[0:00] Welcome to the Eagle County School District Board of Education Meeting Wednesday, September 9th,

[0:05] 2026. Please join us in the pledge of allegiance.

[0:30] Thank you all for being here this evening. We're going to start with the consent agenda,

[0:37] which includes routine non-controversial items approved by the Board through a single motion

[0:42] and votes, and this week we just have the standard minutes and personnel list and monitoring

[0:52] reports for the month. Would anyone like to make a motion?

[0:58] I move to approve the consent agenda.

[1:01] Second.

[1:02] Thank you, Lou, and thank you, Rachel.

[1:06] Oh, I'm sorry.

[1:07] Thank you, Gretchen. I appreciate it.

[1:11] Natalia, Miss Alter, I'm Miss Conlon, I'm Miss Glowakki.

[1:17] Hi, Miss Holy, I'm Mr. McQueenie.

[1:21] Hi. Mr. Pena.

[1:23] Hi.

[1:24] Miss Yvonne.

[1:25] Hi, thank you so much for visiting Natalia.

[1:27] Thank you, Natalia.

[1:29] And we have a report from the Superintendent.

[1:33] Mr. Dr. Summers.

[1:36] It's just working okay.

[1:38] All right, good evening everybody, welcome to our September night meeting.

[1:44] So just if you, I tried to keep the bullets pretty succinct this evening and I put strong

[1:52] start here in parentheses because I know we kind of talked about this at the last meeting,

[1:56] but it really has been such a super strong start and we are getting into the groove, so to

[2:02] So what's that movie like the Emperor has a new groove and not to make it about like any sort of official positional thing, but it's really cool to see just how students are settling into the year.

[2:14] We've got a lot of routines that are already established and our staff are just doing an amazing job.

[2:19] So I wanted to call out our students and our staff as well because they are showing up with excitement,

[2:26] with, hopefully, energy that we can maintain and continue to build from, and the whole

[2:34] known and supported and challenged and inspired is I think really on display as we work through

[2:42] different schools and classrooms and all that great stuff. So I just wanted to echo that appreciation

[2:48] and that acknowledgement. And then I think most, well, many of you had the opportunity to be at the

[2:54] very first lights, and I put above the peaks in parentheses as well, because when I was having

[2:59] this conversation with Matt, he was kind of like, not sure that the lights were above the

[3:03] peaks, sorry Matt, I just had to, because you really got me thinking about that, and I'm like,

[3:07] no, they were below the peaks, but they were on, and our students, and our community was

[3:13] totally on display, so the very first outdoor, under the lights, volleyball match, and just

[3:20] an incredible example of our community coming together, really appreciated just all of the effort

[3:26] that went into that, so much sponsorship and event organization and then to see our student

[3:34] athletes as well as the coaches and parents and families and fans, it was just a super cool experience.

[3:42] So, and of course, congratulations to VCHS, although it was a tough, it was a five setter,

[3:48] So it was so close, but there's always next year, right?

[3:54] So those are some celebrations.

[3:56] And then just wanted to share a few updates relative

[3:59] to listening and learning.

[4:01] Continuing to set up so many different touch points

[4:05] with not only our staff and our families,

[4:08] but really also trying to extend that to the community as well.

[4:12] So a big shout out to all of our community partners.

[4:15] just really appreciate the warm welcome, I think, maybe had a chance to see a recent piece

[4:23] in the Vale Daily and we're going to continue to get information out in so many awesome

[4:28] ways, so thank you for all your support as well. You guys have been great. I wanted to spend

[4:34] a moment on leadership transition and actually meant to add it as their leadership transition,

[4:39] so just a update to let you know that just BoChamp, who I think most of you had the opportunity

[4:44] to meet a couple meetings ago is officially onboarding with us or a very first official start date

[4:50] is actually a Monday and we're just diving right in, hitting the ground running there, but I also want

[4:56] to take a moment. So those of you that had the chance to see a recent update in our Friday update,

[5:05] Melissa, ReWald, who want is approaching retirement, which is like super exciting,

[5:13] But also, I think maybe a little bit bittersweet, and so you've given so much to our district.

[5:21] Over many, many years, I didn't like Adam all up, but there's several.

[5:26] And you play just in awesome and such an important role to the organization.

[5:31] And so we're super grateful for your service and your knowledge and the support that you have given and will continue to give.

[5:37] So to make it official, as part of the personnel report, Melissa will be transitioning into

[5:45] a month of no work whatsoever because those are the pair of rules and that will be

[5:51] an October and then she will be rejoining us in November and helping us see through all

[5:57] of the work that is still very much in play as she finishes out the year and then we'll

[6:04] looking obviously at some transition in terms of positional structure and some additional support.

[6:11] So there's big shoes obviously to fill and I know that we'll have more of an opportunity.

[6:15] This is not like an official like farewell but it is a chance for us to at least tip our

[6:20] cap and say thank you and she's she's doing a good job without I don't know if we brought the

[6:40] And then just one additional update and I think by now everyone hopefully knows that there is an official ballot issue number and that is 5B.

