Colorado Springs and Falcon business communities and school district

Colorado Springs Business Journal, Oct 3, 2003 by Marylou Doehrman

Falcon School District 49 is the fastest growing district in the state. During the 2002-2003 school year, the number of students soared by 14.7 percent. To accommodate the boom, new schools - and additions to old - are planned for completion in July 2004, with an estimated cost at $62,750,000. But the school alone can't carry the costs, and Falcon's tax base has not kept up with the burgeoning population.

Falcon is already behind the eight ball without a commercial tax base, said Tim Murphy, vice president of business development for Converging Technologies Inc.

The school district is proposing a mill levy override on the November ballot, and Murphy and many others are pushing hard for its passage. Meanwhile, school leaders have been progressive and aggressive in their efforts to rally the support of the Colorado Springs and Falcon business community - an effort they hope will bring further awareness to the community as a whole.

Murphy serves on the marketing and membership committees of the Falcon School District Community Alliance, a program started five years ago by School District 49 to unite the business community with education. The program's vision: to make School District 49 a better place to live, learn and work. And opportunities to work are rapidly increasing as the Falcon business community grows.

The alliance is stepping up its efforts to involve this growing business community. If the business community is active on behalf of the school district, good things are going to happen, said Murphy.

Murphy attended the first-ever School District 49-sponsored business get-together on Sept. 18 at the Sky Sox Stadium. Emulating chambers and other associations, the event was an opportunity for business-to-business networking and a chance for school leaders to muster support for the November ballot issue. Dr. Mark Maksimowicz is the superintendent of School District 49, and at the Sept. 18 gathering, he touted the business alliance as an organization that brings the community together in a positive fashion - it's a win-win for everyone, making our community a better place to work, live and be educated.

The School District 49 alliance has 40 members, including the City of Colorado Springs, UMB Bank Colorado, Farmers State Bank and Sky Sox Baseball, and alliance members meet quarterly at the Woodmen Road school administration offices. Dr. Pat Wallisch is the career and technical education director for School District 49, and coordinates the alliance with its two co-chairman.

We (the school district) can't go it alone, said Wallisch. Besides helping to bring awareness to the community about school bond issues, the business and community alliance promotes a Teacher in the Workplace program, mentorship opportunities and student internships.

The Teacher in the Workplace program is a unique way to get teachers out of the classroom and into the business world. Many teachers have not had a lot of business experience, especially if they are career professionals, said Wallisch. Teachers apply to work in a participating business, usually based on their area of expertise, for a 40-hour, two-week stint during summer vacation. Business teachers have been placed in banks, credit unions, bed and breakfasts, and one English teacher spent time with the Sky Sox management team learning how effective communication enhances good teamwork.

Teachers receive a small stipend through an alliance grant, but money is not their reason for participating - bringing their experiences in the business world to the classroom is the main goal. Businesses can opt to sponsor a teacher and pay out-of-pocket for the teacher's two-week stay. Businesses are rewarded with fresh insights from those in academia, and relationships are developed that often lead to other programs offered through the alliance.

Some business leaders get further involved by becoming mentors to students and offering student internships. The mentoring program is in its early stages, said Wallisch. There are varied opportunities, from online and individual mentoring to an Adopt a Classroom program.

The internship program allows students to pursue specific fields or pathways of study outside of the school setting, similar to a work- study program. All students must interview with a participating company, and some positions are paid - some are not.

The School District 49 alliance is one of a kind in El Paso County, said Wallisch. Other districts have attempted to engage the business community, but District 49 leaders have succeeded in creating a committed and long-lasting relationship with the business community. Business relationships could become more vital to education and the wave of the future, as the need for funding permeates to the masses.

For more information, visit the website at www.fsd49.org or call 494-8834.