As we step into the holiday season, the air is filled with the familiarity of colder temperatures and comforting scents of winter—cooking of a family's traditional holiday recipes, pine trees, wood-burning stoves, and warm mugs of cocoa. It’s a time that reminds us of the power of traditions, shared moments, and the simple joys that bring us closer together.

In our schools, we are also preparing to reflect on another important tradition: celebrating the growth and progress our students have made. With mid-year assessments just around the corner, we are excited to see the hard work of our students and teachers shine through. These assessments are not just tests but opportunities to recognize how far our students have come and to plan for the road ahead. MAP testing, semester final exams, and other assessments will allow us the opportunity to celebrate and analyze where we have next to go.

We know this season is also about balance. In a few short weeks, we will have the chance to pause, step away, and reconnect with the people and experiences that matter most. Whether it’s gathering with loved ones, enjoying quiet moments at home, hitting the ski slopes, or simply recharging, the upcoming winter break is essential for all of us to refocus and return energized for the second half of the year. We can do this everyone PCSD Re-2, so let's finish of 2024 strong!

Thank you for the joy, support, and collaboration you bring to our school community every day. On behalf of all of us at PCSD Re-2, I wish you and your family a season full of warmth, peace, and cherished memories.

We are thrilled to welcome Kelly Kirkpatrick as PCSD Re-2’s new District Communications Director! Mr. Kirkpatrick brings decades of expertise in communications, public relations, and leadership. His exceptional skills in writing, editing, and crafting effective communication strategies, as well as his experience managing media outreach and information dissemination, will play a key role in enhancing communication and transparency across our district.

As the founder and editor of the Park County Advocate and former Managing Editor of The Flume local newspaper, Mr. Kirkpatrick has a proven track record of overseeing operations, fostering community engagement, and managing editorial and reporting responsibilities. His extensive background also includes roles in marketing and advertising coordination, further showcasing his ability to build strong connections and partnerships. A well-known and respected figure in the Park County community, Mr. Kirkpatrick’s passion for serving this area and supporting our district is unmistakable. Please join us in welcoming Kelly Kirkpatrick to the PCSD Re-2 team!

Continuing to review and improve the safety of our school is a priority for PCSD Re-2. Our new Safety & Security Coordinator, Patrick Cooper, has spent his first few weeks on the team diving into various aspects of our operations and plans. He has been a strong voice for making improvements by building on the many things we are already doing well.

This week, staff participated in training on the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) and safety procedures to ensure preparedness for various scenarios. The SRP is a set of actions and language that helps people respond to emergencies in a consistent and clear way. To learn about this nationally recognized universal approach to emergency management, I encourage you to visit the I Love You Guys Foundation's website. As part of these efforts, we are planning our first lockdown drill of the year on December 11. To help students and teachers feel informed and prepared, our Safety and Security Coordinator will visit classrooms beforehand to explain how it will look in their areas, answer questions, help ease any anxiety, and promote understanding. After the drill is complete, teachers will use talking points to facilitate reflection with students, and each class will receive feedback from the safety team to identify any improvements for next time.

Clear communication with families is a priority, and parents will receive email notifications at the start and conclusion of the drill. By fostering a culture of preparedness and continuous improvement, we aim to create a safe and secure environment for all members of our school community. Thank you for supporting these important efforts.

In PCSD Re-2, ensuring the safety of students and staff during severe weather is a top priority. To make informed decisions about weather delays or closures, the district follows a process that aims to balance safety with the goal of minimizing disruptions to learning. Our goal is to communicate changes to normal school schedules in a timely manner to allow families and staff to adjust and plan accordingly.

The process begins 24-48 hours before a potential storm or severe weather event. We closely monitor forecasts from the National Weather Service, local weather stations, and apps. Updates from county or state transportation departments, as well as reports from law enforcement or emergency management agencies, play a key role in assessing the situation. Early in the morning—typically around 4:00 AM—our Transportation Director and myself review the information available to us. We focus on high-risk areas, such as US 285 and HWY 9, and routes prone to high winds and ice, to gauge the safety of bus operations as well as what can be lengthy family and staff commutes. By 4:30 AM, we make the decision about whether to proceed with a normal schedule, implement a delayed start, or close schools entirely. 2-hour delays are used when conditions are expected to improve with daylight or additional road clearing. Full closures are reserved for situations where travel is deemed unsafe or when conditions are expected to deteriorate throughout the day, possibly leading to unsafe travel for buses, families, and staff after school. On rare occasions, a 2-hour delay may be called in anticipation of improved conditions, but eventually changed to a closure if improvement is not seen as hoped for.

Once a decision is made, communication begins immediately if schools will not be operating on a normal schedule. The district uses multiple channels to reach families, staff, and the community. Staff receive an email immediately once the decision is made and a post to our Facebook page is made. At 5:00am, parents and staff receive notifications through automated calls, emails, and texts (depending on the individual’s preferences as set-up in ALMA).

