Outgoing Board Members Honored November 27, 2007
Cunniff, Yeldell honored for service as Board of Education Directors
Two Board of Education directors—Ross Cunniff and Anne Yeldell—attended their final Poudre School District board meetings in an official capacity on November 27, 2007.
The two were honored at a reception prior to the Board meeting and work session, at which newly elected directors Tom Balchak and Barb Schwerin took the oath of office.
“It has been my privilege and pleasure to serve the citizens of Poudre School District for the last eight years,” said Cunniff. “It has been a time of great change – new leaders at all levels of PSD, economic turmoil, No Child Left Behind, international events – but PSD has been a consistent center of excellence through it all, and for that, I thank everybody who was part of it.
“The community has been amazingly supportive of us over the years and deserves much of the credit for our success. The staff on the front lines has given their hearts to the children of PSD, and your results speak volumes about your dedication and professionalism.”
Mrs. Yeldell’s service on the board was founded in her belief that if you’re going to be vocal and want to be heard, you better be willing to get involved. As the mother of five children who have graduated or are still progressing through PSD schools, Mrs. Yeldell has been an active volunteer for the past 19 years.
Mrs. Yeldell, who decided not to run for re-election this fall, said it will be bittersweet not to be on the board in the future. But with two children still in school, she plans to be involved for several more years to come!
“I feel like we worked together really well as a board, and it showed in hiring the new superintendent,” says Mrs. Yeldell. “I think we became much more approachable during my time on the board we made it a priority to encourage more community interaction. I believe it created a lot more buy in from the community.”
Mr. Cunniff, who served 8 years or 2 terms as a board member, the maximum number allowed, stated these as some of the highlights of his service on the Board:
§ Served as president of the board from January 2003 through November 2005.
§ Worked with 2 superintendents and 2 interim superintendents; hired the current superintendent, Dr. Jerry Wilson, in 2005.
§ Tackled difficult and controversial issues and increased the effectiveness of community outreach.
§ Reformed the Board’s job so that it can pay attention to those issues that most appropriately require Board oversight, while retaining teamwork and mutual respect.
§ Adopted policy governance as a Board, and began developing policy-level goals for PSD.
Mrs. Yeldell stated the following highlights of serving on the board:
§ As a proponent of grade level changes, having 9th graders in high school and 6th graders in the middle level, she was pleased with the Board’s decision to change grade levels. She believes this is a huge advantage for 9th graders, especially.
§ Policy work: initiating the policy that keeps current employees from serving on the Board.
§ Conducting not one but two superintendent searches! Worked with 2 interims before hiring an ongoing superintendent.
§ Keeping School Choice as an option for PSD families.
§ Board made accessibility a priority, increasing the level of community interaction. Solicited community input and used that input to create the district’s Ends Policy.
§ Long and in-depth study and resulting implementation of sex education curriculum.
§ The diversity of thought among board members—so diverse in opinions, but respectful of one another’s opinions, and worked together very effectively as a board.
§ Adoption of Policy Governance: believes it will be better for the board members, because it will free more time concentrating on student achievement and moving the district forward.
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