Lamar Middle School Student Council members detail recent trip to RE-2 Board at June 8, 2026 meeting

Lamar Middle School Student Council members with chaperones and sponsors in front of Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. during recent study trip

The Lamar RE-2 School Board met for a regular meeting on Monday, June 8, 2026.  All board members were present with the exception of Rick Robbins.  A revised agenda, which added an executive session, was approved, as were minutes from the May 11, 2026 meeting.  Four thank-you notes were read at the meeting.

Three Lamar Middle School Student Council students were present, along with their advisor, LMS Counselor Katie Smotherman.  The students were at the meeting to thank the District for allowing them to go on a recent field study trip, which occurred May 28 through June 2.  An RE-2 bus took the 27 students, 3 sponsors and 3 parent chaperones to the airport prior to the flight.  The itinerary included Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area as well as New York City.  Highlights of the trip mentioned by the students were the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Smithsonian Museum in D.C and the One World Trade Center, 9-11 Memorial, Financial District, Times Square, and a Hudson River tour with views of the city and the Statue of Liberty.  The students were also able to visit several churches, including St. Patrick’s Cathedral and all said that the trip was amazing and that they loved it, again thanking the District for sanctioning the trip, which was paid for by many months of fundraising events by the students.

Speaking at the meeting were Talara Coen, Principal of Alta Vista Charter School and Denise Gallegos, Director of Melvin Hendrickson Development Center.  Ms. Coen introduced herself and gave printed handouts to board members.  She explained that Alta Vista became a charter school in 1998 after the school was at risk of being closed, due the efforts of concerned parents who wanted the school to continue.  Coen jokingly said that while she originally agreed to be Principal for two years, that was back in 2000 and “I’m still there” – her love for the school was evident in her presentation. The information in the handout included facts about how charter schools are different than regular public schools.  She says she gets questioned frequently about Alta Vista and wanted to explain how it functions within the RE-2 district.  First of all, she debunked a common opinion that Alta Vista is a private school.  While the school operates under the umbrella of the RE-2 district, it has its own board which allows for hiring of teachers and staff separate from the RE-2 board.  However, she said, funding by the state is the same as Lamar’s other schools, in that the dollar amount allotted to districts per pupil follows that pupil to whichever school they attend.  Thus, Alta Vista is not “taking money” from the district – another inaccuracy she hears frequently. The school has limited enrollment, with only one class per grade, with parents submitting letters of intent (sometimes just after a child is born) asking for the student to be accepted.  The school received a BEST grant in 2010 which had a $270,000 match, which the school paid for with many years of fundraising events.  Alta Vista students’ test scores are factored in with the rest of the RE-2 district for the state.  Coen said that all students are strongly encouraged to continue to attend Lamar schools after they leave Alta Vista and said that they are all thankful for the support from and the relationship with, the RE-2 district.

Next, Ms. Gallegos gave school updates and information concerning MHDC.  Like Alta Vista, due to size constraints, class sizes are limited and students are frequently added to the wait list shortly after birth to ensure a spot in the preschool programs.  Gallegos is starting her 27^th year with the school and, like Coen, obviously loves what she does and the children the school serves.  MHDC received a Colorado Shines Quality Rating of Level 4, narrowly missing being rated at Level 5, the highest level attainable.  Nine of ten staff members are credentialed by Colorado Shines.  There are three age levels of classes – this fall currently has 46 students signed up for the 4-5 year age group, 42 students for the 3-4 year age group and 18 in the 2-1/2 year old group.  Priority is given to students who live in the RE-2 District.  Student/teacher ratio is 8:1.  She said that while they would love to be able to offer full-day classes, due to the size constraints and staffing levels, they provide morning and afternoon sessions, which have different students in each.

At the meeting, 2026-2027 School Handbooks for all schools were approved.  In Personnel matters, they approved four hirings: Isaiah Hillman (Classified Substitute/Maintenance District); Briana Lewis (Paraprofessional, Parkview); Olivia Perez (Paraprofessional MHDC) and Melissa Vasquez (Paraprofessional MHDC).   Resignations were accepted from Randy Holmen (Business Teacher, LHS), and Genesis Santiago Valencia (Paraprofessional, Parkview).  Terminations were approved for Amy McTaggart (Attendance, Adv/Alt Ed Instructor Lincoln/Hope Center); Anna Pierce (Paraprofessional, Washington) and Elizabeth Salazar (Paraprofessional, Washington).  A transfer was approved for Tevera Holcomb from Elementary Teacher at Parkview to a Full-time Substitute, Elementary.

By: Barbara Crimond