There was an upbeat tone to the first meeting of the Woodland Park School Board with three newly elected members, Kassidi Gilgenast, Laura Gordon and Carol Greenstreet. The three join Mick Bates and Keegan Barkley who was elected president in a special meeting Dec. 2. “I’m really encouraged b y the trust you have placed in this board and the shared commitment of the community,” Barkley said, speaking Dec. 10 to the audience. “Thank you for your engagement, your partnership and your high expectations of us. There is a great deal we need to accomplish. “I am committed to fostering an environment where candor is safe, honest conversations are welcome, difficult questions can be addressed and I welcome construction feedback from all stakeholders. I promise to keep the community informed. Transparency is not a courtesy but a responsibility.” Speaking from the podium, Woodland Park Mayor Kellie Case made initial comments.  Case and the previous city council rescinded the 1.09% voter-approved sales tax to help fund the school district, stating their lack of satisfaction with the previous board’s accountability. “A relationship between the city council and school board is essential,” Case said. “When that relationship is strained, it affects our families and children who rely on us to lead with purpose, stability and integrity.” Case spoke of the need to heal, to step away from division.   “I will make a commitment to nurturing and renewing a partnership with the board. We may not always agree but we can agree to disagree constructively and rebuild trust,” she said. Case left room for hope. “As mayor I am ready and eager to work alongside you with openness and respect, Together, we can restore confidence and mend the relationship,” she said.  “The children of Woodland Park are watching.” In another reaching out, Tim Miller, executive director of the Rampart Library District, made an impassioned plea for collaboration. “Congratulations to the new board,” he said. Miller noted that the library collaborated for years with the school district. “Four years ago, that ended.  Rampart library is a place for ideas, and we have strong partnerships with the community,” he said. Miller, too, was feeling the vibes. “There is so much positive energy in this room right now and this community is galvanized to do great things,” he said. “My library staff and I are ready to do great things with the school; this is my olive branch but also my hope that we can get together to help our community learn and grow. Thanks.” Teller County commission chair Dan Williams added a note of praise for Slocum and the students who helped distribute food during the government shutdown when 3,000 residents lost SNAP benefits. Williams offered encouragement while acknowledging the responsibility of leading a district that has been torn apart. “I have full faith and confidence in the leadership of every member of this board, as do the county commissioners,” Williams said, In other business, the board voted to continue working with the outside firm to continue to the search for a superintendent. Interim Superintendent Ginger Slocum has acknowledged that she is one of the candidates. After a presentation by Katie Ueberroth, director of the Ute Pass Board of Cooperative Education Services, and a gentle nudge for volunteers, Gordon and Greenstreet raised their hands. In the effort to be informed and transparent, the board agreed to hold regular workshops in addition to the scheduled meetings. ...read more read less