School News From Leadville Today

A New Superintendent, A New School Year

On July 1, 2020 the Lake County School District (LCSD) welcomed a new Superintendent: Dr. Bethany Massey. The following is the short welcome video the LCSD shared with the news announcement. Former LCSD Superintendent Dr. Wendy Wyman left the district at the end of May 2020 after 8 years in that position. Wyman had a chance to address the students and community she served in the Lake County High School Graduation video (time:1:45).

Meet The New School Superintendent

Leadville School Year 2020/21

On July 6, the LCSD released the following information concerning the 2020-21 school year for Leadville students: Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year. Registration is open! Registration letters and emails are on the way to you. If you do not receive your packet in the mail or your email, please reach out to the front office after July 20th or contact Bunny Taylor at btaylor@lakecountyschools.net or 719-486-6805. For more information on registration please follow this link to our registration site. Registration is needed for all students and we are asking that you sign up for an Orientation Conference for Aug. 10th or 11th after the completion of your registration.

“We know that many families have questions about how the start of school will look this year. We want to let you know that LCSD staff is working on plans toward reopening school. Please watch for additional communications later this month. We appreciate your patience as we thoughtfully prepare our plan for a return to school that considers the changing directives related to COVID, the instructional wellbeing of our students and the health and safety of our students, staff and community.” Visit the school district’s website for updates.

At the State House: Education News

By Bella Combest, Special to Leadville Today

In other education news, several statewide legislative measures were signed into law yesterday, July 8, 2020. Here is the breakdown on that information. The first round of laws improve Colorado schools and increase student safety

SB-023: Colorado Working Group on School Safety

This bill creates a 13-member working group to address school safety program challenges through data analysis, outreach and coordination between schools and districts.

“This bill gives the people who are experts on this the space to continue working together to best serve our students, parents, teachers, and broader community safe,” said Sen. Julie Gonzales (D-Denver).

HB-1053: Supports For Early Childhood Educators

Addressing educator shortages in our state means supporting the great teachers already in our classrooms, and finding ways to recruit and support those who want to be in the future. HB-1053 identifies ways

“Teachers make incredible impacts on the lives of their students,” said Sen. Brittany Pettersen (D-Lakewood). “We must prioritize attracting and retaining excellent early childhood educators to ensure that Colorado’s budding and future generations are able to thrive, and HB-1053 helps us do that.”

Colorado’s early learning and daycare centers were already operating at capacity and dealing with waiting lists, and COVID-19 has exacerbated these needs. These bills aim to address these gaps by removing barriers and streamlining the process for child care centers in starting operations.

SB-126: Allow Home Child Care In Homeowners’ Association Community and HB-1347: Licensure Exemption For Family Child Care Homes
“We must address the critical child care shortages that we’re facing in Colorado, and this legislation removes the barriers to quality, affordable child care,” said Sen. Jessie Danielson (D-Wheat Ridge).

Leadville’s Historic Pastime Bar & Cafe is open for some summertime food and fun! Check out their Facebook Page for menu and specials and then hit up their outside bar! At Your service with COVID-19 guidelines in place. Photo: Leadville Today

In addition, a series was also signed into law which addresses adult education, teacher training, & mental health. From expanding adult education to increasing behavioral health training, these new policies are intended to bolster the economy by preparing Coloradans of all ages to compete for 21st-century jobs as well as offer educators the resources they need to support students struggling with their mental health.

SB20-009 Expand Adult Education Grant Program sponsored by Senator Rachel Zenzinger takes a two-generational approach to adult education by broadening the scope of adult education programs and assisting adult learners in acquiring the basic and more advanced skills they need to function effectively as parents, workers, and citizens in Colorado.

“More than 300,000 Coloradans lack a high school diploma with 41% of those community members having less than a 9th-grade education,” said Sen. Zenzinger, D-Arvada. “This new law will improve workforce participation and children’s academic success while also decreasing the reliance on government support. It truly is a comprehensive policy that takes into account the needs of multiple generations– ensuring that families aren’t left behind in our state’s rapidly changing economy.”

HB20-1002, College Credit for Work Experience sponsored by Senators Tammy Story and Rachel Zenzinger requires the Department of Higher Education to conduct a study and ultimately award academic credit for work-related experiences. These credits would be acceptable and transferable in all state institutions – recognizing the worth and applicability of real-world experience from students of all backgrounds.

“Going to college can be prohibitively expensive, but not having a degree can also exclude workers from competitive jobs,” said Sen. Story, D-Evergreen. “We need to rethink our post-secondary education system and help non-traditional students receive the credit they deserve for real-world experience. And this new policy will do exactly that – assisting Coloradans gain advanced qualifications without breaking the bank.”

Summerime! And the living is easy, as diners eat al fresco on the KW Plaza patio of the Sayer McKee Building in downtown Leadville. The Treeline Kitchen and Silver Llama are keeping guests fed from breakfast thru dinner. Photo: Leadville Today

HB20-1312, Behavioral Health Training Requirements Educator License sponsored by Senator Nancy Todd provides teachers with necessary behavioral health training that is culturally responsive and trauma/evidence-based. This additional preparation will give teachers the tools they need to assist students with disabilities or those that are struggling with mental health issues.
“Right now many teachers are finding themselves overwhelmed and under-prepared to instruct students of such different mental and physical abilities,” said Sen. Todd, D-Aurora. “With this new policy, we will be giving educators the support they need to instruct a diverse set of students while also understanding the warning signs of abuse and mental illness that so often go undetected.”

HB20-1113, Mental Health Educational Resources sponsored by Senator Jeff Bridges strengthens Colorado’s Safe2Tell program by improving training resources for operators, standardizing protocols, and increasing public awareness of the program. The Safe2Tell program was created after the shooting at Columbine Highschool to give students a confidential means of connecting with trained professionals about mental health issues. It has since become a nationally-recognized blueprint for student support.

“With teen suicide and school violence on the rise, it is clear that kids need a safe space to talk to someone when they are overwhelmed and hopeless,” said Sen. Bridges, D-Greenwood Village. “However many students are unaware of confidential programs like Safe2Tell that offer a free service, leading to their under-utilization. This new law will help connect struggling kids with the support they need while ensuring community safety.”

That’s a wrap for today’s education report. No doubt it’s going to be a different start to the 2020-21 school year. Stay tuned and Leadville Today will share that information as it becomes available. And readers can always reach out at info@leadvilletoday.com