We look forward to our students returning to classrooms next week as we welcome back secondary students on Monday, August 17 and preK and elementary students on Wednesday, August 19. Thank you to everyone who attended last night’s Open House!  Elementary families, please stop by and Meet Your Teacher on Monday, August 17 from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

We are pleased to welcome Ms. Diana Magdato to our 2nd grade classroom. Ms. Magdato is an experienced teacher visiting from the Phillipines. Unfortunately, her arrival is delayed by adverse weather conditions, so she will be unavailable on Monday. Second grade families are encouraged to stop by and meet our team and we hope to see Ms. Magdato in her classroom next week.  Thank you to the La Veta school community for making her feel at home.  

Board of Education Update: August 10, 2026 Regular Meeting

The Board of Education held its regular meeting on Monday, August 10, during pre-service week. A recording of the meeting is available here: https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/hOyIzu9hVt_d_FWGcZHT2AitpFuYJqa9oPUbaia4nV-8zPBQDPaItYq4e-MJFf8.5HFMIlM2mbfrAMgL

CTE Report and Facility Tour

Mr. Alan Nelms, Assistant Principal and CTE Director, updated the Board on the $2.1 million Opportunity Now Colorado grant. The grant is administered by South Central BOCES and it supports our construction and advanced manufacturing programs. La Veta applied for and was selected to serve as a hub for the grant across the 12 SC-BOCES member districts, and as a result we host both pathways, welcoming students from other area schools. Our construction pathway is entering its third year, while advanced manufacturing launches brand new this fall with equipment recently purchased through the grant. As part of his report, Mr. Nelms led the Board on a tour of the CTE facilities.

In the design lab, grant funds have purchased high-end computers running the full Autodesk suite, including Fusion 360, AutoCAD, Revit, and Maya, and students work toward Autodesk industry certifications. In the advanced manufacturing space, the Board saw the new Amatrol training systems: 3D printers, a CNC router and lathe, a solar energy trainer, a relay control system, and a water jet cutter that makes precision cuts through half-inch steel. Students begin the year with basic electrical circuits and coding, learning to write and troubleshoot the programs that drive these machines.

Mr. Nelms also announced a brand new health sciences pathway, funded through a newly awarded state grant described below, beginning this week with medical terminology and anatomy and physiology. Several students will also travel to Walsenburg for morning automotive coursework.

This work connects directly to Colorado's Postsecondary Workforce Readiness requirements: beginning with this year's freshman class, every graduate must earn an industry certificate, complete 12 hours of college credit, or finish a supervised work-based learning experience. While our graduation guidelines policy will need revision this year, our students are well positioned. This year’s schedule includes concurrent coursework in cooperation with Western Colorado University as well as expanded offerings in CTE.  We are offering first level courses in ag sciences, computer science, manufacturing, graphic design, and construction.  It is possible for incoming high school students to complete two full CTE pathways in high school or to pair concurrent enrollment with a pathway. Finally, Mr. Nelms shared with the board the construction trades classes’ dream project for the year - a full remodel of a garage owned by the La Veta School Foundation, with students designing the floor plans. This space will be used as a rental for staff housing in the future.

Action Items

Future Redhawks Childcare Center MOU. Approved the memorandum of understanding with Oak Street Complex for fiscal year 2027.

Student dress code, first reading. Approved the first reading of revisions to the student dress code policy, which sets out the basics of everyday expectations for student dress. 

Why now

Three things prompted this update. First, Colorado law changed. Since our dress code was last revised in 2023, the state has guaranteed students the right to wear tribal regalia and recognized objects of cultural or religious significance at graduation ceremonies. Our policy was silent on graduation attire, and this update brings us into alignment with those laws. Second, the Colorado Association of School Boards updated its model dress code in 2025, and we regularly refresh our policies against that guidance. Third, our building administration asked for clearer language on costume items and accessories during the regular school day, so that students, families, and staff all work from the same understanding.

What is changing

•   Graduation attire. Students who qualify may wear tribal regalia and recognized objects of cultural or religious significance at graduation. This is a right under Colorado law, and our policy will now say so plainly.

•   Costume items and accessories. Everyday student attire is the expectation during the school day. Costume elements such as animal-themed items and masks are reserved for the occasions where they belong: spirit days, performances, and classroom activities that call for them. If an item needs to be put away, a student who does so promptly simply stores it in the office for the day, with no further consequence the first time.

•   A clearer, fairer process. Instead of a single sentence about enforcement, the policy now describes clear steps: a conversation and written warning first, then a parent conference if it continues, with further consequences under existing Board policy only for repeated situations. Families will always know where things stand.

•   One consistent message. The policy and the 2026-27 student handbook now say the same thing, so what your student hears at school matches what the Board has adopted.

What is not changing

The heart of our dress code stays exactly as the Board adopted it in 2023, including our pride and poise framework. Nothing in this update changes what students wear on a normal school day, and nothing in it is aimed at any student or group of students. The goal is a school where expectations are clear, applied evenly, and focused on learning.

