- Westminster Public Schools
- April 12th - Swanson Pushes for Equitable Funding
Insider 2015 -16 Archives
- D50 Insider Archives Home
- May 24th Edition
- WHS Class of 2016 Graduates
- WHS Seniors Honored
- Westminster Academy for International Studies to Open in the Fall
- Free Full Day Preschool Coming to 7 Elementary Schools
- Meet Teacher of the Year Angie Edmundson
- Outstanding ESP Employees Named
- Emotional Premiere for Documentary Film ‘MEDIC!’
- ‘Daniels Scholar’ Brandon Dickerson Headed to School of Mines
- Sandi Nees Named ‘Education Partner of the Year’
- Bus Rodeo Honors Best Drivers
- WPS Says ‘Thank You’ to Retirees
- WPS TV Schedule
- Calendar
- May 10th Edition
- AdvancED Accredits Westminster Public Schools
- Community Survey Now Underway
- Meet Teacher of the Year Terri Hutchinson
- Eric Hodges Honored
- Foundation Breakfast Inspires, Raises Money
- ‘MEDIC!’ Premiere is Friday May 20th
- More ‘Westy Idol’ Highlights
- Class of 2016 Prepares to Graduate
- Retirement Celebration is Next Week
- WPS TV Schedule
- Calendar
- April 26th Edition
- Teachers of Year Named
- Phil Love Greenhouse Dedicated
- ‘Westy Idol’ Highlights District Talent
- BOE Hears from WHS Students
- Six Students Receive Youth Awards
- Former Hidden Lake Student Honored as a Hero
- 9 News Profiles Teacher Who Makes Molly Brown Come Alive
- Retirement Celebration Set for May 17th
- Foundation Breakfast Friday, Golf Tournament June 1st
- WPS TV Schedule
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- April 12th Edition
- Two Classroom Days Restored to Spring Calendar
- Swanson Pushes for Equitable Funding
- WHS Students Partner with Congressman Perlmutter for Documentary
- FRED Award Winners for March Honored
- Skyline Vista ‘Celebrates the Beat’
- WHS Wind Ensemble Learns From the Best
- Greenhouse Dedication Combined with District Plant Sale
- Westy Idol Still Seeking Performers
- Broncos Great Karl Mecklenburg to be Joined by Tammy Vigil at Foundation Breakfast
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- March 22nd Edition
- March 8th Edition
- District Changes Name to Westminster Public Schools
- State Ed Commissioner Endorses Competency Based Education
- Westminster Public Schools Searching for Great Teachers
- BOE Shares Views on ‘VISION 2020’
- Class of 2020 Visits Westminster High School
- Schools Celebrate ‘Read Across America Day’
- Joanna Ramsey Theatre Unveiled next Tuesday
- Centerstage Theatre Production Opens Next Week
- ‘Chester the Cheetah’ Profiled on TV
- Tennyson Knolls Teaches Good Health
- WPS TV Program Schedule
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- February 23rd Edition
- District Celebrates Academic Excellence
- Joanna Ramsey Theatre to be Unveiled March 15th
- Broncos Great Karl Mecklenburg to Speak at Foundation Breakfast
- Your Chance to Comment on BOE ‘VISION 2020’
- FRED Award Winners Named
- Scholarship Deadline Approaching
- Tickets on Sale for D50 Nuggets Game
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- February 9th Edition
- January 26th Edition
- ‘State of District 50 is Strong’
- Julie Arellano Remembered as ‘One of our Best’
- BOE Supports CBS
- Board of Education Joins Call for More Ed Funding
- New Video Spotlights Steve Sandoval, ‘A Leader to Learn From’
- College Tuition Fair and Scholarship Panel on Saturday, January 30th
- High School Juniors to Take ACT Test in Spring
- STEM Academy Open House Wednesday
- ‘Celebrating Academic Excellence’ Set for February 20
- Metz Students Bring Wizard of Oz to Stage
- D50 Nuggets Game set for Sunday, March 6
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- December 15th Edition
- Football Team Honored by Westminster City Council
- Education Week Honors Steve Sandoval as a ‘Leader to Learn From’
- New Video Highlights Colorado STEM Academy
- PARCC Results Released
- Hodgkins’ Garage Sale Sends African Students to School
- November ‘Fred’ Award Winners Recognized
- GRAMMY Foundation Recognizes WHS
- Mesa, WHS Singers Help Light Christmas Tree at City Hall
- Consider District 50 Education Foundation for End of Year Giving
- D50 TV Schedule
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- December 1st Edition
- Valente Elected BOE President
- Colorado STEM Academy Expanding
- WHS Greenhouse, Theater, to be named after Love, Ramsey
- Flynn Elementary Honors Our Veterans
- Readers are Leaders
- Students Throw Pies at Teachers
- Board President Says an Emotional ‘Goodbye’
- Christmas Celebrations begin this Week
- Hyland Hills Holiday Lights is Bigger, Better
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- November 10th Edition
- Voters Choose Valente, Ciancio and Math for BOE
- Future Center Steering Kids to Tomorrow
- Showcase Highlights D50 Opportunities
- Possible Name Change Survey: Round Three
- Academy Helps Connect Parents to Education
- Major Improvements on the Way for Flynn Elementary
- CenterStage Theater Company Presents ‘Just Like Us’
- Wolves Finish Memorable Season at 9-1
- October ‘Fred’ Award Winners Recognized
