Family Partnerships
BVSD endeavors to build collaborative relationships between schools, families and the community to support the achievement, success and well-being of every child.
Have your voice heard
District Accountability Committee (DAC)
The District Accountability Committee (DAC) is a legally-constituted accountability and advisory committee at the school district level. DAC members have the opportunity to hear district updates and provide input on many topics.
Meetings: The next DAC meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 3, 2022, from 6:15 - 8:30 pm. The meeting will be conducted virtually via Zoom. For information about how to attend the meeting, please contact Laura Shafer (laura.shafer@bvsd.org). Generally, DAC meetings are scheduled on the 1st Tuesday of the month, August through May, from 6:15 - 8:30 pm, and unless otherwise noted are open to the public.
Membership: Membership limited, one representative per school
Contact: Your school principal to see if there is an opening for your school
(English with Spanish interpretation)
District Parent Council (DPC)
The DPC meet with the Superintendent of Schools to discuss and examine timely and relevant topics that affect the students and schools of BVSD. Our meetings are open to the public and we encourage you to attend.
Meetings: Our last two meetings are Apr. 13 and May 11, both at 6:30-8:30 pm.
Membership: Membership limited, one representative per school; anyone can attend meetings
Contact: Your school principal to see if there is an opening for your school
(English with Spanish interpretation)
Equity Council
The Equity Council is a forum to gather community feedback, ideas and leadership on important issues facing our community. Each quarter or semester, BVSD and the Equity Council will identify different issues to prioritize.
Meetings: meets 1-2x/month
Membership: Application process
Contact: Amy Nelson at amy.nelson@bvsd.org or call 720-561-6030
(English with interpretation as needed)
Families and Educators Together (FET)
FET is a team of educators and family members partnering together to create a more inclusive community to support the well-being of all students and families. FET aims to honor and center parent voices and to strengthen a trusting relationship between educators and underrepresented family members. Your school's team needs your valuable ideas to help all of our children to excel in school and, therefore, to create a stronger community for all. Currently there are FET teams at the following schools: Boulder High, Centaurus, Centennial, Columbine, Crest View, Eisenhower, Fairview, Fireside, Louisville Elementary, Louisville Middle, Manhattan, Mesa, Pioneer, and Whittier.
Meetings: Meets monthly
Membership: Ongoing membership, open to families from underrepresented communities
Contact: Ari Gerzon-Kessler at 720-561-6123 or ari.gerzon-kessler@bvsd.org
(Spanish with English interpretation)
Latinx Parent Advisory Council (CAPL)
CAPL is a collaborative network of parents from the Latinx, Caribbean and/or Spanish- speaking community, who come together for the educational well-being of our students and to contribute to closing the gaps. We co-create opportunities for participation and strengthening of skills and capacities so that the Latinx, Caribbean, and/or Spanish-speaking families can find a representative space for collaboration, advocacy and decision-making for the construction of educational justice within the BVSD. CAPL is a space within BVSD that contributes to amplifying families' voices and that joins the actions for the strengthening of diversity, equity, inclusion, and linguistic access in all educational areas.
Meetings: The next CAPL meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Mar. 30, 2022, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The meeting is held virtually via Google Meet. Meetings are monthly on the fourth Wednesday, and the final meetings of this school year will be held on Apr. 27 and May 25.
Membership: Ongoing membership, open to Latinx families or families of Latinx students
Contact: Sam Messier at samantha.messier@bvsd.org , 720-561-6062 or Bianca Gallegos (habla español) at bianca.gallegos@bvsd.org or 720-561- 2517
(Spanish, with English interpretation)
Parents of Color Council
The Parents of Color Council provides a supportive and safe space for parents and caregivers of color to share experiences with each other and voice needs and concerns to the district. It is an action-driven group where parents of color work towards creating or improving practices and policies that help to create an environment where kids of color thrive in their schools and the district as a whole.
Meetings: Meetings take place on the first Thursday of the month from 4:30-5:30 pm. The remaining meeting dates this school year are April 7th and May 5.
Membership: Open to parents of color, can join anytime
Contact: Amy Nelson: amy.nelson@bvsd.org or call 720-561-6030
(English with interpretation as needed)
School SAC or PTO/PTA
The School Accountability Committee (SAC) is a legally-constituted accountability and advisory committee of parent representatives that report to the school principal. In general, the SAC is a representative advisory team that reviews school budgets, drives school improvements, and supports parent engagement.
PTO or PTA are school groups composed of parents who work together with teachers to volunteer in classes, raise money for school supplies, and generally support the school's efforts.
Contact: Your school principal for meeting and membership information
(English with Spanish interpretation)
Special Education Advisory Committee
Under the direction of the legally mandated Colorado SEAC, our district council of families, district staff, and community members actively advises all stakeholders on ways to improve outcomes for students receiving special education services, supports, and aids.
Meetings: The final meeting of this school year will be on Thursday, Apr. 21 from 6:00-7:30 and will be held virtually.
Membership: Open yearly in August for new applications
Contact: Anna Stewart at anna.stewart@bvsd.org or 720-561-5918
(English with translation/interpretation as needed)
Family Learning Opportunities
PARITY Program (Spanish)
Contact: Ere Juarez at 720-313-4432 or erejuarez@live.com
The purpose of the PARITY training program for Spanish-speaking parents is to uncover the power and the experience that Latinx parents possess so that they may actively advocate for the educational success of their children. PARITY will strengthen their ability and confidence to interface effectively with District and school personnel as equal partners.
BVSD Family Literacy Program (English)
Contact: Missy Cowan at 720 561 5826 or at alice.cowan@bvsd.org
This Literacy Program helps parents actively support their children’s education through participation in programs such as Adult Education, including English as a Second Language and GED classes.
Digital Literacy Classes (Spanish)
Contact: Lara Van Matre at 720-425-4170 or info@bridgingdigitaldivides.org
This program is a series of eight basic computer skills classes for BVSD parents. Participants who complete the class receive their own Chromebook. Virtual one-on-one sessions available.
Escuela de Padres y Madres (Spanish)
Contact: Elena Aranda at 303-443-9899 or at companeras@elcentroamistad.org
This program consists of 8-10 sessions designed to help parents develop specific skills to increase emotional well-being and resilience. Participants learn more about how to live in the present, regulate emotions and learn to tolerate stress in our lives to live a positive lifestyle.
ELPASO (Spanish)
Contact: Tere Garcia at 303-662-4342 x119
Engaged Latinx Parents Advancing Student Outcomes (ELPASO) is a movement based on empowering a crucial group of thoroughly informed and adept Latino parents who strive to prepare their children for integration into early education programs.
Common Sense Parenting (English)
Contact: Anna Stewart at 720-561-5918 or anna.stewart@bvsd.org
These practical, skill-based classes help all families (with or without disabilities) build positive connections between family members and recognize and reinforce the new skills children learn every day.
Parent Engagement Network (PEN) (English)
Contact: Paula Nelson at 303-880-6030 or paula.nelson@penbv.org
PEN offers a variety of learning opportunities for parents such as presentations, a stress and anxiety conference, workshops, podcasts and website resources. These cover topics around communication, mental health, drugs/alcohol, technology, positive youth development, healthy relationships and others --- all with the goal of supporting families in raising healthy, happy humans.