[6:52] And so we are sharing information with the community and making sure that we of course are abiding by our fair campaign practice act guidelines and sharing that information.

[7:05] but it is our and my responsibility to make sure that our community has that clear

[7:09] infactual information about the measure and what it will fund and financial

[7:13] impacts. So we have a great website. There will be additional information that

[7:20] will continue to pass out to the community and I will continue to keep the board

[7:24] of additional opportunities that that has for us.

[7:31] And I think that was the bulk of what I wanted to touch on. So President Conlon, I will turn it back to you. Thank you.

[7:36] Thank you. That was a lot. That was great. Next we'll have some board reports. I think if anyone has anything they'd like to add.

[7:47] I actually want to share that last week I attended an amazing fundraising event called

[7:55] Movement Me Books, put on by our amazing Rachel and I just want to say it was so inspiring

[8:03] to see you interact and connect with all these kids.

[8:07] It was wonderful.

[8:10] So, yeah, you're amazing.

[8:15] I love reading and playing and moving with kiddos.

[8:20] So speaking of reading, Melissa has done so much with our literacy in our schools.

[8:25] And I just thinking about you having like a month to have every set and

[8:30] reprieve and celebrate all the things you've done.

[8:32] Congratulations and say thank you.

[8:35] And for those who don't get to attend the work sessions,

[8:38] I feel like there's so inspiring,

[8:42] and we had a really great healthy discussion about technology use and I think it's important for those who maybe are watching or just who get to come to these and don't see the work sessions that we do take it fairly seriously when people come for public comment.

[9:01] Our teachers, our parents, our students, we are listening and we are working so just want to say that.

[9:08] Well,

[9:16] thank you Lou and thank you Rachel. Next we're on to public participation.

[9:24] Are there any blue cards?

[9:26] I did not see any blue cards, anybody have a blue card?

[9:31] All right.

[9:32] All quiet.

[9:33] Thank you.

[9:35] Then in that case, we will move to new and old business.

[9:41] Our next meeting is September 23rd.

[9:45] And we're going to have continue a discussion

[9:49] on some of our committee work in work session,

[9:54] board self assessment, and funding allocations.

[10:00] Is there anything else anyone would like to hear about?

[10:05] We don't have anything scheduled at the moment

[10:07] for regular session, so if anyone has anything

[10:12] they always love to hear about or anything they've heard about and are interested in hearing

[10:18] more?

[10:19] A couple of meetings ago we got a book from one of the teachers from the high school on

[10:24] a restorative justice and just wondering where we are on that I know we've been looking

[10:30] at.

[10:31] Discipline and changing different policies and things just to make sure everything's in line

[10:37] if we could get an update on that that would be wonderful.

[10:45] Thanks, Harry.

[10:50] I think at some point, I don't know if it's for next meeting, but I'm thinking about the

[10:56] MLO.

[10:57] I think some work that would be good for us to do is meet with ECCA Sport because they have

[11:03] their own board and maybe just connect with them and inform them I wonder if they, you know,

[11:10] they're part of the school district and, you know, maybe would be good just to do a little

[11:16] work session with them, and give them the tools they need to spread the word also in their school.

[11:25] Just a thought.

[11:28] Thinking of the MLO, I don't have my calendar with me, but I know EFFEC is doing two virtual community engagement conversations.

[11:37] Does anyone know the dates for those?

[11:40] I don't know where they are. I'm like looking right now to find them, but there are dates for the community.

[11:45] We can maybe put them out somewhere.

[11:46] Did

[11:50] you want to have like a discussion around that or are you just were like letting the public know?

[11:57] Okay, thanks.

[12:06] All right, thank you all.

[12:09] That sounds like a lot of great interesting stuff.

[12:14] We'll move on to some big items here.

[12:19] Our first is a new legal counsel engagement

[12:24] And Dr. Summers is going to present the exciting news.

[12:29] Thank you, President Conlon, board members.

[12:32] So what we have in front of you on this item is a engagement

[12:36] letter that is prepared by Kaplan and Ernest.

[12:40] And as you all had an opportunity before we got started here tonight,

[12:44] we do have two representatives from the firm here.

[12:48] Kristen Edgar and Sam Jones Rogers.

[12:51] So if you're okay, Chris, and I say I'm even feel free to come on up as well, I'm just going to share a little bit of background in rationale.

[12:59] And then if there's any questions from the board, of course, give you an opportunity to say a few words as well.

[13:05] That would be, that's awesome.

[13:07] Sounds good.

[13:09] Just so we have you on cue.

[13:11] So let me just share a little bit of background in some rationale.

[13:14] we did recently conduct a request for proposal of legal service and the purpose of that was

[13:20] to evaluate current legal counsel resources and where appropriate expand them to make sure

[13:25] that the district is well supported as we move through a period of transition and continued work.

