WHEREAS, the week of May 4 through May 10, 2008, has been designated nationally as Teacher Appreciation Week; and

WHEREAS, the Boulder Valley School District teaching staff has consistently demonstrated excellence in the areas of curriculum, instruction and equity; and

WHEREAS, Boulder Valley teachers are committed to the development of the whole child: academically, physically, emotionally and socially; and

WHEREAS, Boulder Valley teachers professionally meet their educational challenges with intelligence, dedication and good humor; and

WHEREAS, Boulder Valley teachers have demonstrated a collaborative intent in working with district administrators, staff and parents on behalf of the best educational interests of the Boulder Valley School District’s more than 28,000 students.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Education of the Boulder Valley School District RE-2 that it recognizes the contributions and dedication of Boulder Valley teachers toward the education and development of the youth of this district.

BE IT ALSO RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted electronically to each Boulder Valley School principal to share with their respective staff, teachers and parent organizations.

Adopted this 22nd day of April 2008.

BOULDER VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT RE-2

Helayne Jones, President
Board of Education

Return to top of page

This is your opportunity to enroll, change plans, drop coverage, add or drop dependents, etc. Changes are effective July 1, 2008.

Please plan to attend one of the orientation sessions or check the website after May 1 to learn more about the insurance plans and rates for 2008-09. Representatives from Great-West/Cigna, Kaiser, and Delta will be there to answer your questions.

*There will also be two PERACare Presentations on May 19 for employees who are retiring this year.

Call Susana Aguirre at 303-447-5022 if you have any questions.

Orientation Sessions:

4:30 p.m. - Mon., May 5 - Board Room, Ed Center, 6500 Arapahoe, Boulder

9:30 a.m. - Mon., May 12 - Board Room, Ed Center, 6500 Arapahoe, Boulder

9:30 a.m. - Mon., May 19 - Board Room, Ed Center, 6500 Arapahoe, Boulder
*PERACare Session - 10:30 a.m.

4:30 pm - Mon., May 19 - Board Room, Ed Center, 6500 Arapahoe, Boulder
*PERACare Session - 3:45 p.m.

4:30 p.m. - Wed., May 21 - Broomfield Heights Cafetorium, 1555 Daphne St., Broomfield

4:30 p.m. - Tues., May 27 - Centaurus Student Center, 10300 South Boulder Rd., Lafayette

4:30 p.m. - Mon., June 2 - Platt Middle Library, 6096 Baseline, Boulder

Return to top of page

Donate Blood - Save Lives

BVSD is hosting a blood drive 1:00 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14, in the Education Center Boardroom at 6500 East Arapahoe Road, Boulder. Bonfils Blood Center needs more than 4,000 volunteer donors each week to meet Colorado’s needs. Please contact Susana Aguirre at 303-447-5022 or at susana.aguirre@bvsd.org to schedule an appointment to donate blood.

It takes just a little time to make a big difference in the lives of patients in our community. One blood donation can save and enhance the lives of up to three people and your donation can help a kid with cancer feel better or save the life of a car accident victim. Giving blood is one of the easiest ways to volunteer, with each donation typically taking less than an hour.

For more information about Bonfils Blood Center, visit www.bonfils.org. Click "Am I eligible to donate?" for general information about blood donor eligibility.

Return to top of page

Are you interested in serving on one of the most effective BVSD committees? The Teacher Advisory Council is looking for new members to serve in this dynamic, purposeful group. We meet once each month after school on Monday to plan, and once each month on a Tuesday morning or afternoon during the school day with Superintendent Dr. Chris King. BVSD provides a substitute for the half-day meeting with Dr. King.

These direct quotes from some of our current TAC members illustrate the reasons we TAC members really like what we do:

"TAC is an opportunity to be a proactive problem solver. I am able to bring issues to the table and see resolution."

"As educators we all want to make concrete positive change. I like being part of TAC because I have seen distinct proof of the difference that we make for students and teachers."

"Putting faces to the names we often hear about from the Ed. Center, getting a chance to hear from these people in person, and the ability to engage in dialogue with them has made me feel much more a part of the district."

"Serving on TAC allows me to bring real teacher issues to the consciousness of the district administrators and develop understanding about some of the constraints that impact the district’s decision making. While decisions don’t always happen in the time frame teachers might like to see, it seems like our major concerns are addressed eventually."

"As a member of TAC you have a glimpse into the district decision making process. You can also advocate for decisions that benefit all of the teachers in the district, and you can raise a fuss when district decisions don’t help those of us in the classroom and in the trenches."

