The charges against Mancos School Board member Beverly Humiston-Scott were officially dropped Tuesday morning in Montezuma County Court, but not before a lecture from the judge and a visit from the district attorney.
Montezuma County Court Judge JenniLynn Everett Lawrence signed off on District Attorney William Furse’s motion to dismiss the charges with a word of caution.
“The state can choose not to prosecute a case,” Lawrence said. “I certainly hope these incidents will not be repeating themselves.”
The July arrest occurred after Humiston-Scott and the board were discussing her public rebuke, or censure, that accused her of bullying, intimidating and harassing administrative and support staff.
She was asked to stay on topic several times when she accused the board of violating state sunshine laws by deciding to censure her without a public discussion.
She was reportedly asked to leave multiple times, and when she refused, she was arrested by a Mancos marshal.
Furse agreed with Lawrence.
“This is an isolated incident, and we won’t see this in the future,” he said.
But just in case, before Tuesday’s morning in court, Furse attended a Mancos School Board meeting and took the floor shortly after the meeting started.
Furse told the board not to forget why they serve.
“We are all part of this great machine, and that machine is purposed in furthering our kids,” Furse said. “Sometimes issues and personal feelings can distract us from that mission.”
Furse offered his service to help the Mancos School Board in the future.
“I beg everyone here tonight to be mindful of the purpose of this board,” Furse said. “Tonight’s meeting and every other meeting to follow is not to further someone’s individual agenda.”
The motion to dismiss charges against Humiston-Scott were filed last week.
“Ms. Humiston was acting in her official capacity as a school board member when attempting to respond to these complaints. Such was well within her purview as a board member,” the motion stated.
After Tuesday morning’s court appearance, Humiston-Scott and her attorney declined to comment.
Furse made sure to tell Lawrence that the Mancos marshal had probable cause to arrest Humiston-Scott.
School board president Monty Guiles agreed with Furse.
“It is our goal as a board to never forget why we are here,” Guiles said.
School board also discusses audit
The Mancos Times
Also Monday night, the Mancos School Board of Education discussed the annual audit.
Outside auditor Chris Majors presented his annual report to the board and said that everything looked good, except for the school lunch fund.
“The lunch fund lost $8,956,” Majors said. “If I did have any concerns, it would be the lunch fund.”
Majors said the loss was most likely because of the rising costs of food and milk.
In addition, the district is being tasked to make meals healthier.
“You have a double whammy. Increased costs, and I don’t know if the kids are that interested in eating the food that is healthier for them, so you get increased costs and decreased demands.”
School Board President Monty Guiles said the board will have to look closer at the issue.
Board member Boe Hawkins announced that the Masonic scholarships this year will go from $27,000 to $40,000. This scholarship has typically been awarded to Mancos students.
In addition, board members discussed meeting elsewhere. The music room, they said, is problematic because equipment has to be moved and put back for each meeting.
Homecoming week is Oct. 13-18 in Mancos, as reported by the student council representatives with a theme of Comic Con.
Board members also discussed that the district is only eight percentage points away from being “accredited with distinction,” an honor reserved for the top percentage of schools in the state.
“That is out goal for the upcoming year,” said Superintendent Brian Hanson.
Board members recognized the new staff in the district Monday night and honored Alexander Mykytiuk for earning a 100 percent on his third-grade math TCAP score last school year.
“We are very, very proud of you,” said principal Cathy Epps.
