6x6 is a structure that several other districts in Colorado have adopted to maximize both human and other resources. In West Grand, this would mean moving grades 7 and 8 to the high school building; grade 6 would function more like an elementary class.

I participated in a Town Hall the superintendent hosted about 6x6 last spring, and the DAC has spoken with other districts that have made this transition to learn from their experiences.

I don‘t believe this is an issue to be for or against, but rather to explore.

If West Grand continues to have difficulty attracting and retaining teachers, making a change like this may be inevitable to ensure our kids get the best possible education.

What I do believe, though, is that a detailed plan needs developed, and communicated well and thoroughly to parents, students and the community.

It‘s no secret that West Grand, like schools around the country, is struggling with recruiting and retaining teachers.

This is a tough one. The reasons and solutions are complicated. Salaries, declining student population, subsidies, affordable housing... it‘s a complex economic puzzle, and there doesn‘t appear to be a “magic bullet“ that will simply fix it.

I believe that parents, guardians and families deserve genuine, honest conversations and updates about the specific staffing challenges and alternative solutions affecting their child‘s classroom.

I would also like to hear from teachers. As with many of our community‘s employers, solutions may lie in thinking creatively and being open minded.

aka The virus that shall not be named.

Schools in Georgia and California have reinstated mask mandates. To be honest, I didn‘t realize this until a parent asked me about my stance on masks.

I think we can all agree that no one wants to see masks, and a requirement for our children to wear them, return.

I am one of those people.

However, as we learned the first time around, simply saying “We‘re not doing that,“ isn‘t always possible, and comes with consequences - many of them financial, as West Grand is a publicly funded school district.

I think this is a very, very premature (and I would like to believe pointless) topic to include here. But IF this were to become a thing again, I would like to see clear, direct communication about the whys, wherefores, and consequences for going against the grain.