By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The Raton School Board met Monday evening and listened to an hour and 45 minutes of comments and discussion before tabling the consolidation issue till January’s meeting.
Board member Beaver Segotta made the motion to table the issue without a timeline saying that he felt it was moving fast and maybe a even a bit too fast for him. Board member Ted Kamp amended the motion bringing the issue back to the table in January with a second from board president Art Armijo who attended the meeting by phone.
Board member Kathy Honeyfield wants teachers and administrators at the school to look at this as an opportunity to “mix it up and get things hoppin’ around here. I have worked with many of you and you have so much to give but we are not using it. It would be vertical teaming and you would be helping the kids more than you are now. As Ms.Ahlm pointed out in a previous meeting about the accomplishments of our kids, imagine what we can do if we can streamline some of these programs. What we could do if we got the seventh graders started in FFA earlier.”
Board member Ted Kamp noted that many of the surveys he read were filled with malice, bitterness and hatred, and that there would be a serious effort to undermine the effort if we don’t get everyone on board. Board member Beaver Segotta wants the principals to get with teachers and talk with them and work out solutions to some of the issues facing them with consolidation. He added that he wants the faculty on board with this, noting that in the 500 or so surveys returned he didn’t see that.
The decision to table passed on a 4-0 vote. The board will meet next month on January 12th in the Krivokapich Media Center at Raton High School.
