RANGELY | The Rangely School Board met Tuesday night and immediately went into executive session to discuss a “student matter.”
Before the public comment portion of the meeting began, Board President Kurt Douglas reminded the audience that, “this isn’t a time for discussion.” A high school student spoke to the board to share her concerns with bullying occurring at the school. She asked if there is a bullying policy and read a poem she had written about bullying.
The board was also approached by a parent with similar concerns about bullying and asked what steps the district was taking to prevent more problems. He was also upset that during an incident at the school last Thursday, which led to a police presence at the school, parents and students weren’t notified until after 10 a.m. that the school and students were safe. He said students were interrogated by armed police and parents weren’t notified.
Scoggins addressed the Thursday incident during his report. Because it was a student issue details are very limited. Scoggins attended a countywide violence prevention meeting Tuesday and said school safety is a growing and ongoing conversation. “I consider every kid to be my personal kid,” he said. “When this event did occur our kids were safe.” Scoggins has visited with the police chief about ways to improve response to student safety concerns such as increased access for district administration to emergency contact info and better communication systems with parents.
When Herald Times staff attempted to ask about the accuracy of claims that students were interrogated at the school without parental notification they were informed they could not ask questions.
Various athletics topics were covered with Douglas inquiring about how many students have signed up for spring sports and numerous congratulations for the girls’ basketball team who placed sixth at state.
