September 23, 2023 Community Engagement Session

This is a pilot program to help support extremely hard-to fill positions in transportation and operations.

Individual Education Plans are managed by the team of staff members who write the IEP, in collaboration with parents. Plans are made to meet the service needs of the student disability throughout the school week.

Research shows that targeted efforts towards closing gaps experienced by our most vulnerable populations has a positive impact on all students.

Thompson School District has a keen academic focus this year that includes professional development for teachers in the areas of math pedagogy and professional learning communities, which targets the use of student achievement data to drive highly effective instruction. Professional development in professional learning communities (PLCs) is targeted towards different teaching groups too: science teachers, math, literacy, and social studies, as well as art, music, and physical education (P.E.)/electives.

We have a lot more differentiated instructional strategies now than we used to, and often include small group instruction centered around students' individual learning loss situations to address the gaps.

Currently, there are too many platforms that only young people use. We will continue to utilize communication options that are visible to the entire community, including publications, newspaper announcements and social media posts.

Funding challenges, staffing needs, and continued focus on student outcomes and helping to drive and promote student growth and achievement.

For each candidate a notice of intent is posted on the website under Board of Education. If they have a website, the information can be found there.

School and District-based programs and services support students with needs. School teams work closely with families and district personnel to evaluate educational programming and environments that best support learners.

Any property taxes assessed and collected within the Thompson School District boundaries, including within the proposed Centerra South Urban Renewal Area (URA), will be fully credited to the school district as intended by voters. More detailed information will be provided at an upcoming Master Planning Committee (MPC) meeting.

Board priorities are aligned with Strive 2025 and the priorities are looked at every year.

Parents are invited and encouraged to be involved with their School Accountability and Advisory Committee (SAAC), as well as the District Accountability and Advisory Committee (DAAC). Additionally, each school has Parent Teacher Organization/Association opportunities and other volunteer options for parent and community involvement.

Assistant Principals (APs) are based on student enrollment and level of support needed.

Colorado is one of the lowest states in per pupil school funding in the nation.

The Superintendent's Cabinet, Thompson Leadership Team, as well as individual department teams have engaged in activities that generate input for the retention of employees.

Thompson School District, like most other districts in the state, has seen a decrease in student counts over the last decade as graduating senior class cohorts are replaced with lower count kindergarten classes. This results in less funding from the School Finance Act.

We are always looking at ways to retain employees. Each employee's needs are very specific so we look at ways to help the individual and the whole group.

Thompson School District received legal advice on gender support policies in order to be in compliance with Colorado law.

The official student count date for 2023-24 occurs in October. Unofficial student count data as of September 25, 2023 indicates a decrease from budgeted figures of approximately 1.0%.

Parents are invited and encouraged to be involved with their School Accountability and Advisory Committee (SAAC), as well as the District Accountability and Advisory Committee (DAAC). Additionally, each school has Parent Teacher Organization/Association opportunities and other volunteer options for parent and community involvement.

The district and individual schools have taken a deep dive into academic achievement scores of our students in order to plan for targeted instruction to meet student needs and push academic growth. Additionally, parent groups (School and District Accountability and Advisory Committees) have reviewed the data and given input on targeting needs and trends they see.