Douglas County Chapter of Great Education Colorado

Great Futures Coalition: Education Action Conference – April 27, 2012

Sue — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 23:19:20 +0000

If you agree that Colorado’s public schools need improved resourcesto give all children the opportunities they need to learn and succeed in life;

If you’ve had it with year after year of school cuts, teacher layoffs, shorter school weeks and years, increased fees and tuition, growing class sizes and shrinking educational opportunities;

If you refuse to believe that this is the best Colorado can do for its students . . .

Then, you’ll want to attend this event.

The Great Futures Colorado Coalition Statewide Education Action Conference:

Making 2013 the ‘Year of the Student‘
Friday, April 27, 2012
8:00am – 2:30pm
DENVER: Courtyard by Marriott, 1475 S. Colorado Blvd.

This is a statewide conference for people who want to be a part of the effort to stop the cuts and start reinvesting in Colorado’s students, schools, colleges and communities. Register today for early bird pricing!

Conference participants will:

* Connect to the state movement to make 2013 “The Year of the Student,” when state leaders finally take action to stop and reverse Colorado’s school and higher ed funding crisis;

* Brainstorm with public education supporters from across Colorado about easy, effective ways to engage the public in mill campaigns and state funding advocacy;

* Learn how to use social media to spread the word, influence the legislature, and raise awareness;

* Learn about the Lobato decision and what citizens can do to enforce this landmark school funding case.

If you attended last year’s conference, you know that it’s a great chance to learn, exchange ideas, and get to know other people in your community who are ready to be the first line of defense for Colorado’s students.

We hope you’ll join us and the Great Futures Colorado coalition for this energizing and empowering conference.

Tell us you’ll help pass Proposition 103!

Sue — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:17:41 +0000

Click here to tell us you’ll help pass Proposition 103. Then, we’ll follow up with you to tell you exactly how you can reach out to targeted voters in your neighborhood using our online voter contact tool. You’ll be able to make phone calls, write letters (we’ll provide a PDF), forward emails, or walk your neighborhood.

This is a different kind of campaign – it’s a grassroots effort that started with education supporters around the state taking action for kids and schools. Our success depends person-to-person contacts across the state of Colorado, so we can start reinvesting in our schools, communities, and economy.

We can do this, but we need your help. It’s up to us. Tell us you’ll help by clicking the link above or contact sue@greateducation.org for more information.

Bright Colorado Petition Return – Deadline is July 18

Sue — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 18:45:53 +0000

If you have not been contacted by one of our petition captains about returning your petition(s), please email us at douglas@greateducation.org for Dougco drop off locations.

Petitions may also be hand delivered or mailed to the following locations. Petitions must be notarized before they are returned. (Let us know if you need help finding a notary.)

HAND DELIVER NOTARIZED PETITIONS
Great Education Colorado Action
1000 E. 16th Avenue (garden level) – at corner of 16th & Ogden
Please call first 303 722 5901

SEND NOTARIZED PETITIONS
Great Education Colorado Action
P.O. Box 300343
Denver CO 80203

Petition Signing in Douglas County

Sue — Fri, 27 May 2011 15:50:02 +0000

Our DougCo petition drive for the Bright Colorado Initiative ends on July 18. Sign a petition to help give Colorado voters a choice on the November ballot - more cuts or better investment in schools.

Like us on Facebook for updates on locations to sign in Douglas County.

Signing opportunities:

Monday – Friday until July 15
8:00am – 4:00pm
DCF/AFT Offices, 801 S. Perry
Please call first 303 968 6287

Legislators Respond: “Is it OK?”

Sue — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 17:32:59 +0000

On March 14, Great Ed and Great Futures Coalition volunteers delivered a letter to state legislators containing thousands of signatures and hundreds of pages of personal stories outlining the impact cuts to education funding are having on our schools and our students. We asked our leaders to respond to two questions:

(1) Do you understand the impact that multi-year cuts are having on students? And,
(2) Are you okay with it?

Some state leaders have responded and we’re still waiting to hear from others. To see the responses received to date, click here.

