Anne Scarffe, Gilpin County. Just 13 more school days of the 2020/2021 school year for preschoolers through eleventh graders! 

Superintendent Dr. David MacKenzie discussed with the School Board on May 4, 2021, starting at 7 p.m. May 4 was the 114th straight day of in-person learning, with two small quarantines in April. Dr. David MacKenzie said the Gilpin County Health Department anticipates the county will move to Clear, on the COVID infection rate dial, with mandatory masks but no size restriction on gatherings until August 15, 2021. Governor Polis extended the mask order statewide for preschool through grade 12 till the end of the school year.

AP Testing started this week and will continue next week.

Seniors will graduate on May 15, with the seniors walking on the elementary side of the school in cap and gown weather permitting. A Chick-fil-A breakfast will be served before the walk at 8:30 a.m. in the atrium.

The Board mentioned celebrations for the principals on May 1 and the teachers on May 4, with appreciation gifts of Bundt cupcakes, because, as Dr. MacKenzie said, “the staff has been working their bundts off this year.”

Eighty-three percent of students have returned to the classroom, with 363 in-person students and 77 remote. Dr. MacKenzie asked if all students would return for next year in person in August. He consulted with the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) on April 15, 2021. In-person and CDLS online will be offered in the 2021/2022 school year, with any quarantine reverting temporarily to remote learning.

Back to school night is planned for August 5, 2021, to meet teachers. Other possibilities offered that night might be hearing and vision testing, as well as checking out Chromebooks and possibly vaccinations from County Health. Dr. MacKenzie requested input from parents and staff.

The Board considered and approved updated policy AC-E-3 regarding support of students and staff who are transgender and gender non-conforming, and also approved updated fee schedules. 

The Board considered proposals for staff salary raises for 2021/2022 which they will vote on in June, and had a first reading of policy IKF-2, recommending changes for all classes of 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and beyond, changing from 8 class periods per day to 6 periods, with collegiate input for graduation requirements.

The next meeting of the Gilpin County School Board will be May 18, 2021, at 7 p.m. in the auditorium in person and remotely on YouTube.

(Originally published in the May 13, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)