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200 Church St., Trinidad, Colorado 81082 — Ph: 719.846.3311
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BREAKING NEWS
Trinidad High students stage walkoutBY MIKE ALBANESE / THE CHRONICLE-NEWS About 200 Trinidad High School students staged a 45-minute walkout Friday morning to protest recent decisions made by the district’s superintendent and school board. “We’re against our superintendent and all the cuts, opportunities and teachers they might cut,” Trinidad High School junior Jeff Ferrero said. “This is a prison and no one wants to go to school here,” sophomore Siliana Munoz said. In recent months, many Trinidad School District #1 students said they have been upset by some of the decisions Superintendent Manual Rodriguez has implemented since taking over the district last summer. Among their concerns, students said, are implementation of the Compass Learning program, which is aimed at helping lift student scores on the Colorado Student Assessment Program tests, and a proposal to require students to pass the CSAP tests in order to graduate from high school. Students have said they are worried about possible cuts next year in teacher positions and programs, such as the band program, because of budget issues. At this week’s school board meeting, four preliminary budgets were presented to the board. All of the proposed budgets involved possible teacher cuts, with as many six targeted at the high school. Several high school students attended this week’s school board meeting to speak against the possible teacher and program cuts. Rodriguez was at the walkout and told the students that the problems and issues they are concerned about are the result of decisions made by the prior school administration. At the end of the 2009-2010 school year, the district had $3.8 million in its general fund, he noted. But by the 2012-2013 school year, that number could dwindle to possibly $9,700. Not all students attending the walkout put all the blame on Rodriguez, with one student noting that the school board members approved the decisions that have been made. “This protest is not for Dr. Rodriguez,” high school senior Angelo Cuccia said. “This protest is to put pressure on the (school) board to make smart and informed decisions.” Trinidad High School Principal Jennifer Mason also was at the protest and said, “it didn’t have to come to this,” as she watched students standing in the bed of a truck protesting. She said the students that were involved in the protest would face disciplinary actions, including detention and possible truancy violations. The students made their way back to class at 9:45 a.m., in time for second period. “It’s the constitutional right given to all of us under the First Amendment and everyone has the right to their beliefs,” School Board President Charlene Bertolino said about the protesting students. “I don’t think it’s a sad day, I think it’s a good day,” Bertolino said. “The students have gotten the message out to the community.” Superintendent Manuel Rodriguez was not available for further comment. Contact Mike Albanese at 719 846-3311, ext. 207 or at malbanese@trinidadchroniclenews.comTop Stories for Jan. 27-29, 2012
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