DENVER (KDVR) — The Adams 12 Five Star Schools Board of Education unanimously approved the placement of a $39.42 million mill levy override on the November ballot at the board’s Wednesday night meeting.
“We know the state’s not going to have a lot of money to help us out for next year,” Superintendent Chris Gdowski said in the district’s announcement of the placement. “So if we don’t help ourselves here in Adams 12, next year will be another difficult year when it comes to cuts.”
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The mill levy override will help pay for ongoing operating expenses, such as additional staffing and academic programming for students; salaries for teachers and support staff; and investments in safety and security personnel.
The district also noted that it ranks nearly last out of nearby school districts in per student mill levy override dollars, which the district said puts Adams 12 students at a competitive disadvantage. The district said that as a result:
- Adams 12 Five Star Schools cut $27.5 million and about 150 positions for this school year due to funding
- Teacher salaries rank 10th out of the 15 nearest districts
- More highly-qualified staff members are needed to keep up with demand for hands-on career and technical education
- Security staffing is low compared to nearby districts
A presentation to the board on Wednesday night highlighted the above areas for funding proposals. The mill levy override would provide:
- $1.1 million for security
- $320,000 to hire additional school-based therapists
- $25.2 million to increase teacher compensation
- $2.3 million to add career and technical education teachers, instructional materials and curriculum
- $1 million to add postsecondary/workforce readiness coordinators
- $65,000 to cover tuition and associated costs to support students in dual enrollment, concurrent enrollment and college-level courses
- $1.2 million to add staff to provide targeted small group instruction to off-track students in 6th and 9th grades
- $4.6 million to add STEM-focused exploration teachers
The school district also shared arguments against the mill levy override, including the Budget Stabilization Factor that reduced the district’s funding “to a tune of nearly $493.2 million since 2010-2011.” For some, that means the state should find funding to provide to schools.
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The district also noted that it cut its property tax rate by 10% recently, and that the mill levy will raise taxes. The proposed increase would cost a homeowner about $5 per $100,000 of home value…