Superintendent's Corner
November 2018
|
|
A Message from Dr. Brad Meeks
|
|
Thank you, voters.
We have so much to be thankful for this year, starting with the recent news that Steamboat Springs voters overwhelmingly approved 2B, the renewal of the half-cent sales tax for education. The Steamboat Springs Education Fund (the entity that administers the tax revenue) is responsible for 11% of the Steamboat Springs School District’s (SSSD) revenue. Of the funds granted to our district, 65% pays for teachers. In total, 10% of all SSSD teachers are funded by the Steamboat Springs Education Fund. We would like to thank our community for its investment. We are also incredibly grateful to the campaign leaders and volunteers who worked tirelessly to remind the community of just how critical the Steamboat Springs Education Fund is to education in Routt County.
Much appreciation for our Advisory Committee
Our gratitude also goes to our Advisory Committee, made up of staff and community volunteers. They have been meeting since January and building on previous work completed by the Community Committee for Education. The Advisory Committee studied SSSD’s infrastructure and looked at its current uses and challenges, the biggest of which is that the Steamboat Springs community is growing. The number of students in our schools—up 24% over the past 10 years—continues to grow, and our schools are already at or beyond capacity.
In August, the committee began reviewing and providing input on potential scenarios that would address overcrowding and set us up to adequately serve the expected influx of students. The committee is currently considering potential scenarios to build for the future, and we are inviting community members to review those scenarios and provide their input.
Over the last few weeks, the Muntean Leadership Group based here in Steamboat has facilitated two of the three scheduled focus groups and conducted a forum for school and district staff. These meetings, as well as the three upcoming Common Ground Community Forums, will help us to learn more about our community’s desires for the future of education.
Your engagement in this process is so important, and we hope you plan to attend one of the following forums:
- Tuesday, November 13, 6:00–7:30 p.m. at Steamboat Springs High School
- Thursday, November 15, 6:00–7:30 p.m. at Steamboat Springs High School
- Saturday, December 1, 9:00–10:30 a.m. at Soda Creek Elementary School
Thank you for being engaged.
Finally, we want to say thank you for keeping up with our district and schools. Consistently, about 1,800 people open this newsletter every month. Over 400 people are following the SSSD
Facebook page
. Furthermore, our Facebook posts reached over 4,000 people in October, with over 2,500 engagements (likes, shares, and/or comments). Our most popular posts include the pictures of
sixth grade science students
building their own websites and observing the impacts of environmental change (as shown below). Other popular posts, such as the call for
substitute teachers
,
shoes
for PE class, and funds for the
middle school’s school store
, reflect the generous nature of our community. We are grateful for having such a supportive community.
We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming Common Ground Community Forum.
|
|
Scenes from
Steamboat Spring Middle School
|
|
Steamboat Springs Middle School 6th grade science students are building their own websites to present qualitative and quantitative data observed in their microcosms. Each group will alter their ecosystem to observe the impact of environmental change.
|
|
Like us on Facebook
, and check out our posts for regular updates, news stories, and photos from our schools.
|
|
Steamboat Springs High School Knowledge Bowl members
Eric Casey, Aubrey Morrison, Charles Leech, Addison Sandvik and Morgan Graham qualified for "Matchwits," the statewide high school quiz program. They competed in an on-air tournament that was taped at the Rocky Mountain PBS studio in Pueblo. Tune in on January 7, 2019 at 4:30 on RMPBS for the results.
|
|
Steamboat Springs Middle School students Sloane Speer and Wren Capra
won the American Girl Magazine editor-for-a-day contest!
Read more
|
|
Congratulations to the
Steamboat Springs High School golf team Ollie Rotermund, Jack Rotermund, Colton Sankey and Tommy Henninger for their second place finish at the Class 4A state tournament on October 2.
|
|
Read recent
Steamboat Pilot & Today
articles.
Mayling Simpson is stepping down as a member of the Steamboat Springs School Board of Education. The board has 60 days from Nov. 5 to find a replacement and has begun discussing how they will recruit, interview and appoint a new member.
Read more
Fifth-graders at Soda Creek Elementary School spent recent weeks exploring the best source of renewable energy for Steamboat Springs. They divided into groups and dove into every facet of hydroelectric, geothermal, solar, wind and biomass energy production.
Read more
As part of Fire Prevention Week in October, Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue firefighters offered a series of educational outreach programs, public safety messages and general safety awareness in the community.
Read more
Soda Creek Elementary School fifth-graders participated in a mock trial at the Routt County Justice Center. They found Goldilocks guilty for breaking into a home where a family of three Routt County bears lived. The local court system has been visiting with the students over the past several weeks as part of Law Days.
Read more
Routt County is the country's healthiest high-performing rural community, according to U.S. News and World Report health rankings, which were released this year.
Read more
Thanks for a great fall season, Sailors! Read these end-of-season highlights from Steamboat Pilot & Today.
‘Soak up every second of it,’ Steamboat senior caps four-year career at volleyball regionals.
Read more
Steamboat Springs races forward through humbling state experience.
Read more
Sailors quarterback looks to end season on high note.
Read more
Steamboat soccer heads to Durango for 1st-round playoff game.
Read more
Steamboat boys golf makes history, places 2nd at state.
Read more
Steamboat boys tennis fights through playbacks.
Read more
|
|
Interested in serving on the
Steamboat Springs School District Board of Education? Applications are available at District offices at 325 Seventh St. To qualify, applicants must live within the limits of the Steamboat and be a registered voter for at least one year. Applications must be received by 10 a.m. Nov. 26. Interviews will be scheduled for Nov. 29. Click
here for more information
The number of students in our schools—up 24% over the past 10 years—continues to grow, and our schools are already at or beyond capacity. The Steamboat Springs School District Advisory Committee is currently considering potential scenarios to build for the future. Community members are invited to review those scenarios and provide their input.
We hope you will plan to attend one of the following forums:
Tuesday, November 13, 6:00–7:30 p.m. at Steamboat Springs High School
Thursday, November 15, 6:00–7:30 p.m. at Steamboat Springs High School
Saturday, December 1, 9:00–10:30 p.m. at Soda Creek Elementary School
|
November 10: Girls on the Run Fall 5K
November 13: Common Ground Community Forum, 6PM SSHS
November 15: Common Ground Community Forum, 6PM SSHS
November 15: Flu Shot Clinic, SSHS
November 15: Parent Connection Summit, Colorado Mountain College, 8:15AM - 2:55PM, click
here to register
November 21 - 23: Thanksgiving Break, No School
November 22:
Steamboat Springs Turkey Trot, 9:30AM Gardner Field, click
here
to register
December 1: Common Ground Community Forum, 9AM Soda Creek
|
Find out more about Steamboat Springs Parent Information Committees (PIC):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