How the process works 

Adoption is anticipated at regular meeting on August 24. The full proposed policy, with every change marked,can be reviewed here:  https://lvk12.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/1456a5ee-ec7d-42b9-a591-c2f3a8a1f2cc/

2026-27 Student and Family Handbook. Acknowledged receipt of the new digital edition, built this summer by a committee of administrators and staff and carrying a publication date of August 10, 2026. The handbook is available on the district website, any policy updates adopted during the school year will be communicated directly to students and families, and families will receive a signature page acknowledging receipt.

Staffing. Approved a teacher-in-training contract for Mr. Jonathan Kellams for 2026-27, assigned to both exceptional student services and facilities crew, supporting a long-term staff member and coach as he completes his teaching credentials. Also approved Mr. Chad Andreatta as a volunteer assistant coach for junior high football.

Redhawk Sponsorship Program. Recognized Code of the West Real Estate as the 2026-27 Ultimate Redhawk Sponsor and acknowledged their generous $10,000 contribution to the athletic department. Watch for new signage in the gym that is the Home of the Redhawks. Thank you, Code of the West!

The Board also approved the consent agenda and adopted updated attendance policies, regulations, and forms. 

Discussion Items

Board meeting broadcasting. The Board discussed broadcasting meetings on a district YouTube channel, with recordings available afterward. Public comment will continue in person or arranged in advance, and board members will still be able to participate electronically when needed.

State of the District. I reported on pre-service week and the state of the district: a new departmental structure that empowers department leaders, starting teacher salary now at $41,715 with median staff pay around $52,000 before benefits, and expansion of our peer observation program from seven teachers to as many as thirteen. We are deeply grateful to Drs. Uma and Shashi Kotagal for their generous pledge of $26,500 to fund the expansion of the peer observation team over the next two years.

Facilities planning. A state track official inspected the heaving on the northwest corner of the track and confirmed it remains safe for junior high and qualifying meets, though it will need attention. With the district's assessed valuation rising from roughly $36 million to $49 million, our bond capacity has grown, and I recommended forming a long-range facilities planning committee of staff, board, and community members to prioritize needs such as the track, a bus barn, and playground surfacing.

Policy governance. Our consultant will join the Board at the August 24 meeting to continue implementation work.

Information Items

The Board received information on the student use of technology policy, which will be updated this year with input from staff, families, and students, and on recommended revisions to the facility use policy, focused on fairness, insurance, and clear rental expectations, returning for discussion at the next meeting.

Around the District

The first week of August was all about readiness. Our leadership team spent Monday, August 3 in department check-ins across the district: front office, kitchen, student support systems, IT, Exceptional Student Services, nutrition services, and the high school. Here is what each area of the district has been up to as we open the 2026-27 school year, organized by our new departmental structure.

EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Curriculum and Instruction: Ms. Switzer, K-12 Principal

Pre-service week kicked off Monday, August 10 with all-staff meetings, and we welcomed back a staff with very few new faces, a sign of the momentum we are building. The week included elementary and K-12 instructional staff meetings, professional development, staff lunches together, and dedicated classroom setup time. Thursday evening we opened our doors for Open House, and this morning our seniors gathered for Senior Sunrise to mark the start of their final year.

New this fall for grades 6-12: Breakfast in the Classroom. All students in grades 6-12 share a daily Breakfast in the Classroom block from 8:50 to 9:20 a.m., between first and second hour. Students are assigned to small, intentionally mixed-grade groups with a consistent staff member, and the 30 minutes include breakfast, connection time, announcements, and C.L.A.W.S. recognition celebrating Community, Leadership, Attitude, Work Ethic, and Safety. Eating breakfast is optional for each student; the classroom time is part of the school day for all. Ms. Switzer is leading implementation in collaboration with School Counselor Dr. Peil.

Why this design? Our accountability work tells us students engage and attend when they are known, expected, and connected. Placing the block after first hour follows the second chance breakfast model, which research shows fits secondary students who will not eat early in the morning. Mixed-grade groups give every secondary student a consistent adult and a stable peer community, and create natural mentoring from older students to younger students, a longstanding strength of small rural schools. To create this block, the lunch period is 10 minutes shorter than prior years, and all seven class periods remain 55 minutes, so instructional time is fully preserved. We will track belonging, attendance, behavior, and breakfast participation through the fall and share results with the Board and community. The 2026-27 bell schedule for grades 6-12, Monday through Thursday, is below.

Athletics: Mr. Goemmer, Athletics and Transportation Director

Redhawk athletics wasted no time. High school football opened practice at midnight on August 2, followed by the HS Football Mini-Camp Fundraiser, open to students in grades 1 through 8. Volleyball practices began August 10, Redhawk Sports Physical Day helped get our athletes cleared to compete, and golf and volleyball pictures are done. A special thank you to Dr. Jess Loveless for her help with student physicals! Volleyball opens with a scrimmage at McClave tomorrow - Saturday, August 15. Find all athletic schedules at https://www.lvk12.org/page/athletics. SportsYou is the primary means by which coaches communicate with players and families; team codes are available from Coach Goemmer, our Athletics Director who can be reached at lon.goemmer@lvk12.org or 719-742-6438. Come out and support our Redhawks this fall!

