SY 2026-27

Sept. 17, 2026

Council Meeting Minutes

Meeting started at 5:30 PM
Introductions and Horizons connections; three groups formed circles to connect.

Intention setting: Horizons council connects us to our founding principles. At council:

• Everyone has a voice
• Everyone has the chance to share their expertise and be successful
• Everyone cares. Everyone belongs.

SAC Report

• What is SAC?
  • School Accountability Committees are representative advisory committees that are required by both state and federal law
  • The SAC is an advisory team that advises on the school improvement plan and goals and on school budget priorities, and supports parent engagement, all in service of advancing our mission
  • SACS are largely parent led and are designed to increase school-parent partnerships
• SAC Implementation and Next Steps
  • Recruit members
  • Develop meeting schedule and agendas
  • Initial data analysis 
  • Initial UIP development

Board Update

• Charter Renewal Update - Charter contract approved with 3 year term. Changes include how SPED and EL school based services will be paid, with projected savings of ~$180,000.
• Enrollment update - Horizons is currently enrolled at 377 students. Budgeted for 373 students. Count day is on Oct. 1.

Outdoor Education

• Statement about outdoor education, including historical information and current challenges leading to 1/2 team decision to host several day trips (including one long day/evening trip with campfire) instead of a one night overnight trip this year. It was requested that all stakeholders partner with teachers in future OE planning conversations at council and follow communications agreements. 

Garden news:

BigKidsPlayToo nature play space won an award at the Boulder County Climate Resilient Showcase!

Future plans for Horizons nature spaces:

Courtyard Garden plans - Council asked to consider funding professional designs for the courtyard garden and 1/2 outdoor spaces

Discussion will continue at next council.

Small group discussions:

Long term leadership at Horizons

• What problems are we attempting to solve by re-imagining the Horizons K-8 leadership model?
• What are we looking for in our leadership team at Horizons?

Technology at school

• What issues about technology at school are important to us? 
• What are the complexities we notice in  the conversation?

Discussion notes were recorded by each group on chart paper. They will be transcribed and shared with the community.

Meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM