 | | | | Learning curve ...
This week, the Montrose County School District Board of Education welcomed aboard three new members, as well as one returning incumbent, following the election earlier this month. The introduction of these new members — particularly two of them — will make the local education board interesting to watch.
In addition to incumbent Tom West, the new school board members are Neisha Balleck, Ted Valerio and Jody Hovde. While West is a longtime board member and Hovde is a retired teacher, the election of Balleck and Valerio could represent a philosophical shift on the board.
Both Balleck and Valerio voiced support for allowing public education funds to be diverted to pay for a student's private education (something that local school boards have no control over, but is rather handled at the state level), and though no Montrose school board candidates ran this time around on a collective ticket — as the so-called conservative slate trio of candidates did in 2021 — both Balleck and Vaerio were among the four candidates grouped together and supported via regional mailers by a conservative Front Range PAC.
Shortly after being sworn in to office, Balleck offered a preview of what the tone of this new board might be. With the sitting school board members supporting the reelection of Sarah Fishering as board president, Balleck suggested Valerio take the helm — then proceeded to vote nay on the remaining board officer selections.
It'll be interesting to see how this new board composition functions, especially once Balleck and Valerio get their sea legs under them.
Have a Good One,
Jeremy Morrison,
managing editor
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