Board adopts Purple Star resolution to help military-connected students

Kelly Chapelle, the district's military student and family liaison, asked the board to adopt a Purple Star resolution so that several district schools applying for the Colorado Department of Education Purple Star Award would be supported. Chapelle explained the award recognizes schools that provide resources for military‑connected students and said seven district schools sought the designation this year.

After a motion to amend the agenda to treat the item as an action item passed, board members discussed concerns about outside organizations that sometimes show related material online. Administration and a school liaison clarified that the Purple Star program in Colorado is administered by the Colorado Department of Education and that outside organizations may support but not run the program. Several board members expressed support for the resolution. The board approved the resolution (Schmidt voted No). The administration said the finalized resolution would be updated for correct signatures and provided to applicants in time for the Dec. 17 deadline.

Key detail: the resolution is intended to strengthen school applications for the state Purple Star Award and to signal district support for military families; adoption does not itself finalize school applications. The board directed administration to prepare the signed resolution for use by schools.