Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — South Routt Elementary School Principal Kim Rabon has submitted her resignation effective at the end of the 2005-06 school year.

The South Routt School Board accepted Rabon's resignation at its meeting Thursday night. The board also accepted the resignations of Mary Shanklin, who has taught kindergarten in South Routt for 34 years; Stagecoach bus driver Tom Estes, who is rehabilitating from a severe injury-related illness; and Gary Heide, physical education teacher at Soroco High School in Oak Creek.

Although Shanklin's resignation is effective at the end of the school year, she will continue to teach next year to take advantage of a Public Employees Retirement Association policy that will allow her to receive a district salary and retirement checks throughout the 2006-07 school year. She said her resignation is because of family matters and that she has no plans to leave South Routt.

"This is home," Shanklin said Thursday.

The reasons for Rabon's resignation -- and her future plans -- are less clear.

"The School Board decided to open the position for next year," Rabon wrote in an e-mail to the Steamboat Pilot & Today. "This is a result of some unrest that began last year. I was named interim principal last year, and teachers were told they would be given the opportunity to interview principals for this year. That did not happen, and I was rehired for this year, unanimously, by last year's (school) board.

"Some teachers were not happy about this. The board has changed considerably this year, and feels, in light of some new issues, the process should happen now. I was offered an interview but have chosen to move on to the next steps in my profession. I wish South Routt School District great success."

Rabon said Thursday that she doesn't want to continue working at South Routt Elementary School without the full backing of the School Board.

"It's just not fitting right," she said. "I haven't decided what I'm going to do."

Rabon was not available Friday to specify about the "new issues" she mentioned in her e-mail.

South Routt Super--intendent Kelly Reed would not comment about the issue.

"All that I'm at liberty to say is that the board felt it was in the best interest of the district to open the position (to interviews)," Reed said.

Schools in South Routt and Hayden are off for spring break next week. Classes resume March 27.

--o reach Mike Lawrence, call 871-4203

or e-mail mlawrence@steamboatpilot.com