1-Color
March 5, 2014
75 cents | Volume 49, Issue 7 Tri-Lakes Region, Monument, Gleneagle, Black Forest and Northern El Paso County A publication of
tri-lakestribune.net
Superintendent search narrowed to four finalists New administrative leader will be announced March 12 By Danny Summers
dsummers@ coloradocommunitymedia.com The four finalists for the vacant LewisPalmer District 38 Superintendent position were announced at the board of education meeting on Feb. 27. Following the executive session, it was announced that Karen Brofft, Antonio D Giurado, Karin Reynolds and Julia Roark have made the cut. Brofft is an education specialist in administrative leadership and policy studies from the University of Colorado at Denver. She is the current assistant superintendent for Englewood schools. She has 13 years
of teaching experience and 11 years of administrative experience. D Giurado has master’s in administration and supervision from the University of Phoenix Denver campus and is the current executive director of school effectiveness for Jefferson County Public Schools in Golden. He has six years teaching experience and 17 years administrative experience. Reynolds has masters in curriculum and instruction/leadership from University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. She is the deputy superintendent for Academy School District 20. She has 16 years teaching experience and 15 years administrative experience. Roark has a doctor of education in K-12 reading education from the University of Northern Colorado. She is the assistant superintendent of Aspen School District in Aspen. She has 12 years teaching expe-
rience and 18 years administrative experience. An informal, community reception will be held on March 7 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. for the finalists at the district administration building (Big Red), 146 Jefferson St., Monument. The public is welcome to attend and to meet and talk with the candidates. On March 8, finalists will be interviewed in closed session by three pre-selected interview teams comprised of community members, staff, parents, administrators and others. Finalists will also be interviewed by the board of education. Following the interviews, representatives from each team will share input with board of education members. If all goes according to plan, the board will hold special meeting on March 12 to publicly announce the person chosen as superintendent and initiate contract negotiations.
On March 20, the board plans to confirm the hiring of the new superintendent of schools at the regular monthly board meeting and formally approve a contract. The announcement may also be viewed live via streaming video at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/lpsd-live. Bob Cito of the Colorado Association of School Boards said that he wants the superintendent to be visible in the schools and the community and possess communications skills with the staff and community. Mark Pfoff, board president, noted that the average term of recent superintendents has been two-and-a-half-years. He added that the turnover rate is much higher than he would prefer. Cito added that he would like to see a candidate stay in the position five to seven years.
LET THE HEALING BEGIN
Residents on both sides of aisle say it’s time to move on By Danny Summers
dsummers@ coloradocommunitymedia.com
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lack Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District Board President Eddie Bracken believes the time is long overdue for the tight-knit community to heal from last year’s fire. “This whole episode has been very divisive in the community,” Bracken said. “I want to bring the community together. I want to heal it. This he-said, she-said dialogue has to end. “I’m not going to permit this community to fracture.” Bracken was speaking in direct response to results of a lengthy report in which an independent investigator — hired by the board — determined that Black Forest Fire chief Bob Harvey was not liable of any misconduct from last year’s massive blaze that killed two people and destroyed 488 homes. On Feb. 19, Bracken and his group released an eightpage summary of its independent investigation. The report contradicts the claim made by El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa that Harvey was negligent in his handling of the blaze that scorched more than 14,000 acres. It was the most destructive blaze in Colorado history. “It’s time to move on,” said Erik Adams, who lost his home in the fire. “It’s easy to play Monday morning quarterback after the fact, but how’s that going to help now? “The fire may have been mishandled, but the fire chief did the best he could. Just to throw him out on the street or bring in somebody new won’t change anything now.” Adams, like many others in the forest, was caught off guard when the fire broke. When he saw the giant plume of black smoke around 1 p.m. on June 11, he rushed to his house, gathered some belongings, and hurried down the road. He didn’t find out for six days if his home remained standing or not. “That fire got out of control so fast there was nothing anybody could have done,” Adams said. “The first day there were no resources on site. That wasn’t the chief’s fault. Once the resources were here the homes lost went down considerably.” Healing continues on Page 8
POSTAL ADDRESS
Black Forest Fire Chief Bob Harvey (out front at the microphone) at a media briefing June 19, as Sheriff Terry Maketa (black shirt, third from the left) and other local officials look on. Photo by Rob Carrigan
Commissioner Glenn, Bracken dig in Black Forest Fire Board election already heating up By Danny Summers
dsummers@ coloradocommunitymedia.com El Paso County Commissioner Darryl Glenn has made it very clear that he is not happy with the current Black Forest Fire/Protection District Board and that he would like to see major changes when the
TRI-LAKES TRIBUNE
May 6 mail-in ballot election rolls around. Board President Eddie Bracken has made it clear that retirement is not in his future. P.J. Langmaid, Jayne McConnellogue and Rick Nearhoof have made it clear that they plan to shake things up if they are elected. And last, but not least, Chief Bob Harvey continues to keep a relatively low profile. “I’m almost 77 years old and I’m getting tired of all
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Board continues on Page 8
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