The Ouray School’s Strategic Plan
by Tim Finkbeiner, Elementary School Principal and Deputy Superintendent of Ouray SchoolsSep 23, 2008 | 30 views | 0 | 0 | | BOARD BULLETIN
The concept of strategic planning has been utilized in the corporate and business world for decades. It has only been in the last 15 years that school districts around the country have begun implementing strategic plans to improve education. The Ouray School District has formulated its first strategic plan to guide the board, administration, teachers, staff, and the community for the next five academic calendar years, through June 2013.
The overarching goal is that: By June 2013 the Ouray School will be recognized as a top 10 percent school on the CSAP test while educating the complete child.
We believe that this goal and the accompanying supporting goals are challenging but realistic and achievable. Success will require a dedicated effort by the entire district and community. As described in previous Bulletins, funds from passage of the mil levy override on this November’s ballot will be used to support important programs that would not otherwise be funded. Many of these programs will require extra funds because their normal funding will be required to support unfunded mandates by the state of Colorado that by law must be implemented.
The plan is being used to establish a common basis and direction for the school and the community to achieve our full set of goals. It is used to set budgets, establish curricula, evaluate the compatibility of potential new hires, hold the district accountable, and to communicate with the community progress towards our mission statement.
The plan was formulated using a process that involved planning teams consisting of district teachers, staff, administration, the board, and the community. This process created:
* a common vision for the future of the school;
* a mission statement to provide a concise yet comprehensive way to communicate articulation of our vision;
* goals, the end points to achieve during the planning period; and
* approximately 100 programs that we will implement to achieve the goals.
The vision and mission statement provide the framework for the plan; the goals and programs constitute the plan itself.
The plan is structured in three major areas, each of equal importance:
* excellence in education fundamentals,
* excellence in education enhancements, and
* excellence in education enablers.
For each of these main areas, the planning teams drafted top-level goals for the school and from these, developed the lower level goals necessary to achieve them. Each goal has a benchmark by which progress and success can be measured.
Once direction was established by the goal setting, the planning teams then defined the individual programs necessary to achieve the goals – how to reach success. Each program incorporates a year-by-year action plan which includes estimated costs by year and the individual responsible for the program.
Progress for each major area will be reviewed on a rotating basis by the board at monthly meetings. Adjustments will be made on an annual basis to reflect the current environment and progress, which will be used to extend the plan for an additional year.
The plan is available for viewing at the school’s website, http://ouray.k12.co.us (click on the District and then the Strategic Plan tabs), at the school office, and at the Ouray Public Library.
Written by Tim Finkbeiner and posted by Erin Eddy
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Ouray County Communications Tower versus Ouray Real Estate
RIDGWAY – In one of the most complex issues to come before the Ouray Board of County Commissioners in recent years, an application for a special use permit to erect an 80-foot communications tower and equipment shed on Log Hill Mesa has been approved. However, the approval comes with six conditions, which could ultimately bring the entire matter back before the commissioners at a future date.
The commissioners based their decision on the requirements of the land use code, rather than bowing to pressure to sidestep various review requirements in favor of expediency of providing emergency communications.
The permit’s conditions require that the visual impact restrictions of the Ouray County Land Use Code be considered, and that the Log Hill Village Unit I architectural control committee, or ACC, must also approve the application. Another condition includes a prohibition of lights on the tower.
Commissioner Don Batchelder added a condition requiring a bond for removal of towers at the site that are not being used; he also specified that any uses other than those approved would require additional special use permits. A sixth condition requires appropriate documentation between Verizon and Ouray County on any subleasing of the tower.
The tower is expected to provide multiple services that will enhance emergency communications among state and local agencies, as well as provide better cell phone coverage for the region. Approved uses include an emergency services antenna, the Verizon antennas, which could be up to 12 units total, and a microwave antenna for the Colorado Wireless Interoperability Network.
The requirement for ACC approval could result in an appeal of the permit, since the ACC previously denied the application. Log Hill Village resident and ACC member Jim Kennedy said that the original proposal for an emergency communications structure included a 10-foot antenna, but that the addition of the cell phone component changed the picture. “What Verizon came back with was a gargantuan cell phone tower and well beyond what any of us had envisioned,” Kennedy said. “We’ll support an emergency tower, but this failed the test. Were it not for the Verizon component, this might have worked out. The covenants give us no choice but to say ‘no.’”
