The Southwest Open School board on Monday discussed the school’s new interim director, the upcoming entrepreneurial pitch competition and attendance.
Joe Kelly, who has worked at SWOS since August 2019, will become interim executive director, effective Jan. 1. A formal search for a director will take place in the new year.
“For the interim position, Joe was the logical and ideal candidate, as he has filled the role of director of student services for over three years and has an exemplary track record,” current director Casey Simpson told The Journal. ”
Simpson has worked as director at SWOS for almost four years, but has accepted the position of general services director for the city of Cortez. He will maintain his director position at SWOS until Dec. 31.
Simpson said he learned a lot as director, sharing that he has been at SWOS for 10 years.
In addition to learning about his personality, he said he has learned what it takes to help students have a bright future, about resource scarcity and that change “is the only constant in life.”
“Supporting students and families has opened my eyes to the fact that, regardless of background demographics, any student who is driven can accomplish whatever they set their minds to,” Simpson said. “I have learned that, being a teacher specifically and educator generally, is a really tough job. If a person can successfully manage a classroom while imparting some wisdom on the students, they can do just about anything.”
Simpson also thanked the Montezuma County voters for voting in support of the mill levy and the district’s teachers.
The board discussed student enrollment and attendance, sharing that there are 129 students enrolled for the second quarter. The attendance rate has been calculated as 76.4% for Quarter 1.
The board noted that Kiley Lightenburger has accepted the position of interim director of student services, and a theater program, funded by the LOR Foundation and led by Marianne Marchesano, was also launched for Quarter 2.
On Friday from 4:30 though 8:30 p.m. at SWOS, Fundamental Needs, which helps provide the resources needed for SWOS’ entrepreneur program, will host its second biannual pitch competition.
This competition will showcase “the best business ideas from SWOS students, local entrepreneurs and SWOS community.”
Organizers shared that current and past students, parents and staff are invited to participate and attend.
Each competitor will be given five to seven minutes to present their business idea to a panel of judges, and then the audience will have the opportunity to participate and ask questions.
The top ideas over the course of the evening will receive funding and resources to kick-start their business.
In action items, the board accepted Simpson’s resignation and approved the supplemental budget before heading into executive session.
