Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The Steamboat Springs School Board on Monday will say goodbye to its outgoing members and welcome three new ones when it meets for the first time since the Nov. 1 election.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a thank you to School Board President Paula Stephenson and former School Board members Michael Loomis and Tami Havener.

Stephenson, who has given 10 years of volunteer service to the board, said she is looking forward to some time off.

"My only job on Monday is to call the meeting to order, preside over the selection of a new president and hand the gavel over. Then I'm done," Stephenson said.

Loomis said he has filed a request to fill an open seat on the Education Fund Board and is preparing a statement for Monday's meeting. He has served on the board since 2003.

Havener, executive director of the Discovery Learning Center in Steamboat, resigned her District 1 position in June.

Stephenson's District 3 seat is filled by retired teacher Denise Connelly, who will be sworn in Monday along with new members Tom Miller-Freutel, a telecommunications businessman representing District 5, and retired Strawberry Park Elementary School principal John DeVincentis, representing District 1.

After the swearing in, new officers -- president, vice president, secretary and treasurer -- will be elected.

The board also is scheduled to discuss balanced leadership, hear public comments and plan for board representation at future meetings, including a community forum, a Rotary luncheon and a City Council meeting.

-- To reach Mike Lawrence, call 871-4203 or e-mail mlawrence@steamboatpilot.com