The commissioners’ decision was preceded by an exhaustive two-day public hearing. Over 60 citizens registered their wide-ranging views about the suitability of the tower’s location on Aug. 25, and about 30 citizens appeared on Sept. 2, when the commissioners made their final decision.
“You certainly gave us some things to think about,” Commissioner Chair Keith Meinert told those in attendance at the Aug. 25 meeting.
While no one present questioned the need for enhanced emergency communications capability, numerous people questioned whether the proposed site is the best location for such a tower.
Emergency responders from Ouray and Montrose County agreed about the need for a tower, maintaining that the Log Hill Village site is the best one. “Until we have CWIN [Colorado Wireless Interoperability Network], these two radios can’t talk to each other,” said Ouray County Emergency Coordinator Alan Staehle, referring to state’s 800 MHz system and the county’s VHS communication network.
Testimony was conclusive that cell phone traffic from 911 calls is escalating in Ouray County and neighboring communities such as Telluride and Montrose, and that gaps exist in cell phone and pager coverage on Log Hill Mesa and in other corners of the county. Ouray County Director of Public Health Cheryl Roberts told the commissioners about her recent experience involving a rescue and stabilization procedure in which she was “out of communications” for one and a half hours.
Issues were raised about the legal ownership of the proposed tower site. “It’s not a legal property that you can grant building permits on; you’re looking at a precedent you may not want,” said Montrose attorney Bob Thomas, who submitted a 61-page document to the commissioners.
Ouray County Attorney Mary Deganhart informed the commissioners on Sept. 2 that the there is “a lot of ambiguity in the covenants,” but that the parcel in question was owned by the permit’s applicant, Dallas Creek Water Company. “I apologize that it’s kind of as clear as mud,” she added.
Issues of visual impact violations, originally raised at a previous planning commission public hearing, were joined by a question as to whether microwave emissions from the tower pose a health risk to the community. “This tower will subject the entire county to microwave radiation,” said Ruth Davis, who opposes the location of the proposed tower. She tied potential DNA damage, early onset of Alzheimer’s Disease and irregular heart beats to exposure to radiation. “It produces headaches and chronic fatigue; you’ll find people who wake up and are not being able to live in their house,” she said. Davis provided documentation for her position, including material from the International Firefighters Association about the health effects of microwave emissions to firefighters.
Mark Young, president of the Montrose County Sheriff’s Posse, countered that the health effects from microwave emissions are negligible. “You’ll get more microwave energy sitting in front of your microwave. One-half of one watt. It won’t nuke you if you stand there for 100 years.”
Reggie Kajer, a resident of Log Hill who lives nearby, asked the commissioners to explore all of the options before proceeding with an approval. “Stop, set the proposal aside and go into work session with those who have technical or legal knowledge,” Kajer said.
After the two-hour hearing on Sept. 2, Commissioner Heidi Albritton at first objected to the conditions, in part because the review of visual impact regulations and other code compliance issues would extend the process, postponing a solution to the more immediate health, safety and welfare issues that would be solved by the emergency communications aspect of the project. “Our hands are tied by the code. I know where everyone is coming from. But health, safety and welfare trumps look,” Albritton said.
However, Meinert and Batchelder maintained that the board could not sidestep reviews associated with the building permit process, however circuitous it may be.
Written by Christopher Pike and posted by Erin Eddy
The commissioners based their decision on the requirements of the land use code, rather than bowing to pressure to sidestep various review requirements in favor of expediency of providing emergency communications.
The permit’s conditions require that the visual impact restrictions of the Ouray County Land Use Code be considered, and that the Log Hill Village Unit I architectural control committee, or ACC, must also approve the application. Another condition includes a prohibition of lights on the tower.
Commissioner Don Batchelder added a condition requiring a bond for removal of towers at the site that are not being used; he also specified that any uses other than those approved would require additional special use permits. A sixth condition requires appropriate documentation between Verizon and Ouray County on any subleasing of the tower.
The tower is expected to provide multiple services that will enhance emergency communications among state and local agencies, as well as provide better cell phone coverage for the region. Approved uses include an emergency services antenna, the Verizon antennas, which could be up to 12 units total, and a microwave antenna for the Colorado Wireless Interoperability Network.
