Introducing the 2017 Annual Report

Dear BVSD Parents, Guardians and Staff,

I would like to invite you to view the 2017 BVSD Annual Report. 

One of the key objectives with the Annual Report is to provide financial transparency, as it is fundamental in the district's standing with the community. Another objective is to share BVSD goals, growth, and progress. 

BVSD successful construction work through the 2014 voter-approved bond, a program we refer to as Building for Student Success, is outlined in the report with an overview of efforts toward sustainability, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality. We have also highlighted educational innovation and how it is being utilized to improve existing schools as well as new construction projects. 

Finally, BVSD’s strategic plan, The Success Effect, provides the foundation to ensuring success for all students. I am hopeful that you find value in this year’s report, which is available in print at schools and district sites, and I look forward to our continued success this semester.

Sincerely,

Dr. Bruce K. Messinger
Superintendent

Welcome to a new school year!

Now beginning my sixth year as superintendent of the Boulder Valley School District, I am pleased to see the continued implementation of our long-range strategic plan – “The Success Effect.” Numerous parents, students, staff and community members helped develop this plan, which focuses on three key areas  – Learning, Talent, and Partnerships. We have identified six initial strategic priorities:

1. Literacy and Early Learning
2. Systems of Support
3. Parent and Family Partnerships
4. Successful, Curious, Lifelong Learners
5. Educator Growth and Development
6. Educator Pipeline. 

Learn more about The Success Effect online at bvsdsuccesseffect.org. The site features a blog with posts from several leaders in BVSD on a variety of topics including innovative learning, family partnership, systems of support, district recruitment efforts, professional learning, and new graduation guidelines.

During the summer, district staff made progress on The Success Effect and related initiatives, including the Building for Student Success bond program. Over $55 million in work was completed at schools during the summer months. Students and staff will return to upgraded interiors and exteriors, renovated restrooms, enhanced security and innovative learning spaces. Essential repair and maintenance on building systems along with energy efficiency upgrades will take place in all schools. Construction of replacement schools for Creekside, Douglass, Emerald and a new PK-8 in Erie began a few months ago and will be completed in August 2017. Bond project information is available at bond.bvsd.org.

The environmental health of all learning spaces continues to be a top priority for BVSD. Last year, the  district launched a long-term, districtwide indoor air quality initiative with the University of Tulsa to improve indoor air quality in all district schools. This project will involve collecting indoor air quality data which will be used to make recommendations to building operations and occupant behavior and to identify building renovations to improve air quality.

Thanks to our generous and engaged community, highly qualified educators, excellent leadership, and dedicated support staff, Boulder Valley School District is known for its academic excellence and overall student success. We are committed to providing innovative and effective student learning experiences, employing and developing talented staff, and cultivating strong family and community partnerships to foster even greater student success in the future.

Building for Student Success

With anticipation of warmer weather and students and teachers vacating for the summer, construction crews are moving into high gear to make significant progress on a number of projects in the district’s $576.5 M bond-funded building program. The district Bond Program team currently has over 25 projects in progress. Construction of replacement schools for Creekside, Douglass, Emerald and a new PK-8 in Erie will begin this spring and continue through next school year, with anticipated completion for August 2017. Many phase 1 projects which began construction this past school year will be finished for the start of school in August. Students and staff will return to upgraded interiors and exteriors, renovated restrooms, enhanced security, innovative new learning spaces and, for some, newly air conditioned buildings. Very important but less noticeable repair and maintenance work on building systems and energy efficiency upgrades will take place in all schools. Five phase 2 schools kicked off design work this spring and will likely move into construction early in 2017.

Providing oversight for the entire bond program is the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee. The group has met regularly since May 2015 to review financial reports and project progress. When necessary, the committee reviews and makes recommendations for changes to project scopes of work and budgets. The committee’s meeting schedule and minutes are posted on a dedicated page on the Bond Program website. Meetings are open to the public and there is an opportunity for public comment at each meeting.

