Blog: a web log
12/19/2003: "Message from Jeffco School Superintendent"
As 2003 comes to a close, we in Jeffco Public Schools thank you, the Jefferson County community, for your support in helping to make us one of Colorado’s premier school districts.
Business leaders, elected officials, volunteers, faith-based leaders, educators and parents are all part of Jeffco Public Schools greatness. Together, we take pride in our 87,000 students who will take the lessons learned today in our classrooms to create a better tomorrow. Our teachers and staff members are the catalysts for building brighter futures…Jefferson County is fortunate that we have the best educators in the state. They deserve a huge thank you. You can be proud of your Jeffco Public Schools, and of these recent reports that clearly show we are an efficient, effective and excellence organization:
-- Jeffco Public Schools received an outstanding Accreditation Review from the State of Colorado, which noted we moved an additional 6,194 students into the Advanced/Proficient ranges of CSAP between 1999 and 2003. That number represents the entire population of many of Colorado’s school districts.
-- Jeffco Public Schools increased the percentage of students scoring in the advanced and proficient categories on 15 out of 23 CSAP assessments.
-- Jeffco Public Schools had 27 neighborhood and four charter schools increase their rating on the State School Accountability reports, with 93 of our schools rated Excellent or High. Our Average and Low schools continue to show increased student achievement each year.
-- Jeffco Public Schools increased our graduation rate from 77.8% to 81.8%. We want all of our students to graduate and our increase means that approximately 300 more students now have better choices in their lives.
-- Jeffco Public Schools instituted new financial controls that have received very positive reviews from two independent citizen committees, the Financial Oversight Committee and the Operating Funds Review Committee.
-- Jeffco Public Schools completed a $400 million bond program and the independent citizen’s committee that supervised the program, the Capital Oversight Committee, commended us for quality work completed with efficiency and effectiveness.
These and the thousands of other accomplishments throughout the district are the result of dedicated people putting their hearts and souls into their work and studies. 2003 has been a very good year, but we believe the best is yet to come. Thank you again for your support, now and into the future, and happy holidays from all of us at your Jeffco Public Schools.
Cindy Stevenson
Superintendent
