PUEBLO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT 70
In a brief Pueblo County School District 70 (D70) Board of Education (BOE) meeting held on Tuesday, August 22, board members and Superintendent Ronda Rein discussed how nice it was to see the students back in the schools. They expressed gratitude to everyone who made the start of school go so smoothly. Rein commented on the central admin staff members and principals who were out in the parent loops making sure the first day dropoff went correctly.
Bond Manager Ted Ortiviz advised that the Ag Shop addition at Rye High School (RHS) is now running right on track since issues regarding having to move utilities and getting permits have been resolved. He said that internet services would be installed on Friday, August 25.
Ortiviz advised that a front door for the Beulah School of Natural Sciences that has been back ordered has finally arrived and will be installed soon.
Principal Pat Hyatt expressed gratitude for a donation of $500 to Desert Sage Elementary from Steel City Solar. He advised that the donation would be used to purchase safety items, including vests for the crossing guards.
Drew Hirshon, D70 Assistant Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, gave a presentation of the job description for Article 15, which is a position of mentor to second-year teachers. Hirshon advised that D70 has a list of second-year teachers requesting mentorship and is ready to put the word out to the more seasoned teachers regarding the job. The motion to approve the position passed.
In the open forum, a concerned parent and RHS band volunteer spoke about her disappointment regarding problems that have temporarily shut down the Rye High Marching Band. She explained the marching band was being revived after a twenty-year absence and was just days away from its first performance when it was shut down. It was discovered that some of the students had not been aware that this activity required them to have completed sports physicals and that doctors' appointments take time to get scheduled. The speaker ran out of the allotted three minutes of time before they could finish the information. As per policy, D70 BOE members did not respond during the meeting to the information given.
The next D70 BOE meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at the Educational Services Center, 24951 East Highway 50, Pueblo, Colorado, beginning at 6:00 p.m.