- Westminster Public Schools
- November 13 - Voters Reject District 50 Ballot Measures
D50 Insider 2014 - 15 Archives
- D50 Insider Archives Home
- May 21st Edition
- Governor Signs ‘Pay for Success’ Childhood Education Bill in District 50
- WHS Class of 2015 Graduates
- Sister Gives Grad a Surprise Gift
- WHS Seniors Honored
- Scott Carpenter Students ‘Rise Above’ in ASTRO-nomical Way
- ‘Fred’ Award Winners Recognized
- ‘Fred Award’ Winners Eat Lunch with Fred
- D50 Says ‘Thank You’ to Retirees
- D50 Television Schedule
- Calendar
- May 7th Edition
- Lawmakers Compromise on Money, Tests
- Alice Collins: Former Pro Golfer Recognized for English Language Program earners
- Zoë Driver, Elks Teacher of Year
- Next Generation Learning Takes Major Step Forward
- ‘RENT’ Nominated as Outstanding Overall Production
- Scott Carpenter Kids Shine at ‘Yess Breakfast’
- Class of 2015 Ready to Graduate
- Gillian Muniz Signs to Play College Basketball
- National Honor Society Inducts New Members
- Sunset Ridge Artist Celebrated at Rockies Game
- Fairview Celebrates Mexican Culture
- ‘Fred’ Award Winners Recognized
- D50 TV Schedule
- Calendar
- April 23rd Edition
- Lawmakers Still Debating School Finance, Testing
- District 50 Receives Innovative Grant to Improve Early Childhood Education
- Students Send Anti-Drug Message on 4-20
- Alice Collins Named English Language Development Director of Year
- Brian Kosena Named New Principal at Tennyson Knolls Elementary
- Meet Karina Costas, Elks Teacher of the Year
- District Art Show Highlights Student Talents and Diverse Cultures
- Bob Landgraf Honored with Opportunity Fund in his Name
- WHS Plant Sale Starts Saturday
- Ed Foundation Golf Tournament is June 3rd
- D50 TV Schedule
- Calendar
- April 9th Edition
- Bob Landgraf Remembered as a Man Who Made a Difference
- Teachers of Year Named
- ‘Fred’ Award Winners Recognized
- ‘Talking Topics’ Examines STEM Education at WHS
- “Riva Day” at Hodgkins, Money Raised
- Celebrate Art and Culture April 17
- Date Set for Retirement Celebration
- 2015-16 School Year to Begin August 19th
- D50 TV Schedule
- Calendar of Events
- March 12th Edition
- Girls’ B-Ball Team Honored at State Capitol
- 72nd Avenue Closed Next Week
- Sunset Ridge Receives ‘Foundations for Great Schools’ Award
- Retiring Principal of Tennyson Knolls Elementary Honored
- 2014-15 Celebrating Academic Excellence Winners
- Crown Pointe, STEM Academy Shine in Destination Imagination Competition
- Hodgkins Collects ‘Pennies for Patients’
- ‘RENT’ hits Westminster High Stage this Month
- ‘Westy Without Hate Week’ Begins Monday
- Artistic Achievements on Display at WHS
- D50 TV Schedule
- Calendar
- February 26th Edition
- Girls’ B-Ball Team Wins Conference, Host Playoff Game Friday
- Board Supports Funding Resolution
- Contract Negotiations in Public
- State Tests Begin in March
- ‘Fred’ Award Winners Bring out Fans
- Student’s Help Build Sculpture for St. Anthony North Hospital
- Leggett Family Receives ‘Thanks of a Grateful Nation’
- Westy El Principal Loses Bet, Gets New Look
- A Tradition of Giving to D50 Families in Need
- ‘Celebrating Academic Excellence’ Moved to March 7
- Tickets for D50 Nuggets Night Available
- District 50 Television Schedule
- Calendar
- February 12th Edition
- Spring Testing To Go Forward
- Superintendents Unite on Increased Funding
- Contract Negotiations Go Public
- Teacher Leadership Cabinet Meets for First Time
- English Learning Students Receive Grant
- Record Turnout for Tuition and Scholarship Fair
- HLHS Educator Breaks Ground in Teaching Holocaust
- Pedal Power Keeps Students Healthy
- Westy Celebrates Success
- Tickets for D50 Nuggets Night Available
- District 50 Television Schedule
- Calendar
- January 29th Edition
- State of the District Speech Looks to Future
- Two ‘Fred’ Award Winners Named
- Metz Elementary Receives Book Donations
- District to Sell Roush Property
- Special Education Students Inspire Recycling Program
- Students Build ‘Retro’ Arcade Games at WHS
- WHS Students Sign Letters of Intent
- College Tuition and Scholarship Fair is Saturday
- Nuggets Night Set for Tuesday, March 3rd
- D50 Television Schedule
- Calendar
- January 15th Edition
- State Leaders Meet with BOE to Learn About Needs and Priorities
- District 50 Awarded College Grant
- 72nd and Raleigh Bridge Replacement Project
- Shaw Heights Fights Cancer
- College Tuition and Scholarship Fair is January 31
- CSA Science Fair Highlights Students Work
- WHS Hosts Robotics Championship Saturday
- District Closed to Celebrate Life of Martin Luther King Jr.