We recently launched a redesigned website for the bond program to provide families and community members with comprehensive information about how bond funds are being invested to improve learning environments and extend the useful life of buildings. The website can be accessed at bond.bvsd.org or from a link on BVSD’s homepage. The website provides financial reports, details about specific projects, information about renovations to support sustainability and more. I encourage you to visit it often. All of this is possible thanks to our very supportive and generous community.

Introducing the 2016 Annual Report

The 2016 BVSD Annual Report is being emailed this week to all students, families and staff. The report provides a glimpse of district goals, priorities, financial standing and vision for student success. 

The BVSD Board of Education, administration, educators, staff and parents in every school are vital to the success of all students. The strategic plan, called the Success Effect, is based on three principles: learning, talent and partnerships. The intrinsic objective of the Success Effect is to achieve individual success for all students.

Our commitment to achieving student success will be accomplished by various means, one of those being innovation, achieved by building for student success funded by the bond approved in 2014. Educational innovation is at the core of our effort to improve existing schools as well as new construction projects. Sustainability and secure learning environments are also high priorities. Financial transparency is a fundamental component of the report and our standing with the community.  

BVSD vision, mission and goals will be realized through a commitment to community and family partnerships. We rely on these relationships to achieve student success.

I am hopeful that you find value in this year’s report, and I look forward to our continued success this semester.

The Six Pillars of the Success Effect

Boulder Valley School District has developed a dynamic strategic plan, The Success Effect, with an innovative approach to individual learning and instruction. The goal is to maximize every student’s potential to succeed through a personal approach that recognizes and fosters the unique talent of every child.

Our district is redefining what it means to succeed—building on our strengths, elevating the state of our schools and providing all students with the tools and confidence needed to meet the great challenges of their time. That’s The Success Effect in action.

More than 75 teachers, administrators, staff, parents and community members are presently developing implementation plans to accomplish The Success Effect. Six action planning teams are refining activities to achieve short-term outcomes for the next two to three years. Six priority areas are embedded in three organizing principles of The Success Effect:

Learning

• Systems of Support
• Literacy & Early Learning
• Successful, Curious, Lifelong Learners

Talent

• Educator Pipeline
• Educator Growth & Development

Partnerships

• Parent & Family Partnerships

We believe that communication is key to keeping staff, students, parents, and the greater community informed and involved in The Success Effect as our work progresses. To that end, Boulder Valley School District is proud to announce the release of our newly redesigned Success Effect website. The website is designed to update all stakeholders about our goals and the priority action areas in the strategic plan. The improved website will serve as a gathering place for information about the strategic plan, school improvement plans, and innovation in our schools. There are expanded capabilities for learning, sharing and interaction.

We encourage you to visit: bvsdsuccesseffect.org.

BVSD graduation rates rise for fifth straight year

The Colorado Department of Education recently released graduation and dropout data for the state. I am pleased to report the overall rate for students in the Boulder Valley School District who graduated on time in 2015 is 92.3 percent, increasing for the fifth straight year. Statewide graduation rates for 2015 were at 77.3 percent. BVSD has considerably improved its on-time graduation rate from 84.7 percent in 2010 to its current 92.3 percent. Boulder Valley has the highest graduation rate of the top 20 largest school districts. Limited English Proficient, Economically Disadvantaged and Homeless all had an increases in their graduation rates. The dropout rate in Boulder Valley remains the lowest of the top ten largest school districts in Colorado.

Improvement in the graduation rate is the result of very intentional efforts to address student needs as early as possible. By providing prompt individualized support, students are more likely to experience success in school. Employees/educators in every school are committed to increasing student success which makes all the difference.

Boulder Valley has significantly improved credit recovery programming in all schools. Educators work to reach students who are in danger of failing and help them learn the content/skills. Students are able to restore class credits by utilizing various alternative programs during the school year and in the summer.

