There were moments of reflection, celebration, and farewells at the April 16, 2024, Gilpin County RE-1 school district meeting. In the business portion of the meeting, the Board unanimously approved revisions to a set of policies, regulations and exhibits on a second reading, approved a first reading of 2024/2025 school year fee schedules, and evaluated the superintendent.

Board president Sarah Swanson started the meeting with a moment of silence and reflection on the passing of Dallas LeBeau, a 21-year-old from Black Hawk, and Gilpin School graduate, who died on April 9 trying to jump across Berthoud Pass on his skis.

In the celebrations segment, Leo Simpson was proclaimed the secondary student of the month. Leo aspires to go to culinary school.

A group of elementary school students told the Board about their day participating in the Young Ameritowne program in Denver. Young Ameritowne (yacenter.org/young-ameritowne) is an educational program for fourth through sixth graders to learn about business, economics, and free enterprise in a fun and participatory way.

Art teacher Curt Halsted presented paintings from elementary students Finley Hoctor and Philip Kriegbaum for display in the boardroom.

Secondary Math Teacher Heather Fuller addressed the Board regarding her contract for the next school year. She said she signed it but had reservations about one section stating that the district can change policies, rules, and regulations at any time without prior notice, and that the teachers will review and comply with the revised regulations or they will be in breach of contract.

Fuller’s concern was how teachers can comply with a revised regulation if it is instituted without prior notice? She also asked that the five-day window between receiving a contract and returning it be open when there is a board meeting so these issues can be brought before the Board.

Board member Joe Marr said that the Board’s job is to check and change policy as needed and they try to make it public when it happens.

Swanson added that there are times when they have to make changes to policies without prior notification to staff, but they also have a responsibility to alert staff to the changes in a timely manner so staff can review and comply.

Board member Kirsten Goodlett liked the idea of a board meeting during the contract signing period.

Elementary Principal Patrick Linnehan’s report said that student-led parent teacher conferences in early April went well. Mental health has been a continuing focus, centering on student regulation and trying to make sure the students are feeling well while in school. They are in the process of creating a sensory room with a crash pad, swing, trampoline, and other tactile objects to help students who need to get some physical contact or occupational therapy.

The Secondary Principal report was Alexis Donaldson’s exit interview. Donaldson is leaving the school district after 27 years, with 19 as the secondary principal. Swanson thanked her for all that she has done for the school district and noted that she made a huge impact and was appreciated.

Donaldson said that she felt honored and blessed because she had a positive experience with all the boards and always felt supported. She said the staff was wonderful to work with and she had a chance to watch kids grow up and graduate.

When asked what the Board can do to help the next principal, Donaldson said that she thought that principal conferences and networking were vital in order to see what was going on in other schools

Superintendent David MacKenzie reported that the capital improvement projects are moving ahead, with both projects slated to begin right after the school year.

The Board also issued their annual evaluation of the superintendent, using a new evaluation system. A rating scale from 1 to 5 was used (1=basic, 2=partially proficient, 3=proficient, 4=accomplished, 5=exemplary) for a range of standards.

The board rated the superintendent accomplished or exemplary on the standards of strategic leadership, continuous improvement, communications and collaboration, instruction, and governance.

They did want him to pursue more professional growth opportunities to help recharge his enthusiasm for the job.

The final item of the evening was a motion to send a letter to the papers clarifying the Educational Enhancement Tax agreement with Black Hawk.

There is a video of the April 16 meeting on the RE-1 YouTube channel. The agenda, documents, and fee schedules presented at this meeting are on the RE-1 website (gilpin.k12.co.us) under the Board of Education Agendas.

The next RE-1 board meeting will be on May 7, 2024, at 7 p.m. in the school boardroom.

Article Correction: May 2, 2024