- District 50 TV Schedule
- Calendar
- December 18th Edition
- District 50 Named to AP Honor Roll
- Skyline Students Visit Westy, Experience STEM
- BOE Recognizes Sunset Ridge
- WHS Grad Injured in Iraq War Named U.S. Disabled Soccer Athlete of Year
- Holiday Video Postcard Captures Joy of Season
- Santa Teams up with Superintendent to Deliver Xmas Message
- Meet ‘Fred’ Award Winner Laura Johnson
- Baker Demolition Underway
- D50 TV Schedule
- Calendar
- December 4th Edition
- Video Explains School Closure Process
- District 50 Continues to Grow
- Sunset Ridge Honored with Governor’s Award
- College Tour Opens a World of Possibilities to Families
- WHS has High Rate of Disadvantaged Students Going to Elite Colleges
- Drug Free Conference Celebrates a Quarter Century
- Ranum Guitar Students Learn From Veteran Player
- Teacher Hosts 10th Annual ELD Thanksgiving Feast
- Metz Students Revisit the Disco Age
- Have A Heart - Holiday Schedule
- D50 TV Schedule
- Calendar
- November 13th Edition
- Voters Reject District 50 Ballot Measures
- Westy Grad Killed in Afghanistan Honored
- Flynn, Shaw Heights Commemorate Veterans Day
- Conference Athlete of the Month - Gillian Muniz
- LASA Recognized as ‘Rising Stars’
- CASB Honors Bob Landgraf
- Adventure Golf Lights up the Holidays
- Avenue Q on Stage at Westminster High School
- D50 TV Schedule
- Calendar
- October 30th Edition
- Showcase Highlights D50 Opportunities
- ESP Cabinet Focused on the Future
- Former Board Member Bob Landgraf Honored
- Season to Remember for WHS Softball, Soccer and Football
- Behind the Scenes Video Previews WHS Production of ‘Avenue Q’
- Clear Lake Middle School Demolition Underway
- “Haunted High” at Hidden Lake High School
- Voting Underway on District 50 Ballot Measures
- D50 TV Schedule
- Calendar
- October 16th Edition
- District 50 Showcase is October 27
- Hand Sanitizers Added to District 50 Buildings
- Metz Elementary, Neighbors get New Playground
- Helicopters, Proclamation Celebrates Red Ribbon Week
- ‘Brain Gym’ Program Connects D50 to Kaiser Permanente and Good Health
- Hyland Hills Board of Directors Vote to Support District 50 Ballot Measures
- Avenue Q to Hit Westy High Stage in November
- D50 TV Schedule
- Calendar
- October 2nd Edition
- Unique Partnership Allows Teachers and Students to Learn at the Same Time
- Lt. Governor Encourages WHS Students to Pursue College Dreams
- ESP Staff Focuses on Customer Service, Work Place Competency
- Westminster City Council Supports D50 Mill Levy and Bond Election
- Yellow Ribbon Program Honored
- BOE Member Survives Hurricane, Reflects on What Really Matters
- D50 Spreads Peace to the World
- Homecoming Parade Emphasizes Community Pride
- New D50 Tradition Unites Community and Raises Money
- Constitution Quiz Answers, Winners Revealed
- D50 TV Schedule
- Calendar
- September 18th Edition
- September 4th Edition
- District 50 Board Places Bond, Mill Levy on November Ballot
- District 50 to Honor WHS Grad Killed in Afghanistan
- CBS Symposium Focuses on District 50 Mission
- A ‘Cool’ Message of Thanks
- Ice Bucket Challenge Freezes D50
- New Leaders at D50 Schools
- ‘News You Can Use’ in Mailbox
- Alumni Golf Tournament Just Around the Corner
- ‘Under a Neon Moon’ is the WHS Homecoming Theme
- D50 TV Schedule
- Calendar
- August 21st Edition
- District 50 Continues Strong, Steady Academic Growth
- Students, Teachers Return to Classroom
- ‘Welcome Back Rally’ Motivates, Inspires D50 Staff
- New Teachers on the Job in D50
- Summer Work Improves, Cools District 50 Schools
- ‘Have A Heart’ Back for Another Year; Still Guided by Founders
- Community Fair Brings Assistance to Westminster Families
- Young Football Players Learn from Westminster’s Elite
- Your Tweet Can Raise Money, Support District 50 Tennis
- Alumni Golf Tournament Part of Homecoming Weekend
- D50 TV Schedule
- Calendar
-
Voters Reject District 50 Ballot Measures
District 50 is looking at its budget options after voters rejected a proposal to raise revenues via a mill levy override and bond in last week’s election.
