by Dan Harper
GARDNER/WALSENBURG — Gardner School hosted the RE-1 school board on Monday, May 8, and the elephant in the room was the looming visit to the State Board of Education on Wednesday, May 10.
The options on the table are external management, or closure and consolidation of the district’s K-8 schools, Gardner and Peakview. Huerfano RE-1 Superintendent Mike Moore and Peakview Principal Brenda Duran expressed frustration, and exhaustion with the process so far. The amount of documentation required for the reports and plans have eaten up 15 days of time that Duran could have used to help her school. Moore has lost similar amounts of time. The board expressed its frustration with the process and possible cost.
At this point, the management plan the state board is proposing could cost the district at least $29,500. It could be much higher as the meager grants available may not cover the total price. The mood of the board and community is a combination of despair, frustration and anger. It is felt the state board didn’t listen to their own panel that assessed the district a year ago, nor will they listen to RE-1 now.
Consensus was that the team of Moore, Duran and RE-1 board president Jaye Sudar will do the best they can to present the facts to the state board. The urge to tell the state board to ‘pound sand’ will be difficult to avoid. RE-1 has promised the community not to spend mill levy override monies. However, that doesn’t leave much room in an already tight budget.
Gardner School provided dinner and to the board, and a chance to see an exhibit of Artisan Day projects and class work throughout the school. Board members took time to visit with teachers and learn what the students have been working on this year.
The board honored the Destination Imagination students and sponsor with Excellence in Education Awards. Ciera Padilla, Evie Padilla, Jesslyn Trujillo, Rebecca Younger and Callie McConnell were given student awards. Sponsor Charles Mandemaker was honored as well. Megan Hanlon was given an Excellence in Education Award for her vibrancy and dedication as a teacher.
The board heard testing had gone well across the district. Fifty-three students opted out of testing last year, while only 18 opted out this year. Incentives, extra proctors, support, and taking the test on paper were touted as reasons to expect better scores. It was realized that our younger students do not have the computer skills to take tests online. Gardner teacher on special assignment Pam Levie noted third graders would write paragraphs, but wouldn’t type them. Next year the schools plan to enlist the community to help provide better support.
Levie reported on the Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) application and handed out a booklet that provided statistical information. The board voted to approve the re-application for CPP. She explained that Rocky Mt. SER may be applying to handle open program slots this year. Moore spoke of the quality and information give at the Act on Drugs presentation for the schools. Staff that attended praised the presentation. Moore also expressed sadness at the fact that no one from the community attended the evening presentation.
The board tabled three policies, IKF (graduation requirements), JICA (student dress code), and IK/IKD (class ranking), for further review before being presented for a first reading. Peakview secretary Susan King’s retirement after 11 years and 11 months with the district, was accepted with regret, and Patricia Johnson was hired as a Language Arts teacher for Peakview. After a brief discussion describing the mechanical issues with a route bus, the board approved the repair cost of $5,600. The board also approved the use of the high school gym for a basketball tournament fundraiser.
Gardner and Peakview 8th grade graduations are on May 31. Gardner’s is at 1 pm, and Peakview’s at 6 pm. John Mall graduation will be May 27 at 2 pm. The district will go back into negotiations over the school calendar on May 12. The May 13 board workshop is being moved to June 3 to accommodate Mother’s Day weekend and other scheduling conflicts
COLORADO DEPT OF EDUCATION “STRONGLY RECOMMENDS” CLOSURE AND CONSOLIDATION OF PEAKVIEW AND GARDNER SCHOOLS
DENVER — The state board of education will recommend in June to put Peakview School on a management plan. The undertone was they would have required RE-1 to close and consolidate both Peakview and Gardner schools but legally, at this time cannot do that because while Gardner is on the clock, they are only on year two of the five year deadline to improve student performance.
The state indicated strongly that the RE-1 Board of Education should very seriously consider their recommendation of closure and consolidation.
The management plan cost has not yet been determined, as a grant must be applied for, and the management contract with Generation Schools, the management company, must be negotiated. Final CDE judgement will be rendered at their June meeting.
The RE-1 Board of Education is adamant that mill levy override monies will not be used to fund the management plan.
