FEBRUARY 2017 • the profile | 29
South Denver School Scoop By Linda Katchen, Ph.D.
A
ccording to The Colorado Department of Education (CDE), Denver Public Schools (DPS) is now the largest school district in the state. DPS grew to an enrollment of 91,132 students in 2016. Colorado is among the lowest states in America for per-pupil-funding for students in public schools and is not keeping pace with inflation. Denver voters passed a bond and mill levy in November, which will add an additional $56 million to support Denver schools. According to DPS Superintendent Tom Boasberg, the focus of funding in Denver will be on the
classroom and giving schools flexibility to meet each school’s needs to maximize the benefit going to students. One of the first projects is to switch from fluorescent to LED lighting in the schools. DPS began the Teacher Leadership and Collaboration Program in 2013 and it has now expanded to almost all of its schools. Teachers now receive their primary coaching support from effective teacher/team leaders who work in the same school. When rating their team leaders, 89 percent of teachers in DPS said that they were effective. Among the major benefits of this program is that team leaders know the school, the
Short-term rentals agent specializing in STR-legal residences and who teaches a course on STRs at Colorado Free University. “Many of the hosts I know [are rethinking the STR business model] and will offer their spaces to traveling nurses and business people.” Those who host guests for 30 days or more are exempt from the regulations and taxation. According to a Survey Monkey study of 46 applicants, the City website was rated a 6.6 on a difficulty scale of 0-10. A downloadable PDF was added for hosts as they traverse the application process. And, according City representatives say earlier glitches have been repaired. Also beginning Jan. 1, hosts must now charge a 10.75 percent lodger’s fee
: CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 and an additional 4 percent State of Colorado sales tax. An Occupational Privilege tax, or head tax, is charged to those hosts exceeding $500 in revenue, per month. Taxes are collected by hosts and paid online to the City. Buffy Gilfoil— an Airbnb host since 2012—sits on the Short-Term Rental Advisory Committee (STRAC) and said the City and Airbnb have agreed how taxes are remitted. As of Feb. 1, Airbnb will collect and remit Colorado State Sales and Use Tax, Colorado-collected Local Sales Tax, Local Marketing District Tax and County Lodging Tax on the host’s behalf. “The agreement between Airbnb and the City of Denver regarding taxes has made it easier for me in terms of how
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student populations and are able to model through their own instructional practices what effective teaching is. This program has gained national attention and DPS is modeling for others how an effective team process can benefit everyone. Asbury Elementary, 1320 E. Asbury Ave., has developed partnerships with local businesses and service organizations, which provide an enriching learning environment, both within and outside the school. The PTSO works to maintain an overall community spirit because they believe that as a community, staff, student body and PTSO they are “100 percent Asbury,” a stronger, more productive and
successful place for the good of all their students. One of the programs that Asbury implements is Dine Out for Asbury, where local restaurants donate a portion of the proceeds earned when Asbury families dine on specific dates. Another program is Hands Up for Children, which supports less fortunate families with basic needs, such as food and clothing. U.S. Secretary of Education, John B. King, Jr., announced that Cory Elementary, 1550 S. Steele St., has been named a 2016 National Blue Ribbon School. It is one of only 279 public and
those taxes are remitted,” said Gilfoil. “I’ll adjust my booking rate to accommodate the taxes,” she added. According to a University of Denver (DU) study conducted in early 2016 by the Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management, only 21 percent of guests surveyed said the imposition of taxes would influence their decision to stay at an STR. Gilfoil’s nearly 20-year career with FEMA has kept her frequently out of town. To make better use of her investment, Gilfoil considered the short-term rental idea. When City Council added STR regulations to their agenda, Gilfoil attended the meetings. Airbnb held forums with STR hosts and encouraged them to sit on the STRAC. Gilfoil agreed. “[The City] worked hard to work with everyone involved,” said Gilfoil on her experience on the Committee. “It
was important to make acceptable regulations to a broad range of constituents." Marisa Moret, a representative from Airbnb, sits on STRAC, as do Amie Mayhew of the Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association and Sabrina Zunker from the Denver Metro Association of Realtors. Secondary residences and investment properties are prohibited from being licensed as short-term rentals. “It was at the recommendation of the neighborhoods that STRs be limited to primary residences,” District 5 Councilwoman, Mary Beth Susman, said. She agreed. Two years ago, City Council moved forward with a plan to protect the shrinking inventory of affordable hous-
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