Supt. McCleary resigns; Stumpf named finalist

    Holyoke School Superintendent John McCleary’s resignation was accepted by the Board of Education at its March 6 meeting.
    McCleary has been offered the position as superintendent in Limon starting July 1. He will continue in Holyoke through the end of his current contract, June 30.
    Current Holyoke Elementary School Principal Kyle Stumpf was then named the sole finalist for the superintendent position, starting July 1. Stumpf has served as principal in the district for nine years and looks forward to his new role.
    Following the official 14-day period after the naming of finalists, contract details will be confirmed with Stumpf.
    In his recent letter to the board, McCleary said that it’s with a sad heart that he announces his resignation.
    Citing that he initially structured his administrative plan on a five-year timeline, McCleary said he’s excited to reflect on the amount of work and the goals that were accomplished over the three years in which he served as superintendent of the local district.
    He highlighted the following as things he believes the district should be proud to have accomplished in the last three years:
    —Massive implementation of technology, training and instructional support.
    —New curricula for reading and math.
    —Culmination of science curriculum development, as well as starting social studies.
    —Expansion and improvement of career and technical education programs.
    —Two BEST grants, including one for something unique and original — the lifeskills class.
    —Academic improvements among special populations at Holyoke Elementary and sustaining academic growth in many areas.
    —Developing and leading the district into the Student-Centered Accountability Project.
    —Drastic improvements of the school website.
    —Expansion of professional development days for the district’s highly capable teachers.
    —Managing and facilitating the district through a number of difficult challenges successfully.
    “While all of these have been incredibly important, they are nothing compared to the smiles, laughs, high-fives and hugs that have come from what I will always fondly remember as some of the best people in the world,” added McCleary. “I will greatly miss you all and consider many of you close friends.”
    
2018-19 calendar approved
    Option No. 2 of the 2018-19 school calendar choices was approved at last week’s meeting, with the start date for students Thursday, Aug. 16, and the final half day Friday, May 24, 2019.
    New teacher orientation will be held Wednesday, Aug. 8, with teacher inservice days Aug. 9, 10, 13, 14 and 15.
    Monday inservice days or late-starts are incorporated into the schedule. Inservice Mondays include Sept. 17, Nov. 5, Jan. 21, Feb. 25 and April 8.
    Scheduled breaks include Monday, Sept. 3, for Labor Day; Wednesday-Friday, Nov. 21-23, for Thanksgiving; half day Friday, Dec. 21-Friday, Jan. 4, for Christmas; Monday, Feb. 18, for Presidents Day; March 18-22 for spring break; and April 19 and 22 for Easter.
    Teacher comp days with no school include Monday, Oct. 15, and Friday, March 8.
    The school calendar includes 172 student-teacher contact days and 188 staff contract days.
    
Other business
    In other business March 6, the school board:
    —Reviewed several revised sample policies from the Colorado Association of School Boards policy files. These will return to the March 22 meeting for first reading.
    —Heard from McCleary and board members Pat Wiebers, Jon Kleve and Trampas Hutches, who attended CASB’s March 1-2 winter legislative conference.
    —Learned about inquiries made with regard to a trapshooting team for students.