Budget cuts have forced schools to increase class sizes and
significantly reduce staff, while others have chosen to sacrifice
programming to stay afloat.
Highlands Ranch High School is among the local institutions that
have made some tough decisions over the last four years. Principal
Jerry Goings was faced with a 55 percent reduction in the
instructional supplies budget, from $422,000 in the 2006-07 school
year to only $192,000 for 2011-12.
Given the high costs for computers for an entire student body,
technology is one of the areas that has been hit the hardest. But
now a group of parents have formed a club that has some ambitious
fundraising goals. The Falcon Academic Boosters — or FAB — is
aiming to collect $100,000 by Aug. 8, and the 20 or so parents
involved want the money to directly impact the academic achievement
of all students at Highlands Ranch High School, said Beth
Turner-Graziano, president of the boosters.
The school wants to add three portable computer labs containing
35 Netbooks each. The 105 Netbooks, at a cost of roughly $60,000,
will improve HRHS’s ability to keep pace with other schools in the
district. The school now has only one fully functional drop-in lab
for teachers to access.
“We want the evolution of learning to continue because these
kids are so tech-savvy,” Turner-Graziano said. “Some other schools
are ahead of us in technology, so even in the district we’re
falling behind.”
New biology books, replacing the archaic 1997 editions, will
cost $40,000, but they include electronic media resources.
Technology is expected to play a greater role in education at HRHS
in the future, and other schools, including many charters, have put
an emphasis on technology teachings in the classroom. Officials
want Netbooks in the hands of kids, particularly because the school
district upgraded Highlands Ranch High School’s wireless network.
The interactive units help teachers be “more creative in their
teaching,” said Turner-Graziano, whose youngest child will be a
sophomore this year.
The Falcon Academic Boosters, working in hand with the Douglas
County Educational Foundation, know that the $100,000-goal is a
lofty one, but they are hitting thr streets in the hopes of gaining
awareness of the dire budget situation and collecting some money
along the way. Some members are using the argument that strong
local schools equal higher home values, a mantra that was used
during the campaign for the failing school bond issue.
Student government members have also gotten involved in
fundraising and have started an aggressive Facebook campaign.
Turner-Graziano warns that Goings might “have to do something
crazy” at an upcoming pep rally as a gesture of gratitude to the
students.
If they reach their goal, Turner-Graziano hopes it will lay the
groundwork for more schools to follow suit.
“Other schools will call and say, “What did you do and how did
you do it.?” she said.