Colorado weather can be the hardest to gauge at times, so there might be incidences where we don’t get it right. Also, with such a large county that can have opposite weather conditions in one area versus another at times, it’s important to recognize that conditions at our homes might not be that of many other areas in the county, all of which need to be taken into consideration when making weather-related decisions. After each weather event, we review the decision and take anything learned into the next experience. In the end, our decision on whether or not to call a weather-related schedule change comes down to our ultimate priority to have students in school, but to prioritize safety.

After completing initial screenings, we have identified a few candidates that we would like to bring in for interviews. As we move into the next phase, we are still seeking parents and community members interested in joining the interview team to help ensure a well-rounded perspective during the selection process. The interviews are scheduled for Thursday, December 12th and will include three groups of which candidates will rotate through: staff, parents, and administration. The day will begin at 7:45 AM and conclude no later than 12:00 PM, with exact details to be finalized soon. This collaborative approach ensures that we gather valuable input from all stakeholders as we work to select the best leader for our school community.

If you’re interested in participating, please complete the interest form as soon as possible by clicking here. You will be notified of your selection to the committee on December 5 to allow you time to plan accordingly. Thank you for your continued support in this important process.

We have compiled our new District Technology Committee and are ready to get to work. Our team is made up of parents, administrators, and staff to start and our first meeting will be held on December 10. Our plan for the first meeting is to identify our goals for the remainder of this year and divvy up into work groups. We will be focusing on the use of AI in classrooms and considering the development of a District AI policy, strengthening cybersecurity, ways to build our students' cyber-citizenship skills, and developing a vetting process to approve technology resources for use in our various ages of classrooms per student privacy regulations. I promise to keep you apprised on the progress of our work throughout the year.

PCSD Re-2’s District Accountability Committee (DAC) is made up of parents, teachers, District

staff, the Superintendent, and community members and serves in an advisory capacity to the

Park County School District Re-2 Board of Education. In Colorado, it is a statutory requirement

for every school district to have a DAC. The committee meets monthly throughout the year and

makes recommendations to the Board of Education regarding specific topics at-large. Topics

may include but are not limited to the spending of District money, improvement plans, and

community engagement efforts. The committees members also make recommendations for

areas and issues for study. The committee strives to work together to better our District’s community, and is always looking for parents, business owners, school staff, and other community members to join its efforts.

At the last DAC meeting on November 13, 2024, the committee focused on the development of a parent survey to collect feedback on school culture and partnerships. This survey will be sent out to families after the start of the new year.

We are always looking to add more stakeholders to DAC. DAC is still looking to fill a vacancy requirement with one person involved in business in the community within our district boundaries. We are also looking for at least one more parent member. If you are interested in learning more about DAC, please visit www.parkcountyre2.org and the DAC- District Accountability Committee page. You can also contact Dr. Harrison at jistine.harrison@parkcountyre2.org. A virtual option for committee members who are hesitant because of distance can be made available.

The PTO is a group formed by parents, teachers, and staff at Edith Teter Elementary to promote collaboration and support for the school community. The PTO works to enhance the educational experience for students through fundraising, organizing events, and providing resources. It creates a sense of community among parents, teachers, and students, encouraging involvement in school activities. Activities utilized to accomplish the goals of the PTO may include fundraising, events, and volunteering. The benefits of our PTO include enhanced resources, community building, and parent involvement. ETE's PTO serves as a vital link between the school and the community, enhancing the educational experience for all of our students. Please visit their Facebook page or reach out to Dr. Harrison for more questions on how to join!

SPAA is a non-profit organization that supports all extracurricular activities at South Park Middle and High School (not just sports). They fundraise year round in order to pay for the things that are not covered by the budget. Things they pay for include, but aren't necessarily limited to: new uniforms, record boards, gymnasium floor covering, signs, money to help with travel, new equipment, scholarships, and so much more than there is room to list. Please visit SPAA's Facebook page or reach out to South Park Middle/High School's principal Kevin Sellars at kevin.sellers@parkcountyre2.org for more information on getting involved with SPAA.

Burro Band Boosters is a group of community members committed to supporting all South Park Burro Bands. A successful band program isn't possible without support, and the Boosters are always looking for volunteers to join or help. Becoming a sponsor is another great way to get involved. If interested in learning more about how you can support the Burro Bands, please email them at spburroband@gmail.com.

READ PAST ISSUES OF:

Superintendent Bulletin

• Sept 21, 2024
• Nov 3, 2024

Board Buzz

• Oct 17, 2024
• Nov 18 2024

LOCAL EVENTS

Information on Local Park County Events

SCHOOL WEBSITES

Edith Teter Preschool

Edith Teter Elementary

South Park Middle/High School

Guffey Community Charter School

Lake George Charter School

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Employment in PCSD Re-2

PCSD Re-2 District Calendar 2024-2025

Food Services (menus)

Park County School District Re-2 Facebook Page