By Shannon Lukens.

 

The Moffat County School District Board of Education met Monday. The district discussed the most urgent projects that need funding, including a new roof at Sandrock Elementary, asphalt work at Ridgeview Elementary, Craig Middle School, and Moffat County High School, repairs at the baseball field where the Bulldogs play, and the gym floor at the high school also needs to be redone. But for that to happen, the bleachers have to be removed, and they can’t be reinstalled. So it would be a new gym floor and new bleachers. The project is out to bid. Also at Monday’s meeting, school district staff gets a 4% across-the-board pay increase. Bulldog Academy is being created. And open enrollment and preschool enrollment begins July 1 for Moffat County Schools, at MoffatSD.org

 

More details can be found in this press release from the Moffat County School District; June 27, 2023.

 

Moffat County School District School Board Business Meeting Update

 

Monday’s regular business meeting of the Board of Education of Moffat County School District featured several items of interest to the community. Here are some of the highlights of the meeting.

 

Capital projects planning update

The board heard a list of several high-priority capital projects that need to be funded and completed in the near term. While limited funding means these building and grounds maintenance and improvement projects must be spaced out far beyond what is ideal or industry-recommended, the district is still working hard to be wise stewards of both our funding and our property for the sake of the students and teachers who work and learn in them.

Among the more than a million dollars of MCSD’s most urgent projects are some that the district will be moving on in the near future, as well as some that will require more creative funding plans.

• The Moffat County High School gym floor is well past time to be redone, and that project is currently out to bid. Notably, in order to redo the floor, the gym bleachers must be removed, and, once they are removed, they won’t be able to be reinstalled. This is because the bleachers have for some time been out of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, but existing equipment is allowed to remain for a period of time. However, to reinstall out-of-compliance equipment, no type of grandfather clause applies. Therefore, replacing the gym floor requires replacing the bleachers as well.
• Asphalt work is required at several district facilities, including the high school, Ridgeview Elementary and Craig Middle School.
• Several buildings desperately need a new or repaired roof, but none more so than Sandrock Elementary. The district is heavily considering seeking a BEST grant that would provide matching funds to pay for half of the cost of this and possibly other roof work.
• The baseball field at CMS, which is where the MCHS Bulldogs baseball team hosts its games, is in serious need of upgrades, particularly to the infield. There are several large costs associated with this need, and the district is exploring several options to meet this challenge.

 

District staff pay increase

The board approved a change to all staff pay schedules following a completed negotiation process. Essentially, this will mean a 4% across-the-board pay increase for all staff. Several adjustments were made to a number of aspects and policies within the schedule as well, allowing for more rapid advancement in some cases to higher pay rates.

While nothing is ever easy with school funding, and it certainly isn’t any easier now than ever before, MCSD and the board of education are grateful to be in a position financially to be able to reward its spectacular, hard-working, top-quality faculty and staff. It’s by ensuring our people are taken care of and compensated appropriately that the district can fulfill its mission to educate and inspire students to succeed and thrive and become excellent members of our great community.

 

Bulldog Academy announcement

Superintendent Jill Hafey and MCHS executive director Ryan Frink presented the plan for MCHS’s brand-new Bulldog Academy program. This exciting new plan will create pathways for learners who are not being adequately served by the traditional school setting, including those who need credit recovery to work toward graduation, students who need blended learning opportunities (including those with health, work, family or other requirements that make traditional school attendance challenging or impossible), and students looking for advanced courses not offered at the high school.

Bulldog Academy (look for much more on this soon) will provide in-school instructors that guide and keep accountable students as they access online curriculum from home or school. It will give struggling students, students in different circumstances than the majority of the school population, and students looking to do more the individualized education they need to maximize their chances to become successful members of the Moffat County community.

 

Open enrollment and preschool enrollment

Open enrollment begins July 1 for Moffat County schools. Look for information at moffatsd.org in the near future.

Preschool enrollment is open now through moffatsd.org, or at upk.colorado.gov. The new state universal preschool law has expanded access to this vital education opportunity to many more families and children, and MCSD hopes to see lots of Moffat County families take advantage of this chance to get their little ones on track to success. Our Early Childhood Center has wonderful teachers ready to start Moffat kids learning early. Enroll now, or email director stephanie.davis@moffatsd.org with questions.