Latest news with #BoulderValleySchoolDistrict
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Students are deliberately short-circuiting school laptops as part of social media trend
DENVER (KDVR) — School district officials have had enough as a social media trend directing students to short-circuit their school-issued laptops sparked a half-dozen fires in the past week. Officials say it's all part of a social media trend where videos show students how to short-circuit their laptop or puncture the lithium batteries — the short-circuit or puncture causes the battery's temperature to rise uncontrollably, which can lead to a fire or explosion and also releases toxic fumes. This Colorado water park was named the second best in the US On Wednesday, the Boulder Valley School District said that there were three reports of such incidents at its schools: One at Eldorado PK-8, and two at Broomfield High School. Three other incidents occurred between May 2-6 at Centaurus High School, Broomfield Heights Middle School and Angevine Middle School. The district isn't putting up with the trend, and sent an email to families asking them to discuss the incidents together. 'It is all of our responsibility to take care of each other and school property on a daily basis,' the email stated. 'That is why we encourage families to have a conversation with students about using social media responsibly and the potential consequences of engaging in this type of behavior.' The district noted that not only are the battery fires dangerous and could cause injury or property damage, but that students who damage their laptops are violating the Student Code of Conduct, 'and the law, potentially leading to school discipline and criminal prosecution.' 'Our hope is that by speaking to students in advance, we can ensure everyone can enjoy the last weeks before summer break and help students avoid situations that can have large repercussions,' the district's email stated. BVSD is far from alone. Adams 12 Five Star Schools also sent an email to families with a similar message in recent days. Schools in Connecticut and other states have had to be evacuated due to fires caused by students following the 'trend.' It even led to the Connecticut State Fire Marshal and State Fire Administrator issuing a warning, encouraging students not to short-circuit their personal or school-issued electronic devices by inserting pencil lead or other conductive materials into USB or charging ports. DPS superintendent accuses board member of ambitions to take superintendent position 'Social media trends, many that include risky behavior, are sadly on the increase. Students and parents must be aware of this latest trend involving laptops and other personal electronic devices that have the potential to cause serious injury, death, and/or property damage,' said Connecticut State Fire Administrator Jeff Morrissette. One school in Pennsylvania posted a message to its website that tells families each of its Chromebooks costs $350, and the Cost will be billed to the students and their families if the student chooses to participate in the trend. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
08-05-2025
- CBS News
Investigation finds minority students at Colorado school district almost three times more likely to be disciplined for bullying than White students
Bullying can be a problem at any school. But in the Boulder Valley School District, a months-long investigation by CBS Colorado has discovered racial disparities in how schools discipline bullies. The investigation began after some parents of students who attend schools in the district shared concerns. At BVSD, CBS Colorado's investigation found minority students were almost three times more likely to be disciplined for bullying than White students. Parent says child experienced "traumatic" bullying When her daughter started coming home from school crying, Jamilla Richmond became a very vocal parent. "The bullying that she was experiencing was really traumatic. And it wasn't just the children, it was also adults who were participating in that," Richmond said. Richmond said it got so bad that last year she pulled her daughter out of fourth grade at Whittier International Elementary School. "There was an incident in which my daughter was waiting in line for lunch and four kids cornered her up against the wall, and my daughter felt threatened, so she pushed one of the kids to get out of that situation. They sent her to the office by herself, as though she were the aggressor," Richmond said. Richmond's daughter is Black, and she says those four other students were White. "That creates an image of perhaps children, Black children, Latino, Indigenous, looking as though they are the instigators in situations when in actuality they're really just responding to aggression, harassment and discrimination," Richmond said. Richmond and the school were previously involved in a discrimination lawsuit filed by a White family. However, this ended in a settlement with the school paying both Richmond and the other family. Boulder Valley School District responds CBS Colorado brought the state data to district superintendent Dr. Rob Anderson. "Is this something you've been tracking?" Your Reporter Sarah Horbacewicz asked. "We've been tracking this data for years and on a monthly basis our team comes together to look at trends, to decide if there are different practices that we need to be implementing, if there are different supports and resources. The analysis that you shared with me, I didn't see that until this morning," Anderson said. But BVSD still admits who and how they discipline overall is something they're working on. "Do you think your efforts have been successful so far?" Horbacewicz asked Anderson. "I think that we've been successful in a few things," Anderson said. "Over the past five years, we have reduced suspensions of our Hispanic, Latino students by 51%." "I think that we've reduced the amount of discipline. I don't know that the ... disproportionality has improved in the ways we would have hoped," he said. All trends the district says they meet about monthly when discussing all disciplinary reports and assessing their policies. Anderson says that racial disproportionality is also reflected in academic performance. As part of the investigation, CBS News reviewed state data in other Colorado school districts. The data showed that the district