The state of education Over the weekend, Reps. Kraft-Tharp, Titone, and myself hosted a virtual town hall meeting with the Jeffco Public Schools superintendent and two board members.The conversation touched on three main themes: the challenges of learning from home, transition planning for the fall semester, and looming budget cuts. Most of the conversation was informational, but one existential comment struck me as insightful: School is no longer school as we know it. Whether these changes are permanent--good or bad--remains to be seen.
Jason Glass, superintendent of Jeffco Public Schools speaking at virtual town hall
Even though I missed acknowledging Teacher Appreciation Week, I wanted to give a shout out to the many educators who stepped up and responded to this new world in an admirable fashion. While the transition to learning-from-home was fraught with challenges, I sincerely appreciate their dedication and their resiliency in making it happen. According to a recent Jeffco survey, "most of the respondents had positive things to say about remote learning." I think these survey results are due in large part to the amazing work of our Jeffco educators and staff.
I want to wish the graduating seniors a hearty congratulations as well. On Saturday, there was an inspirational celebration that aired on television called Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020. The virtual event brought together a number of celebrities who paid tribute to the seniors who are graduating in the midst of a pandemic. I'd like to offer my sincerest congratulations to the college graduates as well, including my office intern, Blaise Hokkanen, who graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder. I am sorry your internship experience at the Capitol was cut short, and I wish you all the best!
Blaise Hokkanen, Class of 2020, CU Boulder
and SD19 Intern for Sen. Zenzinger
Finally, I want to discuss the future of education. What will things look like when students return to school in the fall? Jeffco was one of the first school districts to start their planning. The district is focusing on two models, one a hybrid of both small group in-person learning at school on a limited schedule, coupled with remote learning. The second model is strictly remote learning, similar to the current environment. If you have thoughts or questions, I suggest subscribing to the District's Community Daily Update, or communicate with the Board of Education members.
JBC budget update Last Tuesday, the Joint Budget Committee received an abbreviated revenue forecast from our state economists. According to the Legislative Council Services forecast, next year's revenue picture is shaping up to be the worst in our state's history. Projections show a $3.3 Billion drop in revenue or -25.3% of FY 2019-20 expenditures. The Office of State Planning and Budgeting showed a similar forecast.
Chatting with JBC member Rep. Julie McCluskie during budget hearings last week
The JBC began reviewing and voting on budget balancing recommendations a week in advance of the revenue forecast and we managed to make approximately $700 Million in first round budget cuts. This past week, we returned to the items we had set aside until after the revenue forecast, as well as a few others brought to us by the OSPB. Our JBC staff is in the process of tallying up those next round of cuts, but my sense is that we are at a combined total of just over $1.2 Billion--still short of where we need to be. We have delayed about $733 Million in decision items and we have rejected approximately $80 Million in cuts (items that we will not return to).
This coming week, the JBC will make our final decisions to balance the budget before introducing it to the full legislature next Tuesday. In addition to the cuts we have been making, we will also be working on ways to free up revenue in the budget, narrow in on the amount of federal funds we think we can utilize, and figure out how much of the reserve we will need to tap.
Many people have speculated that we are balancing the budget on the "backs of students," or the "backs of state workers," or the "backs of seniors," or the "backs of veterans," or the back of "fill in the blank." Let me assure you that everyone will share the burden and no department has been left untouched. We have deferred decisions that would make deep cuts to education, higher education, and human services until the end of our decision making, in order to make the greatest amount of progress as possible via other avenues.
The size of the cuts to departments have been relative to the size of their General Fund impact. Some of the reductions, such as suspending the PERA direct distribution, have been quite large ($225 Million). Other cuts, such as a reduction to the Veterans Assistance Grant Program, were quite small ($100,000). But, in order to balance the budget and fill a $3.3 Billion hole, it's going to take several large "boulders," a fair number of medium-sized "rocks," and even small "grains of sand," to make it happen.
These reductions are not easy, and we will certainly leave no stone unturned. The Joint Budget Committee members are extremely mindful of the gravity of these decisions, and we will continue to be as thoughtful and educated in our choices as possible.
Rachel Zenzinger
Rachel Zenzinger won election to the Colorado State Senate, representing District 19, in November 2016. She also served as Senator for SD19 in 2014. Sen. Zenzinger is a member of the Joint Budget Committee, the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Vice Chair of the Statutory Revision Committee.
Legislative Town Hall
Thank you to Superintendent Jason Glass, and Jeffco School Board Members Stephanie Schooley and Susan Miller, for joining us yesterday for our monthly town hall meeting. If you missed it, you can watch by clicking
HERE.
Virtual town hall meeting with
Jeffco Public Schools
A look at the numbers
On Saturday at 7:00 pm, we observed a moment of silence to recognize the lives lost to COVID-19 in Colorado. They each have a name, and loved ones who cared for them.
So far, while practicing social distancing measures, there have been 1,467,065 cases and 88,7091 deaths.
To put this in perspective, I thought it might be interesting to share with you some other numbers:
US military deaths (died in and out of combat) Vietnam: 58,209
US military deaths (killed in combat) Korean War + Vietnam + Gulf War + Iraq War + Afghanistan War: 86,928
[Source: The Oxford Companion to American Military History]
Diabetes per year US: 83,564
Influenza and Pneumonia per year US: 55,672
Suicide per year US: 47,173 Polio deaths in US in Peak Year (1952): 57,628
[Source: CDC]
2019 US Car Accident Deaths: 38,800 [Source: National Safety Council]
55 x Deaths on the Titanic: 82,280
30 x Deaths at the WTC on 9-11: 82,590
18 x Allied confirmed deaths at D-Day invasion of Normandy: 79,452
Population of Loveland, CO: 78,402 Population of Broomfield, CO: 72,783 Population of Castle Rock, CO: 70,687 US deaths per year from sharks: 1
Capacity of Empower Field at Mile High (formerly Invesco Field at Mile High, formerly Sports Authority Field at Mile High, formerly Bronco's Stadium at Mile High): 76,125
Combined parking spaces of all 89 RTD Park n Ride facilities: 36,021
If you have questions or need resources that are not covered by the links above, send me an email and we will track down what you need.
Donations to
Rachel For Colorado
I am pleased to announce that I am the Democratic
2020 nominee for election to the Colorado Senate District 19 seat in November. I am honored to receive the nomination and it would be honor to have your support once more. Would you consider making a contribution to my campaign?
