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STEM School Highlands Ranch

Minutes

Board of Director's Meeting

Date and Time

Monday May 12, 2025 at 5:30 PM

Location

8920 Barrons Blvd

P-TECH Mechatronics Room

Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

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Directors Present

C. Gustafson, D. Lomelino, E. Quigley, G. Shick, G. Wing, I. Kalra, R. Lukez

Directors Absent

None

Ex Officio Members Present

M. Cartier

Non Voting Members Present

M. Cartier

Guests Present

Cory Wroblewski, A. Cardinal, Adelita Campbell, Kelly Reyna, Kevin Leung, L. Kovalesky, Laurie Veldhuizen, M. Pritchard (remote), Ryan Alsup, S. Milner

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

C. Gustafson called a meeting of the board of directors of STEM School Highlands Ranch to order on Monday May 12, 2025 at 5:37 PM.

C.

Pledge of Allegiance

D.

Reciting of the Mission Statement

E.

Outgoing Board Member Appreciation

Thank you to all outgoing Board members for their service.

Welcome to new incoming Board members.

II. Approve Meeting Minutes

A.

Board Meeting April 1st

I. Kalra made a motion to approve the minutes from Board of Director's Meeting on 04-01-25.
G. Shick seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
G. Shick
Aye
I. Kalra
Aye
R. Lukez
Absent
D. Lomelino
Aye
G. Wing
Aye
E. Quigley
Aye
C. Gustafson
Aye

B.

Special Board Meeting April 18th

D. Lomelino made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Meeting - Special Meeting on 04-18-25.
G. Wing seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
R. Lukez
Absent
E. Quigley
Abstain
G. Shick
Abstain
D. Lomelino
Aye
I. Kalra
Aye
G. Wing
Aye
C. Gustafson
Aye

C.

Special Board Meeting April 30th

E. Quigley made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Meeting - Special Session on 04-30-25.
G. Wing seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
G. Wing
Aye
D. Lomelino
Abstain
G. Shick
Aye
R. Lukez
Absent
C. Gustafson
Aye
E. Quigley
Aye
I. Kalra
Aye

III. STEM School Highlands Ranch Updates

A.

Student Advisory Committee Presentation

Student Advisory:  Student Survey Results (MS/HS)

 

Safety and cell phone policies have wide acceptance

SBG results not included

Students request: Home Economics, science electives, CS and Engineering classes 

Positive results for inclusion, respecting differences, comfortable with seeking out trusted adults

 

B.

Executive Director Update

LynAnn Kovalesky

Enrollment: Potential 1500 total

Hiring Updates: Social Studies, MS Counselor; PE; Spanish (possible PT); ASL (possible PT)

Elementary and SPED completely hired

25/26 Parent and Student Handbook Changes - will be up for Board Vote next month

 

 

C.

Standards Based Grading Changes - Secondary

G. Shick made a motion to Approval of proposed updates to Standards Based Grading for 25/26 for Secondary (MS and HS). No changes to Elementary.
E. Quigley seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
R. Lukez
Absent
I. Kalra
Aye
C. Gustafson
Aye
G. Shick
Aye
G. Wing
Aye
E. Quigley
Aye
D. Lomelino
Aye

IV. KOSON Schools

A.

CIO Update - Strategic Updates

DCSD Charter Replication Application

Timeline:

  • 5/6 - Presentation to DCSD BOE
  • 5/14 - Staff Recommendation
  • 5/27 - Public Hearing #2 and Board Decision

Working on endorsements

Highlighting processes and assets

 

Summer Projects planned

  • Playground
  • Paint
  • Master Plan
  • Other Projects: carpet replacement, elementary school bathroom renovations; elementary noise reduction; classroom moves

Fundraising Highlights: Moving to School committee rather than Board committee

  • Accelerator Fund (PTO/Academic)(Booster club/Athletics); year-end giving; designated gift
  • Parent Ambassadors launched for outward facing parent leaders
  • Events: no golf tournament; still working on details for additional events, probably a gala in April connected to student showcase
  • Policy update for fundraising

Strategic Plan Update

  • Matt shared strategic plan workbook to share details
  • New website launch in summer

B.

