School board to welcome newly elected members in December

Thanks outgoing members Mick and Taylor for their service

By Kendra Walker

Gunnison County voters have elected Anne Brookhart, Jody Coleman and Mark VanderVeer to the Gunnison Watershed School Board and they will be sworn in next week. During the November 13 regular school board meeting, superintendent Dr. Leslie Nichols shared that the incoming board members will be affirmed once the official vote is certified. Nichols said that according to County Clerk and Recorder Kathy Simillion, the election must be certified by November 29. 

The school board will hold a special meeting to swear in the incoming board members on Monday, December 4 at 5:30 at Lake School in Gunnison.  

November 13 was the last regular meeting for outgoing board members LeeAnn Mick and Dave Taylor. Nichols and the rest of the board took some time to thank both members for their service to the school board. 

Mick has served on the board since 2015, and first started teaching in the district in 1970.

“LeeAnn, you are a vital community member and I have so enjoyed working with you,” said Nichols. “I am so grateful for your leadership, your historic perspective, your knowledge of children as a teacher, your passion about public education in this valley. I have learned so much from you.”

“When I came on the school board five years ago it didn’t take me very long to learn what an incredible value you are to the board,” shared board president Tyler Martineau.

Nichols also thanked Taylor, who was appointed in 2019 and served as board treasurer. 

“Dave, these last four years of serving with you have been fantastic. You have pushed me and taught me and questioned me and I have learned so much from your leadership. I will miss you,” shared Nichols.

She continued, “The financial insight you have brought to your role as treasurer has been so strong for the district, and you pay attention to those details and you understand them at a level that’s so helpful. You ask questions that make us better, I hope you don’t stop doing that and I really appreciate your time in this community service,” she concluded. 

“You have really shown up and taken on a lot of work and time for this board,” agreed Martineau. “Thank you, Dave, for all that commitment.”