RANGELY | In the first meeting for the 2019-20 school year, Rangely’s Board of Education met Tuesday with board members Kurt Douglas, Joyce Key, Sam Tolley, Jason Cox and Casey Ducey present.
Rangely Superintendent Matt Scoggins introduced new staff members to the board. New to the district and present at the meeting were Angie Hill (P.E., Parkview Elementary), Jennifer Hodges (special education, Rangely Jr./Sr. High), Jessica Hernandez (art, Parkview Elementary), Grace Wilkie (preschool), Mark Doolin (math and robotics, Rangely Jr./Sr. High), Dave Miller (fifth grade), Laura Satterly (fifth grade) and Jasmine DeFrietas (fourth grade).
Newly installed Parkview Elementary Principal Carlene Cantrell reported enrollment for preschool through fifth grade at 259 students after the first week.
Rangely Jr./Sr. High Principal Crandal Mergelman reported 124 students enrolled in grades sixth-12th.Rangely Jr./Sr. High is offering a home economics-type class called community living/family consumer science.Students in the new class are already learning to sew.Mergelman said they will be making a quilt and each student will make five squares. The quilt will later be raffled off as a fundraiser.
Key reported that the Rio Blanco Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) cancelled their August meeting but said things are moving forward in a positive direction. Sam Tolley recognized Matt Scoggins hard work in preparing the district to take over the preschool operations from BOCES.
Scoggins said they have great new staff and he has been pleased with how the year has started. In regard to the discord at the end of the last school year within BOCES he said, “We are stronger together,” and that message was made clear at a breakfast where all staff including BOCES staff from Meeker were present and introduced.Scoggins gave board members a “challenge coin” as a reminder for the school districts commitment to excellence.
The district’s cash position has improved with the payoff of the bond, Scoggins said.
He was pleased to see enrollment of 43 preschoolers which was an increase from past years. He reported that the district’s Title 1 funding went down.
Colorado PERA provides retirement and other benefits to more than 600,000 current and former teachers and has increased their withholding percentage to 8.75% which will help ensure that program is fully funded.This is a .75% increase.Scoggins spoke about replacing some transportation fleet vehicles including school buses in the near future. School buses are suggested to be replaced every 12 years, he said. A new credit card system will be implemented soon which will help with the collection of food service funds.
Lastly he reported that fire hydrants at Parkview Elementary were found to be empty. He was made aware of the problem Aug. 19 and immediately met with fire chief Andy Shaffer. It is thought that this occurred during the repair of a water line break.A contractor will have the problem fixed in 2-3 weeks.
Board President Kurt Douglas announced that there will be two seats on the board open in November.
The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 6:15 p.m.
Special to the Herald Times
