On Monday, November 13, the Colorado ISD School Board came together to discuss how to work towards a brighter future for their students. It's always inspiring to see a group of dedicated individuals committed to ensuring CISD students have access to the best possible education. The school board's efforts represent a positive step forward in shaping the future of the community. It's through their hard work and dedication that students can thrive and become successful in life.
Mrs. Toombs and Mr. Komppa report that the average reading scores in the district have improved. Most students at CES/CMS have progressed by one grade level and started the year on grade level.
As for CHS, 9th-grade students are reading at an 11th-12th grade level. 10th grade students are reading at a level equivalent to that of a community college, while 11th and 12th grade students are reading at a level equivalent to that of a community college or university.
Our AR programs have shown a 70% growth in reading, which indicates that the literacy building blocks we are using are effective!
"Imagine the growth we would be seeing if we had implemented these programs two years ago," said CES/CMS Principal Lorianne Toombs.
The audit of CISD for the financial year 2022-2023 by Merritt, McLane, and Hamby was completed with no issues or findings. The final report confirms a clean audit opinion by auditors. The Statement of Net Position reports that the cash and receivables amount to 16 million, while the liabilities are at a ratio of 15/1, which is higher than the usual 3/1 ratio and is considered extraordinary. Budgeting and amendments show that we exceeded revenue expectations but stayed within expense limits. The audit did not identify any compliance issues.
CISD Superintendent Dr. Larry Polk, Jr. expressed his heartfelt gratitude by saying, "Our Director of Business and Payroll, Jerri Kimball, has led our team with Ms. Andrews and Ms. Flores, and with the continued support of Mrs. Redwine and Ms. Costillo to exponential growth. With over half of Texas school districts adopting a deficit budget, I cannot express enough gratitude for being a part of this exceptional team. We were able to provide raises for our staff and maintain expenditures, resulting in an unheard of fund balance of over 1.9 million. These are the fruits of our labor when we do the right things for our kids and our people. Thank you, Team of Eight, for making this possible. Your dedication and hard work have truly been inspirational."
The CISD Strategic Compensation plan proposes an annuity program for Teacher and Staff Recruitment/Retention, which provides a 1%, 2%, or 3% match for all CISD 180 staff members. Under this program, employees may voluntarily contribute a percentage of their annual salary to a retirement account, much like a 401K. Board Secretary Veronica Boone motioned for approval, seconded by Trustee Frank Martinez.
A motion was moved by Board Vice President Lilliana Ornelas and seconded by Trustee Jamie Alvarez to retrofit the exterior doors and gates access at CHS/CMS/CES to enhance security and address the issue of lost keys and unauthorized access. Director of Operations Robert Oliver suggested a door monitoring system with key access control. The safety and security grant funds will be utilized for this project, including the administration building gym.
Additionally, a motion was moved by Trustee John Martinez and seconded by Trustee Frank Martinez to approve security camera additions at CHS for $28,000, funded by the safety and security grant. Safety concerns in the CHS Pep Rally Gym, Batting Cage Area, and Vocational Shops were also discussed.
As the November 13, 2023, CISD School Board Meeting drew to a close, Board President Emily Strain took a moment to express her heartfelt gratitude to the CISD staff for their unwavering dedication to the betterment of the students. She acknowledged the hard work put in by everyone and thanked them for their continued efforts towards making CISD a place of excellence.
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