Ongoing conversations on topics such as temporary school consolidation, shorter school weeks and curriculum – as well as new topics – were addressed at the Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1 Board of Education work session Tuesday evening.

Although no official decisions are made at work sessions, they serve as segues for further discussion and eventual action items at board meetings.

The next board meeting is Nov. 16.

School consolidations and a four-day school week, previously discussed to cope with workforce shortages, were revisited Tuesday.

Superintendent Risha VanderWey said a four-day week would be a “cut and dry” option, but consolidations would be an emotionally charged change of tradition. She suggested holding school-level meetings and an anonymous survey to gauge community thoughts.

Although consolidation would be a temporary measure to assuage staff shortages, it could last two years.

Board member Sheri Noyes suggested that rural schools be excluded from consolidation plans. Board member Tammy Hooten disagreed, suggesting that Pleasant View Elementary students move to Lewis-Arriola Elementary.

Assistant Superintendent Lis Richard noted that Pleasant View had critical structural damage. Still, she said, the decision should be left to families of the school.

“If we’re going to have that school existing here, we have a responsibility to make it safe,” she said.

Executive Director of Finance Kyle Archibeque said his recommendations about teacher pay would largely depend on the district’s decisions about consolidation and four-day weeks. After class sizes are determined, he could allocate money for staff, which is 80% of the district’s budget, he said.

VanderWey said the district should aim for about 23 students per class.

The district wants salaries that are competitive with those of Mancos and Dolores.

Noyes said resolving disciplinary issues would help bolster staff retention and satisfaction.

Noyes said she has received emails stating that some students have had trouble receiving assignments amid school closures. VanderWey said she would work with principals to support struggling online students. Richard said she has reviewed some curriculum to be used during closures, and that it’s effective and engaging.

“There is a perception if you read Facebook that our kids aren’t getting anything,” Richard said.

It also discussed that the district has called families, but could not reach everyone because of outdated phone numbers.

The board said it would discuss quarantines, COVID-19 and serial testing in a future meeting.

The board plans to evaluate curriculum to replace Wit and Wisdom by the start of next school year. Board President Sherri Wright said she hopes the board will decide on the replacement lessons by January to give teachers time to become comfortable with the material. Richard said the district should implement a more comprehensive reading curriculum, rather than teaching multiple different supplements.

Wit and Wisdom has been tied to community and board concerns about critical race theory and educational effectiveness.

The board expressed a desire to send out parent permission slips preceding the biannual Healthy Kids Survey administered by the Colorado Department of Education. Questions touch on topics like suicide, sex, and alcohol and drug use, which some board members consider invasive. Richard said such data helps organizations such as the Piñon Project to structure programs addressing issues prevalent in the school district.

Administration of medical marijuana to students – including self-administration – previously left some board members weary of potential implications should the medicine fall into wrong hands.

At the October board meeting, it was unclear how self-administration would be handled, but Tuesday, board members discussed whether self-administration should occur under the watch and care of designated school personnel or a parent or guardian.

Board member Stacey Hall mentioned that medical marijuana is not FDA-approved, and schools could be held liable for mishaps. In addition, she said, Montezuma-Cortez High School nurse Jaclyn Hall would be unable to administer medical marijuana, as she holds a license that is valid in multiple states – but not all permit medical marijuana.

Richard said the board may choose to require a parent or guardian to implement administration at school, as long as there are provisions for allowing it in on property. The board seemed to favor adopting this parameter.

Board members want to reinstate a student representative on the board, after not having one during the pandemic. High school Principal Eric Chandler said the high school student government is ready to elect a representative, Richard said.