APS BOE Approves Vista PEAK Innovation Status

NEWS RELEASE # 83
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 25, 2011

APS BOE Approves Vista PEAK Innovation Status

On May 24, the APS Board of Education voted to approve Innovation Status for the Vista PEAK P-20 campus.

Rich Patterson, Director of P-20 Campus Development, explained to the BOE the reason for applying for Innovation Status. “First and foremost, our belief in innovation comes from our commitment to enhancing P-20 learning opportunities for our students. This has been an exciting year for Vista PEAK. However, within the first months of opening, our staff and district leadership soon realized that certain policies and requirements that work for traditional schools pose significant challenges for a truly aligned P-20 Educational Campus system.”

Vista PEAK staff explored the ways in which SB 130, the Innovations School Act, could enhance student learning in a P-20 context.  They identified specific Board of Education policies, parts of the AEA Master Agreement and district procedures that were impeding true innovation and P-20 alignment. In February 2011, Vista PEAK staff developed the Innovation Application and Annual Work Agreement.

"The autonomies and freedoms outlined in the Vista PEAK Innovation application allow the school more control of the master schedule, the school day and school year, curriculum, professional learning, budgeting, hiring and personnel," said Patterson.

Achieving Innovation Status also allows Vista PEAK staff to fullfill the promises to Aurora voters when they passed the APS Bond and Mill Levy in 2008:

• To offer an exciting, innovative educational venture that meets the goals of the VISTA 2010 and VISTA 2015 strategic plans, SB 212-CAP4K and the Colorado Department of Education's Forward Thinking plan
• To create the Vista Peak P-20 campus as a cutting-edge model of innovation in public education

"Vista PEAK’s application for Innovation Status has met or exceeded all SB -130 requirements, including showing a strong level of support from licensed staff, classified staff, parents, students, administrators, the Vista PEAK PTA and Accountability Committee, and numerous community partners," added Patterson. "Compared to the other Colorado Innovative School applications, the Vista PEAK proposal has three times as much support from stakeholders."

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APS Board of Education Executive Session

NEWS RELEASE # 81
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2011

WHAT: APS BOE Executive Session
WHEN: May 24, 2011
WHERE: 1085 Peoria Street, Aurora, CO 80011

APS Board of Education Executive Session

The Aurora Public Schools Board of Education is expected to recess into executive session on Tuesday, May 24 under the authority of C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(b), to receive legal advice.

This session will take place from 5-6 p.m. in Conference Room A of Educational Services Center 4, located at 1085 Peoria Street, Aurora 80011.

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Superintendent John L. Barry on Commissioner’s position

NEWS RELEASE # 81
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2011

WHAT: Superintendent John L. Barry on Commissioner’s position

Superintendent John L. Barry on Commissioner’s position

The State Board of Education has selected Robert Hammond to be the next Colorado Commissioner of Education.  I would like to offer my congratulations to our new Commissioner.  I offer him my full support.

I look forward to continuing as the Superintendent of Aurora Public Schools.   Over the past five years, we have laid the groundwork for transforming our school district with our strategic plans.  I remain committed to implementing VISTA 2015 in order to accelerate student achievement and close the achievement gaps.

I am continually amazed by the talent and dedication of Aurora Public Schools staff members and all they do for students.  We are fortunate to work with dynamic and diverse students, parents and community partners.

I thank the Aurora Public Schools Board of Education members for their continued support.

John L. Barry, Superintendent
Aurora Public Schools

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APS Board of Education Executive Session CANCELED

NEWS RELEASE # 80
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2011

APS Board of Education Executive Session CANCELED

The Aurora Public Schools Board of Education executive session on Tuesday, May 3 after the regular board meeting has been canceled.

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APS Board of Education Executive Session

NEWS RELEASE # 79
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2011

WHAT: APS BOE Executive Session
WHEN: May 3, 2011
WHERE: 1085 Peoria Street, Aurora, CO 80011

APS Board of Education Executive Session

The Aurora Public Schools Board of Education is expected to recess into executive session on Tuesday, May 3 under the authority of C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(b) and (e), to receive legal advice regarding negotiations.

This session will take place from 5-6 p.m. in Conference Room A of Educational Services Center 4, located at 1085 Peoria Street, Aurora 80011.

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APS Middle School Girls Show Off Their Tech Savvy

NEWS RELEASE #78
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2011

WHAT: APS Middle School Girls Show Off Their Tech Savvy
WHEN: April 26, 2011, 10 a.m.
WHERE: APS Professional Learning and Conference Center, 15771 E. 1st Ave., Aurora, 80011

APS Middle School Girls Show Off Their Tech Savvy

By graduation, men outnumber women in nearly every scientific field, and in some fields such as physics, engineering and computer science, women earn only 20 percent of bachelor's degrees. Aurora Public Schools is committed to tackling the dramatic underrepresentation of women in the fields of science and technology.

On April 26, 56 middle school girls from all over APS will prove they have what it takes to compete in the 21st century. The students are participating in a Girls Technology Camp sponsored by the APS Department of Instructional Technology, Hewlett-Packard, Qwest and Vista PEAK Preparatory schools. The camp will include sessions on:

• Electronic guts (taking apart computers)
• Rocketry (building rockets)
• Snap circuits (assembling various circuits)
• Video teleconferencing with NASA (mapping the moon with WALL-E)

The camp will be held on April 26 at the Professional Learning and Conference Center, located at 15771 E. 1st Ave., Aurora, 80011. Media is welcome to attend at 10 a.m.

Interested media, please contact the Aurora Public Schools Communication Department at 303-365-7805 for more information.

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APS Board of Education Statement: Superintendent Barry Named Finalist

NEWS RELEASE #77
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2011

APS Board of Education Statement: Superintendent Barry Named Finalist

It is an honor that Aurora Public Schools Superintendent John L. Barry has been chosen as a finalist for the Colorado Commissioner of Education.  Superintendent Barry is in the second year of a three-year contract.  He has been the Aurora Public Schools’ Superintendent since 2006 and recently was selected as the Superintendent of the Year for Colorado.

Superintendent Barry is a tremendous leader.  Under his leadership, Aurora Public Schools has made achievement gains that have exceeded the state average. Our student proficiency rates have increased faster than that of the state and our growth rate is consistently above the state.

Our strategic plans, VISTA 2010 and VISTA 2015 have both been designed to increase student achievement and close achievement gaps.  It is because of his leadership that we have a clear roadmap for the future of our students.

We wish Superintendent Barry all the best as he goes through this process.  If he gets selected as Commissioner we all win.

Although Colorado law requires that the State Board of Education makes the names of finalists public for at least 14 days before a selection is made, in order to be proactive, on Tuesday, April 26, the APS Board of Education will hold an executive session with its legal counsel to discuss additional legal requirement that may apply to this matter.

 

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