The Montezuma-Cortez RE-1 school board on Tuesday approved a memorial for a student who died in 2024.
The meeting opened with a presentation from Montezuma-Cortez High School’s student government, which shared its new constitution with the board and asked for feedback.
Kiva Montessori Charter School asked the board to allow the school to leave the district and apply to the Colorado Charter School Institute as its authorizer. If approved, the transition could begin July 1. The board later passed the resolution, with President Joshua Shumway and board member Laura DeWitt voting no.
During public comment, former board member Ed Rice urged the board to carefully select its legal counsel, noting past problems with frivolous lawsuits under previous representation.
Casey Hamerschlag questioned the district’s current counsel, citing higher costs, a rushed superintendent contract and declining enrollment.
Parent and coach Casey Spitzer expressed optimism about the district and encouraged stronger partnerships with youth groups that use school facilities. He also thanked the board for updating facility-use policies, which passed a second reading.
Board secretary Mike Lynch spoke about the impact of growth and fixed mindsets in classrooms. He said teachers’ responses to struggling students can influence whether students believe they can improve.
He used math as an example, saying a student may adopt a growth mindset if told they will improve with effort, or a fixed mindset if told, “It’s OK, because not everyone is good at math.” An evaluation-heavy approach, he said, can discourage students from trying.
Later in the meeting, Lynch proposed creating a student memorial for Zamias Lang, a former district student who died in November 2024. Lang, a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, would have graduated with the Class of 2035.
The memorial will be placed in the Montezuma-Cortez High School cafeteria until that class graduates. It will feature a small chair with a photo of Lang.
“Aside from the loss felt by his family, our school district also suffered loss,” Lynch said. “We will not ever know what great accomplishments he would make while in school. Would he have been a great athlete, play in the band, be in theater for years? His fellow students may see an empty chair in the classes that Zamias would have attended.”
Lang was 7 when he was shot while in bed with his father in Towaoc. After a dayslong search, the suspect, Jeremiah Hight, was arrested in Utah.
The school board meets next on March 17 at 6 p.m.
