APS Teammates:

Wow, what an incredible team and an incredible year. I want to congratulate every employee for doing an outstanding job for our kids during this school year. You are all amazing in what you do for our students. As we get ready to transition to the summer months, I want to commend you all for the outstanding commitments I have witnessed on a daily basis to accelerate achievement. I am continually impressed by how all staff members have worked together to support our students. I know this has been an incredibly challenging year, and I promise you we will continue to increase trust and teamwork throughout the district everyday. With all that we have transformed this year for the betterment of our students, I am honored and grateful to be part of your team.

I have no doubt that we will continually get closer to our vision of graduating every student with the choice to attend to college by staying true to our vision, goals and objectives in VISTA 2010. We have made many changes with our strategic plan to help us reach this vision, and all of you have helped achieve an amazing year of transformation and implementation. Last year was the year for planning and approval; this year was the most difficult with all the VISTA 2010 implementation initiatives; next year will be the year for refinement of the current initiatives with no new programs or initiatives.

I will provide a summary at the start of the next school year on accomplishments and celebrations from this last year. We will have a State of the District brief in early August so I can share with you all that we have been able to do during the 2007-2008 school year.

As you all know, we are facing budget challenges due to the competition from charter schools, economy and the Colfax redevelopment. Over the summer, I will continue to provide updates on the budget in the spirit of trust and teamwork. We will post these updates on the Web so you can see them throughout the year. The BOE has approved the Steps, PERA and insurance increases for next year-for the average teacher, as just one example of our many employee groups, that will be 3.4% increase. In spite of receiving $6.8 million more next year from increased per pupil funding, the loss of 364 students last year, 750 students this year and the projected 600 fewer students next year, leaves us with over a $5 million deficit. Add the $5 million we have committed to fund Steps, PERA and insurance and you get the $10 million deficit. The District does have a financial problem caused entirely by the enrollment decline.

I have given you my word that we will not have RIFs (Reduction-in-Force) this next year or close schools. Nor will there be a deficit. We will meet our legal obligations to balance the budget. Our APS budget is public record and it is completely transparent. Please remember when you hear the “District” I want you to realize we are all in the district. So, as we work to balance the budget, everyone shares in the challenges. While this has been a tough year to get the pay raises we all would like to get, I assure you that if the BOE approves, I will “burn the shoe leather” to do everything possible to get a mill levy passed in November so all our people can have a pay raise.

I am very confident that by working together, we will soon increase enrollment and get back to healthier budgets. I truly believe that our combined efforts will make us the best school district in the state of Colorado-you are making history and your efforts will be long remembered in the city of Aurora.

Please take time to enjoy this summer with family and friends. Take care of yourselves and your loved ones so everyone can return safe, rested and ready for greater successes during the next school year. Thank you again for your hard work and all that you do to improve the lives of children in Aurora.

Sincerely,

JB

John L. Barry, Superintendent
Aurora Public Schools
15701 E. First Ave., Suite 206
Aurora, CO 80011
303-365-7800

“There are risks and costs to a program of action, but they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.”

John F. Kennedy