During its regular meeting on Tuesday, June 10, the Archuleta School District (ASD) Board of Education (BOE) unanimously approved multiple items, including its 2025-2026 budget, district cellphone policy and a new middle school social studies curriculum.
The budget was first presented to the BOE during its May 13 regular meeting by Finance Director Eric Burt.
During that meeting, Superintendent Rick Holt praised Burt’s efforts in preparing the budget, mentioning this is the earliest he has been presented with a budget proposal, eliminating the need for the board to hold a special meeting following the Memorial Day holiday.
During the June 10 meeting, Burt explained there was just “one slight change” from the budget presented in May, noting the “that is in the grants fund.”
In an email to The SUN, Burt explained that the district’s Title I funding allocation for the 2024-2025 school year was $415,000, and will drop to $410,000 for the 2025-2026 school year, a decrease of 1.2 percent.
Burt also notes in his email that the district had “some carryover” from the 2023-2024 school year that pushed the 2025-2026 figure closer to $460,000.
During the meeting, Burt mentioned that the district has received its initial allocation of title funding, noting it is waiting on Title II, III and IV allocations.
BOE member Tim Taylor asked if the state has those funds and are in the process of deciding how to allocate monies to districts.
“I don’t know if the state is in possession of those funds yet,” Burt answered.
Holt explained that the federal budget has been approved for all title elements, noting there’s “no chance right now of this next year’s federal funding allotment changing. There’s plenty of chances of that changing for the following year.”
In an email to The SUN, Holt explains that the secretary of education is suggesting the federal government cut funding for migrant education, which is part of Title I funding, and funding for English learners under Title III.
During the meeting, Holt noted the district does not access much funding for “migrant ed,” but that it does access funds for English learners.
When asked about the budget process by the BOE, Burt stated, “I think it went very well,” explaining all deadlines were met and lots of input was received from all departments.
Taylor commented the district is “fortunate” to have an overall program funding increase of 3.2 percent, or $626,496 more.
Other highlights noted in the budget presentation include a 3 percent raise for all employees, a starting teacher salary of $53,194, a projected flat student enrollment count at 1,535 and total program funding of $19,616,827.
Burt’s budget presentation can be viewed in its entirety at https://www.mypagosaschools.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=579787&type=d&pREC_ID=1072133.
Cellphone policy
The BOE also unanimously approved a new cellphone policy for the district during the June 10 meeting, with BOE president Bob Lynch explaining the policy was being presented for discussion and the board could choose to approve the policy or approve it as a first reading to be brought back with any edits.
Holt explained the policy being presented was “cleaned up” to be in line with the board’s previous discussion on the matter.
Holt also noted the policy “does not outline procedures,” as those will be in student and staff school handbooks.
BOE member David Iverson indicated he had no edits on the policy, calling it a “high-level policy,” while noting that the practice part will be “interesting.”
“Hit the mark on the policy side,” Iverson added.
Taylor also indicated satisfaction with the policy, stating, “I’m actually quite happy with it.”
According to the policy attached in the meeting’s agenda, the BOE “believes personal technology devices are unnecessary distractions.”
The policy also notes that students may not use personal technology devices “or have them on their person at school during the day” and that they must be placed in a backpack or bag.
The policy goes on to mention that any violation will result in “temporary confiscation.”
Use of personal technology devices during off-campus activities will be at the discretion of the activity supervisor, the policy explains.
Middle school curriculum
After piloting a new social studies curriculum at Pagosa Springs Middle School (PSMS) during the spring semester, the BOE unanimously voted to approve adopting the curriculum from Teachers’ Curriculum Institute (TCI), during its June 10 meeting.
PSMS Assistant Principal Jane Ash briefed the BOE on the school’s “path over the last four years,” explaining that former principal Chris Hinger led the school in “adopting guaranteed and viable curriculum.”
Ash explained that math was the first curriculum adopted by the school four years ago, and that an English language arts curriculum was adopted two years ago, with a science curriculum adopted and implemented this past year.
“So, that left social studies as one of our core content areas without a guaranteed and viable curriculum,” Ash said, explaining that teachers have done a great job of creating their own curriculum, but that adopting a curriculum would provide support, technology and interventions.
“So much more than any individual teacher can do, all tied to the Colorado state standards,” she added.
PSMS social studies teachers Amy Owen and Naomi Lindquester presented the curriculum to the board, explaining that the Social Studies Department currently does not have a curriculum and has some outdated materials.
Lindquester explained that Teach TCI is a “comprehensive curriculum” and will be implemented for fifth through eighth grades.
Owen added that the curriculum is “inquiry based,” explaining the goal is to get away from just “feeding” students information and to “get more into social studies” with hands-on activities and examining primary documents, “which are incredibly important.”
Lindquester also mentioned the curriculum is “flexible,” allowing it to be conducted in-person or virtually, and that with it being a comprehensive curriculum, there’s “seamless connection between grade levels.”
Lynch commented on the price attached with the curriculum, asking if the total of $42,942 is for a six-year license.
Ash explained that there is also a year-to-year option, but explained that the six-year license offers quite a bit of savings, describing it as a “far better deal.”
Ash also commented that the curriculum has gotten a lot of support from teachers and shows their confidence in the program.
“Sounds exciting to me,” Taylor commented.
