Much of the Greenhorn Valley, in particular Rye High School (RHS) staff members and students, turned out in person at the D70 School Board meeting on May 3, 2022. The room was so packed that an additional room next door was offered if part of the audience wanted to move there. Few if any of the audience moved as they patiently waited to hear and be heard in the public forum portion of the meeting.
Of the thirteen people who signed up to speak during the public forum, eleven of them were there to express horror and disbelief that RHS Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Adam Baumgartner would not be allowed to return to RHS next year. Many of the speakers had to stop a moment to fight back tears as they sang praises for Baumgarten. Those who spoke were coworkers, fellow teachers, parents, and coaches at RHS who, as one of them said, “did not see this coming, as no one talked to the staff to get their opinion.”
Two Greenhorn Valley Exceptional Student Services teachers spoke about what Baumgartner had done for their students in getting students that usually were not involved in athletics interest ed and participating, and in establishing a unified bowling team at RHS.
Students, President of the RHS Booster Club, and the former RHS counselor all packed the meeting to tell how Baumgartner was 100% for the students and willing to help where ever it was needed, including the first to grab a shovel if the snow was coming down faster than the janitor could keep up with. The board made no comment on the heartfelt pleas to reconsider the decision to remove Baumgartner.
The other two speakers during the public forum both spoke about concerns regarding D70 counsel Brad Miller. The speakers believe there is a controversy in Miller handling the negotiations with the Pueblo Charter Academy and D70. They were also concerned about the high charges from Miller for work he has done.
Rye High School Principal Michelle Madril attended the meeting to advise about two generous gifts being given to Rye High School. The girls golf program received $500 from Tayna Sammons to use toward accommodations during a golf tournament held at Salida. A track and field record board valued at over $1500 was donated to RHS by retired coach and teacher Tammy Van Oort. Sierra Vista Elementary School has been the recipient of a Buddy Bench, donated by the Shade family in honor of the late Jane Shade. Pueblo County High School Principal, Brian Dilka, thanked science and honors biology teacher Kristen Taylor for her donation of ten fetal pigs for her honors biology class to dissect. Pueblo West High School has received $100,000 from the Watts Foundation to use in creating apprenticeships to grow Pueblo’s work force.
The next D70 school board meeting will be held on May 17 at 6:00 p.m. at the Educational Services Center at 24951 E Hwy 50.