The Mancos RE-6 school board on Monday discussed their school district “portrait,” student representatives and San Juan BOCES.
Superintendent Todd Cordrey started the meeting with a report that the district provided a “super-smooth” start for kids.
He also introduced the Vector Learning Management System, which will provide free training to staff, department directors and department employees.
He also will attend a meeting Sept. 4 with superintendents from Cortez, Dolores, Dove Creek, Durango, Bayfield, Ignacio and Pagosa Springs, as well as a county superintendent meeting on Wednesday.
And in response to board President Emily Hutcheson-Brown, Cordrey said new district employees’ adjustment was “good or fair,” but more could be done for a smooth transition.
The board walked its “portrait of a district,” which will work hand in hand with its “portrait of a graduate,” which is meant to show what the ideal Mancos student should look like upon graduation.
Competencies for the portrait of a graduate are growth mentality, problem solving, integrity, civic mindedness, practical skills, team play and academic mastery.
“This is a visual demonstration of the extremely thoughtful work that has been developing over the course of the last several years and has resulted in a district that is working together, and is striving to achieve and showing results,” Hutcheson-Brown told The Journal. “The outcome of academic mastery is solely supported by this representation of how the district works together. Support systems, wellness and academic instruction all amounts to our students learning and being engaged.”
The portrait of a district was created to help fulfill the district’s strategic plan, which was adopted with community input in 2021. The board is tasked with achieving that plan with the help of the portraits.
The board added that the portrait of a district would help departments work together for a common goal without hindering one another along the way. The pyramid on the portrait of a district chart starts at its base with operations, which includes the business department, HR, food service, nursing, information technology, transportation, safety and security, activities and athletics, facilities and maintenance and communications.
Next, the portrait showcases the district’s wellness system and wellness committee.
“Mancos school district’s wellness system fosters emotional, psychological and physical health for students and staff in a joyful environment,” the chart reads.
Cordrey further explained that the district invests in the wellness of its students and staff, including clinical counseling, restorative justice, trauma-informed and SEL curriculum.
The next step up is academic system and instructional team. At the top of the pyramid is the classroom and student engagement.
“ We think this is a really well-done explanation, and it will allow a better understanding as to ‘where the pieces fit together,’” Hutcheson-Brown said.
This plan will be reviewed again in December and May.
Board member Rachel McWhirter informed the board that the Montezuma-Cortez school district has again decided to try to withdraw from the San Juan BOCES and become its own administrative unit.
According to McWhirter, Montezuma-Cortez voted unanimously to apply again to become an AU before last week’s BOCES meeting. The district’s earlier attempt was denied by the Colorado Department of Education this spring.
Montezuma-Cortez makes up about one-third of the population of BOCES and therefore contributes a significant amount of funds. McWhirter said it was unclear what would happen to funding if the district left BOCES.
“It would be a humongous hit to BOCES,” McWhirter said.
The board discussed the questions they’d like McWhirter to ask at the next BOCES meeting, and the majority of the board said financial and service impact were two of the biggest questions.
Some of the questions asked were: If Cortez pulls out, will BOCES survive? Will they still be able to serve in the community? Will the remaining districts have to pick up the financial slack?
“Although there is some discontent with the BOCES conversation around MCSD, we are confident that our own district is in a really good operating trajectory, backed by a staff, leadership and community that care,” Hutcheson-Brown said Tuesday. “Regardless of that outcome, we will continue forward and will meet the needs of our students.”
This year, after years of consideration, the board will add student representatives and student voices to the board table.
A minimum of two will be chosen, and interviews for the positions will take place Sept. 11 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Selected students will be sworn in at the Oct. 21 board meeting.
Next year, the board will allow interested students to apply at the end of the school year, before the start of summer.
“We are looking forward to that voice at the table,” Hutcheson-Brown said.
The next Mancos school board meeting will take place on Sept. 16 at 6 p.m.
