Pueblo County School District 70 announced that it has received a matching BEST Grant for $3.3 million. The grant is funded by the Colorado State Land Board, marijuana excise taxes, Colorado Lottery spillover, and interest earned and will be matched with $4 million from D70.
BEST grant stands for Building Excellent Schools Today, the funding was established in 2008 to provide competitive grants to improve educational facilities in Colorado. The BEST grants support the construction of new schools and the renovation of existing structures to enhance public schools' health, safety, security, and technology.
This D70 grant will be used for a new roof and wastewater improvements at Pueblo County High School. 'These improvements are essential for the safety and well-being of more than 1,400 students and staff, and they will also benefit the broader community that uses the facility as a regional hub,' Pueblo D70 officials said in a news release.
Pueblo D70 received an additional $540,000 in BEST grant funds to replace fire alarms in nine schools. The BEST grant for fire alarm replacements must be matched with a district contribution of over $777,000.
The June 18, D70 Board of Education (BOE) meeting started with an executive session regarding negotiations and advice to negotiators regarding a proposed release of Pueblo Charter Academy to other authorizers. No results were available from the executive session.
BOE President Anne Ochs gave a presentation to have the dates approved for the 2024-2025 Board of Education meeting schedule and show the organizational dues.
Stephanie Russell, D70 Director of Human Resources, gave a presentation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Pueblo County Education Association and D70 regarding the 2024-2025 Classified, Certified, and Preschool Directors Compensation package, as presented.
Russell also moved to approve the Administrative Compensation Package which allows for an experience step for all eligible administrative employees, and a 1% increase to the base of all administrative salary schedules with the exception of the superintendent’s salary, which will be presented separately.
Amanda Wittman, D70 Director of Finance, explained the resolution authorizing D70’s participation in the State Treasurer's Interest-Free Loan Program for Colorado School Districts. A motion to approve the Resolution authorizing the district's participation was approved. The resolution approves borrowing under such a program in an aggregate principal amount up to $7,000,000 establishing the terms and provisions of loans to the district according to such program, providing for the payment of and security for such loans; and authorizing the execution, and delivery and acceptance of documents in connection with the loans.
Dr. Anthony Martinez gave a presentation of the MOU between the State of Colorado, Department of Higher Education, by the Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System acting by and through Colorado State University-Pueblo and Pueblo County School District No 70 for Concurrent Enrollment (CE), Senior to Sophomore Dual Enrollment (STS), Accelerating Students through Concurrent Enrollment (ASCENT), and Teacher Recruitment and Education (TREP) Programs. The next board meeting, a special meeting for budget approval, is scheduled for Thursday, June 27, 2024, Via Zoom, beginning at 5:00 p.m. The Youtube link for the meeting is: https://www.youtube. com/@puebloschooldistrict70