[13:31] So following that RFP process, we did make a recommendation and have selected

[13:36] Kaplanan Ernest to provide general counsel services. So the engagement agreement that is before

[13:41] you establishes the firm as our district's general counsel across a comprehensive range of

[13:48] matters. And as I just alluded to both Christen and Sam would serve as our primary and secondary

[13:54] points of contact. So thank you for being here with us this evening as well. I do want to

[13:59] just specify because we do also see value in continuing where needed. We've had obviously a

[14:09] relationship with Lions and Gattas. So, existing matters that do fall under their purview,

[14:16] do not necessarily have to be transferred. So, we're going to manage those legal assignments

[14:20] on a case-by-case basis based on the needs of the district. And of course, we do value their

[14:26] history with the district and their knowledge of our organization. But what I think we were very impressed

[14:32] by and really looking forward to in this new relationship is Kaplan Ernst is really a pillar

[14:40] in the legal community in Colorado and provides a level of service that I think really

[14:48] meets the district's needs. We do have the specific rates in terms that are set out

[14:52] in that engagement and they are all on an as needed basis.

[14:57] So we do, again, just want to make...

[15:00] I'm sure that the board is aware and informed. Happy to answer any questions that you may have, but our recommended motion is to approve the engagement of Kaplan and Ernest to provide legal counsel services to legal county school district and authorize the superintendent to execute the engagement agreement.

[15:15] So with that, President Conlon, I can turn it back to you and maybe have Chris Lynch and Sam Sharer a little bit more.

[15:22] Yeah, thank you so much. We would love for you to say something if you have something prepared.

[15:30] Okay, I think this is working.

[15:34] Good evening, members of the Board and Dr. Summers.

[15:36] I'm Kristen Edgar.

[15:37] I'm an partner at Kaplan and Ernest,

[15:39] and as Dr. Summers have said, we would be,

[15:40] I would be your primary contact.

[15:42] I'll let Sam share a little bit about her.

[15:44] I've been working with the firm for 20 years

[15:47] doing school eduring that time.

[15:49] Working largely as general counsel,

[15:51] supporting districts across the state,

[15:53] including rural and non districts that are much like your own.

[15:56] We're really excited.

[15:57] We have worked with Dr. Summers.

[15:59] in the past, really looking forward to working with him again.

[16:02] Thank you so much for letting us come up and have dinner and meet all of you in person and get to know a little bit your amazing administration.

[16:11] It's clear that as board members, you all have a very good rapport.

[16:14] You conduct a very efficient and great meeting which we love to see.

[16:18] As likely that you will not see us not frequently, we will spend a lot of our time working with Dr. Summers and supporting him and his team and the legal work they need.

[16:27] And I know we're new to you.

[16:29] We care quite a bit about relationships.

[16:32] We look forward to earning your trust.

[16:34] We do like to take opportunities to come up

[16:36] and see our clients in person when we can.

[16:38] Even if it's outside of a legal relationship.

[16:41] So we really just wanted to be here tonight.

[16:43] And thank you so much.

[16:44] And I'm happy to entertain questions.

[16:46] I'm going to let Sam say a little bit about herself

[16:47] and then we'll answer anything you have.

[16:51] Thank you.

[16:51] Good evening board members.

[16:52] I'm Sam Jones Rogers.

[16:53] I'm going to associate a couple

[16:55] and earnest in our school law section.

[16:57] I've been with the firm for four years.

[16:59] Previous prior to that, I served as director of legal services

[17:03] at the Colorado Association of School Boards.

[17:06] And then it seems like many lifetimes to go at this point.

[17:08] But then before I was working with Kazby,

[17:11] I served as a guardian at Bidam representing children's best interests

[17:14] in Trinity and neglect.

[17:16] Dependency and neglect in Trinity cases in Denver County.

[17:19] I'm one of kind of the rare attorneys at least in the school realm.

[17:24] I went to law school knowing that I wanted to support,

[17:27] knowing that I wanted to support schools,

[17:30] specifically K through 12 schools.

[17:31] And so that was my focus health route law school.

[17:35] So as Kristen mentioned, we're very pleased to be able

[17:38] to have the opportunity to support you all

[17:40] in your important work.

[17:41] And we're we're available in your call.

[17:47] Thank you so much.

[17:48] And thank you for driving all the way up here.

[17:50] We really appreciate it.

[17:52] Does anyone have any questions?

[17:57] No questions, but I just want to say thank you.

[18:00] It was wonderful just hearing a little bit more about you.

[18:02] It sounds like you're bringing an extensive background to us.

[18:07] And we're looking forward to, or I'm looking forward to working with you more.

[18:11] Thank you.

[18:14] Thank you so much.

[18:15] I know questions now, but they will be coming.

[18:19] I'm so excited.

[18:22] I was just going to ask if they're building us for coming down here.

[18:28] I'm totally joking.

[18:32] So we joking.

[18:34] This is an action item with someone like to make a motion.

