DCSD Funding Information and Resources

DCSD Funding Information & Resources
Posted on 09/25/2018

September 5, 2018

Dear DCSD Families, Staff and Community Members:

It is an exciting time to be part of the Douglas County School District! The 2018-2019 school year is off to a great start and it is so wonderful to have our smiling students back in our buildings.

As you know, the DCSD Board of Education voted to place a Mill Levy Override (MLO) and a no-new-taxes Bond on the 2018 ballot.

The $40 million MLO would help make teacher and staff pay more competitive with neighboring school districts. The MLO would also add counselors at the elementary school level, and reduce counselor to student ratios at middle and high schools. Should the MLO pass, Douglas County School District will share those funds with its charter schools on a 100%, per-pupil basis.

The $250 million no-new-taxes Bond would address urgent overdue capital repairs in DCSD (such as heating and cooling systems, roofing, fire alarm systems, plumbing, etc.), enhance safety and security in all of our schools, replace aging buses and classroom technology, and add more student programming opportunities, including alternative and career and technical education options. Should the Bond pass, those funds would be shared with DCSD’s charter schools to enhance safety and security systems, and to address urgent capital repairs as allowable by Colorado state law.

DCSD has not passed a new MLO or Bond since 2006. To put that in perspective, the last time we passed a MLO and Bond, our current high school seniors were just in Kindergarten.

If both ballot measures are approved by voters, a Douglas County homeowner would pay an additional $44 a year per $100,000 of home value - or $3.67 per month per $100,000. These funds would stay local to help our 68,000+ students and 8,100 employees in the Douglas County School District.

If neither is approved, Douglas County homeowners would see their annual school property tax bill decrease by approximately $14.25 per $100,000 of home value - or $1.19 per month per $100,000.

According to a Realtor.com survey, a quality school district leads to increased home values. In fact, one out of five home buyers said they would pay between six and 10 percent above their budget to live in the “right” school district.

Funding is always a hot topic - whether you are talking about your family's budget or our great school district. Here are the top five common questions - and answers:

  1. How will my child's school - or the school in my neighborhood - benefit from additional local funding?
  2. What would the MLO/Bond cost the average homeowner or business owner?
  3. What do our schools need?
  4. Can't DCSD just cut administrative costs?
  5. Why can't our schools use marijuana tax revenue?

There are many more resources available on our website: www.dcsdk12.org/funding. I hope this information will help you make an informed decision this fall.

Sincerely,

Thomas S. Tucker, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Douglas County School District

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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 ).