|
||||||
|
- Home
- About CASB
- Advocacy
- Professional Development
- Services
- Resources
- News
- My CASB
|
||||||
|
|
March 19, 2020
Dear Colleagues, District Leaders, and Board Members,
|
||||||
|
DENVER — As Colorado addresses the public health issues related to COVID-19 ("Coronavirus"), CASB, CASE, and CEA members have many questions. Rightly, your communities are looking to local leaders for answers and direction as we move forward.
We know that the primary concern for all of us is the safety and well-being of students, families and staff. For some Colorado students, schools are the one place where they can count on receiving a healthy meal. We commend the districts who have already made arrangements for students to have access to food during school closures, and encourage other districts to do the same should they decide to close.
DENVER –The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), administered by the Colorado Department of Education’s Office of School Nutrition, seeks sponsors, sites or state partners to ensure children can continue to receive healthy meals during the summer when many children don't have access to school lunch, breakfast or after-school meals.
The SFSP fills this gap by providing free meals to millions of children across the country who otherwise might go hungry. Over the last three years, program data show that youth participation in the Summer Meals Program has held steady. However, according to the Food Research and Action Center’s Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation report, Colorado still ranks as the 40th lowest state for participation in the Summer Meals Program.
“Summer break can be a struggle for families who suddenly must deal with things like child care and meal preparation during the workday,” said Erin Ulric, implementation director of Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger. “We are excited to collaborate with partners across the state to raise awareness of the importance of the Summer Meals Program in reducing child hunger year-round.”
CDE’s School Nutrition Unit has partnered with Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger and Hunger Free Colorado to increase access to the Summer Meals Program through increasing awareness of the program and providing resources and training to existing or new program sponsors.
“At Hunger Free Colorado, we are always looking for ways to encourage all kids to participate, thinking creatively on how to get the information out to those who need it, especially as we try to expand the program across the state," said Paola Babb community engagement and child nutrition manager at Hunger Free Colorado.
Sponsors at the local level can include public and private non-profit school districts, local government agencies, camps and other nonprofit community organizations that can manage a food service program. Participating sponsors then identify eligible sites in their communities that provide free meals to all children 18 years and younger.
Many summer meal sites offer fun learning and recreational activities so kids and teens can eat a healthy meal while staying active and hanging out with friends. Here are some details about the SFSP program:
To find sites nearby, parents and kids can text FOOD or COMIDA to 877-877 or visit www.kidsfoodfinder.org.
To help ensure summer meals are available in your community, become a program sponsor, meal site or state partner for the Summer Meals Program. To learn more, visit the SFSP webpage or contact Carrie Thielen at [email protected] or call 303-866-6759.
The State Advisory Council for Parent Involvement in Education (SACPIE) has three openings for parent representatives and four organization members. The parent representatives need to currently be serving on a school accountability committee (SAC) or a district accountability committee (DAC) and live in congressional districts 5, 6, or 7. Organization representative openings include:
All applications are due to Darcy Hutchins ([email protected]) by 5:00pm on January 31st. The parent application (in English and Spanish) and organization applications are listed below. After that point, a member of SACPIE will reach out about scheduling a phone interview.
CONTACT
CONTACT
CONTACT
Colorado’s Immunization Law (C.R.S. 25-4-902) requires schools and child care providers to review and collect up-to-date immunization records for all children and adolescents.
Immunization records should be provided to the school at the time of school entry, and parents have 14 days to bring their child into compliance. To be compliant, a student must be up-to-date with their immunizations, be in the process with a plan to become up-to-date or have an exemption on file at the school.
For more information, read the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's FAQs 2019-20 Colorado School Required Vaccines for Child Care and K-12 Grades.For More Information, Contact:
Sarah Blumenthal
Health and Wellness
Phone: 303-866-6779
Email: [email protected]
All public employees, including teachers, may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your direct loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a repayment plan while working full-time for a qualified employer.
Visit the Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration's (DPA) website to find out if you are eligible for PSLF, discover how to become a certified public employee and apply for certification.
Learn more on the Federal Student Aid Office at the U.S. Department of Education's website.For More Information, Contact:
FedLoan Servicing
U.S. Department of Education
Phone: 1-855-265-4038
The 2019 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) School Bus Rebates are now open!For details, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/school-bus-rebates-diesel-emissions-reduction-act-dera and see the attached flyer.Read more
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
A program established to recognize those administrators who will “Leave it better than they found it” in districts of 1,500 or fewer students.
DENVER — The application process for the 2019 All State School Board Award is now open. This award recognizes Colorado school boards for sustaining excellence in governance in an era of intense challenges. The honored team models sustained excellence in engaging constituents, developing a shared vision, maintaining policies and plans for increasing student achievement, making decisions with sound reasoning and strong ethics, continually improving board effectiveness and displaying excellence in responding to challenges and issues.
Last year's award went to the Westminster Public Schools Board of Education. The award was sponsored by AVID and presented at the annual CASB Convention.