[18:39] Well, on that, I moved to approved engagement of Kaplan and Ernest LLC to provide legal

[18:44] council services, legal county school district, and authorized the superintendent to execute

[18:49] the engagement and agreement.

[18:52] Second, thank you, Ron and Lou, Natalia, Miss Altar, I, Miss Common, I, Miss

[19:01] Hi, Miss Hogue. Hi. Mr. McQueenie. Hi. Mr. Pena. Hi. Miss Hogue.

[19:06] Hi. Thank you. The motion passes unanimously.

[19:16] All right. Next. Our favorite presentation of the year. Mr. Tim,

[19:24] we welcome you to the podium.

[19:38] Will the presentation come up here? The slide deck?

[19:51] Oh, yes.

[19:52] It's the annual swap presentation for, for this year, just to update the administration and to update you at the board.

[20:00] What's happening with the swap program?

[20:03] I'm joined tonight by my colleague Kathy McKayhill, who is with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

[20:09] She's my partner. She keeps me in my lane.

[20:16] And so, but a more from Kathy in a moment, and I'm also joined by Jaden Biscano, who is going to help me with a presentation tonight, and he's going to share a little bit about his experience since graduating from Eagle Valley a year ago, or a little over a year ago.

[20:33] So, Natalia, can I move this slide deck with the buttons?

[20:37] Okay.

[20:39] I'm going to cruise through some of this because I definitely want to give Kathy and

[20:42] Jaden a chance to speak without being rushed.

[20:47] A lot of you know some of what this program does.

[20:51] I partner with Kathy at DVR and the swap focuses on working with kids age 15 to 24

[20:58] who have mild to moderate barriers to employment.

[21:04] And we focus on whatever they need.

[21:06] I have 21-year-olds who have never had a job before.

[21:10] I have 16-year-olds who've been working for three years.

[21:13] So it's just kind of what they need to explore in careers.

[21:16] Let's get a resume together.

[21:19] Let's how do you apply for a job.

[21:21] whatever however that works and I'm old school in that I like face-to-face and I like meeting with kids as much as possible in in in person

[21:31] So that's that's kind of the overview on the program

[21:34] Kathy I can let you do you want to jump in on this one. Hi, everyone

[21:40] I'm Kathy Mikkel and with the division of our occasional rehabilitation and

[21:46] And we basically help people gain maintain or regain employment.

[21:54] Tim and I work a lot together.

[21:56] He works more with the kids.

[21:58] I work more with adults 24 and up.

[22:02] I could give you a whole another presentation on our adult program, but I won't.

[22:10] But I did bring some brochures, and my cards, so if any of you have any questions at all,

[22:16] please reach out to Tim or I, and we're more than happy to answer any questions that you might have.

[22:24] I think it's a great program. I do want to say that I think Tim is doing a...

[22:30] And nominal job with the kids in our schools. Really, probably better than me.

[22:40] But he's just in there. He's doing it. He's with the kids. And I just think it's one of the better things that we could have ever have done was hired to do this job.

[22:55] So, yes, if you have any more questions about the adult program, please reach out to me and I'll turn it back over.

[23:05] Okay, thank you.

[23:07] Well, thank you.

[23:10] Let me keep cruising along here.

[23:12] Come on over here.

[23:15] Let me keep cruising along here.

[23:18] We've covered this.

[23:19] Kathy, the way it goes is I will get a referral for a student or a young person, if they have an IEP, or a 504, it's kind of the requirement.

[23:29] Kathy and I go over that and determine their eligibility based on those things, and we sign kids up.

[23:37] Let's see what else I work.

[23:38] It's kids who are in and out of school, Jaden is done with school, but we started working together before.

[23:45] So I work, well, I'll go into it more later.

[23:50] All right, so let's see.

[23:51] That one didn't show up, that's okay.

[23:54] Oh, here we go.

[23:56] While kids are in school, of course they need to focus

[23:58] on their coursework, I don't pull,

[24:01] I'm not allowed to pull kids out of academic classes.

[24:04] So I pull them out of ACLAB, Home Room,

[24:07] or advisory, something like that.

[24:09] That's when I commute with them.

[24:10] Pull them, we'll go sit in the conference room

[24:12] and get caught up.

[24:13] We talk about self-advocacy, career training, work-based learning experience, and I'll talk a little bit more about that.

[24:21] In just sort of general case management, if a kid needs mental health services, I can connect them with those services,

[24:28] Kathy, Kathy services, and so on.

[24:33] And after they're out of school, all sorts of things, whether it's career path, the exploring different things,

[24:41] how to quit a job properly, how to move on to something else.

[24:45] Just depends on what they need.

[24:47] I shadow kids a lot.

[24:49] They hate it because it was a white guy in the corner.

[24:54] That's me.

[24:56] And instead, because that's what I do.

[24:58] I go stand around and observe.

[25:00] I spent, well, all right.

[25:01] I'll tell you in a minute.

