Lewis Palmer District 38 is set to expand its homeschool programming with a new local partner specializing in workforce training.

D-38’s Board of Education unanimously approved a contract with Falcon Aerolab, a lab-based enrichment program focusing on aerospace, aviation and other science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, for the district’s Homeschool Enrichment Academy.

Formed in 2017, the Monument-based nonprofit began to offer area students specialized education and training not available at their public schools. Students aged 6-18 can earn industry certificates and learn how to build and operate aircraft, including airplanes, helicopters and drones.

Founder and president Mark Hyatt, who previously worked as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force and later as an administrator for the Classical Academy and Colorado Charter School Institute, told the board that Colorado is home to a large number of aerospace and aviation jobs, yet has historically recruited workers outside the state.

He added that former students have gone on to become commercial pilots, aircraft mechanics and cybersecurity professionals.

“So, we’d like to be able to bring all that to D-38,” Hyatt said.

In addition to serving homeschool students throughout Colorado, Utah, Oregon and Arizona, Falcon Aerolab has partnered with other school districts, including School District 49, Elizabeth School District and Colorado Springs District 11 over the years.

Earlier this year, Senate Bill 26-023 created new requirements for homeschool enrichment programs like Falcon Aerolab that included serving students residing in the geographical boundaries of their operating school districts.

Board Vice President Patti Shank said she was “super excited” about the new partnership, noting that many people don’t discover their passion until later in their lives.

“And I’d like to see it happening earlier for our kids and letting that passion just pull them through (school),” she said.

Both Hyatt and D-38 Superintendent Amber Whetstine mentioned potentially expanding the programming to district students attending the Career and Innovation Center.

Other business

At the beginning of the meeting, the board was presented with the finalized budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, totaling approximately $94.2 million in revenues. When excluding regular expenditures like the charter school share and capital revenue,  $61 million was determined to be the locally controlled revenue by the district.

Since the proposed budget was presented to the board last month, the state legislature has passed the annual School Finance Act, which increased pupil funding. D-38’s Chief Financial Officer, Brett Ridgway, noted that this was the only change between the two presentations and that they would treat the funds as one-time because of concerns about their long-term sustainability.  

The board unanimously approved the budget. Board member Ginger Schaaf was absent from the meeting.

The board also approved a new position for an armed security officer at Prairie Winds Elementary School and across the district. Whetstine told the board that the decision was the result of a safety assessment conducted in 2024, along with community forums and staff meetings to determine the best next steps to improve security.