District Advisory Committee

Activity Report and the District Budget Reduction Plan Review

January 20, 2009

DAC Activity Report

School Improvement PlansWinter Forum

School Improvement Plans

“Review and make recommendations to the BoE concerning high, but achievable, goals and objectives for the improvement of education in each

school that are submitted by the School Advisory Councils.”

Learning Improvement Goals Ends Statements & Learning Goals Alignment SIPs Focus Areas Budget Reduction Prioritization Linkage

School Improvement Plans

“Review and make recommendations to the BoE concerning high, but achievable, goals and objectives for the improvement of education in each school that are submitted by the

School Advisory Councils.”

Re-assess SIP Central for Improvements Design a SIP “Ends/LG” Matrix Year to year assessment/trends Formal report to Board of Education in April 2009

2008-2009 Learning Improvement Goals

Reading, Writing & Math…Prominent Focus Learning Goal #2 & CSAP Measurement

Learning Goal #1…Positive Behavior (PBS) Learning Goal #3…Technology Application SIPs are Generally Aligned with End Statement

& Learning Goals

Winter Forum Tuesday, February 10, 2009

“The purpose of the DAC is to encourage and provide opportunities for parents and community members to become informed about and to be

involved in the planning and evaluation of the School District’s instructional program and quality improvement processes.”

Regional Forums Castle Rock Highlands Ranch Parker Area

BoE, DOS & DAC Representatives Hosting Agenda Topics

SIPs Compliance & Best Practices DAC/SAC Relationship & Communication: Defining Roles Post Budget Reduction Priorities: Flexible Funding

District Budget Reduction andPrioritization Plan

“After attempting to consult with the SACs, make recommendations to the Board relative to prioritization of expenditures of school district moneys.”

District Advisory Committee Report Overview Assessment & Due Diligence Conclusions

District Advisory CommitteeOverview

DAC Charge

We interpreted our BoE charge as one of assessing whether or not the District’s Budget Reduction Proposal is “reasonable as presented” along with providing any appropriate comments regarding prioritization and innovative ideas.

District Advisory CommitteeOverview

Criteria We attempted to frame our thinking within the spirit of the

Superintendent’s primary criteria. Maintain a world class educational opportunity Minimize impact on the classroom Ensure the financial strength of the District

Our prioritization work was further defined by the BoE End Statement and District Student Learning Goals.

District Advisory CommitteeAssessment

SAC Engagement DAC members attended approximately 25 SAC meetings

where budget reduction brainstorming was the primary agenda item. We established regional e-mail networks of communication with our SAC/DAC liaisons

Each DAC member has feeder/charters responsibility SAC/community members present at DAC meetings

Common SAC Themes

“We really don’t understand school finance. Just tell us how this impacts our children and the quality of their education.”

Minimize classroom impact Maintain quality: Academic standards and focus on

reading, writing and math The open budget reduction and prioritization process

was applauded Appreciation of early focus on non-academic structural

reductions G&T/Discovery parents were organized

DAC Due Diligence

Criteria BoE End Statement, District Learning Goals,

Superintendent’s themes and DAC Bylaws DCSD Budget Office “big picture” macro

presentation of the operating budget CFO Discussion

Funding streams Initial Reduction Proposal: Structural emphasis

DAC Due Diligence

Criteria Superintendent

Internal engagement Primary criteria for outcome of budget reductions

SACs SAC meeting engagement Feeder templates of brainstorming priorities

Survey Review (5,310 responses as of January 13, 2009)

DAC Final Discussion and Survey

Section A: Reasonable as presented versus criteria? (Yes) Flexible Funding & Local Decision Making (Yes) Structural vs. Programmatic Initial Approach

DAC confirmed this as appropriate and generally consistent with SAC feedback

Committee discussion expressed some concern over class size increases and graduation requirement reductions...areas for potential tweaking

Section B: “Bricks and clicks” Continue the integration of technology in the classroom and distance learning to enhance the efficiency model.

Section C: Untouchables Prioritization

Each committee member was asked to prioritize their top five “untouchables”. This list represents the aggregate conclusion of the committee.

Literacy Intervention K-8 Gifted & Talented High School S.T.A.R. Labs program Elementary Instrumental Music Elementary World Languages

Some debate ensued on the inclusion of World Languages as our SAC experience indicated this was not a high priority for retention. However, BoE ends seem consistent with inclusion on this list.

DAC Conclusions

Thoughtful Approach: The DAC believes this budget reduction and prioritization process demonstrated an inclusive process and a school district focused on the proper priorities to accomplish our ends.

DAC Conclusions

Recommendation: The District Advisory Committee voted unanimously (January 13, 2009…By 6 of the 9 voting members present) to accept the District’s Two Year Budget Reduction Plan as reasonable in its present form for Board of Education consideration.

District Advisory Committee

THANK YOU