Anne Scarffe, Gilpin County. The Gilpin County School board met on August 18, 2020, at 7 p.m., to continue planning for the upcoming school year. New policies, which fall in line with state regulations, regarding non-discrimination, harassment, concerns, complaints and grievances were defined, discussed and agreed upon. Training will be available for staff, students and parents. 

All Board members agreed that the graduation ceremony outside on August 1, 2020, was a great success, with lots of compliments. Thanks were given to the Deer Creek District for donating bleachers for the field.

School staff members were given heartfelt thanks for going “above and beyond” in planning the new school year. The Board wants to be transparent and available to parents with questions. The District is creating a website, which will update weekly with grade appropriate assignments and learning.

Staff and instructors have been conducting pre-assessments with students during the past two weeks. The Board is aware and is working on remedying the problems presented by weak internet connections. A handful of students are still struggling with technology. Secondary aged students are less likely to have internet problems than Elementary aged students and families. Hot Spots and modems are being provided as necessary.

The Board discussed a survey for parents to voice opinions about remote, home-school, and in-school options. The Board said that they should not compare a smaller county like Gilpin County to a large county like Denver for guidance. Masks will be required by all ages. The Board really wants to address all concerns, if illness were to happen, and transitioning to more remote learning than in-person learning.

Superintendent Dave MacKenzie gave an analogy about how flexible the Board must be in planning this school year. He said he learned a long time ago that when a building gets built, the builders should wait a year to lay sidewalks, based on where the people using the building walk. 

Home schooled pods were supported by the Board, as a good idea, as long as students remain enrolled. Books could possibly be lent to the pod members. Central City government families are putting together a pod of their students.

For more information go to http://gilpin.k12.co.us/school_info/20_21_back_to_school_info.

The Board meets bi-monthly on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.

(Originally published in the August 27, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)