Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The Steamboat Springs School Board will meet today for its once-a-month study session. The public is welcome to attend.

The board has blocked off an hour for discussion of Administrative Policy F-15: Distribution/Posting of Material.

This policy, which was adopted in 1987, has come under fire recently from concerned parents who question the safety and purpose of allowing a religious group on middle school grounds during the school day.

Other non-religious groups, such as the Winter Sports Club also have been allowed in the school.

The school district has maintained it has not violated its policy, which describes the schools as "limited open forums," by allowing Young Life onto school grounds.

Superintendent Cyndy Simms has proposed a compromise that would ban all non-school groups from meeting during lunch, but continue to allow them to meet before and after school.

Some parents have said any group allowed onto school grounds at any time poses safety threats to children.

Also at the session, board member Paula Stephenson will present an update on her search for the most appropriate method for surveying the community on its perceptions of the school district.

Parents concerned about the health of the school district amid recent controversies requested a school district survey.

At the Dec. 16 board meeting, Stephenson said focus groups dealing with district organizational issues, local perceptions of the district and communication breakdowns within the district would provide better results than a citywide survey. She was still waiting for survey proposals from two organizations at the time.