Facilities, student fees and the Career & Innovation Center were all at the forefront of discussion during the first regular meeting of the Lewis-Palmer School District for the 2025-26 academic year.

The School District 38 Board of Education devoted much of its Aug. 18 regular meeting this week to facilities planning, financial reports, student fees and the opening of the district’s new Career & Innovation Center Aug. 18.

Melissa Andrews, the district’s director of planning, facilities and grounds, opened the meeting with an update on Strategic Priority No. 4, which focuses on maintaining safe, clean and functional campuses.

“Our goal is to make sure every one of our facilities is not only safe, but also functional for students and staff,” Andrews said. “We look carefully at how each building is being used, and we work to align our projects with the needs we see on our campuses.”

Andrews also presented a brief report on revisions to the district’s community use policies for school buildings. The changes, she explained, are designed to clarify how groups can access facilities while balancing school priorities.

Later, the board heard an extended update on the Career & Innovation Center, a project the executive leadership team said expands opportunities for students in growing fields. Andrews and Jessica McAllister, the district’s previous director of innovative programs, said construction on the building is complete and the district is now finalizing inspections and working to obtain a certificate of occupancy.

“This is an exciting moment for us,” McAllister said. “Students will soon have access to classes that are directly tied to today’s in-demand careers. Whether it’s through technical training, innovation projects or partnerships with industry, the goal is to prepare them for what comes next.”

She said partnerships with local, state and federal entities will be critical to the center’s success.

“We are building bridges with businesses, higher education and workforce agencies to ensure this center is not just a building, but a hub of opportunity,” McAllister said.

Andrews also announced the district is participating in the Colorado Enterprise Zone Program, which allows individuals and businesses to receive a 25-percent tax credit for monetary donations and a 12.5-percent credit for in-kind contributions.

“This is a chance for our community to support the Career & Innovation Center in a way that also provides them a tangible benefit,” she said.

Also a focus of the regular meeting was financial planning. Chief Business Officer Brett Ridgway presented the monthly financial report as well as end-of-year balance sheets. He stressed that the district remains committed to putting dollars into classrooms while exercising discipline in spending.

“Our priority is making sure that funds are directed where they matter most, into instruction and support for students,” Ridgway said. “At the same time, we want to make sure we are not overspending and not leaving dollars unused.”

Ridgway also outlined changes to student fees, particularly those which apply to students from outside the district. Beginning this year, non-D38 students who participate in extracurricular or co-curricular activities will be charged 150 percent of the regular fee, as authorized by state law.

“This ensures that D38 resources are prioritized for D38 families,” Ridgway said. “We value students who want to take part in our programs, but we also need to recognize the investment our district makes in supporting these activities.”

The board approved the new out-of-district student fee structure after the presentation.

In addition to budgetary and facilities updates, the board issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to fairness and safety in athletics, with an emphasis on supporting female student-athletes. Members said the district’s position is rooted not only in federal legal requirements but also in the belief that “it is the right thing to do.”

The statement said District 38 will continue to back female athletes and ensure fair competition, while also supporting a lawsuit against the Colorado High School Activities Association over safety and eligibility concerns. If eligibility questions arise locally, the board directs administrators to weigh factors such as parental permission, medical clearance, prior participation, transfer status, grades, overall safety, competitive advantage and gender. The policy also calls for separate locker rooms when requested and overnight travel accommodations based on biological sex.