Steamboat Pilot & Today

Strawberry Park Elementary School Principal John DeVincentis and Steamboat Springs School District Superintendent Cyndy Simms previously agreed to use a mediator to help them establish and maintain a professional working relationship in the wake of last year's evaluation controversy.

New wording in DeVincentis' contract, if passed by the school board, may ensure he lives up to that agreement.

The employment contracts of three district administrators -- Simms, DeVincentis and high school assistant principal Mike Knezevich -- are up for renewal at tonight's school board meeting.

Typically, the school board renews such contracts without alteration. However, board member Tom Sharp said adjustments must be made to DeVincentis' current contract.

"I'm going to move to have John DeVincentis' contract not extended, and in place of that offer him a revised contract," Sharp said. "I believe a couple fundamental changes need to be placed in his contract."

A key clause will deal with DeVincentis' obligation to go to mediation with Simms. Simms and DeVincentis signed a mediation agreement on Dec. 19, according to Sharp. Sharp said DeVincentis has "waffled" on that agreement.

"This is not new, but it makes it mandatory in his contract," Sharp said.

DeVincentis said he is aware of the proposal.

"I'm not really too concerned about the change," DeVincentis said. "I think the contract is theirs to do what they want (with). I'm not concerned at all about the contract."

Sharp said DeVincentis will have a week to agree to the contract changes.

The school board will adopt Administrative Policy F-15 during tonight's meeting. The policy, which lies at the heart of the recent controversy involving a religious group's right to talk with middle school students, became an administrative policy when the school district shifted to policy governance. The school board has decided to make it a board policy.

Also at the meeting, Denver-based BONDI & Co. will publicly present its audit report of the school district. The audit received a qualified opinion because the North Routt Community Charter School failed to provide BONDI & Co. with documentation verifying its financial claims, according to school district finance director Dale Mellor.