Counseling is an integral part of appropriate and early intervention for students. BVSD has secured additional resources to help with this effort, specifically the Colorado School Counseling corps grant and other sources, targeted to assist high-risk students through personalized intervention.  

Boulder Valley School District is committed to increasing success of all students and prepare them for life after high school. The district strategic plan, The Success Effect, will enhance services and opportunities in the future fostering student success. Boulder Valley schools are exceptional because talented employees/educators are working in partnership with families and community to provide exceptional learning opportunities for all children.

Researching the ideal school day for all BVSD students

The Ideal School Day Task Force met throughout 2015 to develop a plan that maximizes success for all students using time as a variable and asset. The task force, formed under the auspices of a memorandum of understanding between the Boulder Valley School District Board of Education and the Boulder Valley Education Association, aligned its work with the district strategic plan.

Members of the task force included teachers from different levels and disciplines as well as parents and school administrators. The group was co-facilitated by Lynn Jackson, Boulder Valley Education Association, and Sandy Ripplinger, Assistant Superintendent.

District administrators are analyzing the task force recommendations, including potential logistical issues and costs, before presenting them to the Board of Education and me. We will determine early this semester which recommendations could be implemented in 2016-17 and which need further study. The recommendations under consideration are:

• Length of school day – Although contract time remains consistent for teachers at all levels, the task force recommends a 7-hour instructional day for elementary and middle school students and a 7.5-hour instructional day for high school students.
• Later start times for high schools – All high schools should have a later start time.
• District-wide K-5 rotation model with art, music and physical education – Ensure that students have 55-minute classes in each special, which increases time for art education.
• District-wide fifth grade instrumental music – The task force received additional proposals late in the process, so the district plans to continue studying this issue. No changes will be made for the 2016-17 school year to give us more time to develop a strategy that addresses the needs and desires of our students, staff and community.
  
  A representative group – general and instrumental music teachers, classroom teachers, counselors, parents, and school and district administration – will convene to review current models and propose a model that will better meet the needs of all students.
  
  We will continue to be guided by the work of the 2010-11 Elementary Specials Task Force, which adopted four principles:

1. Help students grow into well-rounded, healthy adults (based on current medical and educational research)
2. Provide equal time amongst the specials (Music, Instrumental Music, PE and Art)
3. Provide adequate time to teach the Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum
4. Maintain four content areas (Music, Instrumental Music, PE and Art)

• Analysis of middle school day and schedule – Formation of an Ideal Middle Level Day Task Force to investigate and recommend models that support students and foster optimal growth.
• Preschool day – Increase preschool to three hours.
• Board-approved regulation ADF-R on Wellness Physical Activity – Full implementation of the policy including a full 25 minutes for lunch and daily recess at elementary schools of at least 40 minutes.
• Universal breakfast – Provide breakfast during the school day.
• Time for teacher collaboration – All schools should have professional learning time for teachers outside of the instructional time for students but inside the contract time for teachers. 

I am pleased with the commitment of the task force members and thank them for their hard work to resolve complex problems with our current schedules that will enhance opportunities for success for all Boulder Valley students.

If you wish to provide feedback on these recommendations, please visit our Ideal School Day website.

Happy New Year!

Welcome back to the 2015-16 school year. I hope everyone had a restful and rejuvenating Winter Break.

As students return to school and begin second semester, school and district staff continue work on numerous initiatives supporting student success. Priority action plans are being implemented supporting the district strategic plan, The Success Effect. Phase one planning is well underway on the new bond construction and innovation work. The Board of Education and administration will begin developing the 2016-17 budget. Information describing the Colorado state student assessment will be distributed later this month.

The 2016 Colorado legislative session will begin January 13. This is an optimal time to work with legislators to secure adequate funding for public education. Underfunding public schools in Colorado is having a negative impact on schools, teachers and students throughout the state. BVSD has lost $175M since 2009 due to underfunding and the governor’s proposed budget will result in over $30M additional loss of funds.

