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Garfield County School District No. 16 board approves policy updates, grants, personnel exceptions and audit extension
Summary
At its Oct. 14 meeting the Garfield County School District No. 16 Board adopted several CASB-recommended policy updates, approved the 2025 Unified Improvement Plan, accepted two Aspen Community Foundation grants, authorized bus repair payments and granted personnel-policy exceptions; most motions passed unanimously.
The Garfield County School District No. 16 Board of Directors on Oct. 14 approved a package of policy updates, accepted two grants and cleared several personnel exceptions and financial items during a regular meeting in Parachute.
Board President Vincent T. Tomasulo called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. and the board first voted to approve the meeting agenda. The board then entered and concluded an executive session to receive legal advice on several Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB) policies before returning to public action items.
The board adopted CASB-recommended policies at second reading by roll call, passing the measure 4-1; Kimberly S. Whelan cast the lone dissenting vote. The transcript records the motion to approve the policies "as amended" (M/S Gronewoller/Baker).
The board approved a slate of other motions by unanimous votes, including: the 2025 Unified Improvement Plan presented by Superintendent Dr. Jennifer A. Baugh and Assistant Superintendent Amber Clark; authorization of retroactive costs for school bus repairs for the Transportation Department; exceptions to resignation and voluntary longevity-incentive policies for two employees (employee #CO12969 and employee #JO60300); acceptance of two Aspen Community Foundation grants (Belonging Fund and Early Childhood grants); and a financial audit extension for fiscal year 2024-2025 requested by Chief Financial Officer Chelsey Gerard.
Votes at a glance: - Motion to approve agenda: Passed (5-0). - Executive session authorized (C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(b)): Passed (5-0) at 5:01 p.m.; concluded at 5:55 p.m. - CASB policies — 2nd reading/final adoption (multiple policies listed): Passed (4-1); Whelan — no. - CASB policies — 1st reading/1st vote (JRA/JRC, KLG, KLG-R): Passed (5-0). - 2025 Unified Improvement Plan: Passed (5-0). - Retroactive bus repair costs: Passed (5-0). - Exception to resignation policy for employee #CO12969: Passed (5-0). - Exception to voluntary longevity incentive for employee #JO60300: Passed (5-0). - Acceptance of Aspen Community Foundation Belonging Fund grant: Passed (5-0). (Amount not specified in transcript.) - Acceptance of Aspen Community Foundation Early Childhood Grant: Passed (5-0). (Amount not specified in transcript.) - Financial audit extension FY 2024-2025: Passed (5-0). - Adjournment: Passed (5-0).
Chief Financial Officer Chelsey Gerard reported the district’s student count at 1,158 and said, “As of today, the district is down 7 students. The various systems will be cleaned up by the end of the year. Bi-monthly pay will be implemented by July 1, 2026.” Nathan A. Humphrey, Chief of Operations & Innovation, told the board the district has applied for a Garfield County Federal Mineral Lease District grant for $200,000 to purchase one school bus and that a Director of Transportation will begin employment Nov. 4, 2025. Superintendent Dr. Jennifer A. Baugh noted that road construction on the Parachute overpass has caused some delays.
The board scheduled future work session topics including a Colorado River BOCES presentation by Leon Hanhardt and a Bea Underwood Elementary project wrap-up by Coleen Kanada of Dynamic Program Management, LLC. The meeting adjourned at 7:39 p.m.