- D50 TV Schedule
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- October 27th Edition
- Homecoming Victory for Wolves—Now 8-0
- Homecoming Parade Unites Community
- A Warmer Winter for Harris Park Students
- Skyline Vista Shaves Heads to Save Lives
- District 50 Adds Voice to State Budget Debate
- Future Center Ribbon Cutting, District Showcase Next Monday
- Voting Continue in Board of Education Race
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- October 13th Edition
- District 50 Considers a Name Change, Wants Your Input
- Board Candidates Answer Your Questions
- Ruben Pacheco Withdraws from Race
- Community Celebrates Drug Free Message
- ‘Red Ribbon Month’ Has Students Looking to the Sky
- Skyline Vista Playground Celebrates Partnerships
- Renowned Cartoonist Visits D50
- Defense Shines, Wolves remain Undefeated
- College Fair Provides Options
- District Showcase, Future Center Ribbon Cutting Set for November 2
- Homecoming Parade is October 24
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- September 29th Edition
- WHS Football Rolls, Running Back Dickerson Nominated for State Award
- Superintendent Cabinet Focuses on Community Solutions
- Five WHS Grads Receive Peierls Scholarships
- Website Answers Questions about District 50 Properties
- Apply Now to Become DAAC Member
- Submit Your Questions for Board of Education Forum
- Scott Carpenter Students Head to Great Outdoors
- Closure of 72nd Avenue to Begin Wednesday
- Highlights of Ranum/Westy Alumni Golf Tournament
- ‘Fred’ Award Winners Recognized
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- September 15th Edition
- Hodgkins’ Families Celebrate ‘Putts for a Purpose’
- Rods for a Good Cause Returns
- Irving Street Library Open on Sunday
- New Leaders at D50 Schools
- Meet Ed Foundation Leader, Sign up for Newsletter
- Board of Education Forum Set for Oct 6
- Parents Honored for their Work in Preventing Suicide
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- High Powered Wolves Football Team Remains Undefeated
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- September 1st Edition
- New Teachers Experience Joy and Jitters as Careers Get Underway
- 5 Candidates to Compete for Three BOE Seats
- September is Attendance Awareness Month
- ‘Stuff for Students’ Sets Students on the Right Path
- Ranum/Westy Golf Tournament to Tee Off September 25
- Mark Your Calendar
- Closure of 72nd Avenue Delayed
- Co-workers Share Their Summer Stories
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- August 28th Edition
-
Swanson Pushes for Equitable Funding
“The state funding formula for education is not working for everyone!”
That was the message from Superintendent Pam Swanson on Friday as she hosted a meeting of the “Opportunity Coalition” at Westminster High School.
The coalition is made up of school districts from across the state who have either high concentrations of students living in poverty or rural districts that don’t have the resources to adequately educate their children. A membership list of the coalition can be found below.
Swanson was a founding member of the group that speaks as a united voice at the Colorado Legislature in an effort to provide more funding for “at risk” students.
Lawmakers are currently working on this year’s School Finance Act and trying to figure out how to divide up education dollars in Colorado.
The current formula provides school district’s with a set amount of money for each student and then factors in a series of complex adjustments based on criteria like poverty, school district enrollment and the cost of living in a community. Critics say the formula is outdated and doesn’t fairly allocate already scarce resources.
For years, lawmakers have talked about changing the formula, but so far it hasn’t happened.
There does appear to be growing support for a change in formula particularly from leaders of wealthier school districts who are now struggling to manage “pockets of poverty” in their communities.
Experts have long concluded that it costs more money per student to effectively teach students in a classroom with a high concentration of poverty versus poor students in a classroom with wealthier peers. The current formula does not take that factor into account.
Dramatic changes to the formula won’t happen this year, but Governor John Hickenlooper’s Education Policy Advisor, Evy Valencia, who attended the meeting, said the Governor is well aware of the calls for change.
“It’s a big deal that you are having this discussion,” said Valencia.Opportunity Coalition Members:
- Pamela Swanson, Westminster Public Schools
- Michael Clough, Sheridan School District
- Charlotte Ciancio, Mapleton
- Don Snowberger, Durango
- Wendy Rubin, Englewood
- Kermit Snyder, Rocky Ford
- Nikki Johnson, Campo
- Kate Bartlett, Lake County School District (Chief Financial Officer)
- Wendy Wyman, Lake County School District
- Elsie Goines, Las Animas School District
- Randy Holmes, Holly School District
- Scott Mader, Trinidad School District
Posted April 11, 2016