Anne Scarffe, Gilpin County. The Gilpin County School Board met on May 18, 2021, for a regular meeting, starting with congratulating all 25 seniors who graduated on May 15.  One hundred percent of the class graduated, with beautiful weather enhancing the ceremony. Superintendent Dr. David MacKenzie said he gave all the credit for the successful event to Principal Alexis Donaldson, who planned it. The senior awards dinner was also a success, with over $463,000 in scholarships awarded.  Congratulations to all the seniors!

Board members discussed the inaugural middle school soccer team’s success in the shortened season.  

In the public participation portion of the meeting, Richard J. Giordano, Ed.D., who said he has been in education as a coach and principal, spoke about interscholastic sports and his thoughts about the CHSAA policy inequities regarding biological boys who identify as transgender playing sports on biological girls’ teams. He gave the Board two books and a parental survey to help the Board learn how parents feel about the subject.

Elementary Principal Heather Huntoon spoke of all the achievements this year, with 60 percent of the Title One reading students having moved to grade level reading, 25 LEXIA remote students having completed grade level goals, and Principal Huntoon completing her training so she can support both traditional and Montessori learning. Teacher Appreciation Week was also a success, she said, though this year’s celebration was small in comparison to those of previous years because of Covid limitations.

MacKenzie spoke about Governor Polis amending the mask order on May 14, and said masks will continue in the classroom until the end of the school year.

(Originally published in the June 3, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)