Our initial focus is the development of the D11 employee handbook," Executive Director Harris said, adding that staff had already begun consolidating existing separate handbooks. Dr. Comfort said the group would address handbook sections including district expectations, procedures, compensation and benefits, leaves and employee classifications. The district plans to brief the District Accountability Committee on the work and to post outreach materials to employees the week of Jan. 13.

Board members asked for details about committee composition, reporting and community engagement. Chief Hopper said the district will consider board guidance on selection criteria and membership terms and can expand meeting frequency if needed. The presenters said they would return to the board at a planned Jan. 15 work session for a facilitated discussion about the group—s vision and guardrails.

The presentation followed an extended public‑comment period focused on the board—s December decision not to renew the CSEA master agreement, which drew multiple speakers on Wednesday urging the board to restore collective bargaining and to improve transparency.

Ally Klein, a parent, PTA leader and substitute teacher, said the presence of a union had been a deciding factor in choosing D11 for her children and warned that revoking the master agreement "will cause families who can choose to go elsewhere, taking their involvement in this community and their high test scores right along with them." Several teachers who spoke described distress and a loss of trust after the December vote and urged the board to negotiate.

Superintendent Goll acknowledged community concern and told the board the employee engagement process would be collaborative and would include listening sessions for the public. President Malpakam said the board had tentatively set four community listening sessions—one per quadrant of the city—between late January and early March; two board members would staff each meeting and all feedback would be provided to the employee engagement group.

Board members and staff also discussed narrower operational questions: whether the engagement group should have staggered terms, how the group—s work would be reported to the board and public, and whether board members could observe or attend working‑group meetings. Officials said they would return proposals on those points at the next work session.

No formal policy changes or contract actions were taken Wednesday; the board will consider future items after the work session and community input.