Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due:

The Positive Side of Montrose County School District RE-1J

By Jason Conant

This past week, I decided to attend another school board meeting. The meeting went smoothly, with the board members working their way through the agenda items. One of the first parts of the meeting included a Student, Staff, and Community Recognition portion. It’s always great to hear some positive and encouraging words. This time, it was about student improvements at Black Canyon High School and an in-classroom air quality study conducted by a group of students. Very interesting and uplifting, for sure.

The board then moved on to other items on the agenda, and eventually, we came to the “Community Input” portion of the meeting.

We had one individual who expressed interest in the open board seat in District B, which was recently vacated due to a resignation.

We also had another individual who stood up to express their concerns and dissatisfaction with the new board, implying that they hadn't done anything worthwhile. Although this person did wish them success, they felt the board was not being transparent and were unhappy with what had been going on in the district and on the board. They implied that the board was not living up to expectations and was not looking out for the best interests of our students.

Okay, so I have to put on the brakes here.

I thought to myself, why don't we take a closer look at this? I had originally planned to write a more detailed article about the school board meeting itself, but this person's concerns got me thinking. Perhaps instead of focusing on the meeting, we should take a different direction and look at what is actually happening within our school district. Are there positive things being accomplished that we might be overlooking? Are we giving credit where credit is due, or are we so focused on the negative that we fail to recognize the good?

We are coming up on the one-year anniversary of when the new members of the school board were voted into office. So, before we start making accusations that nothing worthwhile has been accomplished, shouldn't we take a look at some of what actually has been done?

We often hear about the problems facing our public schools. Whether it's declining test scores, budget concerns, school board disagreements, or questions about leadership, there never seems to be a shortage of criticism. And while I believe accountability and transparency are extremely important, I also believe we need to recognize the good things happening in our schools.

Academic Achievements Worth Celebrating

Let's start with our students.

In September, Montrose High School senior Wyatt Gleason was named a 2027 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. Fellow student Maya Yacovetta was recognized as a 2027 National Merit Scholarship Commended Student.

These are significant academic honors, and both students deserve recognition for their hard work and dedication.

There has also been some improvement in the district's overall academic performance. According to the district's preliminary 2026 performance framework, its score increased from 51.2 points to 53.3 points, an improvement of 2.1 points. Now do we still have room for improvement, absolutely.

Investing in Our Youngest Students

One of the more significant developments this year was the school board's acceptance of a $6,192,542.48 Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) grant in June.

This funding is intended to support the construction of a new early childhood education facility.

Early childhood education is an important part of building a strong educational foundation. Investing in facilities that serve our youngest students can provide benefits for years to come.

During the meeting they had a presentation on the progress of this facility that is being built into the field house building. Financial oversight and transparency look to be on task. Receiving a grant is an accomplishment, and ensuring that those funds are spent responsibly is just as important and as stated it looks like they are headed in the right direction.

Preparing Students for Life After High School

According to district information, RE-1J currently offers 16+ career pathways covering areas such as agriculture, engineering, health sciences, public safety, education, and outdoor industries.

The district also reports offering more than 130 Advanced Placement and concurrent enrollment courses, along with opportunities for 24 industry certifications.

These are existing educational opportunities, not necessarily programs that were all introduced this year. Nevertheless, they are important resources for our students.

Not every student is going to attend a four-year university, nor should they be expected to. We need skilled tradespeople, mechanics, electricians, healthcare workers, agricultural professionals, and individuals prepared to enter the workforce. This is a work in progress and I sure wish we had something like when I was in school. Good job by everyone that is involved with this.

 Recognizing Our Teachers

We sometimes forget that behind successful students are dedicated teachers who spend countless hours preparing lessons, helping struggling students, and encouraging young people to reach their potential.

In April, the Montrose Education Foundation recognized three outstanding educators as its 2026 Teachers of the Year: Valerie Hansen — Johnson Elementary School, Leslie Maddox — Columbine Middle School, Joy Robinson — Olathe Middle and High School The foundation also awarded a $10,000 Impact Award to Chris Thompson and Meghan Waschbusch at Centennial Middle School for their VEX Robotics Program. The project is designed to expand after-school robotics opportunities for middle school students while introducing elementary students to engineering and robotics. Programs like this encourage creativity, problem-solving, and practical skills that students can use throughout their lives.

Congratulations to these educators and everyone involved.

Music, Innovation, and Hands-On Learning -Academics are important, but education involves more than reading, writing, and mathematics. In January, the Montrose High School Advanced Jazz Ensemble was selected to perform at the 2026 Colorado Music Educators Association State Conference.

That is an outstanding achievement for the students and educators involved in the music program.

Community Partnerships Make a Difference -Another positive aspect of our local schools is the involvement of community organizations. The Montrose Education Foundation continues to recognize outstanding educators and support classroom innovation.

Accountability and Recognition Can Go Hand in Hand

Writing about the positive things happening within RE-1J does not mean I am ignoring the problems. There might be legitimate concerns about academic performance, attendance, financial decisions, and the overall direction of public education. Those concerns should be discussed openly, respectfully, and with accurate information.

But I don't believe that holding our schools accountable requires us to constantly focus on the negative. We can question decisions made by the school board while still recognizing the accomplishments of our students, teachers, staff and school board members.

We can also give credit where credit is due, regardless of whether or not we agree with who was elected to serve on the school board. Our schools should not be about political sides, personal disagreements, or who supported which candidate. They should be about what's best for our students and our community.

We can demand accountability, ask tough questions, and expect better results without overlooking the progress that has already been made.

Accountability and recognition are not opposites. In fact, I believe we need both if we truly want our schools and our students to succeed.

Thank you to the Montrose RE-1J faculty, staff, administration, and school board members for your continued hard work, dedication, and commitment to our students and community throughout the 2026–2027 school year. Your efforts do not go unnoticed, and they are greatly appreciated!