MEEKER | The full body of the Meeker Board of Education (board) Monday night heard Superintendent Chris Selle report good news from Colorado’s General Assembly. The Legislature, he said, is claiming through their budgeting process they plan to “buy down” (reduce) the negative factor, which they’ve been applying to state funding of public schools, to the tune of some $150 million statewide. Selle said he’d be really happy to see that happen.
Selle also reported that the bill to facilitate the implementation of the Colorado school superintendents’ suggested re-do of state school finance has been introduced at the legislature.
The board unanimously approved forwarding, to final and third reading at their April 23 meeting, recommended revisions of some 19 district policies, largely to make policy language consistent with the latest federal education law, Every Student Succeeds Act, as opposed to the No Child Left Behind Act it replaced.
One issue left unresolved is whether the board should have to approve the elimination of any employee position. Board member Bob Dorsett asked that language requiring such approval be retained. His rationale was if the board decides when a position is established in the first place, the board ought to have to agree to any proposed elimination of a position. The board also approved on second reading the repeal of four policies as suggested by the Colorado Association of School Boards and the superintendent.
For the 2018-19 school year, the board approved the roster of certified teachers and classified staff virtually without any changes from the current year. This allows the district to go ahead and offer their contracts for next year. In their last two regular meetings, the board has approved the hiring of Roberta Kinnamon as a food service worker, Kenneth Rennick as a high school volunteer track coach, as well as Marty Casey, head coach, and Hallie Blunt along with Tom Knowles as assistant middle school track coaches.
The board closed out this week’s meeting with an executive session to consider a confidential student matter and a personnel matter. No actions were taken following the session.
