On Tuesday, October 3, 2023, the Gilpin County School District RE-1 Board of Education met at 7 p.m. for a special Meet and Confer Study/ Dialogue work session with staff. All members of the Board (Cherokee Blake, Kirsten Goodlet, Joe Marr, Joe Stranaly, and Sarah Swanson) were present. Gilpin RE-1 Superintendent Dr. Dave MacKenzie presided over the meeting. The school was having technical problems with their Internet connections so they couldn’t provide a live virtual feed.

According to the Meet and Confer Operating Criterion in the October 3, Board of Education Agenda (gilpin.k12.co.us), each Meet and Confer meeting is intended to be a conversation between the Board of Education and all staff members to formulate and discuss proposals for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 school years.

Board President Joe Marr started the meeting by reading through the Meet and Confer process for bringing forward proposals to the Board for the current or coming school years, after which Marr opened the meeting to comments by staff.

Secondary math teacher Dawn Blake proposed involving staff in salary discussions before the next Meet and Confer meeting in the spring. Blake wanted the next Meet and Confer to be after the school revenue for the next year is known. Blake noted that staff salary increases of 2-5 percent are not keeping up with inflation.

Secondary math teacher Heather Fuller proposed putting coverings on the windows in the classrooms on the lower floor of the secondary building. During lockdown drills, her students would point out that people could see into the classroom. Fuller asked for coverings that could be adjusted, not just curtains.

Third grade teacher Kellie Bayne spoke about the impact of staff shortages on teacher performance. Staff shortages include teachers as well as technology experts. Bayne said when the staff gets spread too thin, her planning and her class both suffer. Bayne proposed that the Board consider how to effectively fill key positions that would reduce the numbers of students per class and allow for individual attention for intervention situations.

Secondary social studies teacher Jennifer Gillette proposed changing how staff are compensated for working at extracurricular events. Gillette proposed changing when the first compensation is tendered, in the form of a $25 gift certificate to King Soopers.

Blake spoke about concerns for figuring out why staff members leave after the school year and asked about the status of the district’s exit interview process. Marr explained that the exit interviews were administered by a third party. He didn’t think that there had been any completed interviews.

Food Service Manager Jane Yerkman gave an update on the funding opportunities available because of the district’s participation in the Healthy School Meals for All program. The funding for 2024/2025 will be awarded in 2024 based on meals served, with a $3,000 minimum for stipends for food service personnel. Yerkman said that she will be putting together a funding plan to submit to the Healthy School Meals for All program sponsors.

A proposal by Danette Riehle to develop an outdoor environmental lab and garden by the ADA walkway to the football field included a PowerPoint presentation. Riehle spoke about the Living Classroom Learning Lab curriculum (livingclassroomlearninglab.org) for environmental education, and the benefits of an outdoor classroom for studying ecosystems. In September 2022, the Colorado Department of Education awarded a $2,000 grant for books and garden equipment. Riehle proposed that the school can get the outdoor garden and nature area started by funding the hardscaping. With additional fundraising and planning, the garden and nature area can be constructed and planted before the end of the current school year.

At the conclusion of staff comments, Marr laid out the plans for discussing and evaluating the proposals for possible implementation in the 2024/2025 school year. Some of the proposals will take several reviews in order to be ready to implement. He thanked the staff for their comments and reiterated that everyone was on the same team and working for the same objectives of helping the students get a good education. Several other Board members also expressed their thanks to the staff for the meeting and the dialogue.

The meeting ended at 8:09 p.m.

The next RE-1 Board of Education meeting will be held on October 17, 2023, in the school Board room. The next Meet and Confer meeting is scheduled for January 16, 2024, at 7 p.m. in the school Board room.