D27J’s superintendent’s contract extended
The School District 27J Board of Education unanimously voted to extend the contract of 27J superintendent Chris Fiedler during its regular board meeting Oct. 22. Fiedler began as superintendent on July 1, 2012, and his original contract was set to expire at the conclusion of the 2013-2014 school year.
His new contract is through June 30, 2016, or the conclusion of the 2015-16 school year. Under the terms of his current contract, he will earn $190,000 during the 2013-14 school year. The new contract stipulates that Fiedler will earn $199,455 during the 14-15 and 15-16 school year. The salary adjustment is a mid-range number based on an analysis of superintendent salaries from surrounding school districts. The contract extension followed an evaluation process completed by Board of Education members.
In more than a year in the role, Dr. Fiedler has put a priority on high academic achievement for all students and the elimination of the district achievement gap. He has also worked to bring attention to the district’s funding challenges, both at a state and local level.
Biology students clean up, study Barr Lake
Prairie View High School biology students turned nearby Barr Lake State Park into an outdoor classroom during a two-day visit to the park Oct. 10-11.
Students from Greg Quenzer’s Honors Biology class spent part of their time cleaning up the shores of the lake as well as the wetlands and surrounding habitat. Their work included digging up and removing non-native and invasive plants that can quickly overtake native vegetation. The clean-up work also allowed students to earn community service hours.
The second part of the field trip was an educational component that included speaker break-out sessions, presentations, and a walk/talk session that covered topics such as the different habitats of the park; Barr Lake natural history; wildlife taxonomy and classification of birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, and plant life; the government, local control and public/farmer water rights of the three lake area; eagle study program, facts, and nest watching.
New, free after-school tutoring at Mapleton
The Lab is Mapleton’s new and free after-school tutoring program.
At The Lab, Mapleton teachers will be available to help high school students catch up, keep up and get ahead in their school work. Starting Tuesday, Oct. 29, The Lab will be opened 4-7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at the MEC/MESA Project Center. Bus transportation home to major stops will be provided. For more information, call 303-853-1787.
