Mail Staff Writer
The Salida school board voted unanimously Tuesday to accept a recommendation by R-32-J District Superintendent David Blackburn to discontinue planning for a full online program.
Blackburn said his recommendation came about due to lack of interest from the community in maintaining the online programming as it has been implemented this school year in response COVID-19.
âI am very disappointed,â Blackburn told the board.
âAmy (Ward â district director of academic affairs) and I really believe in this and really think this is important, but people have voted with their feet, and thereâs not sufficient interest across all grade levels.â
Salida School District R-32-J school board will host an informational meeting from 5-5:30 p.m. today for those interested in running for school board in the November election.
The meeting will take place at the Kesner Building boardroom, 349 E. Ninth St., with an online option live-streamed to YouTube â search Salida Schools.
The rest of the boardâs work session will be devoted to district budget.
At 6 p.m. the board will meet in regular session, which will also be live-streamed on YouTube.
The board will listen to a detailed report on interventions presented by Salida Middle School Principal Will Wooddell and middle school interventionist Darcy Harris, along with department and school reports from department managers and principals.
Salida School District R-32-J
The district requires the assistance of an outside expert(s) in the renewal of a comprehensive strategic plan to ensure that programs meet the educational and support service needs of the district into the future. In particular, the Board of Education began a conversation regarding significant changes to the graduation guidelines. The District has paused the conversation because sufficient federal stimulus dollars have allowed the community to more fully discuss any changes in programming. The district is looking for outside expertise to lead the next stage of staff and community conversations regarding graduation guidelines.
A complete copy of the RFQ/P may be found on the Procurement page of the school district website: www.salidaschools.org
Posted by Brooke Gilmore | May 11, 2021
A small group of students made history Saturday, May 8 as they gathered to celebrate; becoming the first class to graduate from Colorado Mountain College Salida. The CMC Salida 2021 Commencement was held at 10:00 a.m. on May 8. Due to Chaffee County COVID-19 restrictions, masks were required at this event and each graduate could invite a limited number of guests.
The first-ever class of graduates from Colorado Mountain College’s Salida campus pose for a group picture following the campus’s first-ever commencement at High Side! Bar & Grill in Salida on Saturday, May 8, 2021. Photo by Andy Colwell for Colorado Mountain College
The district is made up of five director districts and two âat largeâ seats.Â
The seats available in November election include:
District 1 (2 year term) Carrie Mattix- incumbent
District 2 (2 year term) Jodi Breckenridge Petit- incumbent
District 3 (4 year term) Cheri Post- incumbent
District 4 (4 year term) Joe Smith- incumbent
District 5 (4 year term) Greg Reed- incumbent
At large (4 year term) Jeannie Peters- incumbent
Joel McBride, current board president, is not up for re-election but will be term limited when his term is up in November 2023.Â
The Salida School Board will host an open house and informational work session at 5 p.m. May 13, in the board room on the second floor of the Kesner building, 349 E. Ninth St. for those interested in the 2021 School Board Election.Â