Dear Editor,

For two years, I taught math and science at East Middle School, and I experienced the school’s closure firsthand alongside our determined, passionate and accomplished staff.

It is vital to share that I signed onto the petition to recall Andrea Haitz from the School District 51 Board of Education in the midst of a confusing and overwhelming 2023. In reflection, my wish is that I reached out to the board directly beforehand: seeking to understand rather than react.

Below is my revelation to the remarkable leadership she and Angela Lema have demonstrated in response to my misplaced expression of frustration. An experience that now compels my wholehearted advocacy for their re-election.

Deeper research and consistent visits with the school board members reveal the challenges our district faced before the 2022-23 school year. Our newly elected board discovered that D51 had critical deadlines for building safety, and our kids were at extreme risk. An issue has been created by years of deferred maintenance, which is further compounded by a lack of funds for staff health insurance. When the largest employer in the valley has that much momentum in the wrong direction, the correct choices are inescapably tough.

Still, all of those facts are hard to contextualize when one finds out in the early spring that your school is closing down, at no fault of those in the building. For us, the closure seemed to contradict all the progress we had made with our students at East Middle School. We were at a loss as to why our school was chosen to be closed.

Reflecting on the spring of 2023, I remember the challenges our incredible staff and community faced. Our students, families and even some teachers remember EMS as their home during their formative middle school years.

To better understand our options as teachers, union members instinctively reached out to the Mesa Valley Education Association for discussion. We teachers felt abandoned when the MVEA locked us out of their building after teachers from across all grade levels arrived in unison to express our lack of clarity and collaboration from them. We all stood outside their windowed doors, in the rain, being fed excuses through a cracked door as to why it was not a good time for them to have a conversation with us.

This avoidance from the MVEA is what highlights my great appreciation for Andrea Haitz and Angela Lema. In contrast to what I saw from MVEA, both of those leaders stood steady in the face of all I shared about where the district fell short.

In an incredible demonstration of steadiness (grace), Andrea remained composed when I informed her of my decision to sign the petition for her recall; she was open and receptive to hearing what I had to say. Andrea and Angela’s reactions were purely collaborative. They listened for hours, asked me questions and compelled me to invite other EMS teachers to share their stories. They were genuine, compassionate and determined.

A testament to their efficacy, at the subsequent board meetings, Andrea and Angela shared my feedback with the district leaders. They created a community review committee that utilizes transparent guidelines to determine which school is selected for closure. Creating a collaborative process is never an easy choice.

So has all the hard work paid off? Are our children in a more sustainable school district?

Yes. Despite extraneous funding challenges, the school board raised starting teacher pay by 33 percent. They also built average salaries up an average of 38 percent, all without raising taxes. Their choice to cut administrative costs was a representative choice, restoring respect to school staff who only saw their jobs being eliminated. Our schools are safer to use and more secure to be in.

This board has accomplished all of its Early Literacy goals. Five of six Colorado Measures of Academic Success categories for reading and mathematics just arrived above the state averages. Our middle school scores are growing. Our high schoolers are growing and even exceeding state averages.

All of this was accomplished with one of the lowest budgets in the district.

The COVID pandemic uncovered an existing nationwide issue: Public schooling is far from what our families deserve. Our Mesa County children still need the strong leadership of Angela and Andrea in order to achieve all that they’re capable of, to keep pushing us forward.

Andrea and Angela are models of determination and progress. It is my honor to both vote and advocate for them.

I implore us all to rise above our laurels and to be vigilant in re-electing them this November.

Eric Gil, Grand Junction

Founder/CEO of Strong Branch Learning