School Board seats uncontested
Search continues for candidates in three districts
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Steamboat Springs — No official candidates have stepped forward as of Wednesday to be candidates for School Board seats in the Steamboat Springs, Hayden and South Routt School Districts.
Three of the five School Board seats in Steamboat are up for grabs in the November election, while two are open in Hayden, and five of seven seats are open in South Routt.
In Steamboat, board members Jeff Troeger, Char Rusk and Jerry Kozatch have said they intend to run for their seats, but none has turned in a completed petition. Troeger is the only board member seeking re-election; Rusk and Kozatch were appointed to their positions.
Kozatch, who was appointed to finish the term vacated when Tom Miller-Freutel resigned in September 2006, said he is running because he wants to be part of developing a more positive atmosphere in the district. He also wants to be involved hiring a superintendent and help the district's four new administrators transition into their jobs.
"We are also at the point where we are actually building things with our three construction projects at the elementary schools and the middle school," he said. "I want to see the projects through. Hopefully, my input will help the process."
Rusk and Kozatch said they want to help the district move forward after several tumultuous months that ultimately led to the buyout of former Superintendent Donna Howell's contract.
"I'm running because I'm interested in moving the direction in a positive direction," said Rusk, who abstained from voting on buying out Howell's contract.
Kozatch, along with the rest of the board, voted to buy out Howell's contract for $270,000 in addition to the $37,500 owed to her in personal and vacation leave.
Kozatch represents District 5, which includes most of Old Town. District 2, represented by Troeger, includes south Steamboat, while Rusk's District 4 includes parts of Old Town and areas west of downtown Steamboat.
Ann Muhme, assistant to the superintendent, said no challengers have filed petitions, but on Monday, Steamboat Springs resident Lisa Brown confirmed her candidacy, although she has yet to turn in her nominating petition. Brown would run for the District 2 seat held by Troeger.
"One of the reasons that I'm running is that I have very young children," said Brown, who has a daughter in kindergarten and a son in third grade. "I have 14 years of education ahead of me in my family, so what happens in the school district impacts my children, as well as many other children in our area."
No candidates have stepped forward to fill board seats in the Hayden School District or the South Routt School District.
South Routt Superintendent Kelly Reed said four potential candidates have picked up petitions as of Wednesday, but no one has officially filed. Reed wouldn't say whether any of the four is a current School Board member up for re-election.
The five open South Routt School Board seats are District 1 (Oak Creek), District 4 (areas northeast of Oak Creak), District 5 (south of Yampa), District 6 (Yampa) and District 7 (Oak Creek).
Hayden School District Finance Director Jnl Linsacum said District B, which is held by School Board Vice President Jody Camilletti, and District D, which is held by Troy Wertenberger, are up for election. Both Camilletti and Wertenberger were first elected in 1999 and were re-elected to four-year terms in 2003.
"Typically, what happens is that people wait until the last minute to file petitions," she said.
Comments
another_local 5 years, 9 months ago
Dr D should step down for the good of the district. Very few responsible people are willing to sit on a board with him. If he were gone I think more people would step forward.
Matthew Stoddard 5 years, 9 months ago
Bullcrap. 3 Seats are up for election. That means 3 people that don't possibly agree with how D does things could sit as a majority if elected. Quit making excuses.
Matthew7_1_5 5 years, 9 months ago
A_L still casting stones after all of this time? Please release the anger in your heart and let this man alone. You hurt your own soul. Allow yourself peace. Your inner turmoil is saddening.
sportzmama 5 years, 9 months ago
Come on people - For all the conversation that's happened on this site, there has to be a few folks willing to step forward. To be perfectly honest, I would but I've been in Steamboat full time for only 6 months. I am giving serious thought to a future run after I'm more established in the community. If viable candidates do step up to oppose the current board members up for re-election, I plan to get involved with their campaigns for sure.
The only way to make a change for our kids and our community is to vote out office those we disagree with. That's the way the process works in this country. This is no time for apathy.
Matthew7_1_5 5 years, 9 months ago
It may not be apathy, sportzmama, it may be contentment with those who serve. Six months is not enough time to really understand the complexities of the issues that have transpired over these last four months. That's 2/3 of the time you have lived here. Broaden your perspective and talk to the current board members, go to a board meeting and ask questions. See for yourself if there have been false witnesses on this site. Seek and ye shall find.
sarakg 5 years, 9 months ago
What is it with the Matts on this site? Trust me, it's apathy...
elkwatch 5 years, 9 months ago
Just my opinion but it seems like it would be healthier for some people to tune out of anything to do with the school board and let it go. I'm sure others will carry the torch for you, sarakg. I hope the whole G. family doesn't end up in therapy for years over all this.
sarakg 5 years, 9 months ago
elk (both watch and 2)-
Thank you so much for your concern. I know our family is very grateful for your concern about our mental health, especially since you have recently named members of our family as crooks and hypocrites, and participated in the public accusation of a then high school student (my little sister-and you were waaay off by the by). We greatly appreciate your concern, and I can assure you that our family dynamics are fine, as well as our mental health. And, while I respect your opinion, I pay taxes in Steamboat as well and should have the same say as any other constituant, regardless of my last name. So on this point we will have to respectfully disagree. Thank you again for your concern.
Sincerely, Sara
Matthew Stoddard 5 years, 9 months ago
Can't speak for the other guy, but all your family woes are deserved, Sara. You father flat out lied. Plain and simple. (at least I answer your questions)
sarakg 5 years, 8 months ago
Matt, you remind me of the smartest thing I think I've ever heard, and I don't remember who said it, but it's true...
"Don't defend yourself to your friends, they don't need it anyway; don't defend yourself to your enemies, they won't believe you anyway."
Your asinine accusations are lies. You have asked me questions, and I have answered those that I wasn't too bored to get to by the time I was halfway through your comments to the best of my ability. My family actually has no woes (except my darn dog, who never comes when she's called), but again, thanks for your concern. Perhaps I should ask your wife how she feels about having a husband who never stops shooting off him mouth, in printable, written, and proven form, none the less? I highly doubt that you could begin to understand the way that this has effected my family, but I can assure you that our personal crisis is being very well managed. Can't say the same for our district, though. And I think now I will stop defending the right thing to you, Matt. You won't believe anything I say anyway.
Matthew Stoddard 5 years, 8 months ago
Sara- I'm in the phone book. You can ask her yourself.
You haven't answered any questions anyway, so I still don't expect you to. It's still proven that your father carefully crafted an excuse for leaving his postition and lied about the reasons for disclosing emails that Howell never said she gave to him, only Stephenson. They conspired for 2 years to oust D. At least D admitted his mistake. Your father couldn't even do that.
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