[25:02] I spent the morning this morning with a young lady who's just, I'll show you.

[25:06] I'll show you, but if a lot, on boarding is hard,

[25:09] You may remember last year, I talked about, can the kid do the job they can?

[25:16] Can they get through the application, the onboarding, the i9s, the government forms, the

[25:21] training, the manuals, can they get through all that?

[25:24] They've never done it before.

[25:25] I don't care what the kid is.

[25:27] It was new to all of us at one point, and so I spent the morning this morning with a young

[25:32] lady.

[25:33] I'll show you.

[25:33] but let's talk to Jaden. Jaden has some remarks that he's prepared and I'm delighted to

[25:42] work with Jaden and he's had an interesting and incredible path, incredible growth, determination,

[25:50] and heart. Let's talk to another thing and take your time. Everybody wants to hear what you have to say.

[25:58] Okay, hello everyone, my name is Jaden Viscai No and I've graduated from Eagle Valley High School in Spring of 2025.

[26:08] I live here in gypsum with my family.

[26:12] I joined the swap program while I was studying high school at EVHS.

[26:18] Through my future pathways, I earned a scholarship to attend CMU Tech welding program with a bunch of other peers interested in the trade.

[26:28] Working with Mr. Mothit, we build my first resume, explored other jobs in the community,

[26:36] practice in nerve-reeling, and walk through every step it took to get ready for college.

[26:43] After my first semester at CMU Tech, I made a tough decision to come back home.

[26:49] I realized the specific path wasn't right for me just yet.

[26:54] As the youngest person in my family I had everything taken care of me. I had to take I had to take on new responsibilities very quickly

[27:06] Even though I met a lot of cool people. I didn't have a roommate. So it was very much so I was very much on my own which was both gayed and bad

[27:18] As soon as I got back, Mr. Muffet and I got busy looking at new jobs opportunities, I decided to apply

[27:26] Amazon and I got the job. My experience since then, since graduating this past year, I was working

[27:37] at Amazon and helped me grow up fast. I've learned how to manage my time and my schedule.

[27:43] I work with a lot of kind of coworkers, managers, and I handle my own baking.

[27:56] And speaking up for myself, having a steady job allows me to take care of my brother and

[28:02] help my family, as well as myself.

[28:06] Most important, these skills have helped me become an independent man.

[28:12] Working with Swap Program has helped me with perspective and learning that there's other

[28:20] peoples who need help like me.

[28:25] Some kids know exactly what they want to do, but I wasn't sure.

[28:31] I knew I wanted to work with my hands, but I wasn't sure what jobs or path I should take

[28:37] first.

[28:39] programs like Swap, Matter, because life doesn't always go according to Plan A, having a coach

[28:48] in my corner, helped me turn eight tough decisions, decision into a successful career step.

[28:55] Thank you for supporting this program, so other students can find their path to.

[29:08] Thank you.

[29:09] Of course, of course.

[29:11] So there's a bit of backstory, I hope I may run a little long. Is that okay?

[29:17] Natalia, is that okay? All right.

[29:22] There's just a lot. And I would like to see a show of hands

[29:26] from Edmund and from the school ward who had their act together right out of high school.

[29:33] You might have had a plan. I had a plan. Oh, I'm going to go to the University of Minnesota.

[29:39] well and then I so nobody raised their hand you didn't have your act together out of

[29:44] high school all of your things everybody in this room everybody in this room has a

[29:53] college degree most of them have a post graduate degree many letters after their

[29:57] names.

[30:00] I bet most people in here don't even have an educational degree, but they went into something else and this is where they found their passion. Everybody in this room is here for you guys. Everybody here works for the students in this district.

[30:13] I hope that's a little good.

[30:17] That's whatever it is here for.

[30:19] That's the whole reason, okay?

[30:22] So, tell me the other day when we were talking.

[30:26] You said that you learned that there were other people like you.

[30:30] Can you talk about that a little bit?

[30:33] Like, it's good to have other people that support you.

[30:38] I learned that there's like people that need help and guidance, just like me, and with this program, it helps you and it just like, it's a relief to me knowing that I will be helped and it's just a good program.

[30:57] awesome. Thank you. Thank you. So, getting into college, some of you have kids are in college,

[31:04] some of you are kids heading to college. Jayden and I last summer, last spring, we met

[31:13] over it after graduated, we met over the gypsum wreck and he confronted an admissions advisor,

[31:20] a student access advisor, a academic and program advisor, a financial advisor, and a scholarship

[31:28] advisor through my future pathways. That was just a few emails. That's just a few.

[31:34] We sat together over at Jiffson Rack and we had to figure out meal plans at CMU Tech.

[31:42] He had to pick and he had to send a deposit. We had to figure out dorm selection. He had

[31:47] pick and you have to send it to posit. Now you have to download an app to find your roommate

[31:53] and connect with potential roommates and do all of that. You have to get your student ID card.

[31:59] And you have to set up your student ID portal with your student ID, your brand new student ID email.

