The Montezuma-Cortez RE-1 Board of Education on Tuesday advanced its discussion about consolidating elementary schools in Cortez, suggesting that Manaugh would close and scheduling a public forum to gauge public opinion.
A public forum was tentatively scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 1, though details were not released.
The board acknowledged that several logistical factors need to be considered before a merger commenced.
Manaugh Elementary School likely would close, leaving two other elementaries open, board member Cody Wells said.
Pleasant View and Lewis-Arriola Elementary schools likely wouldn’t be incorporated into the consolidation for “at least a year until we see how things work and we get our safety reports and everything,” said board member Sherri Wright.
“Everybody would still be placed somewhere. You wouldn’t be out of a job,” said board President Sheri Noyes.
The consolidation would address staffing and learning issues, the board said.
The board has considered a few options, including dedicating a building to kindergarten through second grade, and another to third through fifth grades.
“We aren’t going to do anything until we’ve reached out to the public,” Noyes said.
Wright said her “dream” would be to combine kindergarten through second grade, and assign students to math and reading classes according to skills instead of grade level.
“Let’s meet them where they are and teach them and grow them,” Wright said.
This would help advance students to target reading levels, she said.
The board also discussed the idea of placing students with behavioral problems into an off-site building. Suspensions aren’t effective, Wright said.
Consolidation could stimulate vertical alignment for behavioral and learning gaps, said Jim Parr, executive director of Academic Student Services.
A sort of “sibling rivalry” exists among current elementaries, including Mesa and Kemper schools, he said, but consolidation could focus and streamline resources.
Montezuma-Cortez Middle School Principal Drew Pearson praised the idea of vertical alignment, saying that students entering middle school have notable differences in skill level.
The board requested school administration feedback before placing consolidation on its agenda as an action item, possibly as early as February. The board holds its regularly scheduled meetings on the third Tuesday of the month.