Post-Secondary and Workforce Readiness: Mr. Nelms, Assistant Principal and CTE Director

This week I signed the South Central BOCES Master Regional Partnership Agreement, joining school districts, colleges, and industry partners from across five counties in a shared commitment to college and career readiness. The agreement, facilitated in partnership with Empower Schools, establishes a regional framework to advance Colorado’s Big Three Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness outcomes: postsecondary credit attainment, industry-recognized credentials, and quality work-based learning. Partners include Trinidad State College, Otero College, and Emergent Campus, alongside our fellow SC BOCES districts. The core belief behind this work is one we share deeply: rural students deserve the same quality and variety of college and career pathway opportunities as students in more densely populated areas. As the regional hub for construction and advanced manufacturing pathways, La Veta is proud to help lead this effort.

We are also excited to announce that La Veta has been awarded a $205,000 Innovations in CTE grant through the Colorado Community College System to launch Pathways to Care, a rural healthcare CTE model for South Central Colorado. This project is supported in part by federal Perkins funds. Mr. Nelms will lead the work as Regional CTE Program Coordinator. Healthcare is Colorado’s largest employment sector, and our county holds federal Health Professional Shortage Area designations in both primary care and mental health. Yet until now, La Veta students have never had access to a structured healthcare pathway. This grant changes that. Trinidad State College faculty will deliver Health Sciences coursework, students will complete rotation-based clinical experiences at Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center exploring departments from surgical technology to medical coding, and the pathway leads to the Medical Administration Technician certification. Students can earn all three of Colorado’s Big Three readiness outcomes in a single sequence: an industry credential, work-based learning, and college credit. Work-based learning stipends will remove financial barriers so every student can participate, and the pathway is open to students from neighboring districts. Just as with our manufacturing and construction hub, this model is built to be shared: the project will produce a replication guide so other rural districts across Colorado can build healthcare pathways of their own. Thank you to our partners at Trinidad State College, Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center, Mt. San Rafael Hospital, and the Colorado Education Initiative for building this with us.

Early Childhood Education: Mrs. Campbell, Director of Early Childhood Education

We are thrilled to share that day care staff began on August 3 and the Future Redhawks Childcare Center is officially up and running. This has been years in the making, and seeing our youngest Redhawks in the building is a milestone for our whole community. Thank you to Mrs. Campbell and our early childhood team!  We are advertising for one full-time position in the childcare center and we always welcome qualified, caring substitutes.  Apply online at https://www.applitrack.com/scboces/onlineapp/default.aspx?AppliTrackPostingSearch=location:%22La+Veta+School+District%22

OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Business Office: Mrs. Miller, Business Manager

Our business office is searching for an additional bookkeeper as we finalize our staffing reorganization for the new year.  Apply online at https://www.applitrack.com/scboces/onlineapp/default.aspx?AppliTrackPostingSearch=location:%22La+Veta+School+District%22

Nutrition Services: Ms. Karen Medina

Ms. Medina is implementing new kitchen software that will streamline everything from menus to meal counts, and coordinating logistics for the new Breakfast in the Classroom block, including delivery to classrooms, cleanup routines, and allergy protocols. Under Colorado Healthy School Meals for All, breakfast is free to every student, and increased participation generates additional meal reimbursement revenue for Nutrition Services rather than new district cost.  We thank Ms. Ashley Hansen for her assistance as we work on new initiatives in this department. 

Facilities, Safety & Grants: Mr. Gripka, Facilities Director; Ms. Kate Johnson, Grants & Accountability Specialist 

The district has prepared an application for FY 2026 School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) funding to expand our staff radio communication system, in coordination with the Huerfano County Sheriff’s Office, the La Veta Marshal’s Office, and the La Veta Fire Protection District. This project would purchase additional county-interoperable radios and three additional staff radios, closing those gaps so every essential staff member can communicate instantly during an emergency or daily operations. The $12,000 project would be funded with $9,000 in federal dollars and a $3,000 district match, and the completed system will be built into our emergency response planning, safety drills, and reunification procedures. 

Sidewalk Update

Work is also underway on the La Veta Safe Routes to School Project, a federally funded effort administered through CDOT to build a safe, ADA-compliant walking and biking connection between downtown La Veta and our PK-12 campus. The project includes about a quarter mile of new sidewalk and trail running from Highway 12 along the railroad easement to school property, a protected pedestrian crossing of Highway 12 with an LED school crossing sign, and the drainage improvements to support it all. The district has engaged the engineering firm Mead and Hunt to lead the design work: surveying the route, completing the required environmental review, coordinating with CDOT, the Town of La Veta, and the railroad, and preparing the construction plans that will take the project to bid. Watch for chances to weigh in: the design process includes a community open house, a project website, and newsletters to area residents, and we want to hear from the families who will walk and ride this route every day. 

This project will be completed with a Safe Routes to School Grant Award that we applied for in November 2024 and that was granted in June 2025.  We anticipate construction in the summer of 2027.

Next Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Board of Education is Monday, August 24 at 6:00 PM. Agendas can be accessed here: https://lvk12.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/

As always, thank you for your support of our students and our Redhawks!