[32:06] And then they load your food program onto your card so that he can waive it at the

[32:13] And he wants to get somebody, got to figure out parking, got to figure out roommates,

[32:20] got

[32:20] to get immunization records sent, to where the campus, then there was all the requirements

[32:25] that my future pathway had for their scholarship cohort.

[32:30] There's all that.

[32:33] We had to sit and figure out what tech requirements students were to have on their laptop,

[32:39] how much horsepower, how much spick, this is what we did.

[32:43] hours of sitting and doing this and he did it. It's a lot. Wasn't it?

[32:48] Yeah, it was. It's the time. So, there's Kathy's paper, there's Kathy's paper,

[32:57] okay. I appreciate it. Let me keep cruising through here a little bit. Thank you.

[33:03] We have to add public speaking to your resume now. She just did. This is like a real meeting. All right.

[33:13] So, this is my whole meeting, this is my whole morning, this young lady.

[33:19] She did the youth power education program over the two summers ago.

[33:28] She got hired a red sandstone to help with their early childhood program all year, with

[33:33] a brutal commute, two buses to get home, and this morning we spent the morning onboarding

[33:38] at the Ville Child Development Center, so she is like full-time at the Ville Child

[33:46] of the BIP.

[33:46] But she's smart.

[33:47] She built her resume all on early childhood education, so I'm super psyched for her.

[33:54] This is a good day.

[33:56] We do campus chores.

[33:58] I am grateful for ever for Shannon Grant, who let me draft off of her program often.

[34:06] She's extremely generous that way, campus tours at CMU Tech.

[34:10] Jaden did one of those a couple of falls ago.

[34:14] I love this, the young man in this young man,

[34:17] you probably see a Costco regularly.

[34:19] He has just been promoted to a supervisory position.

[34:22] He's in the swap program, and he's training another young man

[34:25] who is also in the swap program.

[34:28] I know, he's got supervisor on his red vest over there.

[34:31] I'm like, dude, what's that?

[34:32] Oh, I got a room promoted.

[34:35] I need you to tell me.

[34:37] This young man, I think you may remember from last year.

[34:39] He's a Lance Corporal in the Marines,

[34:41] and he's doing munitions, and blowing things up.

[34:46] This young man just graduated this spring

[34:48] and picked up a PSI plumbing internship.

[34:51] He will be paid to learn, and he's on a path.

[34:55] He's on a really good path.

[34:58] I'm just, yeah.

[35:00] This young man, another one, where I have Shannon Grant to thank, through the career-wise program he finished in May he finished his two-year apprenticeship at Vail Health as an inventory specialist and, according to plan, they offered him a full-time job.

[35:16] So, he is now a full-time job and all the goodies that come from working at Vail Health.

[35:22] Skye bonuses, or skye their Christmas bonuses, and he's very happy.

[35:30] Services while kids are in school, I mentioned some of these things.

[35:33] We focus on the stuff getting kids ready, but they need to keep their head in their classroom first.

[35:39] So, I'm hearing good feedback that a lot of what I can cover that sometimes the teachers cannot get to.

[35:48] We do some work-based learning experiences, I'm often able to pay kids for this and we focus

[35:53] on following instructions.

[35:55] What do you do when you screw it up?

[35:56] How do we undo this?

[35:57] We got to redo it.

[35:58] Well, what did you do wrong?

[35:59] And let's figure it out.

[36:01] So dealing with paperwork, nailing, and time management, and strengthening in their adult

[36:06] communication, which is a big deal.

[36:10] I have monthly workshops that both of the big high schools, these are some of the topics

[36:14] that we cover next week I'll be doing one on being proactive that was a suggestion that came

[36:21] to me from the Sped team at Battle Mountain. They said kids need to be thinking ahead a little

[36:28] bit more so we're going to, that's a work skill and it's also a school skill. So that will be

[36:33] next week. This was a thing. I did, I don't have very many young ladies in the program. I don't.

[36:42] So, I'm leaning on trying to do some work-based learning experiences for the ladies, so we did an acrylic nail thing, and that was a hot mess.

[36:52] I bought all the stuff. I don't know how to teach. I don't know if I was like, we had a blast. They had a great time, but it was...

[36:59] Yeah, I had help. I did. I had help. We did the same thing with the eyelash workshop with the rubber faces, and you're going to do all this.

[37:07] It was a lot of fun, but it's wow, there's a lot to getting long eyelashes.

[37:16] Some community volunteering, the animal shelter, I've been volunteering there with a young man this year,

[37:23] and that's been great because you just see how they pick up, and he knows more than I do, and he runs can pay out anyway.

[37:30] Food pantry, have a chat, of course. Those have been good things. This year, I'm a little tough on numbers, my contractual outcomes. I don't have a lot of information this year because there are some changes at the federal level that are affecting DVR and CDE's ability to get me updated information. There's a lot of changes happening right now that are impacting our what we do.

