School board hears concern
Twenty citizens, a majority of whom are parents of Holyoke JR/SR High students, attended the Oct. 2 meeting of Holyoke School District Re-1J Board of Education.
As part of that group, Rena Schneller read a statement of concern, signed by “concerned parents,” with no names included.
No board action or comment on the subject followed Schneller’s statement, as per standard board procedure.
“We are here tonight to show our support for the board in light of difficult situations that have arisen regarding student safety,” read Schneller.
“We encourage the board to commit to following the district policies and the reference guide for school personnel concerning juvenile sex offenders. This is a victim-centered approach that was developed by the Colorado Department of Public Safety Division of Criminal Justice, the Colorado Sex Offender Management Board and the Colorado Department of Education.
“Specifically, we are concerned that the level of informed supervision as described in the guide is not being followed. We hope the felony sex offender gets the help needed, but until a psychological evaluation is completed by a trained psychiatrist as the court ordered, we remind the board that the safety of victims and potential victims is at risk and should be at the forefront of all decisions.”
Policies under review
Policy discussion came from various angles at last week’s board meeting.
General discussion found the board favoring a policy draft option to allocate funds up to $10,000 to help a non-U.S. certified teacher to complete the process of applying and filing for a permanent green card. Details with regard to eligibility criteria, repayment options and contingency options were discussed.
Second-reading approval was given to eight new and revised policies, six policies with legal reference changes and one repeal. These had all passed first reading at the Sept. 18 meeting.
First-reading approval was given for revised and legal reference changes to six Colorado Association of School Boards policies.
Subjects of the first-reading policies were special education programs for students with disabilities, home schooling, academic achievement, early literacy and reading comprehension, parent engagement in education and crisis management.
During the superintendent’s report early in last week’s meeting, five revised policies were reviewed, and legal reference changes were noted for the purchasing/purchasing authority policy.
Policies reviewed for revision covered bonded employees and officers; accident reports; school closings and cancellations; open hiring/equal employment opportunity; and student fees, fines and charges.
Other business
In other business Oct. 2, the Re-1J board:
— Hired coaches Jim Yakel as head JH boys basketball; Ashley Clayton, head JH girls basketball; and Hannah Petersen, assistant JH girls basketball for 2018-19.
— Acknowledged the following gifts to the district: new large American flag from Holyoke VFW; therapeutic bean bag and high schoool blog chair from Rod, Sharon and Danny Vernon; school supplies from First Pioneer National Bank and community contributors; and contribution to the English Language Learner program from Delmer and Eileen Moss.
— Learned of the success of a recent Guard 911 golf tournament that raised funds to purchase an app for an emergency panic button for both schools and the hospital for a calendar year.
— Heard the possibility that Melissa Memorial Hospital will be partnering with the district to do work studies with students and incorporate the life skills class students.
— Reviewed information on Amendment 73 and noted that the N.E. BOCES board passed a resolution of support for the amendment at its Sept. 24 meeting.
— Approved nonresident student applications and transportation requests for Amairany Murillo, German Montelongo and Lucinda Mares from the Julesburg School District; and Mikayla Davidson and Abby Davidson from Perkins County, Nebraska, School District. Additional nonresident student applications, without the transportation requests, were approved for Jesus Trejo and Michell Trejo.
— Proclaimed Oct. 15-19 as Classified School Employees Week and October as National Principals Month.