"Serving on TAC has opened my eyes to how all the "parts" (e.g., IT, Ed. Center, ELL/LSS, SPED, TAG, regular Ed) go together. I feel as though TAC has been able to make suggestions that have led to much positive change for all parties."

Do you want to have a direct, positive influence on how the district runs? Contact Melissa Tingley at mtingley@nea.org or Wendy Rochman at wendy.rochman@bvsd.org and we’ll get back to you ASAP!

Return to top of page

GET ON THE BUS!
Help Impact on Education Celebrate 25 Years

In celebration of 25 years of supporting public education in the Boulder Valley, Impact on Education is planning an elaborate 25th Anniversary fundraising and public awareness campaign. The campaign involves applying large, colorful vinyl “slicks” to BVSD school buses during the 2008-09 school year, which include Impact on Education’s own mascot character, “Starhead.”  Sponsorships of the buses are being sold to local businesses to raise money for Impact on Education’s Opportunity Fund.

The idea of the campaign is to celebrate community support and increase community engagement by drawing BVSD students (and ultimately, their parents also) to the Impact on Education website. From the website, students will be invited to enter a contest to create a multimedia animated video about what the future would look like if every teacher was excellent and inspiring; if there was equity and opportunity for all students; or if science and math came to life (which is in line with the organization’s three focus areas). The contest, in addition to increasing knowledge of what the organization does, and creating opportunities for schools to receive more support, allows Impact on Education to directly give kids an example of one of our focus areas by allowing them to interact with educational multimedia software to create a video. Prizes will be awarded to schools with the highest percentage of student participation.

Look for the buses and for Starhead when school starts in the fall!

Impact on Education is dedicated to increasing student learning and support for public education in the Boulder Valley School District. The organization’s three focus areas are supporting and motivating excellent teachers, increasing student interest and achievement in science, technology and math and creating opportunities for “at-risk” students. For more information, visit www.ImpactOnEducation.org.

We are looking to contract with an educator part time to coordinate our 25th anniversary animation contest. For more information, contact Noel at 303-524-3865 x5.

Return to top of page

Neat, Clean, and Safe
Rate your role in workplace housekeeping

Workplace housekeeping isn’t just about neatness. It’s also about: 

Efficiency. A well-organized workplace is a more productive one.
Safety. A well-maintained workplace is a safer one with fewer hazards and fewer accidents.
Hygiene. A clean workplace is a healthier place in which you’re less likely to pick up germs, come into contact with chemicals on work surfaces, or inhale irritating or harmful dust.

To find out how much you’re contributing to all these important goals, rate yourself by circling 1 for “Never,” 2 for “Sometimes,” 3 for “Usually,” or 4 for “Always” for each statement below, and then check your score.

Do you:

Keep your work area clean and neat on a daily basis?	1  2  3  4
Regularly inspect your work area for hazards?	1  2  3  4
Pick up objects from the floor and clean up spills?	1  2  3  4
Report hazards you can’t remove or fix?	1  2  3  4
Dispose of trash and scrap properly to prevent fires?	1  2  3  4
Keep walkways and stairs clear of tripping hazards?	1  2  3  4
Clean up after yourself when you finish a job?	1  2  3  4
Store tools and materials in their assigned place?	1  2  3  4
Make sure tools and materials are properly maintained?	1  2  3  4
Use cleaning products safely?	1  2  3  4

TOTAL SCORE ____________
 
Check your score: 
If you scored less than 30, you’re letting other people do your housekeeping chores for you or chores are not getting done, which increases the risk that you or a co-worker could be injured by housekeeping-related hazards. Don’t take chances with safety. Pitch in, do your share, and help keep the workplace safe for everybody!

If your total score was 40, congratulations! You’re taking responsibility for workplace housekeeping. Thanks for helping to make the workplace safer.

Return to top of page

Under New Management

• Karen Daly, Executive Director of Student Success, Learning Services, effective July 1, 2008.
• Donna Arnold, Assistant Director of Early Childhood, Learning Services, effective July 1, 2008.
• Catalina Martis, Assistant Director of Family Engagement, Learning Services, effective July 1, 2008.
• Rebecca Escamilla, Principal, Whittier Elementary, effective July 1, 2008.
• Tanya Santee, Assistant Principal, Nevin Platt Middle School, effective July 1, 2008.

