Superintendent Update
January 30, 2023
Through quality education our students will achieve personal success
The Telluride School District will support all students in striving for their highest potential through quality academics while addressing individual needs within a safe and healthy community.
Dear TSD Families,
This newsletter will cover the following topics:
1. Potential bond to go to the voters for capital projects and employee housing
2. Potential detachment and annexation of Rico from Dolores County School District to Telluride School District
3. Draft calendars for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025
4. Climate surveys for students, staff and parents in February
5. School cancellations and delays
6. School Safety
Potential Bond
Potential detachment and annexation of Rico
The Dolores County and Telluride Boards of Education both sent resolutions to the Commissioner of Education, who has now authorized the formation of a Planning Committee to study and potentially develop a Plan of Organization to officially move Rico from the Dolores County School District to the Telluride School District. The Planning Committee consists of the following six members, appointed by the BOEs and District Accountability Committees:
· Tracy Condon of Rico
· Sue Kunz of Rico
· Sarah Lyons of Rico
· Madeline Tanguay of Rico
· Kimberly Alexander of Dolores County
· Scott Landefeld of San Miguel County
The committee holds its first meeting on January 30 in Rico and this work will also continue through the Spring.
Calendars
Climate Surveys
School Cancellations and Delays
As several questions came up last week regarding weather-related closures, I am including the procedure below that we follow in making this determination. This is based on our emergency procedures but has been revised to reflect how we currently communicate through School Messenger and email. We added minutes to our daily schedule this year to increase the number of allowable cancellation days from one to three before we fall under the minimum number of required instructional minutes. With February and March historically being the snowiest months, I anticipate we will use most if not all of these allowable cancellation days. If we need to use more than those three days due to unsafe conditions, we will certainly do that and then figure out how to deal with it.
Weather Related Procedure for Closing School
In the event weather conditions are such that the safety of the children may be compromised when
busing students to or from school, the following procedures will be followed.
MORNING CLOSING:
1. Director of Operations (Ken) and Facilities and Maintenance Coordinator (Brandon) will evaluate the road conditions in the school district, by driving the roads and contacting the Sheriff and County Transportation Director when deemed necessary.
2. If conditions are such that a decision must be made to possibly cancel school, the Director of Operations will confer with the Superintendent, who will make a final determination. If the Superintendent is unavailable, the Director of Operations will contact Principals. The final decision will be made by the Director of Operations if the Superintendent is not available.
3. A decision to cancel school will be made by 6:00 a.m.
4. An email will go out to all staff.
5. School Messenger email, voice message, and texts will be sent to all family contacts, subs, coaches, and community organizations in the contact lists.
6. KOTO (728-4333) will be contacted to ensure that news of school cancellation will be broadcast in a timely manner.
7. Family notifications should be completed by 7:00 a.m.
MORNING DELAY:
1. In the event that a determination is made that conditions are unsafe for a normal start, but they are expected to improve to allow for a safe delayed start, the process above will be followed to communicate a two-hour delayed start. Bus routes will run exactly two hours later than normal. Each Principal will develop a schedule for their building reflecting a two-hour delay.
EARLY DAYTIME CLOSING:
1. In the event that developing conditions might prompt early closing of the school, the above procedures for determination and notification will be in effect.
2. Early closing will only take place if it is determined buses will be unable to travel safely at the time of normally scheduled runs, but will be able to travel safely by leaving earlier.
School Safety
I will close by reminding you of the goal areas we have identified this year through our Ends policies:
· Quality Academics
o Vertical and horizontal alignment of curriculum
o HR practices that result in retaining and recruiting excellent staff
· Addressing Individual Needs
o A Multi-Tiered System of Supports
o A robust Dual Immersion program
· Safe and Healthy Community
o Consistent student and staff culture across buildings which supports achieving ends
o Fair and equitable behavioral expectations and responses
We are continually working in all of these areas, and again as a reminder I will be presenting Monitoring Reports to the BOE on these goals in the months of March, April, and May.
Sincerely,
John Pandolfo
Superintendent
Email: jpandolfo@telluride.k12.co.us
Website: tellurideschool.org
Location: 725 West Colorado Avenue, Telluride, CO, USA
Phone: 970-369-1213