by Amanda Martin
WALSENBURG- Huerfano Re-1 School Board members met Tuesday evening with everything from hires, grants, and bid offers on the agenda.
Representatives from Gardner School and Peakview discussed the recent death of the music teacher Cleveland Clinton and how the students are dealing with the sudden loss of a great mentor. Students from both schools shared letters, pictures, poems, cards, and essays in tribute to Mr. Clinton. The tributes will be on display in both schools for at least another week and will then be given to Clinton’s family and friends.
Despite Clinton’s death, the music program will continue on. A substitute teacher is already in place, and there is discussion of bringing a past music teacher, Suellen Levy, in to fill the position for the remainder of this school year. Alterative dates may need to be considered however, for the spring concerts. The district will be accepting applications for a new music director for the 2009/2010 school year.
After interviewing fivepotential candidates for the position of Gardner principal, the Board made a decision to hire Linda Bennett of Northglenn, for the 2009/2010 school year. The Board said that all five candidates were well qualified, but in the end felt that Bennett would be the best fit for the community.
Gardner School will hold its annual Carnival Friday, Mar. 6 from 5 to 7:30 pm. The carnival is the school’s biggest fund raiser of the year earning money for spring field trips, purchasing books, and for other projects around the school that benefit the students. They will have a lot of fun activities, and encourage all to attend that are able.
The Board adopted the 2009/2010 school calendar. Because of scheduling conflicts this year between graduation and the state track meet, next year’s calendar will end a week later, on May 27, 2010 to avoid a repeat.
Deb Nott, the Chairman of the Huerfano Parks and Recreation District, presented the district with a check from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) in the amount of $20,000 that will be used to purchase and install the concrete bases for the lighting at the new Sports Complex. This amount will be used as a springboard for a possible $200,000 GOCO grant for additional work on the complex.
Finally the board voted to reject the County’s offer of approximately $60,000 for the Tioga building and the adjacent football field, and will present a counter offer to the Commissioners. The appraisal for the property was higher than the original offer presented by the County.
