New superintendent on board at Gilpin School
First Board meeting for Tina Goar
It isn’t unusual for Gilpin School’s Board of Education meetings to have a late start due to tardy Board members or pre-meeting discussions. This was the case at the July 20th meeting, but then, already delayed ten minutes past the 7 p.m. start time, the tape recorder wouldn’t work. After considerable tinkering and attempts to locate another recorder within the school, Board President Scott Groginsky blazed home and returned with his personal recorder. The Board got down to business at 7:43 p.m. Groginsky, Craig Holmes and Bob Masslich made a quorum. Rusty Hardy and Jerry Yocom were absent. This was the first meeting with Gilpin’s new superintendent, Tina Goar representing administration.
DAC Report
Kersten Armstrong chairs the District Accountability Committee (DAC). She presented the DAC’s year-end report for school year 2008-2009. The DAC held nine meetings last year, combining their meetings with the Board’s on December 1st and 15th. In two of their meetings they had no quorum, but spent time in discussion. They updated the DAC by-laws, however Board-proposed changes have yet to be reviewed so by-laws will be finalized during this next school year. The DAC provided recommendations regarding the school calendar and supported implementation of the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) and Response To Intervention (RTI) programs. The calendar situation took up much of the DAC’s time, Armstrong reported, sidetracking them from more in-depth looks at the state mandated charges of Budget, Curriculum and Safety. The DAC listened to a budget overview presentation by the district’s business manager but made no recommendations. A DAC member attended the presentation of the Everyday Mathematics curriculum proposed by the elementary principal and the DAC recommended it for approval. In the area of Safety, the DAC asked that ice, building up at the back of the school, continue to be monitored. They discussed upgrades to the intercom system. DAC was also charged with looking at the school’s technology and wellness programs. They discussed the new computer lab in the elementary and audio/visual equipment updates. Wellness was handled by an outside committee liaising to the DAC and Board.
The DAC is primarily a group of parents and community members, although includes some school employees. The next scheduled meeting for DAC is September 8, 2009. Armstrong said she thought most of the current DAC members would return and DAC is seeking new members as well. Board members thanked the DAC for their work and said they would look at the number of charges they pass on to the DAC next year, as one DAC member commented on how many there were last year and the time commitment needed.
Student Handbooks
The Board approved the student handbooks for the elementary and secondary schools. The books provide general information and information specific to programs, academics, behavior expectations and discipline policies.
CASB Update
The Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB) has scheduled regional meetings in September that some Board members plan to attend. CASB offers a workshop for school board candidates as well, and Board members recommended it. Gilpin’s School Board has four positions up for election this November; Groginsky’s seat is the exception.
Eagles’ Nest
Goar updated the Board on a land transfer from the school to Gilpin County. It is the Eagles’ Nest site, but the daycare center is not affected by the transfer. As Eagles’ Nest is subsidized by the county and independent of the school, the County wants ownership of the land and the school has no objections. The attorneys for the school and the county are now handling the details and “It’s moving along smoothly,” said Goar.
Superintendent’s Plans and Focus
Goar clarified procedure regarding communication with Board members. They settled on weekly update e-mails for routine issues and immediate e-mails for “burning” issues. She and Groginsky will decide what goes into the meeting agendas, with input from other members. The packets of meeting information will be ready for Board members to pick up on the Wednesday prior to each meeting, she said. The Board welcomed that, noting in past years the packets weren’t ready until Friday. Groginsky noted the benefits of having members who have read the packet before the meeting. That was echoed by Holmes who commented that members who couldn’t make time to get and read the packet prior to the meeting should take the CASB class for Board members. Goar offered to mail packets if that made it easier, however Board members said to wait on that. Goar suggested a Board retreat with a CASB facilitator, possibly after new Board members are in office next year. She requested the Board refer to the chain of command when dealing with concerns and issues from staff, parents and community. They agreed. Goar is looking for someone in the community who can help update the school’s website. She suggested the district hire a webmaster if the site can’t be kept up any other way. Goar described the district’s in-house paid public relations person as “a new concept for me.” Communicating with local media has always been part of her duties before, she said, and she is open to continuing. Groginsky suggested the district increase the number of press releases it circulates. Goar will be handing out flyers about the school as she visits with people throughout the community. She was active in the Rotary Club at her previous home and plans to connect with Gilpin’s club, as well as visiting mayors, county commissioners and other Gilpin leaders. Holmes suggested she join the Gilpin Foundation, a funding organization for, but independent of, the school. He also recommended hosting meetings for community groups at the school and offering them tours. Goar may join the DAC as a non-voting member.
Head’s Up
Gilpin’s Board of Education meets next on August 10, 2009. Some items for that agenda: election information, policy committee, policies; also follow-ups on the land transfer, retreat, DAC membership for superintendent, CASB conference and packet procedure.