Tribune
Tri-Lakes
May 1, 2013
Free
A Colorado Community Media Publication
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Tri-Lakes Region, Monument, Gleneagle, Black Forest and Northern El Paso County
More students, fewer teachers
Go Speed RaceR
Concern for District 38 focuses on effect down the road By Lisa Collacott
lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com Lewis-Palmer School District 38 student population has nearly doubled in recent years. But at the same time, the number of teachers and administrators has significantly dropped. In 1995, the district had 189 teachers, 21 administrators and 3,520 students. By 2000, the district increased in the number of teachers to 273, and student population increased to 4,362. The number of administrators stood the same. By 2005, an increase put the number of teachers at 366, administrators at 26, and students at 5,610. But then, by 2012, the district saw a teacher count decline to 338 and only 18 administrators. There wasn’t a decline in student population, however. It continued to grow, nearly doubling from 1995, putting the number of students at 6,076. The state has reduced the district’s funding substantially over the past five years, impacting the general fund budget by $11 million. In order to compensate for the shortage, the district has had to make reductions to all non-teaching areas of the budget, which has included a 31 percent reduction in administration positions since 2006. Superintendent John Borman said it has been a challenge. Having fewer teachers and administrators, while at the same time, a climbing student population. He’s worried more about the number of teachers because that forces larger class sizes. There are cnearly 30 fewer teachers for more than 450 extra students. He said a few years ago the high school teachers went to teaching six classes instead of five, increasing the number of students in their classes. The district had to effectively cut 20 percent of the teachers at the high school level. “Students aren’t going to receive as much individual attention as they used to,” Borman said. “And it’s certainly an overload on administrative staff. At the same time we have an unprecedented amount of state initiatives coming at us.” Borman said the district is still one of the top districts, but he worries about maintaining all the aspects of what makes D-38 an excellent district. “There is going to come a time, I worry, that we are going to start seeing some challenging results of our achievement,” Borman said. Borman said that some of the cuts in D-38 continues on Page 7
These two young Soap Box Derby racers demonstrate the art of hunkering down to limit wind-drag when driving gravity-powered race cars down steep streets. The AllAmerican Soap Box Derby started in 1934 and the tradition continues in the Pikes Peak region. See story on Page 6 Courtesy photo
Fire district getting ready for new chief Affordable Healthcare implementation could impact 2014 budget By Norma Engelberg
nengelberg@ourcoloradonews.com His laptop, cellphone, uniforms and gas and credit cards are on order, so that when the new Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District Fire Chief Christopher Truty is sworn in on May 13, he will be able to hit the ground running. Of course, he’ll have to hit the ground without his chief’s car, a specially-equipped Ford Suburban that won’t arrive until sometime in June. Until it arrives, he will be driving the district’s utility pick-up truck. At the district board meeting, Interim Chief Bryan Jack said the new chief might have to make a few trips back to Illinois to work on the sale of his home. The district will pay for Truty’s COBRA insurance for his family while they still live in Illinois. “If he puts the family on our insurance, they will only be
able to use emergency rooms if they get sick,” Jack said. “It won’t cost the district any more to reimburse him for COBRA than it would to cover the family under our health plan.” Truty will be sworn in twice; the official swearing in by board President Jake Shirk will be at 8 a.m. on May 13 and the “ceremonial” swearing in with cake and other refreshments will take place at the May 22 regular meeting. Many of the firefighters are holding out for chocolate cake. Jack also talked about how the full implementation of the Affordable Health Care Act next year might affect the district’s budget. The district doesn’t buy health insurance for its parttime employees, a practice that will likely change with the healthcare act. Jack said he would ask the experts how the act will affect the budget but there aren’t any experts. Lt. Mike Keough and Falcon Fire Chief Glenn Levy are working on a training video to help train firefighters in the North Group, Tri-Lakes Monument, Wescott, Black Forest,
Christopher Truty will be picking the reins as the new Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District Chief on May 13. Courtesy photo. Falcon, Palmer Lake and Larkspur fire departments learn water hauling and water-supply training. The video and a standardized curriculum will allow departments to offer the training in smaller groups. “Doing group training (with
other departments) is a logistical nightmare,” Keough said. The district employees have taken almost 4,000 hours of training. The passage of the bond question last November’s ballot has allowed the district to bring its training programs back up to 2009 standards. Station No. 3 is getting its roof leak repaired with insurance funding. Planning for new septic system at Station #2 is continuing. Construction costs are being determined. As has been noted at previous meetings, the existing septic leach field is inadequate because it is located above bedrock and covered by asphalt so wastewater can’t percolate through the soil. Once the new septic system is installed, only water from equipment bays that has been strained through the sand-oil trap will enter the old leach field. Board member Roger Lance, who recently installed a new septic system at his house, told the rest of the board to be prepared for “sticker-shock” when the cost estimates come in.