KOSON Core Values

Core Values Working Document: Action-oriented

Excitement around building more cohesive values/identity

 

V. Board Committee Updates

A.

Finance Committee - Budget approval

Material Changes to makes sure keeping competitive salary edge for STEM educators

Also increasing salary and benefits to make sure right sized on personnel

Purchased Services increased

Increase to local school revenue (adjustment)

Increase to MLO & PPR

 

 

Increased in revenue/expenditure from proposed to adopted budget (projected $900).  Will provide a detailed budget next month

G. Shick made a motion to approve the resolution of appropriation for 2025-2026.
G. Wing seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
G. Shick
Aye
C. Gustafson
Aye
I. Kalra
Aye
G. Wing
Aye
R. Lukez
Absent
D. Lomelino
Aye
E. Quigley
Aye

Discussion on 3rd Quarter and Supplemental budget

Possible expansion of PD for teachers, student data dashboard

B.

Governance Committee - Update

Committee Look Back survey 

Parent Election Results: Adelita Campbell

 

C.

Governance Committee - Community Member Candidates

Proposed community members: Kevin Leung, Cory Wroblewski 

Community member renewal: Carla Gustafson, Darrell Lomelino

D.

CIO Support & Evaluation Committee

May 19th - zoom meeting for CIO contract renewal

VI. Consent Agenda

A.

Vote for Consent Agenda Items

I. Kalra made a motion to approve consent agenda.
G. Shick seconded the motion.

Review of DCSD purchase agreement

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
R. Lukez
Absent
G. Shick
Aye
G. Wing
Aye
E. Quigley
Aye
I. Kalra
Aye
C. Gustafson
Aye
D. Lomelino
Aye

VII. Public Comment

A.

Public Comment Sign up link

No Public Comment

VIII. Executive Session

A.

Executive Session Discussions

I. Kalra made a motion to enter into executive session pursuant to CRS 24-6-402(4)(e)(I) for determining positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations; developing strategy for negotiations; and instructing negotiators. Discussion of contract renewal terms for KOSON CIO. and pursuant to CRS 24-6-402(4)(f)(I) for Personnel matters except if the employee who is the subject of the session has requested an open meeting, or if the personnel matter involves more than one employee, all of the employees have requested an open meeting. With respect to hearings held pursuant to the “Teacher Employment, Compensation, and Dismissal Act of 1990”, article 63 of title 22, C.R.S., the provisions of section 22-63-302 (7)(a), C.R.S., shall govern in lieu of the provisions of this subsection (4). Discussion of CIO end of year evaluation.
D. Lomelino seconded the motion.

Entered executive session at 7:25pm

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
C. Gustafson
Aye
D. Lomelino
Aye
I. Kalra
Aye
R. Lukez
Absent
E. Quigley
Aye
G. Shick
Aye
G. Wing
Aye

Resume public session @ 10:28pm

IX. Board of Director's Updates

A.

Preview of Next Meeting

Next Special Meeting:

  • CIO Support and Evaluation - Present CIO EOY Evaluation Summary and Approve CIO 25/26 Contract

Next Month's Meeting:

  • CIO Support and Evaluation - Approve CIO EOY Evaluation Summary
  • SAC Parent Survey Results
  • Confirm results of Parent Board Member election
  • Approve new Community Board Members
  • Board officers for 25/26

X. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 10:29 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
I. Kalra
Documents used during the meeting
  • Student Pulse Survey Data Report (2025).pdf
  • May Board Presentation 24_25.pdf
  • Proposed - 2025-2026 STEM Parent Student Handbook.pdf
  • Proposed SBG Changes.pdf
  • CIO Board Presentation 20250512.pptx.pdf
  • CORE VALUES WORKING DOCUMENT 20250507.pdf
  • Adopted Budget FY 25-26.pdf
  • 25-26 BOD Budget Resolution_May 2025.pdf
  • Spring 2025 - Parent Election Results.pdf
  • Spring 2025 - Proposed Community Members.pdf
  • Draft_MC_2025-26_Proposed_Contract_20250417.pdf
  • Draft Charter Purchased Service Agreement 2025_26.docx.pdf

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