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May 9, 2021
Dear TSD Families,
We are now less than two weeks from High School Graduation, and less than three weeks from the end of this epic school year. With various end-of-year events happening each week, the energy is certainly positive in all of our buildings and it feeling closer and closer to the “normal” school operation we all have been longing for. Each of your building principals are communicating about how our various end-of-year events will look. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions you have.
Thanks to many of you, we had a hugely successful Staff Appreciation Week. We are so lucky to have such dedicated and talented staff, and they have had such an incredibly hard year, that the special showing of thanks last week was touching. It is clear how much our community supports our schools, and we thank you for that from the bottom of our hearts.
A recent U.S. News report on high school rankings showed Telluride High School among the Top 20 in Colorado and within about the Top 2% in the nation. While we know we can (and will) do better than that, we are proud of the standing we currently have, and recognize it is due to the hard work of our teachers, students, administrators, support staff, and community. Thank you!
Our Board of Education met this past Tuesday for its Spring Retreat, which focused on governance and policies. The BOE next meets on May 17 for a Work Session at 3:30pm and May 18 for a Regular Monthly Meeting at 5:15pm. At the Regular Monthly Meeting, the 2021-2022 Budget will be presented to the BOE. Additionally this past week, members of the district administration and BOE met with members of the Telluride Teachers Associations for two days of contract negotiations. I am thrilled to say that we reached a Tentative Agreement which will next be presented to the TEA and BOE for ratification.
Thanks to those of you who reached out with ideas and contacts related to housing possibilities for our staff. Some of the tips we received after my last newsletter paid off, and we are grateful for that. We still need more help; if you are aware of any new housing opportunities, please reach out to Kim Spaulding at kspaulding@telluride.k12.co.us.
In addition to May being Sexual Assault Awareness Month (as mentioned in my last newsletter), May is also Mental Health Awareness Month. To see events hosted by Tri-County Health Network, go to: https://tchnetwork.org/events-and-classes/
To view our district and county COVID metrics, go to (http://tellurideschool.org/covid-19) and SMC metrics.
While things are going great in our own county related to COVID, I am asking that you continue to follow all precautions. Numbers are increasing in nearby counties as well as in counties on the front range, in other areas across the U.S., and around the world. We did have one student test positive this past week which resulted in nine other students quarantining. With COVID and many of its variants still around us, those simple things like: washing hands frequently; wearing a mask when indoors and near others; and staying home if you have symptoms; are all as important as ever. I am optimistic we will have a safe and successful end to our school year, and a fabulous summer, but everyone can help make that a reality by staying safe.
With immense pleasure and gratitude,
John Pandolfo
Superintendent
jpandolfo@telluride.k12.co.us
970-369-1213