Dear Editor,

Gilpin County School District RE-1 (GCSD) Board of Education members exemplify local citizen control and decision-making in education. Elected to a seat on the five-member Board by school district voters, they volunteer hundreds of hours and contribute an immeasurable amount of expertise to assure that our schools are providing the best education possible for the students of our community.

January is School Board Recognition Month and the perfect time to acknowledge their service to our students and our communities, especially during one of the most complicated school years in U.S. history.

School board members are citizens whose decisions affect our students: what they learn; who will teach them; and what kinds of facilities house their classrooms. These are individuals elected to establish the policies that provide the framework for our public schools. They represent you, and they take this responsibility seriously by attending lengthy, sometimes challenging, meetings, conferences and forums where they broaden their knowledge about education when meeting with and holding numerous conversations about the schools. They also attend sessions before the Colorado General Assembly.

Our Board is one of 178 such boards across the state. These boards enable us to have local control of public schools, meaning that decisions on school programming are made by local, elected representatives who understand the community’s unique needs, values, culture and circumstances. It’s a tradition that began nearly 300 years ago. With the advice and counsel of the educational professionals they hire, our Board Members have an impact on virtually every aspect of our schools. It’s a huge responsibility and one that our Board Members do not take lightly. Please recognize the dedication and hard work of these Board Members who represent us.

On behalf of the students and staff of GCSD, take a moment to tell a Board Member “thanks for caring about our student’s education.” So, thank you Mrs. Blake, Mrs. Goodlett, Ms. Krug, Mr. Marr, and Ms. Swanson for caring about our student’s education. Board Members are applauded for always doing “what is best for kids.” Thank a GCSD Board Member today.

David MacKenzie, Superintendent

Gilpin County School District