DCSD BoE Authorizes Bond, Mill Levy Override

DCSD Board of Education Authorizes Bond, Mill Levy Override for 2018 Ballot
Posted on 09/25/2018
DCSD Board of EducationThe Douglas County School District Board of Education (BOE) has authorized bond and mill levy override (MLO) questions for the 2018 ballot. At the August 21 meeting, the BOE unanimously voted 6-0 (Director Wendy Vogel was absent) to place before voters a $250 million bond and a $40 million mill levy override.

The average Douglas County homeowner, with a home valued at $470,000, will pay an additional $17.33 per month ($208 per year) if both measures are approved.

“We know having the best teachers in front of our children equals success,” said BOE President David Ray. “Currently, our neighbor to the north, Cherry Creek School District, receives $1,635 more per student in MLO funds. At our current student count, that would equate to more than $100 million each and every year.

“That incredible discrepancy means our annual teacher salary is nearly $19,000 less, on average, than Cherry Creek. We simply must pay our staff more competitively in order to retain and recruit the best educators for our students.”

A mill levy override allows a school district to request more property tax revenue for day-to-day operational expenses than is provided by the Colorado Public School Finance Act. Unlike neighboring school districts, DCSD has not passed a mill levy override in 12 years. The $40 million in mill levy funds would address teacher/staff pay and school level funding, as well as provide counselors at elementary schools, and reduce counselor to student ratios at middle and high schools. Charter schools share in DCSD’s MLO on a 100-percent equal, per student basis.

The BOE also authorized a $250 million bond for the 2018 ballot. The bond question would address capital needs in DCSD including building systems and components (such as HVAC), security at all schools, information technology, and transportation. If passed by voters, the bond would also fix all Tier 1 needs identified in the DCSD Master Capital Plan and increase programmatic offerings including career and technical education.

“The MLO and Bond are closely tied together because of past reliance on the general fund to pay for facility upgrades and repairs,” said Ray. “Without passing both of these funding initiatives there will be a negative impact on programming, class sizes, extra-curricular activities and more. Transportation in DCSD and other services could be reduced to minimum levels. Our unmet capital needs will continue to grow and become more expensive - plus, we risk having to close a school or building if emergency repairs are needed.

“This issue is clearly about how much value our community is willing to place on ensuring an excellent education for our children. We have heard loud and clear from our community that they want us to place these initiatives on the ballot out of grave concern for the impact it will have on today's 68,000+ students, as well as those yet to come.”

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In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, the Douglas County School District RE-1 does not unlawfully discriminate against otherwise qualified students, employees, applicants for employment, or members of the public on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services. Discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on age, genetic information, and conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth is also prohibited in accordance with state and/or federal law. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public. The School District's Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator to address complaints alleging sexual harassment under Title IX is Aaron Henderson, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, [email protected], 303-387-0127.

Outside Agencies

Complaints regarding violations of Title VI, (race, national origin), Title IX (sex, gender), Section 504/ADA (handicap or disability), may be filed directly with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 North Speer Blvd., Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204. Complaints regarding violations of Title VII (employment) and the ADEA (prohibiting age discrimination in employment) may be filed directly with the Federal Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 303 E. 17th Ave., Suite 510, Denver, CO 80202, or the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1050, Denver, CO 80202.

NOTICE OF DESTRUCTION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS

Special Education records which have been collected by Douglas County School District related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of special education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for the period of five (5) years after special education services have ended for the student. Special education services end when the student is no longer eligible for services, graduates, or completes his/her educational program at age 21, or moves from the district. This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of Douglas County School District's intent to destroy the special education records of students who exited special education services as of June 30, 2016. These records will be destroyed in accordance with state law unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise. After five years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for social security benefits, rehabilitation services, college entrance, etc. The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a copy of the records by requesting the records at this link ( Douglas County School District Transcripts and Records Requests ).