Stu Boyd seeks reelection on Thompson BOE
By Brendan Henry
The Surveyor
Stu Boyd, current seatholder on the Thompson School Board is running for another term. Boyd is hopeful to continue the work that both he and the school board have started while also addressing multiple upcoming issues both Berthoud and the school district will face.
A Berthoud High School graduate and one of the last people to receive a Bachelor of Arts in English from Colorado State College — now the University of Northern Colorado — Boyd spent 36 years as a teacher, administrator and curriculum specialist in the Thompson School District. On top of that, Boyd spent 14 years as a substitute teacher and a mentor to educators.
Boyd has also served as president of the Board of Directors of Thompson Education Foundation and Meals on Wheels of Loveland-Berthoud. He is a charter member of the Board of Directors of the Berthoud Schools Fund and has also received the Doc Fickel Award in 2011 for exemplary service to the Berthoud community.
“It’s a real honor and a privilege to represent the Berthoud community,” Boyd said. Boyd is an adamant advocate of public education. “I believe that America is who it is, who we are, as a result of public education.”
Growth, particularly in kindergarten through eighth grade in Berthoud is the biggest topic of concern for Boyd if he were to get reelected. Boyd stressed the need for a future bond issue in Loveland and Berthoud within the next couple of years to address this issue. A new elementary school or significant additions to the Berthoud or Ivy elementary schools are both reasonable options according to Boyd.
“The most acute need right now (regarding growth) is here in Berthoud,” Boyd said.
In addition to potential construction on these elementary schools, Boyd would like to see all of the Berthoud schools get complete air conditioning as none of the educational buildings in Berthoud are fully air-conditioned. This task would be expensive to undertake but worthwhile nonetheless for Boyd.
Security is another major concern for Boyd in the wake of multiple shootings that have occurred throughout the nation. Ideally for Boyd, Berthoud and Ivy Elementary schools would have a secure vestibule added — a single-point entry to the school that requires an internal authorization to buzz someone in.
Boyd has asked for District Central Administration to put together small group meetings for board members to find out exactly how the district uses assessment data to improve instruction. A goal for Boyd is to actually use the data from academic test results to improve student achievement. In Boyd’s opinion, there is still room for improvement in both academic achievement and student well-being in the district.
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and mental health are important to Boyd. The school district was one of four districts to receive a special grant to implement funds for mental health opportunities for students. Boyd identified that while academic achievement did not falter after the return of students following the COVID-19 lockdown, student behavior did and that this sum of money going toward a positive mental health initiative and student well-being should help improve these behavior issues.
Boyd is proud of the current board for voting 7-0 to give most of the teachers a 10% raise. “It’s long overdue, it’s not enough, but it’s what we can do right now. That’s another thing, if I’m reelected to the board that’s a thing I want to continue to hammer at,” Boyd said. Keeping the district competitive and ensuring the best people are doing the job is important to Boyd.
The Thompson Career Campus — a career center for students not interested in pursuing a four-year degree — has Boyd’s support. Boyd feels that the career campus is a good place for kids to go to get interested in jobs that society greatly needs that do not require a college education.
On top of highlighting student achievement, Boyd is happy with the board’s Top of Thompson award which is granted to three people, each from classified, teaching staff and administration that recognizes accomplishment in their field. Boyd feels that adults deserve recognition along with students.
Boyd is enthusiastic to run for another term and looks to continue improvements in Berthoud and the Thompson School District.
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