The requirement for ACC approval could result in an appeal of the permit, since the ACC previously denied the application. Log Hill Village resident and ACC member Jim Kennedy said that the original proposal for an emergency communications structure included a 10-foot antenna, but that the addition of the cell phone component changed the picture. “What Verizon came back with was a gargantuan cell phone tower and well beyond what any of us had envisioned,” Kennedy said. “We’ll support an emergency tower, but this failed the test. Were it not for the Verizon component, this might have worked out. The covenants give us no choice but to say ‘no.’”
The commissioners’ decision was preceded by an exhaustive two-day public hearing. Over 60 citizens registered their wide-ranging views about the suitability of the tower’s location on Aug. 25, and about 30 citizens appeared on Sept. 2, when the commissioners made their final decision.
“You certainly gave us some things to think about,” Commissioner Chair Keith Meinert told those in attendance at the Aug. 25 meeting.
While no one present questioned the need for enhanced emergency communications capability, numerous people questioned whether the proposed site is the best location for such a tower.
Emergency responders from Ouray and Montrose County agreed about the need for a tower, maintaining that the Log Hill Village site is the best one. “Until we have CWIN [Colorado Wireless Interoperability Network], these two radios can’t talk to each other,” said Ouray County Emergency Coordinator Alan Staehle, referring to state’s 800 MHz system and the county’s VHS communication network.
Testimony was conclusive that cell phone traffic from 911 calls is escalating in Ouray County and neighboring communities such as Telluride and Montrose, and that gaps exist in cell phone and pager coverage on Log Hill Mesa and in other corners of the county. Ouray County Director of Public Health Cheryl Roberts told the commissioners about her recent experience involving a rescue and stabilization procedure in which she was “out of communications” for one and a half hours.
Issues were raised about the legal ownership of the proposed tower site. “It’s not a legal property that you can grant building permits on; you’re looking at a precedent you may not want,” said Montrose attorney Bob Thomas, who submitted a 61-page document to the commissioners.
Ouray County Attorney Mary Deganhart informed the commissioners on Sept. 2 that the there is “a lot of ambiguity in the covenants,” but that the parcel in question was owned by the permit’s applicant, Dallas Creek Water Company. “I apologize that it’s kind of as clear as mud,” she added.
Issues of visual impact violations, originally raised at a previous planning commission public hearing, were joined by a question as to whether microwave emissions from the tower pose a health risk to the community. “This tower will subject the entire county to microwave radiation,” said Ruth Davis, who opposes the location of the proposed tower. She tied potential DNA damage, early onset of Alzheimer’s Disease and irregular heart beats to exposure to radiation. “It produces headaches and chronic fatigue; you’ll find people who wake up and are not being able to live in their house,” she said. Davis provided documentation for her position, including material from the International Firefighters Association about the health effects of microwave emissions to firefighters.
Mark Young, president of the Montrose County Sheriff’s Posse, countered that the health effects from microwave emissions are negligible. “You’ll get more microwave energy sitting in front of your microwave. One-half of one watt. It won’t nuke you if you stand there for 100 years.”
Reggie Kajer, a resident of Log Hill who lives nearby, asked the commissioners to explore all of the options before proceeding with an approval. “Stop, set the proposal aside and go into work session with those who have technical or legal knowledge,” Kajer said.
After the two-hour hearing on Sept. 2, Commissioner Heidi Albritton at first objected to the conditions, in part because the review of visual impact regulations and other code compliance issues would extend the process, postponing a solution to the more immediate health, safety and welfare issues that would be solved by the emergency communications aspect of the project. “Our hands are tied by the code. I know where everyone is coming from. But health, safety and welfare trumps look,” Albritton said.
However, Meinert and Batchelder maintained that the board could not sidestep reviews associated with the building permit process, however circuitous it may be.
Written by Christopher Pike and posted by Erin Eddy
Monday, September 1, 2008
Local Economy Holding It's Own
August 22, 2008
It's turning out that, for the local economy, 2008 may be turning out to be "one of those years," reminiscent perhaps of the fire and drought-hampered down year 2002.
We just got back the first important indicators for the all-important summer season. While not disastrous, they are a bit gloomy, about what one might expect in the current climate of high gas prices and a housing crunch.
The City of Ouray just received back its sales taxes from Denver, those collected in June when tourism time was kicking in. The tax number was $81,500, down about 7% from the same period in 2007, though nearly identical to the June 2006 collections.
For the first eight months of 2008, overall sales tax collections remain down by about 1.5%, an amount that translates to a measly $7,500 downturn in tax receipts to the city.
