The Montezuma-Cortez RE-1 board discussed upcoming testing, summer school, the mill levy override committee, potential elementary reorganization and more at their board meeting Tuesday.
The board started with a celebration of the middle school band’s accomplishments at a recent event. According to an email the board received from band teacher Andrew Campo, CMS was the only school to have two bands earn a top score of I (superior) and the only band to have two bands receive a top sight-reading score of I (superior).
The bands also received the highest individual judge score of the week with a score of 97.
During his superintendent report, Superintendent Tom Burris shared that he attended the state board meeting on March 13. While in Denver, Burris said he met with Kwame Spearman, who is the consultant helping the district look into turning Manaugh Elementary into an apartment complex.
According to Burris, Karen Sheek is helping build community support and building a “dream team” to discuss the potential project.
Burris also addressed math teacher Dan Tamminga’s comments from the previous board meeting that focused on compensating teachers being compensated for the extra hours they work.
“At the last board meeting, Mr. Tamminga demanded that teachers be compensated for ‘extra time’ they were putting in at the school,” Burris said. “Mr. Tamminga could not articulate a requirement that would justify his position.”
Burris added that he looked into the teacher workweek and that staff letters of intent would be provided by the first part of May, per Tamminga’s “second demand.”
Danielle Brafford executive director of finance, noted in her report that the 2025-26 salary schedule is “mostly drafted” and will be submitted once the 2025-26 calendar is approved.
In his report, Jim Parr, executive director of student academic services, informed the board that the assessment window for state testing is April 7 through April 25. CMAS science for grade 11 will be held on April 8, and SAT/PSAT for MCHS on April 14.
Summer school is also in development, and it is set to run from May 28 through June 26. Summer school will be held six hours per day.
Justin Schmitt, HR director, informed the board of the interest from PASCO Southwest to contract with the school district to donate one hour per day of CNA services to the high school, helping provide the district with “coverage of the medical needs of the students in the life skills classroom.”
PASCO Southwest asked that in exchange, they be able to have a banner in the gym and be able to talk to students about careers in health care, to help “grow a pipeline of health employees in Montezuma County.”
In citizens address the board, Melinda Evans, parent of a Mesa Elementary student and the director of Dolores County Social Services, presented concerns about the proposed elementary reorganization, saying the more children move in education, the more their academic abilities decline.
She added that transportation could be a burden for families and that she wanted to hear about the board’s plans for that aspect of the reorganization.
Following citizens address, board president Sheri Noyes addressed the concerns, saying that the reorganization was still in the planning stage.
Noyes shared that the board planned to hold parent and community meetings to garner input.
“We don’t have a lot for you right now,” Noyes said.
Burris said they thought they were “putting good thought into it,” and teachers who had visited schools with a similar setup had provided positive feedback. He added that district principals said they would rather monitor three grade levels instead of six.
In action items, the board approved a resolution to begin reviewing the elementary reorganization for the 2026-27 school year and approved a resolution to establish a mill levy override committee.
The next school board meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 22 at 6 p.m.