[37:56] So, I know 44 kids were served in the program.

[38:01] I don't have some of this information.

[38:03] Close rehabilitated is a successful case closure.

[38:06] I met it by half, but that's also needs to be adjusted once we're working on that.

[38:13] I'm delighted that 86% of my case load was working this summer.

[38:18] Almost every kid on my case load in some form or another.

[38:22] And kids in college or in college programs, I have one young man at Job Corps, and that's going

[38:28] well.

[38:29] He's going to come out of it with a flooring certificate after a two-year program of learning

[38:33] how to install floors, all kinds of floors.

[38:38] My targets this year are very similar to last year, shooting for delivering services to 50

[38:44] kids.

[38:45] My current case load is 31 right now, collaborating with the speed teams is like one of the coolest

[38:51] parts of the job.

[38:52] I am seen and included, the sped teams are amazing in both big buildings.

[38:58] And the ongoing workshop, I'm going to still stay on the state task force.

[39:04] Partnerships are a big deal.

[39:05] I could put many more up here, but these are some of the bigies that you all recognize.

[39:11] I could put all these different employers up there as well because they're all partners.

[39:17] And so that's a few other things.

[39:20] It's a year-round program, I work all year, community-based, and you see what all of this is,

[39:28] and cultivating relationships with employers and finding the right employers as a big deal.

[39:37] If kids finish up and they're on a glide path, Cathy and I will close them as a successful case closure,

[39:43] but if they need to circle back, and we talked about this, if they need to circle back,

[39:48] And we just do that and they re-engage that's it. I'm over time. I know I'm so over time. How long do I should have put my timer on?

[39:59] Does anyone have any questions for a jaden or Kathy or me?

[40:07] No, but you're amazing and I'm so proud of you. My son graduated in 2025 and just hearing you up here and be so articulate and clear

[40:16] I was actually talking to my son today and I had I don't know where I heard this. I don't know the reference

[40:22] but it was obstacles or detours that you're headed in the right direction because it's hard

[40:28] and you're doing it. So good for you. Yeah, thank you. Thank you.

[40:35] Yeah, Jayden,

[40:36] thanks for coming. It was great meeting you. You should be very proud of yourself. You've accomplished

[40:40] a lot since you've graduated. So good for you. And then team as always, thank you for everything you do.

[40:48] You're such an asset to all of these strict. We are very fortunate to have you. Thank you for everything.

[40:56] So, Jason, thanks for coming, and it's awesome to see, I mean, this gets just sitting up

[41:04] there smiling the whole time I love it, and then you have Tim right next to you,

[41:09] can't stop smiling either, I just want to say, Tim, I applaud you for everything you've

[41:15] ever done, because you do it wholeheartedly and fully engaged, and you turn everything into

[41:23] teaching moment even you didn't know you this is public speaking you know and I

[41:28] think it's I've seen you with the kids and the interviews and it's I've never seen

[41:36] anybody able to compete with the intensity that you do and the the love and

[41:43] emotion that you have for these kids so I applaud you thank you thank you very much

[41:51] So, following up on that, how do you pick your student that comes and joins you?

[41:56] That's a tough one.

[41:57] It's a tough one.

[42:00] I could pick a student who is, you know,

[42:06] followed all the steps and did all the things.

[42:08] He followed all the steps and did all the things and made a big risk

[42:13] and changed his mind and it was hard.

[42:16] And I thought that was an interesting story.

[42:20] And it is a tough one, because I have a number of kids I could pick and I can't get any girls to join me, sorry.

[42:32] I actually girls are all really shy.

[42:35] But I think Jaden's story is really, it's an interesting story because we got everything laid out.

[42:45] And then he's like, and I don't say one of the things I say to kids all the time is I don't say no, I say not yet.

[42:52] That's a big difference.

[42:54] That welding program at CMU Tech is not going anywhere and he knows it.

[42:59] If he wants to go back, welding program at CMU Tech in three years, it will be there.

[43:05] It will be there and do financial aid and do all the things and just do it again.

[43:08] You already done it, you've already, you know.

[43:10] So, but that's a, I just thought it was,

[43:13] I Jaden has an interesting story.

[43:16] And he's the first young man in this program

[43:18] who's ever received a full scholarship.

[43:21] And that's a big deal, you know,

[43:24] and one of the things that you probably won't be happy about this,

[43:28] Amazon has identified him as somebody

[43:30] who is a supervisory material.

[43:33] He's thinking about that, and he enjoys the flexibility

[43:36] that he has on his schedule right now,

[43:40] But that's another, that's another really good point.

[43:44] This leadership, you know, it's all.

[43:47] Tim, two great questions for Todd Jaden.

[43:49] Thank you so much for coming.

[43:51] It just brings tears to my eyes.

[43:53] These stories I love it.

[43:54] It's amazing.

[43:55] It's inspiring.

[43:56] I'm wish brings me to Tim.

[43:57] I know you said you get better for all of us.