If funding from the state had kept pace with inflation and enrollment growth since 2009, BVSD would be able to provide additional services for students including district-wide full-day kindergarten, implementing a comprehensive literacy program, and hiring more school counselors, nurses and teachers. For details, view this handout about The Cost of Education Student Services at BVSD.

Following are a few websites that provide information on organizations working on school funding and related issues.

• Great Education Colorado - an excellent advocacy organization for parents and educators http://www.greateducation.org/
• Colorado School Finance Project - BVSD is an active member of this organization. You can find a lot of information on this website and search TABOR on the site to find specific information. http://www.cosfp.org/
• Colorado Fiscal Institute - another excellent resource and we will be asking them to provide a presentation to the BVSD community after the first of the year. http://www.coloradofiscal.org/
• Colorado Futures Center at Colorado State University - provides vital research and analysis of public policies impacting Colorado’s future and quality of life. It has helpful information about TABOR. http://coloradofutures.colostate.edu/

I encourage all parents, students and staff to contact the governor and legislators to remind them of the importance of public education and encourage them to provide adequate funding. Legislators whose districts are wholly or partially within the boundaries of our school district are listed on the BVSD website. A full directory of members of the Colorado General Assembly is on the state’s website.

I’m looking forward to a great start for the new year!

Welcome to the 2015-16 School Year

Welcome to the start of a new school year! This is an exciting time for students as they get acquainted with their teachers and classmates. Each new school year provides rich learning opportunities for all students to experience success.

As I begin my fifth year as superintendent, I am eager to implement the district’s new strategic plan, which we call The Success Effect. Many parents, students, staff and community members helped shape our future direction by their participation in developing the plan, which will lead to achieving our vision, mission, values and goals. My blog about Priority Action Plans features recent work by the action planning teams on The Success Effect. I encourage you to read about the future plan for Boulder Valley School District.

The Success Effect has three organizing principles -- Learning, Talent and Partnerships. Boulder Valley School District recruits and employs talented staff, and ongoing professional development ensures our staff has the best skills and knowledge to help our students be successful. The summer months and pre-service days have been packed with professional learning for staff on such topics as innovation, education technology, gender diversity and instructional practices.

We also want to provide the best possible learning environment for our students. Many staff, parents and community members are actively engaged in planning phase one of the bond construction and innovation work. In November 2014 Boulder Valley School District voters approved a $576 million bond issue, which will fund significant improvements in all schools.  

Parent and family partnerships are essential to achieve the hopes and dreams of all students, and I look forward to working with you for a great school year.

Sincerely,

Bruce K. Messinger, Ph.D.

Superintendent

Vision of the Boulder Valley School District

We develop our children’s greatest abilities and make possible the discovery and pursuit of their dreams which, when fulfilled, will benefit us all. We provide a comprehensive and innovative approach to education and graduate successful, curious, lifelong learners who confidently confront the great challenges of their time.

Priority Action Teams working on The Success Effect

Over 75 teachers, administrators, staff, parents and community members are developing implementation plans for the BVSD strategic plan - The Success Effect - organized into six teams, each of which has been tasked with one of the priorities for The Success Effect. The participants are developing key activities, implementation metrics and outcomes for each of the priority action areas. The action planning teams are clarifying the work that needs to be completed in order to achieve the short term outcomes, 2-3 years. Following are the six priority areas embedded in the three organizing principles of The Success Effect:

Learning

Systems of Support

Literacy & Early Learning

Successful, Curious, Lifelong Learners

Talent

Educator Pipeline

Educator Growth & Development

Partnerships

Parent & Family Partnerships

Education Northwest - Northwest Regional Education Laboratory out of Portland, Oregon, continues to provide consultation with the strategic planning process. Education Northwest works with state and local education agencies utilizing evidence based decisions that foster efficient, effective, and equitable educational systems. The Education Northwest team helped BVSD identify key actions most likely to achieve the district goals. Key actions for each team will guide the development of the implementation plans.  

