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March 18-19, 2011
Advancing excellence in public education through effective
leadership by locally elected boards of education.
Board Notes is provided as a service of your CASB Region Directors.
Board Notes is distributed to school board members, superintendents and superintendent secretaries following meetings of the full CASB Board of Directors.March 2011
The CASB Board of Directors held its quarterly meeting March 18 and 19 at CASB’s offices in Denver. The board, made up of local school board representatives from CASB’s 12 regions, discussed a variety of topics including educator effectiveness, board goals and policy, legislative news and intergovernmental cooperation. The following summary captures some of the highlights of the meeting.A visit from CML
Sam Mamet,
executive director of the Colorado Municipal League (CASB’s counterpart
for cities and towns), met with the board to discuss ongoing
cooperation between the two associations. He noted the success of
collaborating with CASB, Colorado Counties Inc. and the Special District
Association on opposition of ballot initiatives 60, 61 and 101 last
fall. Last month, CML’s magazine featured an article about municipalities and schools, by CASB’s Ken DeLay. Mamet also described CML’s new school curriculum on local government.
Constitutional reform
Ken briefed the Board on several developments aimed at fixing our broken Constitution and funding apparatus. He referenced a University of Denver tax study that depicts the upward trend of K-12 and Medicaid costs vs. the downward spiral of revenues. SCR-001, the referred ballot measure that raises the percentage of votes needed to approve constitutional change (from 50 to 60 percent), has passed both houses, but is waiting clean up. It’s expected to be sent to the Governor and then would go on the 2012 ballot. Other notables: Sen. Rollie Heath has proposed a ballot measure for this year to restore income and sales tax rates that were cut under Gov. Owens’ administration. It would need the requisite number of voter signatures to get on the 2011 ballot. The tax increase would raise about $500 million a year. On the other hand, claiming a lack of public support, Carol Hedges from the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute has withdrawn ballot proposals for 2011 that would have raised taxes to fund K-12. The CFPI withdrawal may result in more support for Sen. Heath’s proposal.
Legislative report
Jane Urschel’s and Julie George’s update on legislative activities covered the changing state budget which got an infusion of $143 million dollars through updated revenue estimates announced at the March 18 Joint Budget Committee meeting. With that news, education supporters are targeting a “cut to the cut.” Advocacy efforts began at a March 24 joint education committee meeting where several school board members, superintendents and teachers told their stories of adverse impact from budget cuts. CASB’s advocacy efforts will focus on putting at least $100 million back into school finance and staving off additional unfunded mandates.
Educator effectiveness
As is typical when major K-12 initiatives are being proposed in Colorado, CASB was tapped for input on SB 191. Nina Lopez, co-chair of the State Council for Educator Effectiveness, came to the Board meeting seeking feedback on the implementation of SB 191. CASB Board member Bill Bregar, Pueblo 70, and Moffat County School District’s Jo Ann Baxter both serve on the State Council for Educator Effectiveness. Over the past year, they have represented CASB at more than 25 meetings.
Sen. Michael Johnston, primary author of the bill, connected via phone from Washington, D.C. He was seeking a dialogue with the Board regarding how to set the bar high enough to make the evaluation process meaningful for student achievement.
Housekeeping
2010-11 goals were reviewed and the following goals for the 2011-12 fiscal year were approved.
- CASB will establish itself as the preferred source for leadership and board development by leveraging technology and expanding opportunities.
- CASB will take the lead role in advocating for constitutional and tax reform by building internal and external capacity, building stakeholder coalitions and educating the public.
- CASB will be fierce in lobbying the state legislature to eliminate current and future unfunded mandates.
- CASB will expand its voice and its views on the future of public education by engaging in dialogue and partnerships with groups and interests within and beyond the system of public education.
The CASB Board meets again June 17 and 18 in Denver.
Check out these CASB member resources:
- April 13 – CASB eClassroom,
noon – 1:30 p.m. online “Board-Superintendent Effectiveness” — CASB’s
Randy Black and Michelle Murphy explore the practical legal and
leadership wisdom to help you strengthen board-superintendent relations.
- Are you in the loop concerning Colorado education news? Visit CASB’s Colorado News Clips. You’ll find school board and school district news that will help you be better informed in your local decision-making.