Ballot Measure 3C, which would have raised $2.5 million via a mill levy override, lost by a margin of 53% to 47%. Ballot Measure 3D, a $20 million bond proposal, lost by a margin of 58% to 42%.
Similar measures in other Adams County school districts also failed at the polls, in most instances, by even larger margins.
Superintendent Pamela Swanson sent a letter to community members thanking them for their efforts and vowing to do everything possible to minimize the impact the failed election will have on students. Last year voters rejected a $5.25 million mill levy override forcing the District to cut $3.8 million from the current budget.
The loss of the bond election will delay plans to bring air conditioning to District 50 schools that have not been retrofitted in recent years. It’s not clear when any of those projects can go forward.
Swanson also told community members that the only real solution to the education funding crisis in Colorado is for state lawmakers to reexamine the school finance formula and provide more funds to rural districts and districts (like District 50) with a high number of “at risk” students.
She wrote, “as proven by the growing achievement gap, ‘status quo’ is unacceptable.” She added, “I encourage you to reach out to your elected officials and make them fully aware of what is at stake for our state and our communities.”
Board of Education members commented on the election results at this week’s regularly scheduled meeting.
Ken Ciancio - “The community has spoken, two years in a row. Their message to us is clear and we will bite the bullet and do what is necessary to balance our budget and stretch the dollars as far as we can.”
Joe Davidek - “Now we have to deal with the remnants of the election and to be frank, it’s not going to be pretty.”
Ryan McCoy - “The fight now is at the state level. The state needs to start investing in education if we want to move forward as a state.”
Dino Valente - ´’I don’t have any regrets about anything we have done, but we have to move forward. It’s time to take this to the voters on the statewide level.”
Ruben Pacheco - “I am happy we had such participation from our community. We listened to our community and will be very deliberate about what we do. This is a time for us to work.”
Governor John Hickenlooper’s proposed budget for the coming year requests an additional $200 million for K-12 education to come from the State Education Fund. While educators would welcome the money, it’s important to note that it is “one time” money that cannot be used ongoing expenses. It’s also not clear how much money the legislature will allocate to education.
You can read Swanson’s letter to the community below.
Dear District 50 Parents and Community Members:As you are probably aware, District 50’s ballot measures to raise revenues to support district operations and increase funding for capital building projects, the Bond Proposal and the Mill Levy Override, 3C and 3D, were turned down by voters in this week’s election. While the outcome of our second attempt is not what I had hoped for, I want to thank the parents, staff and community members who worked so hard on our election efforts. In spite of the results, it was gratifying to see people come together in support of such a worthy cause.
So where do we go from here?
Our first priority is to try to minimize the impact the election loss will have on our children and their education. In recent years, we have made consistent, steady academic progress in spite of limited resources and we plan to continue that effort. Even before this week’s election, I have been working with staff members to develop a budget plan to move us forward in case we were unsuccessful at the ballot. We will be forced to make some difficult choices in the weeks ahead and I will keep you informed.
While I have repeatedly joined superintendents from across Colorado in asking the state to invest more money in public education, I believe the funding problem goes much deeper. It has become very clear to me that our state lawmakers must immediately step forward to address the inequities in how education dollars are allocated in Colorado. As proven by the growing achievement gap, “status quo” is unacceptable. Students in districts with a large number of “at risk” students are falling behind and educators in our rural communities are struggling to provide their students with the basics needed to properly educate their children.
I encourage you to reach out to your elected officials and make them fully aware of what is at stake for our state and our communities.
Again, thank you for your continued support of our children.
Sincerely,
Dr. Pamela Swanson
Superintendent of Schools
Posted November 13, 2014