Learning: Systems of Support - Key Actions

1. Data System: Create an Assessment Advisory Team
1. Review current data-collection systems
2. Design/develop a comprehensive data-collection system
2. Establish a district Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Leadership Team and provide professional development (PD) across the district as identified in the CDE District Systems Self-Assessment
3. Create a Safe and Healthy Schools Coordinating Team
1. Review all related data to establish attendance, behavior, and safety baselines
2. Design and implement a comprehensive building security plan.
4. Provide increased translation and interpretation to schools and BVSD departments.

Learning: Literacy & Early Learning - Key Actions

1. Identify and implement common assessments PK-12 to develop a common understanding of student mastery of standards and to differentiate instruction
2. Establish a committee to review English language arts (ELA) and English language development (ELD) materials:
1. Adopt resources to meet Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) Literacy Instructional Framework and Curriculum
2. Identify high-leverage strategies in literacy, scaffolds for language development, and purposeful technology integration
3. Align instruction, curriculum, and assessment—horizontally and vertically—for grades PK-3
4. Develop an evaluation cycle that enables continuous improvement in program strategies, professional development, interventions, and assessments

Learning: Successful, Curious Lifelong Learners - Key Actions

1. Develop BVSD Success Skills, new graduation requirements, and expectations for postsecondary and career readiness
2. Implement individual career and academic plans (ICAPs) for all students, beginning with grades 9-12, followed by PK-8
3. Integrate BVSD Success Skills and principles into school design, curriculum and instruction, and teacher professional development and evaluation, beginning with grades 9-12, followed by PK-8
4. Use the BVSD Success Skills Framework as a guide to increase student-led learning experiences and instruction in and across secondary classrooms

Talent: Educator Pipeline - Key Actions

1. Evaluate the effectiveness of BVSD current hiring, retention, and development practices for teachers and building administrators
2. Determine the key attributes and skill sets that contribute to candidate success. Refine current hiring and recruiting process to select for these attributes and skills. Develop assessment procedures that enable candidates to demonstrate the desired skills and attributes
3. Develop a comprehensive marketing plan to attract and recruit qualified candidates locally and nationally, based on findings that emerge out of work on priorities 1 and 2
4. Build systems to induct and retain outstanding BVSD professionals through recognition and professional development opportunities and other incentives. Create pathways for exemplary teachers to become building administrators, instructional coaches, or mentor teachers

Talent: Educator Growth & Development - Key Actions

1. Combine professional learning team and educator evaluation committee
2. Build a job-embedded, customized, educator-directed professional learning model based on research and best practices. Analyze how current structures must change to accommodate new model, including allocation of professional learning hours and days, technology and data system requirements, and training needed to implement new system
3. Budget to implement and sustain the new professional learning model. Ensure that the model is sustainable with anticipated funding

Partnerships: Parent & Family - Key Actions

1. Develop a district wide definition of meaningful family engagement
1. Align district efforts with new Colorado Department of Education (CDE) parent engagement regulations
2. Recruit and hire a bilingual, culturally competent, full-time Family Partnerships Coordinator
3. Identify strategies to increase parent and family engagement
1. Hold parent/guardian focus groups
2. Develop strategies based on feedback and research

Launch of The Success Effect priority action plans will occur in the fall semester 2015 through school improvement plans and district unified improvement plan.

Leslie Arnold has been appointed Assistant Superintendent for Strategic Initiatives. Ms. Arnold most recently served as Assistant Superintendent in the Clark County School District, Las Vegas, Nevada where she led the district’s assessment, accountability, research and school improvement departments. Ms. Arnold’s primary responsibility in BVSD is to lead the implementation of The Success Effect.

Learn more about The Success Effect.