Colorado / School Districts / Douglas County School District No. Re 1
Trustees heard first readings of BP 552 (interdistrict open enrollment and transportation assistance) aligned with Assembly Bill 533 and BP 816 (automated stop-arm camera system) aligned with AB 527; public commenters urged clearer definitions for capacity and strong vendor oversight for camera programs.
Colorado / School Districts / Douglas County School District No. Re 1
After hours of public comment, trustees unanimously removed a districtwide K–8 plan from consideration and asked the superintendent to take two narrower scenarios to a town hall: (1) consolidate two Rancho elementary schools and (2) merge the district's two middle schools, with the town hall scheduled for the next day.
Colorado / School Districts / Douglas County School District No. Re 1
The board unanimously accepted the resignation of Trustee David Burns; the resignation was approved by motion and no further discussion was recorded in public session.
Colorado / School Districts / Douglas County School District No. Re 1
Trustees approved Board Policy 905 (visitors) and Board Policy 906 (volunteers) after amending a 45-minute observation limit to allow administrator discretion and clarifying that volunteers who supervise students must do so under a district employee's direction.
Colorado / School Districts / Douglas County School District No. Re 1
After interviewing five applicants, trustees unanimously appointed Heather Jackson to the District 6 seat. The board also created a new legislative representative officer and elected Yvonne Wagstaff as president and Melinda Knighting as vice president for 2026.
Colorado / School Districts / Douglas County School District No. Re 1
Facing a roughly $5.2 million shortfall this year and a target to cut $6.9 million by June 2027, Douglas County trustees reviewed three consolidation scenarios and authorized classified reduction‑in‑force notices; parents and staff urged alternatives and pleaded to keep Lake schools off the table.
Colorado / School Districts / Douglas County School District No. Re 1
Trustees rejected a bus‑drivers contract and a teachers’ (DCPEA) agreement this meeting, citing a projected multimillion‑dollar deficit; both denials direct the superintendent to return to the table for negotiations in January.
Colorado / School Districts / Douglas County School District No. Re 1
Transportation staff told the board routes vary widely in cost per student and the department faces driver and aide shortages; special‑education transport is often door‑to‑door and legally required to use school buses, limiting consolidation flexibility.
Colorado / School Districts / Douglas County School District No. Re 1
Trustees began a structured debate on options to bring the district back into balance, including school consolidation, staff reductions, selling underused facilities and other cost‑savings. Administration pledged detailed cost and consolidation analyses before any action.
Colorado / School Districts / Douglas County School District No. Re 1
Trustees approved Option 2 (Izzy) for stop‑loss insurance, a higher‑deductible plan that saves roughly $94,000 this year but carries added exposure; the health advisory committee had recommended staying with WellPoint (formerly Granular) at the $275,000 specific deductible, but trustees voted to adopt Option 2 after discussing fund balance and claim history.