Nine people, including seven students, voiced concerns about teacher turnover and curriculum issues at Tuesday’s meeting of the Montezuma-Cortez School Board.
A total of 17 people addressed the packed room during the citizen-comments portion of the four-hour meeting. The majority said they were troubled about qualified teachers leaving or being shuffled into positions that don’t match their area of expertise.
Montezuma-Cortez High School sophomore Mykah Lewis said her time at the school has been “nothing short of chaotic” and the district shows a lack of concern for teachers and staff.
Junior Micah Stanbridge said he is “deeply troubled” by multiple teachers being moved into different positions. He said, “Teachers are the most important part of this district and they need to be respected.”
Junior McKade Mumbower said he is troubled by the non-renewal of contracts with certain teachers, especially those teaching essential subjects. Several people voiced disappointment in the planned elimination of the French program.
Sophomore Kyah Christenson said, “It feels like our future is being compromised before we even get the chance to fully prepare for it.”
But MCHS Principal Jennifer Boniface said, “No one is saying our teachers are bad teachers. We are in a budget crisis and hard decisions have to be made.”
Before the meeting, about two dozen people marched to the administration building carrying signs with messages such as “Put kids first, not administrators” and “A great teacher should not be replaced.”
