Super Kenny king, Thanks
with us today about some
the district. But first o
about the reality that so
are facing right now ever
that I've talked to, um t
possibility of having to
some schools talks about
that are happening. We kn
a whole are declining. Do
really interesting demogr
to different communities
Can you talk a little bit
what's going on in Highla
Ranch in Parker and Castl
right now? Absolutely. We
unique challenge in Dougl
we're dealing with both b
in our older communities,
pockets of tremendous gro
sides of that coin and we
with it as as one in one
if you think of what we c
area, which is um Highlan
sterling Ranch, which is
west of Highlands Ranch a
Ridge Gate East, which is
east across I 25 from Hig
Pines. Those areas are ex
growth and they aren't ju
They are massive communit
of Castle Pines or half t
Ranch and so we've got th
have all these elementary
declining enrollment is,
able to provide elementar
newer communities. So wha
to do is engage in a disc
over grew growth and decl
are two sides of the same
deal with both of those r
Ranch, for example, is a
that people moved into 20
still there. People like
20 years ago with very, v
and put their young Child
system and their kids are
school or in college or b
the families are still li
homes in that area, which
schools haven't had new l
the ones that grew up the
schools in Highlands Ranc
enrollment. We're not in
at this point, but we are
we need to plan proactive
be making snap decisions
emergency situation becau
small schools. So what we
is plan for the future of
look ahead and think abou
area. Where would it make
of our schools so that we
for kids at the end of th
are really, really small
overflowing as our school
Ranch are due to those bi
ending Highlands Ranch. B
have a lot of challenges
for our students. Um A sc
population has large clas
use mobil's which we know
limits some limits to pro
just isn't the space scho
really small, struggle wi
you find an art teacher t
time art teacher. Um and
kids have all those speci
after school programs tha
schools. So for us, the l
discussion is opportuniti
We want to make sure that
have access to elementary
way that I did when I mov
County 22 years ago with
it's it's looking at oppo
across our district and h
that we continue to offer
Great explanation there.
numbers. I just to point
newer communities where t
are moving, there are ver
elementary schools. Is th
to give you some numbers,
has 38,000 homes and 16 e
schools sterling Ranch is
homes. It's about 16% bui
have no elementary school
Ranch, that was actually
our bond initiative that
and that we may have to t
november to ensure that t
access to at least one el
you for pointing those nu
ask you. As you've watche
Denver schools make decis
schools. Have you learned
approaches they've taken
not waiting too long unti
to make these decisions.
upset about their schools
like that. What are you t
you're seeing in other di
all, these are never easy
don't want to criticize t
have handled it because t
hard things to do. But I
the steps that, that we f
Um, One is really truly p
looking to make a 3 to 5
looking to do any pairing
year. Um We're looking to
plans so that our familie
plenty of notice as far a
be and what it will look
to make sure our staff no
Douglas County is in the
and growth, there is a jo
we want to make sure that
as we're looking at pairi
next 3 to 5 years that no
a single staff member wil
in Douglas County schools
schools. Um There there's
everyone across our distr
growth is in a in a diffe
decline. Um The other thi
that that we've really gl
it is when you split a sc
half and send half of a s
one place and half to ano
is really about pairing s
really small communities
community to maximize the
they have for students. T
Um and and, and and we wi
word is used, pairing is
this. Um I can look right
of different elementary s
Ranch for example. Do you
will look at their school
to glean from that? Will
in three years or be one
gets paired with another
made, have you started to
schools that will close?
in our process is really
community and talking to
and decline challenge, wh
and why looking forward,
become a challenge. The f
to do is help everyone un
have some decisions we ha
importantly why? Um so th
of our engagement before
specific schools or speci
a little later in the pro
are going to speculate bu
at my level right now rig
looking at discussing wit
this is a challenge. When
Where we're talking about
we're going to do that wi
community as well. Um you
discussions but not havin
kicking the can down the
just having the discussio
same page and understandi
happen in the future. Not
this 3-5 year plan. Um I
more important than just
because they're hard. And
when we say 3 to 5 year p
no schools would be paire
the school year. That sta
correct. So the earliest
happen would be the 2026
we do have some time here
engage and, and do it wit
and have plenty of plan t
and for our families. And
looking at elementary, Th
that up. We are only look
schools. If you look at o
County in particular. Tra
have had access to a loca
school. Um, we haven't ty
really far away to get to
middle school and high sc
story. We can best kids t
school and high school an
our history in Douglas Co
talking about elementary
schools and high schools.
the next 3 to 5 years, we
can look at boundaries an
those as well as we can.
point out that there are
maybe, maybe too too many
enough teachers, I know t
has been a major goal the
to you I believe was righ
vote failed in november.
efforts are happening rig
said you're gonna go back
the voters next year, but
right now to shore up tea
shoring up teacher pay is
without a change in our m
However, we are doing a n
strategies. So we're real
sure that we hold on to t
that we have. Um, and we'
short term retention stra
really excited about. Um,
be clear for our taxpayer
for these short term rete
of the labor shortage and
We have had empty positio
so positions that we budg
unable to fill because of
Um, we're taking that bud
for this school year And
short term retention stra
staff will be received, t
us this year and return w
receive a $2,000 retentio
of next year, whether the
principal or a custodian.
um, in order to stay with
adding a personal day to
Um, in july again, just,
we can do with one time m
investing in tuition reim
so helping our teachers a
um getting tuition reimbu
choose to pursue educatio
in their job in the distr
investing in that. And ag
things are uses of one ti
because of the labor shor
that are, we will get mor
state as will every schoo
we will use that addition
modest raises going into
well every school distric
help us keep our teachers
important to understand t
will move up modestly, So
pay. And that gap between
we're able to solve our m
challenge. We know that o
teachers who start out in
starting pay right now is
who makes that kind of mo
Douglas County really can
Douglas County. Um, and t
We want to make sure that
and staff can live where
important, it's important
important for our communi
at creative ways to use l
has, that we know we won'
in areas where we just do
in order to create housin
and staff can access for
Well. Erin Kane, thank yo
to us today. Thank you so