MEEKER | The Meeker High School Board of Education held its monthly meeting this past Monday at 7 p.m. at the district office. All board members were present. High School Principal Amy Chinn attended, while the other principals were not in attendance.
During the action portion of the meeting, the board approved the appointment of Tricia Granahan and Nancy Owens as new secretaries at Barone Middle School and Meeker Elementary School. Board member Ann Franklin commented on the new hires.
“These two additions to our staff are really great. I’m really excited about Tricia. I’ve only met her a few times, but she’s awesome, and Nancy Owens is really excited as well. It seems like they’re all really great,” Franklin said.
The board also discussed the coaching vacancies that remain open. Middle school coaching positions for girls’ basketball and boys’ basketball are still available. These sports will begin later in the school year, providing a few weeks to fill the coaching spots.
Superintendent Chris Selle stated, “Middle school boys’ basketball usually starts mid-October, so we’ve got a couple of months, but if you know someone, send their name.”
“Travis Anderson is going to help out with high school as well as middle school. There’s not a ton of crossover, but during the first month or so, practices happen at the same time,” Selle added.
During the work session, the need for school bus drivers was a key topic. The Meeker School District still needs more bus drivers for the upcoming school year.
“It’s kind of a strange scenario,” Selle said. “We probably have enough people, but the times they’re available are a challenge. For example, we’ve got one person willing to drive in the morning, and we have some staff members who might be able to help in the afternoon. But we thought we were going to need help in the morning; it turns out we need more help in the afternoon now.”
Selle explained that the bus routes might look different. “We’re going to be able to continue with four routes, but over the years, they’ve been combined. There was a Mesa route, Little Beaver route, and MRB route, which have been combined into one route over the last five or six years.”
“For the kids at the top of the Marvine route, they’re getting on the bus at like 6:15 a.m., so we’re trying to make those times more manageable. Melissa Woodward, head of transportation, was going to spend the day driving around to ensure the timing works out,” Selle continued.
The district is working out the details to improve bus route operations. “We’re considering combining the Flag Creek route with the Mesa route, potentially having one that goes up Strawberry, another that goes out Highway 13 and back in, and one that goes out Highway 64 toward Powell Park. It won’t run all the way to Piceance, and then there will be a route that goes up Flag Creek, which would also come across the Mesa and Little Beaver,” Selle explained.
The board also discussed a couple of policy updates that occurred over the summer. One section was added regarding harassment and discrimination investigations. Another update concerned sex-based harassment, which falls under the Title IX umbrella.
After the meeting, the Board of Education visited the high school to check out the new greenhouse. The next meeting will be held on Sept. 9, 2024, at 7 p.m. at the district office.
By Jared Henderson