Other Board Approvals

• Becky McClure, Executive Director of Human Resources, and Melissa Mequi, Legal Counsel, were designated as the two representatives from the District to participate in the committee to finalize election procedures as established by Section 6 of Board Policy HG (Method of Determining Staff Negotiating Organizations). 
• Terry Gillach was appointed to the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) to replace Adam Fels as representative of middle level principals. Gillach will complete the three-year term ending in 2010 which Fels was serving.
• The first revision of the world languages curriculum since 2000 was approved.  All world languages that are taught in middle and high school are included: American Sign Language, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Latin, Spanish, and Advanced Placement. The curriculum framework provides a blueprint for teachers to use in the planning and delivery of instruction as well as in the assessment of and for student learning.
• The Charter School Contract with Justice High School was amended to increase the number of full-time students from 61 up to 85 for funding purposes. The school district and Justice High School have agreed that additional student slots can be accommodated consistent with the school’s capacity and educational objectives. 
• Continuing the initiative to streamline BVSD policies, the following policies were repealed: ID, IE, IFB, IGAD, IGADB, IGBB, IGBF, IGBG, IGBI, IGCA, IGDC, IGDH, IHB, IHHA, IHIA, IIAD, IIBA, IIBC, IIBDA, IJ, IKAD, IKEA, IL, INI, JC, JEA, JECB, JEE, JJFB, JFBA, and EFF.

The following contracts were approved:

• A new portable classroom to be placed at Aspen Creek K-8 school will be bought from Williams Scotsman. This will be funded from the proposed 2008-09 capital reserve budget.
• ON-CPS Communications Products and Services will provide the fiber, conduit, handholes, grounding rods, and grounding rod clamps for the construction of BVSD’s new fiber optic network. This is part of the 2006 Bond Program.
• Avaya will provide all of the electronics to build a new local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and voice over IP (VOIP) phone system to upgrade all of the BVSD schools to a 10 GB network and a new voice over IP phone system to take advantage of the new fiber optic network. This is part of the 2006 Bond Program.
• Sturgeon Electric Company award the contract for the construction of an outside plant fiber network - west ring, also part of the 2006 Bond Program.
• Williams Scotsman will provide six portable classrooms and related equipment that will be required at Platt Middle School while the site is shared with Casey Middle School as part of the 2006 Bond Program projects. The portables will house Casey’s science rooms, classrooms, and administrative offices. 

One grant was approved:
Special Education – School To Work Alliance Program (SWAP) – Colorado Department of Human Services - 08 

Return to top of page

Hats off!
Congratulations to this week's Superintendent's Honor Roll recipients:

In the April 22 board meeting, Superintendent Chris King welcomed Impact on Education's 2008 Impact Award winners into Superintendent’s Honor Roll:

Dr. Leticia de Lozano, Boulder High Spanish Teacher Michele Hibl, Coal Creek Elementary Fifth Grade Teacher, Larry Orobona, Heatherwood Elementary Principal; Al Real, Nederland Middle/Senior High Science Teacher and Barb Steiner, Bear Creek Elementary Fifth Grade Teacher.

Leticia’s passion for the life-changing importance of education for all students – especially those who are not primarily English speaking – has inspired a generation of successful learners who might otherwise have been lost in the system.

Michele helps each of her students grasp the tremendous potential that they possess to learn, grow and succeed – many of them for the first time in their lives. This is the greatest gift any teacher can give.

Larry, or “Mr. O” as he is affectionately known at Heatherwood ,exemplifies daily the professional standard that demands that a principal be an educator first and an administrator second. While an effective leader, Mr. O’s passion is to inspire and facilitate learning.

Barb shows that a classroom teacher that daily models kindness, mutual respect and encouragement of her students can also dynamically challenge and spark a curiosity and love for learning.  Her modest personality balances her intense passion for each of her students’ learning.

Al is credited with making science learning come alive for his students. He astounds them with the vast amount of scientific knowledge and detail that he can instantly summon up in any lesson context.

Each year, Impact on Education recognizes five individuals with Impact Awards for their extraordinary contributions to education in BVSD. Impact Award recipients are honored at the annual Impact Awards dinner and receive a new laptop computer, a $500.00 personal award, as well as $1,500.00 for their school. 

As the primary community partner for BVSD, Impact on Education invested more than $960,000 in BVSD schools, teachers, and students during the 2006-2007 school year. Impact funded substantial programs in three areas: creating opportunities for “at-risk” students; increasing student learning and interest in science and technology; and motivating and rewarding teacher excellence.