The hotel numbers echoed the sales tax, down from 2007 (52% occupancy rate vs. 54%), and on par with 2006. (And with an extra buck on the lodging tax, those receipts are running almost 40% over last year).
Likewise, admissions to the Hot Springs Pool were off 6%, but in line with 2006.
Glass half-full-type people might say that in the current economy, Ouray seems to be holding its own, that single-digit declines are tolerable.
They might purport that we're still attracting about the same number of tourists, but casual observation indicates that the $4 gasoline means they're coming from closer places, such as Grand Junction and the Front Range. Presumably, many people are choosing to vacation here instead of the big trips to Europe or Disney World.
But the pessimists might look at the June numbers and wonder if we're just waiting for the other shoe to fall. Could the current slow-down just be the tip of an iceberg of serious financial difficulties?
Economic crystal balls are notoriously opaque, so we'll just have to see how it plays out.
Regardless of how the monthly tourism-driven numbers continue to roll in, Ouray enjoyed a jolt of news this week that relates to its economy. And it can only be considered positive.
That, of course, is the purchase of the relatively new water bottling facility that never got over the hump for its originally intended purpose, when 80 or so jobs were first promised.
Now, after years of the seeing the plant/warehouse facility wallow in a morass of legal and financial condition, it is owned free and clear by two local young and energetic entrepreneurs, Ben Lockard and Eli Doose.
With the water bottling equipment headed to Arkansas, that business plan has been thankfully put to rest. Instead, Lockard and Doose intend to use the facility to help create "a new economy" for Ouray, one where small enterprises manufacture specialty products.
We'll eagerly watch to see how this mixed-use light industry develops under the guidance of Lockard and Doose's High Country Development Group.
So for now, while the local economy's not great, this fiscal sky is definitely not falling. And on the horizon, we see some great promise to finally realize the potential of the big facility in north Ouray.
— David Mullings
It's turning out that, for the local economy, 2008 may be turning out to be "one of those years," reminiscent perhaps of the fire and drought-hampered down year 2002.
We just got back the first important indicators for the all-important summer season. While not disastrous, they are a bit gloomy, about what one might expect in the current climate of high gas prices and a housing crunch.
The City of Ouray just received back its sales taxes from Denver, those collected in June when tourism time was kicking in. The tax number was $81,500, down about 7% from the same period in 2007, though nearly identical to the June 2006 collections.
For the first eight months of 2008, overall sales tax collections remain down by about 1.5%, an amount that translates to a measly $7,500 downturn in tax receipts to the city.
The hotel numbers echoed the sales tax, down from 2007 (52% occupancy rate vs. 54%), and on par with 2006. (And with an extra buck on the lodging tax, those receipts are running almost 40% over last year).
Likewise, admissions to the Hot Springs Pool were off 6%, but in line with 2006.
Glass half-full-type people might say that in the current economy, Ouray seems to be holding its own, that single-digit declines are tolerable.
They might purport that we're still attracting about the same number of tourists, but casual observation indicates that the $4 gasoline means they're coming from closer places, such as Grand Junction and the Front Range. Presumably, many people are choosing to vacation here instead of the big trips to Europe or Disney World.
But the pessimists might look at the June numbers and wonder if we're just waiting for the other shoe to fall. Could the current slow-down just be the tip of an iceberg of serious financial difficulties?
Economic crystal balls are notoriously opaque, so we'll just have to see how it plays out.
Regardless of how the monthly tourism-driven numbers continue to roll in, Ouray enjoyed a jolt of news this week that relates to its economy. And it can only be considered positive.
That, of course, is the purchase of the relatively new water bottling facility that never got over the hump for its originally intended purpose, when 80 or so jobs were first promised.
Now, after years of the seeing the plant/warehouse facility wallow in a morass of legal and financial condition, it is owned free and clear by two local young and energetic entrepreneurs, Ben Lockard and Eli Doose.
With the water bottling equipment headed to Arkansas, that business plan has been thankfully put to rest. Instead, Lockard and Doose intend to use the facility to help create "a new economy" for Ouray, one where small enterprises manufacture specialty products.
We'll eagerly watch to see how this mixed-use light industry develops under the guidance of Lockard and Doose's High Country Development Group.
So for now, while the local economy's not great, this fiscal sky is definitely not falling. And on the horizon, we see some great promise to finally realize the potential of the big facility in north Ouray.
— David Mullings
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