[44:00] I mean, every time you come up here and speak,

[44:01] I think, oh my god, every kid needs you.

[44:03] And there's got to be a million kids, so how is that determined and I know you, obviously,

[44:09] your bandwidth, funds and also as one person are limited, it seems like when you're

[44:14] a lot of take it to work with you and have these experiences, I mean, like I said, all kids

[44:18] need this.

[44:19] So how does that process work and again, I know your bandwidth is only so much, but.

[44:24] I would thank you for the question, it's a, you know, I talked with this bed teachers and I have,

[44:34] I'm flattered and honored that I have the relationship with the bed teams that I have.

[44:40] And I'm like, you know, who do you see? Who do you guys see? I have the, here, yesterday, the Jenny, Katie Jennings, our audiologist just sent me a kid.

[44:50] I don't know, reason we're all the Academy.

[44:52] I've never worked with a kid in World Academy,

[44:54] but Katie has a young man who must have a hearing deficit,

[44:57] and she just emailed me yesterday.

[45:00] What about this? I was like great. But I talked to teachers and some teachers were like, this one is not ready for you.

[45:08] You know, and other teachers are like, oh, I've got two. You need to come to this IEP and this IEP. So that happens a lot.

[45:15] I will go to IEP meetings and I learn a ton and I can talk to the parents. They can meet me and I can give them materials if they want to sign up.

[45:23] There we go. That's kind of it.

[45:26] Awesome. Thank you. Yeah.

[45:34] Jay, now I'm going to go ahead and speak for Mr. Muffet because I know him well enough, I feel like I can.

[45:38] I love what you said Tim about.

[45:41] CMU is going to be there in three years or five years or ten years.

[45:45] If you decide that's the path you want.

[45:47] And my bet is that Mr. Muffet will still be around

[45:51] and whether he's in this district or not, I bet you reach out to him and he will still help support you.

[45:58] Because I know this guy and he would, so that's always true.

[46:02] Also, I just read an article today about the science of when you decide to change your path.

[46:09] And how some people are brains are trained to want to stick with that same path, no matter what.

[46:16] And we feel ashamed or embarrassed or disappointed in ourselves if we change paths.

[46:21] But changing that path is the best thing you can possibly do for yourself.

[46:24] And you may find that you want to go back to that path.

[46:27] You may find you on something else so I just wanted to say I'm so proud of you for making that tough decision

[46:33] That's that's a lot. So yeah, thank you

[46:40] I also want to say thank you to Kathy Kathy is more behind the scenes

[46:44] I'm more in the buildings Kathy knows policy regulations what I can and cannot do or process and procedure

[46:52] I am a puppy and I just want to go and Kathy's like well

[46:57] We ought to think about this first and then.

[47:00] We're on the phone every day.

[47:01] We're on the phone every year.

[47:02] For a year question is,

[47:04] Tim and I spend hours on the phone to discuss.

[47:10] Potential clients, and if they're good fit for the program,

[47:13] are they ready?

[47:14] Are they not?

[47:16] You know.

[47:18] And we've even dealt with some serious mental health stuff

[47:23] that we've had to work through.

[47:24] So there's other things that we do behind the scenes besides getting kids jobs.

[47:32] There's all of that other.

[47:34] Referrals and things like that.

[47:35] Referrals.

[47:37] Kathy and I've had two young people struggling with suicidal thinking and so on this year.

[47:43] And that is as serious as it gets.

[47:47] So, you know, we start referring to all the resources and we're lucky in Eagle County.

[47:53] we have them, some of my counterparts in more rural areas of the state, they look at me

[47:57] and they're like, you guys have free mental health services and like, yeah, we do it from

[48:02] three different people, three different sources.

[48:05] So there's a lot of that kind of stuff that happens as well.

[48:08] I also make it clear to kids and like, dude, I don't have jobs sitting here in my pocket

[48:12] to hand out to you.

[48:13] That is not how this works.

[48:15] If I do that, what have you learned?

[48:18] So, we'll focus on how do you look, what should you find, how do you explore?

[48:23] I should stop.

[48:24] I'm talking.

[48:25] I'm taking our time too much.

[48:28] You guys are fine.

[48:30] Thank you.

[48:31] Thank you so much.

[48:32] Thank you.

[48:32] Really appreciate it.

[48:33] Appreciate being seen in the support.

[48:36] Thank you.

[48:37] Thank you.

[48:40] Congratulations, Jaden.

[48:44] Thank you, Tim and Kathy and Jaden.

[48:46] That was a wonderful presentation, as always.

[48:49] We appreciate you being here.

[48:53] Thank you for running on.

[48:54] It was all wonderful.

[48:57] All right, well, that brings us to the end of the meeting.

[49:01] Does anyone have any feedback?

[49:03] In evaluation of the meeting?

[49:08] Great job tonight.

[49:10] Thank you, everyone.

[49:11] Meeting adjourned.

BOE Meeting 9/9/2026

Transcript