Schools - Rural Designation Status

[Nicole Fortuño Sizemore]

Good morning John,

I wanted to again express my gratitude for your contributions to the Laporte community during the PSD Consolidation Process. I know that as a representative, your hands are tied a lot of times, but you always show up, listen, and give as much guidance as you can while keeping conversations ethical, legal, and professional. We had another CLPE parent join the meeting last night but it was past public comment - she wanted to express her gratitude as well.

Last night during your Commissioner Update, you mentioned school rural designation. During our CLPE PTO meeting yesterday, we decided to form a committee to look into and hopefully see how we can pursue that designation. I thought I'd reach out for guidance. I can dive into research but I thought I'd reach out first in case you could shed some light on this.

Is this process something you are familiar with and would be able to give the committee some guidance as to how to start the process, or perhaps, if that's not something that is appropriate, maybe direct us to the appropriate person/entity to contact?

With gratitude,

Nicole Sizemore

[Nicole Fortuño Sizemore]

Good evening John,

Apologies for my delay in responding. Today I was taking pictures of students with CLPE's Therapy Dog, Konza. I suggested that as part of our Read-a-thon prizes, each kid could get a picture with Konza and they loved it! Konza has brought so much joy to our school! So - I spent all day taking, enhancing, and printing pictures (I still have about 60 pictures to print!). 

I hope last LAPAC's conversation was that, insightful. I always 'walk away' feeling a bit uncomfortable because I know how hard staff works and I always want to make sure they know how appreciated they are - they are just bringing up the agenda that leadership gives them - and I know that we are all working towards the same goal - a great community! I know that all LAPAC members want to contribute because they love their home and they want to make sure that the community is heard. I know that things change and we want to make sure that we can help reflect the change in the community and do our 'jobs' properly.

The McConnell property will be interesting. I do remember a specific person that came up during the festival to say the county should purchase the property. I didn't share that because I wasn't sure when an appropriate time would be and whether it would be appropriate. I encouraged him to write it on the notes we were collecting. I did contact the Laporte Festival about the zoning (on Facebook). They said they were aware it was zoned commercial and I explained it was zoned planned development and that they could always reach out to the county and have them further explain that (per our discussion on LAPAC).

Re: rural designation - I reached out because our PTO wanted to address this and I thought that asking you how to proceed would be step #1. I think our newly formed committee would like to know how we can best help through the process. I asked members if maybe a future 'Coffee and Conversation w/ Commissioner Kefalas' was something they'd like - having Rep Andrew Boesnecker and possibly PSD Representation there to brainstorm how our committee could best serve the effort. Is that a possibility? 

Thanks again for all that you do!

NS

On Wed, May 22, 2024 at 9:50 PM John Kefalas <kefa...@co.larimer.co.us> wrote:

Good evening Nicole,

Thank you for your kind words, and last night's LAPAC discussion was deep and very insightful. In a conversation with our County Manager (Lorenda Volker), I shared the takeaways from everyone's feedback and the glaring inconsistencies with the PAC purpose - between the bylaws, website and LUC and that the members sincerely want to contribute to their Laporte Community. I also pointed out that the RFL PAC bylaws have similar language about a broader purpose beyond land use proposals. We also discussed the McConnell property, and the subarea plan, and Lorenda will follow up with Jenny and our strategic leadership team.

Regarding the rural designation issue, and before your group does a lot of research, I suggest we reach out to Rep Andrew Boesnecker (HD-53) who is interested in addressing this issue - rural schools that are in urban school districts and not receiving the necessary funding. I am not sure what statutory changes are needed, and it may be that the school finance formula needs to change. Andrew could have the nonpartisan legislative council look into this and see what needs to happen and whether this would require a 2025 bill to be introduced. I also think we should work with PSD because they understand the problem and may already know the solution. I was thinking that Dave Montoya, CFO, might be the best person to connect. I texted Kristen Draper and asked her which PSD staffer would be best to work with to address this issue, and I've not heard back from her yet. Let me know what you think.

	John Kefalas County Commissioner, District 1
	Commissioners' Office 200 W Oak St | 2nd Floor PO Box 1190, Fort Collins, CO 80522-1190 W: (970) 498-7001 Cell:  (720) 254-7598 jkef...@larimer.org | www.larimer.org

[Nicole Fortuño Sizemore]

Again, thanks so much for the thoughts and guidance.

I'll reach out to the committee and let them know we should reach out and we'll do that today.

Have a safe and very relaxing trip!

NS

On Fri, May 24, 2024 at 10:40 AM John Kefalas <kefa...@co.larimer.co.us> wrote:

Good morning Nicole,

Here are a few thoughts in response to your email. 

• Escuela Bilingue Harris also has a therapy dog, and his name is Blade.
• I am hoping that Lorenda (our county manager) will have a deep discussion with our strategic leadership folks to find a proper balance and to be on the same page with bylaws, websites and land use code requirements as they pertain to the purpose of PACs. I sent her the GoFundMe page so she can have more details about the McConnell property and glad you followed up with the Laporte Festival folks.
• On the school rural designation matter, I have not yet heard back from Kristen Draper, Board President, and I would encourage you folks to reach out to Rep. Andrew Boesnecker sooner than later to get his thoughts on the best path forward - whether Legislative Council can research this issue to determine what statutory changes may be needed. to solve the rural school funding problem. I am more than willing to meet with folks, including PSD, to discuss the most effective and inclusive strategy, but I leave tomorrow for Greece and Norway and will return to CO 6/25 and the office 6/26. I would connect with Andrew sooner than later while the iron is hot. I asked for permission to share his cell #, but I saw that its listed on his facebook page so here it is, 970-825-4155.
• https://leg.colorado.gov/legislators/andrew-boesenecker
  
• https://www.andybforcolorado.com/

[Nicole Fortuño Sizemore]

Thanks for the update - You should be on vacation 🇬🇷

I did message the committee to ask if they wanted me to proceed reaching out solo or if they wanted to draft an ask together. If I don't hear back by Tuesday, I'll call Rep. Boesnecker.

Thanks again for all that you do for our community.

NS

On Sun, May 26, 2024, 7:10 AM John Kefalas <kefa...@co.larimer.co.us> wrote:

I heard back from Kristen Draper, and she confirmed that Dave Montoya is the best person to reach out to regarding school finance.

	John Kefalas County Commissioner, District 1
	Commissioners' Office 200 W Oak St | 2nd Floor PO Box 1190, Fort Collins, CO 80522-1190 W: (970) 498-7001 Cell:  (720) 254-7598 jkef...@larimer.org | www.larimer.org

On Fri, May 24, 2024 at 3:26 PM John Kefalas <kefa...@co.larimer.co.us> wrote:

Andrew said it was fine to share his cell # and I am sure he welcomes your call. Thanks.