Holcomb resigns Rangely School Board position

RANGELY I There will be three vacancies on the Rangely School Board now, instead of two.
Teri Holcomb submitted her resignation last week for health reasons, leaving three openings on the board.
Incumbent Adair Norman as well as challengers Connie Mick and Rebecca Rector are on the ballot for the Nov. 3 school board election, vying for two positions.
“It just got to be too much,” said Holcomb, who didn’t disclose her health issue. “(The doctor) told me a year ago I should’ve resigned, but I didn’t want to. When I almost resigned a year ago, that was also when all of the things were going on.”
The Rangely School Board, faced with serious budget challenges last year, decided to close the old Parkview Elementary School, to save the district money, and combined the junior high and senior high grades in the same school and moved the elementary classes to the former middle school building.
“There were a lot of challenges,” Holcomb said. “People really have no idea what a commitment it takes. I have a lot of admiration for the people on the board and the administration.”
Holcomb served on the board for two years.
“I learned a lot by being on the board,” she said. “I had been on the PAC (Parents’ Advisory Committee) for three or four years, prior to that. I always got frustrated, because I never felt like anything we did got to the board. I thought I could change things. Of course, you quickly realize you’re not the only one on the board. I learned a lot about how the school district runs and how funds have to be allocated. It gave me a whole new respect for the staff. I learned there’s a lot more work than what you see at the public meetings. You really just can’t get a grasp of what goes on until you do it.”
“I feel really privileged the community gave me the opportunity to do that (serve on the board),” Holcomb added.
Her replacement will be appointed and will have two years left on the term.