BOARD OF EDUCATION AND TWO CITY MAYORS, MANAGERS AND COUNCILS MEET FOR OUR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION

Brighton – On Tuesday evening, March 31, the two cities that comprise the District 27J family met to discuss issues and ideas to make the district the best district in the state of Colorado. The meeting was prompted by the new formal governance model called Policy Governance that was recently adopted by the board of education.

An important component of Policy Governance is “linking” the Board with its owners and stakeholders, such as city leaders and taxpayers. John Carver, the founder of the Policy Governance Model, states “the purpose of governance is to ensure, usually on behalf of others, that an organization achieves what it should achieve while avoiding those behaviors and situations that should be avoided”. The board’s goals include spending 50% of their time with their stakeholders.

Every participant was asked to describe what three essentials 27J students should know before graduation. The answers ranged from the three R’s which we all know as Reading, Arithmetic and Writing to communication, self esteem, ethics, critical thinking, being life long learners, civics, language, college preparation, listening, cultural arts, as well as a myriad of other skills and traits.

At one point the question was asked if the state standards were high enough and no one really knew what the state standards even were or if they were met, would it be high enough to prepare the students for jobs that might not even have been created yet.

District 27J’s Global End states that “District 27J exists so that students have the knowledge and skills for present and future success with results justifying the expenditure of resources”.

The last question stumped most participants as they were to describe what they would do if they had Superintendent Dr. Blunck’s job for just one day. Most agreed that maybe they would not want the job nor are not really sure what the entire job entails. Recently his contract was extended.

A highlight of the evening was the North Elementary School Color Guard from the Fifth grade class. After they presented the colors they each explained what being in Color Guard meant. Their answers ranged from learning honor and respect, to pride in my country. This was a most respectful group of students under the direction of two teachers that are giving the students self respect and self confidence as well as a most important sense of belonging.

In attendance were the following: Commerce City Mayor Paul Natale, Commerce City Manager Jerry Flannery, Commerce City Council Members Kathy Natale, Jason McEldowney, Scott Jaquith, Jim Benson, Orval Lewis and Brighton Mayor Jan Pawlowski, Brighton City Manager Manuel Esquibel, Brighton City Council Members Wilma Rose, Terry Moore, Cynthia Martinez, Rob Farina, Wayne Scott, Daryl Meyers, District 27J Board Members PresidentTodd Cordrey, Vice-President Lynn Ann Sheats, Directors Russell Carr, Valerie Espinosa-Martinez, Joan Kniss, Ernesto Lopez, Brian Madison.
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