has the largest gap between White and minority students compared to similarly sized districts. CBS Colorado asked Anderson for a response to that. "Our data is more accurate, that we've created the systems and the trust within our community where folks will tell us when these things are happening, and they know that we'll follow through," Anderson said. Anderson says their process for reporting bullying includes a form on the school district's website. "I do think that there's continued training that needs to happen for all of us in the school district, not just for kids, but for teachers and for administrators as well," Anderson said. But parents like Richmond are still unsure. "I want to see the district actually do more than use its words," she said. "For ... children to be engaging in bullying, arguing, whatever it is, that's a completely different scenario than adults compounding that and piling on and assuming who's the culprit, who's the victim," Richmond said. Parents consider civil rights legal action Around 50 parents, including many CBS Colorado met with, say they are now considering taking civil rights legal action against the district. Not every incident of name-calling is reported to the state. The incidents in this data are largely those involving suspension or expulsion. Some of that responsibility comes down to the school district to collect and report their data.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Aurora Public Schools cancels classes Thursday for rally at State Capitol
AURORA Colo, (KDVR) — Several large school districts are canceling classes, impacting nearly 200,000 schools kids across the Denver metro area. Teachers plan to attend a rally at the state Capitol to make their voices heard and 'prevent state legislators from cutting public education funding to balance their budget.' Full list: These Colorado school districts canceled class Thursday due to staff shortages Aurora Public Schools, Boulder Valley School District, Adams 12 and several Denver Public Schools announced they can't hold classes while teachers take the day off to protest budget cuts. 'I think people are tired of having to just get by,' said Kevin Vick, president of the Colorado Education Association.'Or live with less at the expense of other people living very well.' He said he wants to make sure people remember that education has been taking cuts for the last 15 years. 'We have done so to the tune of $11 billion in this state,' he said. It's the reason Aurora Public Schools is the latest school district to cancel classes Thursday. The district sent a statement Friday evening reading in part, 'While our primary goal is to always keep our schools open, due to a large number of staff members who have reported absences we will unfortunately need to close schools tomorrow.' Former NFL pro training for pickleball career in Loveland 'I think it's a very baffling decision. It's clearly putting the interest of adults over the interest of children. We know that here in Colorado as nationwide our students continue to struggle academically since the pandemic,' said Brenda Dickhoner, president & CEO of Ready Colorado. Dickhoner says Colorado has some of the shortest school years in the country. 'It also puts parents in a really difficult decision to find childcare to take a day off from work all for what,' Dickhoner asked, 'For a rally?' She also mentioned she was on a task force where a bipartisan law invested $500 million in K-12 schools. 'It also directs that funding to kids who need it most. To our at-risk students and our English language learners, but that was not enough,' said Dickhoner. 'So, now they're asking for more money.' Vick said, 'That comes at the expense of other districts. So, what happens is there is basically a transfer of money from one district to others. So it created a situation where we have districts that do gain, but there are a number of districts and huge percentage of students in the district who will lose funding.' FTC Commissioner testifies before Colorado committee after Trump firing Vick says the rally does not come as a surprise and it wasn't a sudden action. He said CEA has been working with districts and open about their plans for some time. The rally is scheduled to take place at the state Capitol starting at 11:30 a.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Boulder Valley School District cancels school Thursday for staff shortage, planned action
DENVER (KDVR) — The Boulder Valley School District announced Friday that it would not have classes on Thursday after a large number of staff members called out for the day. It's because March 20th is a day of action led by the Colorado Education Association dubbed 'No More Education Cuts.' A letter written by BVSD Superintendent Rob Anderson said that over 600 staff members had requested time off on the 20th, preventing the district from keeping the schools open 'and operating in a safe and meaningful manner.' Gov. Polis speaks on federal cuts, impacts to Colorado 'We know this presents significant hardship for our families, our goal was to share this in advance so families can make necessary arrangements,' Anderson said in its announcement. The day will remain a workday for all school and district employees, requiring those absent to use their personal leave time. Schools will reopen as normal on Friday, Anderson said. 'The public education funding crisis will present real impacts to our school district,' Anderson wrote in his announcement. 'With our governor's proposed student count averaging change (moving from a five-year average of student enrollment to a single-year count) our school district will experience a loss of funding for next year by nearly $5 million.' Anderson said the district administration supports the fight for fully-funded schools, and said the board of education and himself will 'continue to advocate at the legislative level and will share updates at our regular public meetings.' According to the Colorado Education Association, the Colorado Legislature is considering cutting almost $150 million to education funding because of the proposed student count averaging change, which would use student enrollment from a single year, instead of using the four-year average currently in place. The association said that schools are underfunded by about $4,000-4,500 per student each year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
