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Mellor negotiation, superintendent search to be discussed

Mike McCollum

Steamboat Springs — The Steamboat Springs School Boards meets tonight at 6:30 p.m. in Centennial Hall for a special planning session in an attempt to catch up on the number of pressing issues facing the board. — The Steamboat Springs School Boards meets tonight at 6:30 p.m. in Centennial Hall for a special planning session in an attempt to catch up on the number of pressing issues facing the board.

— The Steamboat Springs School Boards meets tonight at 6:30 p.m. in Centennial Hall for a special planning session in an attempt to catch up on the number of pressing issues facing the board.

Among the issues the School Board will address tonight include negotiating with the Steamboat Springs School District’s Director of Finance, Dale Mellor, for compensation he’d like to receive for the six weeks he spent this fall as acting superintendent.

The School Board appointed board member Denise Connelly on Nov. 26 to negotiate an agreement with Mellor after he told school district officials he’d like to be financially compensated for his work during the period between the buyout of former Superintendent Donna Howell’s contract in August and the hiring of interim Superintendent Sandra Smyser in October.



Connelly said Mellor’s negotiation will be conducted in executive session – scheduled for the first 30 minutes of tonight’s meeting – because it’s a personnel issue.

Mellor previously said he would not discuss the negotiations until after tonight’s meeting, while Connelly said she hopes the meeting with Mellor provides the School Board with a better understanding of the additional duties Mellor took on as interim superintendent.



Other topics on the School Board’s agenda for tonight include a discussion on how to best move forward with a superintendent search.

The Steamboat Springs School Board voted 4 to 1 Nov. 26 to find a consulting firm to aid in the search for a new superintendent. Board members expect to hear from the district’s assistant to the superintendent, Anne Muhme, on the status of the consultant search.

Board member Denise Connelly, the board’s lone dissenter on looking for a consultant, previously said she is concerned that qualified candidates may be overlooked because search firms typically require a fee for candidates to be evaluated.

School Board member Lisa Brown said the district can expect to pay between $10,000 to $20,000 to hire a consulting firm to assist in the superintendent search.

The School Board will also receive updates on what funding priorities will be presented to the Education Fund Board and the Secure Our Schools grant, along with a discussion on long-range facility plans.

– To reach Mike McCollum, call 871-4208

or e-mail mmccollum@steamboatpilot.com


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