The Last Stand
Comments by wakeup
Page 1 of 1
On Howell leaving district
(anonymous)
August 10, 2007 at 8:07 p.m.
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I attended the board meeting today to hear the public comments made. NOT ONE person said that they wanted to see Donna Howell fired. Every person said positive things about Donna Howell referencing her integrity and honor in the face of a disgusting situation. Centennial Hall was full of people who supported and applauded each public comment. Therefore, I am speechless. How can our elected officials choose to do what we as a community did not want done? Are they not here to represent us? What people did say is that the problems/conflicts lie with the individuals on the board, and that maybe they should resign if they can't resolve them. I agree with that wholeheartedly! We are now 2 weeks out from the beginning of the school year without a superintendent. Oh, but I am sure that Dale Mellor will really be able to fill Donna's shoes and do his own job. (notice the sarcasm). I lost faith today in our political process even in our small community. I had already lost respect for it as a nation, but thought that “the second friendliest community in the USA” could make it work. The only two words that can really express my sentiment right now are…utter disgust!
On School Board debate lingers
(anonymous)
August 9, 2007 at 1:16 p.m.
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I don't think as a district we can afford (monetarily or practically) a new superintendent. As Bikegirl said, we have major building projects happening as well as major district administrative positions being filled with hopefuls. We need leadership, and it certainly isn't coming from the BOE. Truly, the lack of organization in the Steamboat School District is quite sad considering its size and well-educated staff. What is truly important is educating the children well, and isn't that being done? I believe that we have phenomenal CSAP scores that reflect that. Now as a district, we need to look towards the future of a certain level of organization and understanding of policy. If Donna Howell is fired tomorrow (as was eluded to in the article), I can guarantee that the 2007-2008 school year will be comprised on many different levels. We need leadership, and we need to know that elected officials as well as hired administrators can work together and solve past disagreements or misjudgements. Bottom line is that the district and the BOE are setting a poor example for the children of Steamboat Springs. If it is going to take $400,000 plus legal costs for the BOE to resolve this by firing Donna, then I think we need to think twice about who we elect in upcoming elections.
On Howell, School Board to meet
(anonymous)
July 11, 2007 at 5:21 p.m.
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All-
I agree with sportzmama. As an educator in the district, I would like to see an end to this! Enough already. It seems like everyone involved has a point of view, and that what is lacking due to all of this is leadership in the schools. I hope that the 2007-2008 school year brings the end to this controversy and a year with strong leadership to the district.
On Does more need to be done to accommodate bicyclists on Routt County roads?
(anonymous)
June 25, 2007 at 12:30 p.m.
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Steamboat needs to build more bike paths and bike lanes to keep bikers safe. As a community, we are way behind in that area compared to other ski area communities. Also, we need to educate drivers of the proper way to mind cyclists on the road. Many people are driving around town with one hand on the wheel and the other hand on their cell phones or minding their children in the backseat. They need to keep their eyes open and focus on the road and remember their primary responsibility. Routt County motorists also need to remember to use turn signals. All these actions would help to make the roads of Routt County safer for cyclists.
On Should current school employees be allowed to serve on the School Board?
(anonymous)
June 11, 2007 at 4:59 p.m.
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I inferred that from your rantings about how conservative common people should make the budget to give kids a terrific education. I am sorry if I misinferred that.
On Should current school employees be allowed to serve on the School Board?
(anonymous)
June 10, 2007 at 8:59 p.m.
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So, the condoguy1, you are saying that teachers don't make good decisions in teaching our children, and that people from other professional areas have more expertise for what works. Let me guess that you are someone from another professional area that has kids and thinks that he knows what is best for children in regards to education. I agree that current school district empolyees shouldn't serve on the school board for democracy sake. However, I would support a change in politicians making the calls for what is best when it comes to educating children. Study some of the history of education, and you will see that the top-down policy approach from politicians to educators doesn't work, because the politicians simply don't have the research and the knowledge to know what works best when educating children. The system needs to change, and it is slowly. I do think that educators need to continue to educate the politicians about what works and what doesn't work, so that we will stop wasting millions of dollars on tests that measure a certain cultural and socio-economic level of knowledge. Then, the educators could work on finding authentic assessments that truly measure students' knowledge for the better of all society.
On Spirits run high at annual Cinco de Mayo event in Craig
(anonymous)
May 8, 2007 at 8:18 a.m.
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Hey Freshair—
Have you studied US History lately to reveal that Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona were once Mexican territory? So your quote about the border crossing them is true. You are exactly right that I am a liberal, and it sounds like you could use a little education to open your mind as well. America is a country of multi-culturalism which honors the many immigrant populations that have inhabited this land. It sounds like you need to wake up and smell the coffeee. Generally, the Mexicans that live in America want to learn English and become part of our culture while perserving their cultural heritage as well. The real problem lies between the Mexican government and the US government not with the immigrants. Perhaps if our political and financial relationship with Mexico improved, the large Mexican influx of immigrants would deminish.
On Spirits run high at annual Cinco de Mayo event in Craig
(anonymous)
May 7, 2007 at 4:56 p.m.
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I cannot believe that a non-profit organization cannot have a multi-cultural celebration in this area of Colorado without the debate you all are having. The recognition of this holiday by a non-profit organization that is working to integrate our community with our many immigrant residents, who are helping to build and be a part of the Steamboat/Craig/Hayden community, was an effort to celebrate and bring people together. The debate over immigration and the fact that all Americans are immigrants is a legitimate one. However, there is a huge issue between first world America and our developing nation south of the border otherwise known as Mexico. The immigrants, who leave their families, homes, and land, come to the US possibly to earn more money and to have a better life. Sure they want to celebrate their holidays as well as ours. This is a huge population that raises an entirely different debate than your European immigrants that have chosen to live in America. Mexico is a nation that lacks guidance, economic stability, and equal education for all. If you lived next door to a nation that could possibly provide that, wouldn't you want to share in that as well, while paying taxes and celebrating your cultural heritage? The immigration issue between Mexico and the US is a far more complicated issue than can be discussed here. Just understand that the celebration was intended to honor a holiday that is actually celebrated here more than in Mexico (like St. Patrick's Day), and it was meant to bring people together. So relax, and enjoy the fact that Routt and Moffat County have a more diversified community, and maybe next time a celebration like this one occurs, more of the Anglo population in these two counties can come together to celebrate and get to know one another under the pretense of an originally Mexican holiday that we have Americanized!
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On Emerald development proposed (anonymous)
July 1, 2008 at 3:56 p.m.
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I was just thinking as I was mountain biking on Emerald Mountain this morning that we are so lucky to have this open space right in town, and that if we didn't have it, Steamboat would lose a lot of its charm. We can't sell off all the open space. It is why many of us are here. We need to sustain the amount we have. We don't want to sell off Steamboat to the rich, and make it unattainbale for all of us who live here and serve the community. I hope that Orton will consider all of this before he sells out.