Briefing For Colorado Governor Jared Polis
Gov. Jared Polis visited Pikes Peak BOCES offices on Friday, Jan. 26 (2024) for a briefing on the Education Park project. A wide variety of partners joined Pikes Peak BOCES executive diretory Pat Bershinsky in presenting the plans.
Governor Polis endorsed the idea of persuing the state's Opportunity Now grant process to bring the plan to fruition.
"It's very exciting to see this coming together," said Gov. Polis. "This will be a huge opportunity for students in the area and will help local businesses and law enforcement and construction, cybersecurity and whatever other areas you focus on. I think this is really promising and exciting and I'm glad you're going to look at the Opportunity Now funding - that is very much what that is designed (for) and I look forward to doing what we can to help. Congratulations on making it this far and hopefully I'll be able to come to the groundbreaking."
Governor Polis endorsed the idea of persuing the state's Opportunity Now grant process to bring the plan to fruition.
"It's very exciting to see this coming together," said Gov. Polis. "This will be a huge opportunity for students in the area and will help local businesses and law enforcement and construction, cybersecurity and whatever other areas you focus on. I think this is really promising and exciting and I'm glad you're going to look at the Opportunity Now funding - that is very much what that is designed (for) and I look forward to doing what we can to help. Congratulations on making it this far and hopefully I'll be able to come to the groundbreaking."
The briefing included superintendents from Pikes BOCES member districts, representatives from El Paso County Sheriff's office, representatives from the Cyber Security industry, representatives from construction trades, real estate developers, and representatives from the Colorado Association of School Executives, the Colorado Department of Education, the Colorado Rural Alliance, and Pikes Peak State College.
Governor Polis suggested the the Education Park might also consider coding and drone pilots as possible careers to be taught. He asked if the Education Park might also attract students from Falcon School District and other, larger Metro Colorado Springs school districts. (The answer to that question is "yes.") Gov. Polis urged that employers be asked for financial support to purchase career-specific equipment.