WALSENBURG— The RE-1 Board of Education held their second meeting under the reins of new superintendent Michael Moore and, like last meeting, the feeling the district is moving in a positive direction highlighted the evening. The district experienced difficulities this summer in filling vacated positions due to several new hires recanting and taking jobs elsewhere. The administrators reported all the vacancies have now been filled. JMHS Principal, George Purnell reported on registration, and it appears the John Mall High School population will be close to 160 students, up 15 or 20 kids from last year. In fact, district wide, the numbers will be higher by about 30 kids, for a total of over 525 students. On Monday, former JMHS standout who has a tenured football background for the past twenty five years, Adam Vigil, accepted the position of JMHS head football coach. Elizabeth Schneider is taking a 110 contract and coming out of retirement to take the position of
3rd/4th grade teacher at Gardner. Also hired are: Hayley Coccio as the Peakview paraprofessional, Janna Tranter as the high school counselor/advisor, Melony Barton as the paraprofessional at Gardner, and Faith Espinoza as high school secretary. The BOE approved the first reading of Policy ILBC (The Read Act) which stipulates standards for third graders’ ability to read at level before they advance to the next level. Also approved are district Student Activity and Athletic Handbooks, which are available on the district website. The BOE learned Gardner cook Karen Medina resigned to take a position in La Veta. The board hired Barbara Sandoval to fill that position. Two capital expenditures were awarded to local contractors, Legends Flooring and Walsenburg Sand and Gravel to complete the tile work in the bathrooms at Gardner and JMHS, and the Safe to Schools Grant for sidewalks between the sports complex and Peakview. Several discussion items on the agenda were addressed which will be covered in next week’s paper.
