001We are returning from executive session. No action was taken and I am going to adjourn that meeting and open the next one. So we have everybody here. Okay. This would be the opening of our special meeting which was scheduled for five o'clock. And do we have a guest online as well? Okay. Um, call to order would be uh Laura Lee, please call the role. Stu Boyd here, Denise Chapman here, Amy Doran here, Don Kirk here, Barbara Cruz here, Alexander Leam here, Nancy Rumfeld here, and Nancy, would you lead us in the pledge? I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Nancy. And Stu, would you read the mission statement, please?
002No. All right. The Thompson School District will be a school district that empowers challenges and inspires students, faculty, staff, parents, school leaders, and community members to learn, achieve, and excel. Thank you. All right. Um, we also need to adopt the agenda for today's meeting um for May 7th. So, I need um a motion to adopt the agenda. This is for our special meeting. We have to go through that process. So, move It's okay. But it is a piece that we have to do. So move. Thank you, Stu. Second. So a first from Stu and a second from Alexandra. And um are there any motions to change the agenda? Hearing none. Laura Lee, please call the role. Stu Boyd. I. Denise Chapman. I. Amy Doran. Hi. Don Kirk. Hi. Barbara Cruz. Hi. Alexander Lesum. Hi. Nancy
003Rfell. Hi. All right. Thank you, Lori. So, we have one real item of uh it's discussion action and it all kind of happens all together because we have a resolution that we're going I'm going to read and in that resolution it will name the uh person who will be our candidate or actually our superintendent. He is online with us and listening and I'll offer him a few minutes of a opportunity to speak as well if he would like to. So, it's a resolution appointing a finalist to superintendent of Thompson School District. Whereas, the board of education has considered the candidates included in district's list of finalists for the position of superintendent. And whereas the board of education has selected a finalist to appoint as superintendent. And whereas the board declared its finalists at least 14
004days before the board of education makes this appointment pursuant to Colorado Revised Statute 24-6-42 3.5. Um, now therefore be it resolved by the board of education of Thompson School District, Brett Heler is appointed to the position of superintendent for the Thompson School District approved the 7th day of May, 2025 by a unanimous vote. Yes. Okay. So that is the main action that we have for today and he is online. Does he would he like to make any statements at all? There he is. Can you go ahead and say something? Absolutely. Can you guys Okay. Yes. Well, uh I'll just say President Cruz, members of the Thompson School District, board of trustees, board of directors, thank you for this amazing opportunity. Honored and thrilled to be joining your team. Uh, I I want to start by
005taking a moment to thank everybody in the Thompson School District and the community that I had the opportunity to meet and engage with last week. The focus on doing what is best for students was evident throughout all of those interactions. I also I would be remiss if I didn't just take a little bit of time to acknowledge and thank the people in my current community in Mster, Indiana. I am blessed to serve a wonderful community, a phenomenal board, dedicated and passionate staff, and students who make the work meaningful and rewarding every day. But with all that being said, my family and I are very excited for this next step in our adventure. Very much looking forward to the relationships we'll begin to build within the Thompson School District, and I'm excited to to get to
006work. We have a lot to do. Uh we got to move and do a lot of things here in the next couple months, but u very excited. Can't wait to get started. Thank you again for this opportunity and the trust you have placed. Well, we look forward to having you join us. All right. Thank you. Um, this adjourns the meeting. Oh, no. We voted through a resolution. Okay. Yes. Point of order. Point of um Yes, sure. I just want to um specifically thank um cabinet members um everybody especially Laura Lee for um setting everything up for the interviews for the um all of the candidates I wanted to thank and as a board we wanted to thank um especially Kelly um Todd and Mike for giving or for taking a day to drive um all
007of the candidates around and um to all of the interview groups you know the the parent community group, staff group, cabinet group, um and then all of our schools. Um it truly was, you know, a a community effort and um you know, I'm I'm very thankful for everybody's input and and support um for the whole process. So, I just wanted to Thank you. Anybody else have a comment they need to make? I have something just very quick uh to introduce just a little bit of levity into the situation. you're I'm sure you're all aware of what's going on in the Vatican right now in terms of choosing uh the new pope and u I just returned from California where I spent several days where my wife and I spent several days with our daughter and
008so uh in talking about this whole process um she said when you've officially named the new superintendent will you be releasing smoke and in that case what color will the smoke be? And I said, I I didn't know, but you know, a lot of times public officials and school districts are uh accused of blowing smoke. So, I think this is an opportunity for us to rejoice. Not that we have any smoke that's going to emanate from any kind of a tower or whatever, but I just thought um her comment was too good not to share with you. I can't follow up with a joke, but um I am an accountant after all. So I, you know, not always so funny. But I do want to say that this was an interesting process for me. It
009was a little bit different. But I also think as far as just team building among the board, I do think it added a lot with this. And I think it was really great that we were able to come to unanimous decision because I think it's really important for all of the teachers and the staff and the parents and the students to have that certainty of where what direction are we going. And so I think it'll be really great when Dr. Heler gets here in July and we find out what direction he's taking us and and I do plan on mailing you a package of cucumbers. So, okay then. All right. Um, for coming in and listening to our, um, celebration of where we are with things. It's been a long process and we'll miss Dr.
010Schaefer, but we will look forward to having a new superintendent. And I just want to reure reassure everybody. I talked with our attorney today. She said by reading this proclamation or resolution that's our voting that we don't have to do it of verbal one by one. So okay all right we will uh be leaving the dis for now and heading down for our study session but we're going to be having um is our dinner here? Yes. Okay. We'll be having our lunch while we're working down there. So we can start anytime. Is that are still working on 5:30? Okay. Oh, yeah. He does have to switch. I just saw it all set up, so I thought it was ready. All right.