The Dolores RE-4A School District has named Michael Rime and Lia Hopper as its newest board members. They will replace Casey McClellan and Clay Tallmadge, whose board terms expire in November.
Superintendent Alesa Reed said the district canceled the election and appointed the two unopposed candidates by acclamation to save costs.
“We verified the addresses, and everything was in order for both candidates. The board wanted to pursue canceling the election to save the district some money, so we contacted our attorney, and they walked us through the process with the county,” Reed said.
Rime and Hopper join Maegan Crowley, Dustin Goodall and Julia Anderson on the school board.
Rime is the human resources director at Ute Mountain Casino Hotel and a U.S. Army infantry veteran. He earned a Bachelor of General Studies in political science and psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Southern California. He is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources. He lives in Dolores with his wife, Sarah, and their two children, Tristan and Keira.
“He believes in continuous improvement in education and values the role schools play in shaping the next generation through respect, accountability and open dialogue,” his bio said.
Hopper is a registered nurse with nearly 20 years of experience in health care. Her family relocated to Dolores in 2023 after her husband retired from the Department of Corrections. She works at Southwest Memorial Hospital in various roles.
“Since settling in, I’ve had the privilege of working in various roles at Southwest Memorial Hospital, continuing my passion for serving others through nursing,” Hopper said.
“We intend to make this our long-term home, and as a mother of two middle schoolers who are actively involved in school activities and sports, I’m deeply invested in the future of our schools and our town,” Hopper continued. “I’m honored to have been selected to serve on the school board, and I’m committed to making a positive impact on key issues that shape our children’s educational experience. My goal is to help foster a safe, supportive environment where all students can thrive and where families like mine feel proud to belong.”
Bios for Rime and Hopper were provided by the Dolores school district.
