Harrison School District Two Pauses Pay for Performance System

COLORADO SPRINGS – Harrison School District Two has announced the pause of our Effectiveness and Results (E&R) Pay for Performance System for the 2019-2020 school year.

District data shows that the original purpose and intent of the compensation system has not been achieved at the desired level. Our District struggles to attract and retain quality teachers within our current E&R Pay for Performance System. A national teacher shortage has left districts competing for fewer teachers and will only complicate the situation further. The feedback from employees, combined with this data, is prompting the District to use the next 10 months to determine the best compensation model which values our employees while supporting student outcomes.

The Original Purpose and Intent of the E&R Performance System:

• to recruit effective teachers
• to retain effective teachers
• to increase student achievement

The District has established a working committee with representation from across the District to explore all possible options. This working committee will utilize employee feedback, data and research to develop a new compensation model that honors all employees by winter break 2019 which will be implemented for the 2020-2021 school year.

You’re invited to attend Sand Creek International School’s Groundbreaking event on February 26th at 1:30 p.m. This will be Phase 1 of our bond construction and renovation project for Harrison School District 2. We hope that you will join us! The invitation is attached. 

On Friday, February 15, 8 a.m. – noon, Jackson Elementary School, 4340 Edwinstowe Ave., will hold the Jackson Elementary AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) Showcase, and the media is invited to attend this event. At this event, educators from around Colorado will be coming to Jackson to see how AVID strategies have been implemented into daily lessons, language, activities, etc.

Jackson Elementary has been an AVID-certified school since 2016. This year, Jackson earned the designation of a National Showcase school. AVID is a program that helps schools shift to a more equitable, student-centered approach that closes the opportunity gap in order to prepare all students for college, careers, and life.

With AVID, teachers use specific strategies to help students interact with their instruction, take ownership of their learning, and work with their classmates to help understand the material. They learn how to work together better and spend time digging deeper into questions. Jackson teachers have found great success in using the strategies across all grades and departments, pre-k-fifth grade.

The Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education will hold a board meeting on Wednesday, February 13, 6:30 p.m. The consent/action items on this agenda include:

• Policy GBEC: Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace
• Policy DK: Payment Procedures
• Policy JQ: Student Fees, Fines, and Charges
• District-Wide Closure Due to Inclement Weather
• Budget Transfers, Appropriations, and FTE Approvals

During the Superintendent’s Report, the FY17/18 Mill Levy Override Annual Report will be discussed. Click here to view this report.

To view the agenda, go to the Board of Education webpage, hover over meetings, and select BoardDocs Public Site. The February 13 agenda is featured.