Dougco Stories from “Is it OK?” Letter to State Leaders

Sue — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:27:45 +0000

The stories below were submitted by Douglas County residents as part of the Great Futures Colorado Coalition’s “Is it OK?” Campaign (Winter 2011). A letter containing over 5,200 signatures and thousands of stories was hand-delivered to state legislators on March 14, 2011. State leaders were asked two questions:

(1) Do you recognize the effect that reduced funding is having on students preschool through higher ed, and (2) Is it OK with you?

We’ll post elected officials responses soon, meanwhile here are a few stories from Douglas County.

“It is not OK that my first grader is in a class of 30 students, much GT funding and/or other other services have been cut or eliminated, elementary music has been eliminated, elementary language programs have been eliminated, secondary teachers will carry student loads of 180.” Parker

“It’s not OK that we had to cut a teacher from our school last year. My son is now in a 4th/5th grade combination class because of it. We cannot afford to lose another teacher at our school.” Franktown

“It’s not OK that funding is cut and the class sizes get even larger. My daughter is in first grade and already has 27 kids in her class.” Castle Rock

“It’s not OK that we would continue to have to do more with less. As a mental health provider, I’ve seen an increase in social-emotional concerns with students: threat assessments, suicide assessments, diagnosis of anxiety and depression in students, increase in referrals to community agencies…the students are feeling the stress…they are being asked to meet higher expectations with less support, teachers are being asked to provide more with less, parents are feeling the strains on the home front.” Highlands Ranch

“It’s just plain NOT OKAY!” Littleton

‘Grassroots for Great Futures’ Conference: April 29, 2011

Sue — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 22:06:09 +0000

Join fellow education supporters from across Colorado on April 29 at Johnson & Wales University in Denver for a jam-packed, full-day conference that will focus on education funding in Colorado. Learn strategies for taking action in your neighborhood to reverse the cuts to education funding. Citizens from Parker, Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, and Roxborough have already signed up to attend. Spaces are limited. Register before 3/29 for discounted rates. Group rates also available. Click here to register.

2010 Election Results: Amendments 60, 61, and Proposition 101

Sue — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 17:05:49 +0000

THANK YOU Great Ed volunteers for your work in defeating Amendments 60, 61, and Proposition 101!

Unofficial Douglas County Results (as reported 11/2):
Amendment 60
YES 28,320
NO 83,541
Amendment 61
YES 31,339
NO 81,310
Proposition 101
YES 38,315
NO 73,885

Mail Ballot Drop Off Locations in Douglas County

Sue — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 16:07:58 +0000

Mail ballot drop-off locations open today in Douglas County. Click here for ballot drop off locations and hours.

Douglas County Board of Education Vice President Dan Gerken’s opening remarks at the 9/21/10 Board of Education Meeting held at American Academy Charter

Sue — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:56:06 +0000

You have probably heard by now of 3 measures that will be on November’s ballot. Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101 would drastically and negatively impact Douglas County School District. The impact is so severe; we need to discuss these measures with our public.

Amendment 60 will severely reduce the revenue the school district receives from property taxes. It would cut school funding from property tax revenues in half with the state expected to backfill. There would be $80 million less in revenue over the next ten years as a result of Amendment 60 passing (unless the state finds some way to backfill this money).

Amendment 61 prohibits all new state government borrowing and reduces the debt limit to 10% of Assessed Real Property Value from the current 25% debt limit. Even if local voters approve a bond to pay for new schools or improvements, we would not be able to borrow until at least 2016 to meet the needs of the District. It also eliminates the state interest-free loan program, which helps school districts manage cash-flow issues. If 61 passes, we will proceed with planning to obtain certificates of participation to solve for this issue, which will cost the taxpayers more since this debt will not be tax-exempt. The cost of Amendment 61 to the District is $56 million over a ten year period.

Proposition 101 will drastically reduce vehicle taxes and fees and it reduces state income tax. Vehicle ownership taxes are reduced over 4 years to $2 for new vehicles and $1 for other vehicles. The impact on the District for Proposition 101 is $16 million less in revenues when fully implemented.

If we total the impact of each of these measures, we are looking at $152 million less in revenues to run the District. This reduction in budget equates to over 30% of the operating budget. A detailed analysis of the impact of these measures on the District budget can be found on the website in the electronic school board packet under the September 7 Board of Education meeting or you can contact DCSD’s Communications Department for an electronic copy.