Proposed changes to physical education programs for students with special needs in District 51 are still drawing concern.
Last week, School District 51 sent a memo to parents and staff that its adaptive PE program would see changes at the end of the 2021-2022 school year, including staffing cuts.
In a follow-up on the issue included in Superintendent Diana Sirkoâs weekly report, Sirko explained the in-person adaptive PE program would transition to one âfocused on integrating children into physical education classes with their peers as much as possible.â
The move will trim the adaptive PE teaching staff from four specialists to two during a transition period. Eventually, there would be one specialist tasked with training other teachers in the district to handle adaptive PE and other special education-based duties.
Sirkoâs steady message greatly appreciated
Many thanks to Dr. Diana Sirko for her outstanding leadership of District 51 during this unprecedented and challenging school year.
Dr. Sirkoâs messaging about the importance of mask-wearing to parents, staff and students has consistently followed scientific guidelines and has been greatly appreciated. In this new era of âchoiceâ in Mesa County, it is reassuring to know that at least one of our county leaders follows scientific principles to keep our children safe. Hopefully, everyone 16 and older will also heed the advice from her superintendent update and get the vaccine to help protect children who cannot yet get vaccinated. Dr. Sirkoâs leadership has allowed children in this community to have the fortune of attending in-person school all year, a remarkable accomplishment indeed.
Prom is a rite of passage.
Finding the right dress or tuxedo, getting together with friends for dinner and photos, and the dance itself. Itâs something students have to look forward to every year. But last year was different. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the high school staple was canceled for School District 51 juniors and seniors.
That gave this yearâs dance an added importance for Ashleigh Orton and Silvia Vasquez, both 16. Both helped plan Palisade High Schoolâs prom and, on Saturday at Las Colonias Amphitheatre, the culmination of months of work amid uncertainty finally arrived.
âIâm glad weâre able to have a dance. At the beginning of the year, we were told that prom wasnât approved yet, but we have to plan as if it was going to happen,â Orton said. âWe kept worrying that all of our planning was going to be for nothing, but Iâm excited that our effort has gone to something. Iâm just happy we all get to see the final
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It s clear that many families in Western Colorado have had enough with the pandemic, COVID-19, vaccines, and wearing face masks. That was on display yesterday as a collection of parents and students who are enrolled in District 51 organized a walkout to protest school mask policies according to KKCO. The event was organized at Long Family Memorial Park right next to Grand Mesa Middle School and Central High School.
Many parents are feeling like the school district administration needs to listen closely to the Mesa County Public Health officials and give each student their own choice whether they want to wear a face mask while attending school or not. Mesa County is currently letting individuals use the Free to Choose policy in regards to wearing masks.