Author: Sue Mcmillin
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Expected budget cuts could drastically affect higher ed
The ease of enrolling at Colorado’s community colleges could soon have a catch: it could cost more than most current students could afford to pay. “We have gone beyond just trying to be more efficient,” said Tony Kinkel, president of Pikes Peak Community College. “We’re at the point where we have to ask if we…
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Board tackles D-11 teacher pay at retreat
Teacher pay could be among the most contentious issues next year in Colorado Springs School District 11 if a conversation at a board of education retreat Saturday is any indication. Faced with about $10 million in budget cuts, likely increased payments to stabilize the government employees retirement fund and a federal push for performance pay…
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Burst pipes force elementary school closures
Madison Elementary School will remain closed today for repairs and cleanup after frozen water pipes burst over the past couple of days. Madison’s problems stemmed from louvers that stuck open, allowing the subzero air into the building, said Mike Maloney, executive director of facilities. The building was chilly on Wednesday when staff and students arrived…
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Proposed D-11 charter school gets nod; a second withdraws
One week after two groups presented charter school plans to the Colorado Springs School District 11 board, one group withdrew its proposal, and the administration recommended approval of the second. An administrative review committee gave high marks to the proposed Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning, a K-8 school for students that would open in…
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Public gets chance to weigh in on charter proposals
A public hearing on two charter schools proposed in Colorado Springs School District 11 will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (Dec. 9) during the regular board meeting at the district administration building, 1115 N. El Paso St. The administration also will present its evaluations of the proposed Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning and the…
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Audit finds Cesar Chavez students given extra time on CSAPs
Students at Cesar Chavez Academy in Pueblo were given extra time to take state tests at an “extreme rate” for three years, a testing audit done for the Colorado Department of Education showed. State Education Commissioner Dwight Jones said there was no justification for giving so many students extra time on the Colorado Student Assessment…
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Local teen brings smiles to children around the world
When Nikki Saucedo began her search for a project to earn the highest award in Girl Scouting, she knew only that she wanted to do something “to enhance life.” Little did she know that her decision to make puppets to comfort children who were having cleft palate surgery would lead to a trip to Ethiopia,…
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D-11 board seats new members, elects officers
Shortly before he was elected president of the Colorado Springs School District 11 board on Monday, Tom Strand got this bit of advice from outgoing President Tami Hasling: “It’s OK to have conflict and it’s really OK to say no now and then.” Could come in handy as the seven-member board embarks on what’s expected…
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Thanksgiving breaks gobble up a week for many school districts
For many school districts, Thanksgiving break used to be a two-day addition to the weekend: the Thursday holiday and the Friday after. Then Wednesday was added because so many people took it off for travel time. Still, staff and student absences on the Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week often meant that significant lessons were…
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D-12 survey reaches out to residents to tackle budget cuts
A community survey that Cheyenne Mountain School District 12 is asking its residents to complete for a long-range plan is coming in handy for another purpose: figuring out budget cuts. “It’s one piece of data among many that we’ll use as we develop the budget,” Superintendent Walt Cooper said last week. “We know we can’t…