School board appreciation

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Please celebrate, along with me, the appreciation and recognition of our 7 school board members who voluntarily give so much of their time listening to concerns and making many decisions related to our students, families, staff members and community. Often times being a board member is a thankless job yet I, we, thank you immensely for your service to the school district. It is not an easy job and sometimes the decision making process and ensuing votes are difficult and not without controversy. I, we, respect your decision making skills and the ability to stand tall with your decision when guided by fact even if not the popular choice. Thank you for exercising your sound judgement, voting intelligence, and desire to do what is best for all concerned. You, President Sherry Gomez, Vice President Gretchen Sporleder Orr, Treasurer Julia Marchant, Secretary Dorothy Martinez and members David Tesitor, Eva Vigil and Jaye Sudar are appreciated and valued! Thank you for being you. Please give a hats off and a thank you when you see these folks out and about in Walsenburg or Gardner.

Superintendent Mike Moore

Update for 1/15/2019 From Superintendent Moore

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Today’s post is an attempt to answer some questions that some of you have asked but please bear in mind that there is still an ongoing investigation by the sheriff’s department.
Has the issue been resolved? The issue has been resolved to a degree that we feel safe to hold school under normal conditions. Have the guns been found? 2 of the 4 weapons have been found and a suspect is in jail. Are the 3 incidents connected? No, it is our belief, as well as the sheriff’s department, after conducting interviews, that the incident of a verbal threat intended for the Assistant Principal was not related to any of the break-ins at 2 faculty member’s homes in which weapons and a few other items were stolen.The verbal comment from a student never stated violence with a weapon or words that would suggest any harm to our kids.etc. Will the children be safe going back to school? No threat? Yes, I firmly believe the children will be safe or I would not have reopened school. There has been no known threat or statement, verbal, written or overheard about violence or harm directed at our students or staff as a result of or because of the stolen weapons. The break-ins are being viewed as incidents in and of themselves and perhaps very likely connected. The 1 break-in happened in Las Animas County and is thus the investigation of their sheriff’s department. I have no updates that I can release on the progress of their investigation. Both departments are trying to connect the dots to determine if there is any connection to both crimes.

I have always made decisions based 100% on the side of caution & safety for our children be it during inclement weather or other situations that have arisen. Safety for our students and employees is always our top priority and concern.
I hope these responses have helped to answer your questions. Thank you.
Superintendent Moore

Update from Superintendent Moore

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Dear Parents, employees ,
students and community members: Update to school situation! We had provided a generic statement about our school lockdown and closure referring to it as a precautionary security measure. We did so in order that any investigations being conducted by our Sheriff’s department were not compromised by any release of information that we were aware of. Investigations are still ongoing yet I feel I can provide you with some information of which you will see on channel 13 and 5 news reports.
On Wednesday late morning I was informed of a verbal threat meant for our AP at Peakview School. Student was disciplined according to District procedures and policies. Later we learned of a robbery at the Ap’s home in which 2 handguns were stolen. Knowing that these weapons had not been found or any suspect caught, I made the decision to close school for Thursday. Later Wednesday evening I got a report that another Peakview faculty members home had been robbed and 2 more firearms stolen. The latest update is that 2 of the 4 stolen firearms have been returned and investigations are still occurring.
I will provide an update about school on Monday as I get more information hopefully to come to my attention soon.
Thank you for your patience and understanding about the importance of not divulging specific information during ongoing investigations.
After just watching 13 news, it was never said that we expected a school shooting. It was stated, after being asked a question about school shootings, that with all the school shootings that have happened in the US and having employee’s weapons stolen, “Who knows? The possibility is always there and that certainly it is off concern considering we have just had employee homes robbed for their weapons”
Superintendent Moore