In a pair of votes over the course of a week, the Archuleta School District (ASD) Board of Education appointed David Iverson to fill the board’s vacancy.
Iverson replaces Dana Guinn, who resigned due to moving, as the director of District 4.
The first of the votes came after the board interviewed the two applicants for the position — Iverson and Angie Ranson — but was done via secret ballot, which is prohibited by state law and ASD policy.
Both statute and ASD policy allow for secret ballots only in voting on board leadership (the board president and vice president).
The SUN requested the ballots used at the Aug. 20 via a Colorado Open Records Act request, with those ballots showing three directors opted for Iverson and one opted for Ranson.
Then, on Aug. 27, the board held a special meeting to rescind action taken to appoint Iverson on Aug. 20 and to formally make the appointment again.
“The reason for that is because of a procedural error that occurred at that date that we were made aware of and appreciate,” board president Bob Lynch stated at the Aug. 27 meeting.
He explained that the board would be going back to the point in the Aug. 20 meeting at which the interviews concluded.
A motion to rescind the action of appointing Iverson at the Aug. 20 meeting that action was unanimously approved.
“That action from last Tuesday [Aug. 20] is rescinded,” Lynch stated.
He explained that the board was to begin at the point in which the interviews concluded and that “no sheets of paper” from the previous meeting would affect the decision made at the Aug. 27 meeting.
A roll-call vote revealed that Lynch ranked Iverson as his first choice and Ranson as his second.
Board members Amanda Schick and Tim Taylor also ranked Iverson as their first choice, and board member Butch Mackey ranked Ranson as his first choice and Iverson as his second choice.
Lynch explained that the based on those rankings, the board needed to make a motion to appoint a new candidate to the board.
A motion to appoint Iverson to the board as director of District 4 was seconded and unanimously approved.
Iverson then again took the oath of office.
Both candidates were interviewed separately at the Aug. 20 meeting, with the board asking the same eight questions to each candidate.
Some of those questions included:
• Why do you want the position as board member?
• What are your skills and abilities as a board member?
• What goals and objectives would drive your budgeting process?
• What would be your major contribution to the board?
• What are your most effective communication skills?
Ranson indicated that she was interested in being on the board because of how well the board listens to the feedback of the community, and that she has grandchildren in the district.
Ranson highlighted the way the board handled its graduation requirement changes last year as being impressive in how the board listened to the community.
She also mentioned that communication is one of her best attributes and that she would prioritize teacher salaries and building needs during budgeting.
Ranson explained she is also good at handling and resolving conflicts.
Iverson mentioned he works remotely and is wanting to find ways to contribute to the community he actually lives in. He noted he has four daughters currently in the district.
Iverson mentioned that one of his best skills is being a good listener, as it pertains to his job of gathering data and feedback from multiple departments within his company.
Iverson also indicated that he would prioritize hiring and retaining teachers, noting educational studies show that to be important in delivering high-quality education.
Iverson mentioned that he likes to be as direct and precise as possible when communicating, and that persistence is important when trying to achieve a goal.
He explained that the overarching goal is to prepare kids to be able to function in the world and that basic educational skills such as literacy are needed.
clayton@pagosasun.com
