The Manitou Springs School District 14 Board of Education gathered for a regular meeting on May 22 in the Manitou Springs High School Media Center. All board members were present.
Residents Marc and Mary Lou Fulson began the meeting with public comment. Their sons were the targets of racially charged verbal bullying at Manitou Springs Elementary School within the past year, they said.
Marc Fulson explained his frustration with the situation: “There wasn’t really any process in place at the school level or district level, how to handle that. I’ve read all of the documentation for all schools in the entire district.
“It’s very clear about verbal bullying on school buses, and it has descriptive actions (for school buses), but not for in the school.”
He closed by praising the school and offered some suggestions, “This school is excellent. … My recommendation is that there needs to be policies that are corrected on verbal bullying, and verbal bullying related to racial slurs.”
Mary Lou Fulson echoed her husband’s sentiments in her statement to the board.
“I’m asking for a systematic structure and guidelines to be put in place by the board that governs the district and individuals as a whole. So my children and children like mine do not have to individually bear the burden and hate of being called the N-word.
“We need systematic change. We hope that there will be an effort to, by the systematic fixes and capital invested, solve and mitigate risk to children and parents. … I’d like to see more training and education for staff and administration in the realm of racial bias.
“These can include how to handle racial slurs, bias in hiring policy and curriculum; teachers, student, and parent cultural competence training; and recruiting of diverse teachers,” she said. “Hopefully, this robust education can enable everyone…to make District 14 a safer and more equitable place.”
Typically, board members do not respond to public comments at regular meetings. However, the student involved in the November 2023 incident was reprimanded.
The meeting continued with a May Mustang Spotlight for two employees, Christina Baker, D14 data specialist, and Gabby Santos, MSHS physical education teacher.
Kolleen Johnson, director of Student Success, presented the award to Baker.
“Christina is a hard-working, open-minded, kind and thoughtful teammate. … She is highly respected by everyone she comes into contact with, even when she (needs) to maintain high compliance standards.”
MSHS Principal Anna Conrad spoke highly of Santos as she presented her award.
“Gabby truly epitomizes what it means to be a Mustang and is incredibly deserving of this award. She is a passionate educator and is deeply committed to creating inclusive learning experiences for all students.”
Superintendent Sean Dorsey then briefly introduced Carolyn Leyes, new Manitou Springs Elementary principal.
“I grew up in a district a lot like this,” Leyes said, “and I know the power of community. I know the power of fellowship.
“And I know the power of collaboration and teamwork, of being able to really come together and build something that is built on the foundation and taking it to the next place. So I’m absolutely thrilled.”
Cameron Jones, director of Athletics and Activities, next gave an end-of-the-year report, detailing what students participated in throughout the year.
“We’re a co-curricular program, we’re not extra. … We’re an extension of the school day or an extension of the classroom. … Sports (and) activities are the curriculum. And so through that curriculum, we’re teaching life lessons that stick with kids. We are transformational in our approach,” said Jones.
Manitou Springs Middle School had an impressive year of wins. The Matchwits program took home the 2024 Central Colorado Athletic League Championship. Two of the MSMS robotics teams took home multiple awards this year.
Four students qualified for the Pikes Peak Honor Orchestra, and one was selected to join the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony. In sports, the girls’ soccer team won the 2024 CCAL League Championships for the ninth year in a row.
At the high school, the Knowledge Bowl program qualified for state this year. MSHS Robotics team won second place at the regionals in Tulsa, Oklahoma. One high school student, Kai J., was selected for All State Choir.
We need systematic change. – Mary Lou Fulson
The high school students participated in honors selections in both band and choir programs. Eleven students were chosen for the Adams State Honor Band; eight students were selected at the Colorado State University-Pueblo Festival of Winds; one student was chosen for the Tri-Peaks League Honor Band; and eight students were chosen for the Western Slope Honor Choir.
Lastly, the MSHS Student Council won the National Gold Council of Excellence Award for the 11th year in a row.
Additionally, MSHS athletics teams saw countless accomplishments throughout the year. Both girls and boys cross-country qualified for the state meet. The boys’ soccer team fought hard at the Colorado High School Activities Association 3A state tournament.
Seven wrestlers placed regionally, and six qualified for state. Four students on the girls swim team qualified for state.
The girls soccer team and boys baseball team won their Tri-Peaks League championships.
“We appreciate the value of participation in the pursuit of winning; we act with honor and integrity,” explained Jones. “We value fitness and its benefits for performance and health. We push through adversity and grow from failure, develop meaningful relationships, understand the relationship between effort and achievement and — a big one — embrace the team mentality. ‘We’ is greater than ‘me.’”
Next, Eric McMartin, assistant superintendent, gave a brief presentation illustrating end-of-the-year data spanning from kindergarten through eighth grade. The data comes from two standardized tests, the iReady, which identifies student strengths, weaknesses and instructional priorities to measure growth and meet individual student needs, and the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS), which measures literacy skills and growth.
District 14 saw significant growth in both literacy and math throughout its schools. McMartin explained that the next steps for the district include implementing a new K-6 English Language Arts resource, Benchmark Advance, which should create a more “through line” in learning development when transitioning from elementary school to middle school.
Suzi Thompson, chief financial officer, presented the updated proposed budget. The board had previously reviewed the proposed budget and, with no questions or concerns, the proposed budget was adopted unanimously. The board will review the adopted budget in June.
Dorsey finalized his report with a proposed resolution, drafted by the district’s legal counsel.
“This is pursuant to our conversations around seeking to become our own administrative unit. In lieu of being part of Ute Pass (Board of Cooperative Education Services), beginning the 25-26 school year … we intend to seek that distinction (by) applying through the state.”
The board voted unanimously to pass the proposed resolution.
McMartin returned to present briefly on changes that must be implemented in policy and regulation in the district regarding harassment and bullying, based on Title IX. He and a small team are working on a first reading of the proposal, which is scheduled to be read in the upcoming June meeting.
The meeting concluded at 6:45 p.m. Information: www.mssd14.org/district_information/board_of_education.