Caution urged in Garfield Re-2 board leadership

As a retired teacher, former Colorado state representative and senator, and former chair of the Colorado House Education Committee, I have dedicated much of my life to public education. That is why I urge caution as Garfield Re-2 welcomes Megan Heil, temporarily appointed to the board until voters  decide who should represent them.

Our community just endured the turmoil of Tony May’s tenure — marked by partisanship, disregard for procedure and rhetoric that divided neighbors — until voters recalled him. We must not travel that road again.

Heil’s campaign casts her as a proud conservative promising to uphold “family values.” On her website, she declares she is the “only conservative Christian running.” How exactly does she know that? Has she quizzed the other candidates about their faith? More importantly, religious identity is not a qualification for public office; the Constitution makes clear that church and state must remain separate. Public service should unite, not divide, a community.

Her law enforcement background deserves respect, but she brings little knowledge of education policy. Having chaired the House Education Committee, I know how complex school governance is. It requires expertise in curriculum, budgeting, accountability and inclusion — not slogans or ideology.

By contrast, Darlane Evans, an educator with 28 years of classroom experience, including 19 in Garfield Re-2, understands students, teachers and learning. Her focus is on solutions, not culture wars. She offers the steady leadership our district deserves, not the divisive extremism that has failed communities elsewhere.

Respectfully,
Michael Merrifield, New Castle

Support for Tamara Nimmo in District A

Please mark your ballots for Tamara (Tammy) Nimmo for school board District A. I grew up in the Roaring Fork School District, graduating from Roaring Fork High School in 2004. Now having children of my own attending Crystal River Elementary School, I see that many of the challenges our school system faced back then are still present today — teacher retention, achievement gaps between Latino students and their peers, thin budgets and more.

Tammy clearly understands these issues, as she has spent a great deal of her time volunteering and working in our schools over the last decade. Along with her experience, Tammy embodies genuine care for her community. Ask anyone with students at CRES, and they will know Tammy’s warm smile from somewhere — PTO meetings, fundraisers, volunteering for field trips and more.

We can trust that Tammy’s service on the school board will prioritize our students and teachers, and our entire community will be better for it.

Dan Ives, Carbondale

Darlane Evans for Garfield Re-2 School Board

I believe the schools are the nucleus of the community. How fortunate we are that Darlane Evans decided to be a candidate for that vital position on the school board.

Having grown up attending Rifle schools, as did her children, Darlane knows this community. The board needs an advocate for children, education and community — and those are exactly Darlane Evans’ passions.

Darlane doesn’t assume she knows all. She’s written some of those questions sent out by the school asking for citizen input because she knows your voice is important. She is open-minded, able to see the big picture, cares deeply about our youth and knows the ins and outs of our educational system.

I proudly recommend my kind, hardworking, honest friend for the Garfield Re-2 School Board.

Monica Miller, Rifle

Concerns about Glenwood Springs speed cameras

If the city wants to control speeding in town, maybe they could focus on speed bumps instead of cameras. Most of the speeding is on Highway 82 coming downvalley. I believe the city has made a poor choice with these cameras.

Tom Lean, Glenwood Springs

Appreciation for Thunder River Theatre Company

Thank you to Thunder River Theatre Company for providing our community with high-quality and thought-provoking theatrical productions about important topics.

Their current production of “The Secretary” is extremely well done, bringing light to varying perspectives on gun violence and domestic violence while incorporating moments of humor into these heavy and controversial themes.

You’d be doing yourself a service by attending this production, supporting TRTC and then engaging in meaningful conversation with others about these topics.

Alana Hanks, Silt

A Message from the RFSD School Board president

As we approach the upcoming school board elections in November, I want to encourage the Roaring Fork Schools community to stay informed and engaged. Whether you are casting a vote, meeting with a candidate, or considering running for a seat in the future, your participation matters for the future of our students, schools, and district. The Board of Directors play a pivotal role in serving the Roaring Fork Schools, from managing budgets and evaluating the superintendent to ensuring compliance and setting district priorities. The Board of Education serves as the voice of all stakeholders, including students, staff, parents, and the broader Glenwood to Basalt community. 

In recent years, the board has focused on strengthening internal systems, participating in professional development, and increasing transparency through new finance and policy committees. The board consists of five elected representatives who bring their personal experiences to represent the five individual districts, fourteen schools plus their staff, as well as over 5,600 students and their families. They strive to make well-informed decisions for the future of students, staff, and the district as a whole. 

As we move into October, please take a moment to review candidate statements, ask questions of our candidates, attend or listen to a forum, and make time to read relevant candidate articles. If you reside within the district boundaries, you can vote for a candidate in each director district. And if you ever want to discuss what board service entails, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a board member; we are always happy to share. 

Jasmin Ramirez, Glenwood Springs

Editor’s note: The same letter is printed below in Spanish.

Un Mensaje de la Presidenta de la Junta de Educación de RFSD 

A medida que nos acercamos a las próximas elecciones de la Junta Escolar en noviembre, quiero invitar a toda la comunidad de las Escuelas Roaring Fork a mantenerse informada y participar activamente. Ya sea que planee emitir su voto, reunirse con un(a) candidato(a) o considerar postularse para un cargo en el futuro, su participación es fundamental para el futuro de nuestros estudiantes, nuestras escuelas y nuestro distrito. 

La Junta Directiva desempeña un papel crucial en el funcionamiento de las Escuelas Roaring Fork: administra presupuestos, evalúa a la superintendenta, garantiza el cumplimiento de normas y establece las prioridades del distrito. La Junta de Educación actúa como la voz de todos los grupos de interés, incluidos estudiantes, personal, familias y la comunidad en general, desde Glenwood Springs hasta Basalt. 

En los últimos años, la Junta se ha enfocado en fortalecer los sistemas internos, participar en desarrollo profesional y aumentar la transparencia mediante nuevos comités de finanzas y políticas. La Junta está compuesta por cinco representantes electos que aportan sus experiencias personales para representar los cinco distritos individuales, catorce escuelas y su personal, así como a más de 5,600 estudiantes y sus familias. Su objetivo es tomar decisiones bien fundamentadas para el futuro de los estudiantes, el personal y el distrito en su conjunto. 

Al entrar en octubre, le animamos a tomarse un momento para revisar las declaraciones de los candidatos, hacerles preguntas, asistir o escuchar un foro, y leer artículos relevantes sobre su trayectoria y propuestas. Si usted reside dentro de los límites del distrito, puede votar por un(a) candidato(a) en cada distrito directivo. Y si alguna vez desea conversar sobre lo que implica formar parte de la Junta, no dude en comunicarse con alguno de sus miembros; siempre estaremos encantados de compartir. 

Jasmin Ramirez, Glenwood Springs