Board approves consent bundle; public comments focus on Title IX, funding and inclusivity; CFO, negotiations update and student recognitions presented

The Thompson School District R‑2J Board of Education on Feb. 19 approved several routine consent items, heard public comment on federal education actions and funding, received a budget update and scheduled negotiations dates for the coming months. The meeting also included student and staff recognitions.

Votes at a glance

- Adoption of the Feb. 19, 2025 agenda: approved by roll call; motion moved and seconded and adopted unanimously. - Approval of minutes for Jan. 22, 2025 and Feb. 5, 2025: approved by roll call, unanimously. - Approval of action consent items (as a single measure): approved unanimously. The consent bundle included personnel (extra duty and coaching), approval of expenditures over $50,000, multiple gifts and donations (including 30 Dell Chromebooks from Banner Health and an orchestra instrument donation), second reading of Policy GBI (criminal history record information), termination of a memorandum of understanding with Summer Stone Contract (term details in agenda), and a proclamation declaring February 2025 National School Counseling Week.

The motion to approve the consent items was moved and seconded and passed by roll call; board members recorded unanimous votes.

Public comment and board briefings

Public speakers addressed Title IX, executive orders and district policies. Amy Zwolan, who said she has a transgender child in the district, urged the board to keep policies that support transgender students and said, “What they need is support and inclusion and not judgment and hate.” Several other callers and speakers urged the board to oppose federal actions they described as threats to equity and to advocate with state legislators against proposed funding shifts.

In contrast, other public commenters urged the board to adopt policies restricting transgender participation in girls’ sports and to roll back DEI practices; speakers referenced recent federal court actions and an executive order cited during public remarks. The board did not take immediate policy action in response to public comment.

Budget and financial update

Chief Financial Officer Robert Ebersal told the board that the district’s cash position is adequate and that the January financials presented did not include a January budget load because minutes from the prior meeting were only approved that night. “Cash is okay. We're paying our bills. We don't worry about paying our employees,” Ebersal said, while adding the district will revise its reporting format to give more month‑by‑month clarity.

Negotiations and labor

Assistant Superintendent Bill Sieber and representatives of the Thompson Education Association presented a negotiation timeline and set meeting dates, including sessions in late February, March and April and a facilitator confirmed for the process. Teams finalized a set of critical questions that will guide talks: site‑based decision making, elementary plan time adjustments, compensation for recruitment and retention, grievance process clarifications, undesirable student behavior, leave practices and cleanup of MOU language.

Recognitions and district spotlights

The meeting featured several recognitions: the Loveland High School Wind Symphony’s invitation to perform at the Colorado Music Educators Association conference, four Boettcher Scholarship semifinalists from district high schools, four district Schools of Distinction (Kerry Martin Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Loveland Classical School and Coyote Ridge Elementary), and staff and community awards (Top of Thompson recipients and Pelican Joe’s Pizzeria as a community champion). Riverview PK‑8 students presented on their school RISE program (Resilience, Integrity, Supportive, Engaged) and described student leadership activities.

What’s next

The board set further study and follow‑up: staff will return with additional budget reporting in subsequent months, legal and insurance review will continue for the Centerra/Kinston school‑site question, and administrators will provide follow‑up data on remediation rates and other assessment breakdowns requested during the graduation‑rate presentation.

No formal policy changes or votes on Title IX or athletics policy were taken at the meeting.