The Gilpin County School Board met for less than an hour for a quick meeting on September 21, 2021, at 6 p.m. in the school auditorium. The Board also wanted to introduce to the public the three candidates for the 2021 to 2022 school year at a specially called meeting immediately after the Board meeting.

Board members congratulated the junior varsity football team and the junior volleyball team for recent wins.

Superintendent Dr. David MacKenzie discussed the recent Gilpin County Commission mask mandate passed on September 14. He said masks will be worn by all in the school, as the mandate is law, but took issue with the Commissioners and Gilpin County Public Health for what he called “flawed information” that he said panicked the Commissioners into passing the mask mandate.

During a Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners meeting. on September 14, 2021, the Board discussed complaints and COVID cases at the Gilpin County Schools. Dr. Dawn Comstock, Executive Director of Public Health, said the school has had seven cases that have been confirmed in the last 14 days. Dr. MacKenzie said at the School Board meeting that there are two different classes on opposite sides of the campus, totaling 4 confirmed cases. He said the ill students will end their ten-day quarantine on Monday, September 27.

Dr. Comstock said the school is not quite at an outbreak level, but if there are at least five cases, it’s considered an outbreak. They had three students testing that day, and if they are positive, the school will meet the definition of an outbreak.

Dr. MacKenzie has been in constant discussions with Public Health for the past 18 months of COVID-19 to present up-to-date current information to the School Board.

Those interested in COVID-19 tests can check the website at https:// www.affinityecarecolorado.com/co/. Please pre-register prior to arrival.

MacKenzie re-stated that testing should not be handled at the school to prevent any possible infections, as a few parents have requested. The Board congratulated proactive parents who keep their sick children home with any illness.

MacKenzie spoke about the new generator being tested, on Saturday, September 18, which would be tested again the following Saturday, September 25. Then, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be scheduled to celebrate with United Power, who donated the generator. The September 18 test was successful, and the Homecoming dance followed the generator test.

The Board mentioned the need for substitute teachers and bus drivers.

The next meeting of the Gilpin County School Board will be on October 5, 2021, at the regular time of 7 p.m. in the school auditorium or on YouTube. Parent/Teacher conferences are scheduled for October 6. Masks are required for in-person participation.

The District Accountability Committee (DAC) is a subcommittee of the Board of Education that met concurrently on September 21, at 5:30 p.m. with a new in-person location of the Elementary Library. The meetings are open to the public and committee membership is open to interested parents, guardians, and community members.

The 21/22 DAC meeting schedule: October 19, November 16, December no meeting, January 18, February 15, March 15, April 19, and May 1. All planned for 5:30 p.m. in the Elementary Library. Masks are required.