March 2026 – Newsletter

Engage Jeffco Schools – Putting the public back in public education

March Accomplishments/Announcements

Educational Series:
On March 4th, Engage Jeffco hosted a conversation with Jeffco SEL Implementation Specialist Laura Wheeler. She went over what Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is, how SEL Specialists support classrooms, and what the mental health ecosystem looks like in Jeffco. If you missed her presentation, it is available here.

Engage Jeffco Expectations for Proposed Mill Levy Override Funds:
Engage Jeffco members have been taking part in the Partnership for Fiscal Sustainability, shaping the potential Mill Levy Override that may be on the 2026 ballot. We have the following goals for the Mill:

• Demonstrate Commitment to Transparency and Oversight
  Ensure meaningful community involvement in monitoring Mill Levy Override spending, supported by clear public reporting and a robust, accessible dashboard that tracks allocations, outcomes, and equity impacts.
• Fully Fund and Fully Staff Schools
  Commit to fully resourced schools that provide the human capacity needed for student success, including social emotional learning staff, mental health supports, tutors, and the personnel necessary to deliver personalized learning.
• Prioritize People in Education
  Center human relationships as the foundation of learning by prioritizing people, bringing student facing roles in house, and offering competitive compensation. Prioritize technology that enhances, rather than replaces, human instruction. Avoid outsourcing permanent core functions such as transportation, tutoring, and special education supports, and ensure technology supplements rather than replaces educators.
• Ensure Wraparound Supports for Vulnerable Learners
  Invest in integrated supports that remove barriers to learning for students with the greatest needs, including reliable transportation, expanded career and technical education pathways, and targeted and personalized academic support such as tutoring.
• Advance Environmental Sustainability
  Invest in environmentally sustainable practices that prepare students for emerging careers, reduce operational costs through energy efficiency and resource conservation, and create healthier learning environments for our entire school community.

Let’s get social

• Engage Jeffco had a social at Bonfire Burritos in Arvada. We socialized, talked about future ways to engage with Jeffco Schools, and signed up new members.