From the Board, March 14, 2025 - Cassie Haskell

At the recent school board meeting held at Elk Creek Elementary, we began with a special presentation, Shine the Light. Elk Creek Elementary honored a Community partner, Classified staff member, and ECE Certified teacher. The Community partner was the ECE PTAC; they were honored for their contributions to the school & community. The PTAC, which consists of 25 dedicated volunteers, has organized numerous successful events, including a spell-a-thon, winter formal, Dads & Donuts, and they are looking forward to hosting moms and muffins this spring. Their ongoing efforts have made a significant impact! Thank you, ECE PATC! The stellar classified staff member honored was Vania Rodriguez, who has unmatched outreach for every family at ECE. Finally, Emily Quinn was the recognized teacher who is courageous at moving kids while nurturing them every step of the way.

We then reviewed ECE CMAS Data. While the data may not be at the desired levels, it's important to note that the school is moving in the right direction. Significant efforts are underway to ensure future success for all students. Elk Creek Elementary has implemented an English Language Arts (ELA) intervention block. In math, they are focusing on previous grade-level mastery standards. Teachers are working diligently to provide all students with the necessary math standards, helping them master these concepts so they are prepared for the upcoming year. The school has allocated 60 to 90 minutes of math instruction, with plans to add more practice time in the next year to further support student learning. One of the highlights this year is that 5th grade students performing above grade level in reading can participate in service learning elective. In this elective, students take on jobs within the school, allowing them to develop valuable skills and contribute to the school community. Student wellness was also highlighted, and ECE was proud to report that 100% of Elk Creek Elementary students feel happy, hopeful, proud, and able to have fun at school. This speaks volumes about the positive and supportive environment that has been fostered at ECE.

The District Accountability team is finishing up the bullying policy and will soon begin reviewing the KB Parent Engagement policy. We appreciate the hard work that has gone into making policies clear and accessible for review during board meetings, ensuring transparency and understanding. 

Finance and HR teams continue to prioritize Staff Success in our Strategic Plan. Our Director of Finance, Jason Lynch, continues to excel in his role, providing training for financial secretaries and building strong connections with all 10 schools. Jason and his team have also been instrumental in planning for the fiscal year 2026. Devon Spaulding and the HR team continue to provide excellent support for staff. Their efforts around staff attendance, onboarding, and setting clear expectations have been commendable. Special recognition goes to Michele Snyder for successfully hiring 19 day-to-day substitutes this year. We currently rely on an average of 33 substitutes daily. Additionally, many staff members have been stepping up to fill in as substitutes, and some even obtained sub licenses to assist as needed. We greatly appreciate all the efforts going above and beyond regular duties to support our students.

Assistant Superintendent Lisa Pierce and Superintendent Heather Grumley provided updates on the district's ongoing initiatives, from the One Door to the maintenance department. It’s clear that the district is making significant strides in supporting both staff and students.

It’s a busy weekend for our district! The RHS Drama Production of Radium Girls is taking place tonight at 7:00 PM and Saturday at 7:00 PM. We also have a track meet at RHS and baseball and soccer games scheduled. A special congratulations to the Coal Ridge High School Boys Basketball team, who will be playing in the State Tournament’s Final 4 game today at 4:00 PM. Best of luck to the team!

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all staff and community members who participated in the Superintendent meet-and-greets and interviews this past weekend. We are pleased to announce that a contract for the position of Superintendent is being negotiated with Kirk Banghart. Kirk currently serves as the Vice President and Chief Facilitator for Generation School Network. His background includes serving as the Superintendent of Moffat 2 School District, the Director of Teaching and Learning, as well as a Middle School Principal and Dean of Students for Salida School District. We had over 18 applicants for this important position, and we are grateful for the support of McPherson & Jacobson, Christy Sinner, and Ken Haptonstall throughout the process.

We are proud of the progress Elk Creek Elementary and the district are making, and we appreciate the ongoing commitment from staff, students, and the community. We look forward to continued collaboration and success as we move forward together. Let’s go Re-2 Team!