The Salida School Board is a group of volunteer citizens that dedicate themselves to ensure that the heart of the community, our schools, are healthy. They oversee policies, systems and the superintendent. They do not oversee the minutia of classroom activity. Citizens concerned with individual student needs should contact the teacher and principal. The board loves input from other community members as they try to represent what the school is and should be to Salida at large.

The mission of the Salida School District shall be to strive to provide a safe environment for all students and staff. Meaningful opportunities and innovative educational programs shall be provided for all students so that they reach their learning potential, including the attainment of content standards, through partnerships between home, school, and the community.

Salida School Board Strategic Priorities 2026-2027

In the fall of each year, the Salida School District Board of Education votes to approve the Strategic Priorities for the 2026-2027 as developed at the annual August retreat. The priorities help guide the work of the board for the upcoming year.

Guiding Documents

Salida School District R-32-J Policy Manual
Salida School District Curriculum
SEL Framework
Academic Strategic Planning
Financial Planning
Facility Planning
Communications Planning
Wellness Planning

Upcoming Meetings are posted on the Board Agendas and Minutes page

All Board of Education meetings are public meetings and the community is always welcome. There are BOE Meeting Protocols for public participation in the meeting. Participants are encouraged to understand those protocols so that his or her voice can be best heard. Agendas are posted by the Friday prior to the Regular Board Meeting. The final determination as to whether an item will appear on the board agenda will be at the discretion of the superintendent and board president.

Public Comment - in the interest of time the board reserves the right to limit this portion of the agenda to 30 minutes. Each speaker should limit their comments to 3 minutes unless the time limit is waived by a majority vote of the Board. No more than two people may speak on one subject. The board may ask for representation from big groups. Public comment should be related to the matters on the agenda, and inform the board on those items. 

Requests from the public to speak during Public Comment can be submitted for consideration in two ways.

1. Submitted in advance via email by 2 p.m. on the day of a board meeting to board secretary kletourneau@salidaschools.org. Emailed requests will have priority and must include your name, address, and the topic to be addressed.

2. Turn in the official request form at the meeting. The form is available at the sign-in table and should be turned in to the president or secretary before the start of the meeting to be considered.

Please note: all letters, cards, correspondence, etc. received in the Central Administration Office addressed to the Board of Education before the board packets are prepared will be included on the current month’s board packet. All items received after the packets have been sent to board members will be held for the following month’s agenda.

Salida School District Director Boundaries Adopted January 13, 2026
Salida School District Boundaries - Legal Descriptions - Adopted January 13, 2026

The Salida School District Board of Education prefers that email communication to the board be sent to salidaschoolboard@salidaschools.org. Emails to this address will be sent to all board members, the school board secretary, and the superintendent. 

DISTRICT 1
Accepting letters of interest for appointment - see details below list of board members
Term expires 2027

DISTRICT 2
Jodi Breckenridge Petit - President
Appointed 2020, Elected 2021 to fill term; Elected 2023 - term expires 2027

DISTRICT 3
Mandy Paschall - Vice President
Elected 2021; Elected 2025 -term expires 2029

DISTRICT 4
Ben Hill - Treasurer
Appointed 2022, Elected 2023 to fill term; Elected 2025 - term expires 2029

DISTRICT 5
Jenn Schuchman
Appointed 2021, Elected 2023 to fill term; Elected 2025 - term expires 2029

AT-LARGE REPRESENTATIVES

Derek Vaughn
Appointed 2026 - term expires 2027

Tiffany Rhodes
Elected 2025 - term expires 2029

NOTICE OF BOARD VACANCY AND REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENTS

The Board of Education of the Salida School District R-32-J is accepting applications from persons interested in serving on the Board of Education as the District 1 Director from the date of appointment in November 2026 for the remainder of the term which ends with the next regular biennial school election in November 2027. If interested, the incumbent is eligible to run to retain the seat for a four-year term.

To be eligible for appointment, each candidate must be a registered elector of the school district for at least twelve consecutive months prior to the date of appointment, live in District 1 of the Salida School District, and have never been convicted of commission of a sexual offense against a child.

Any person who meets the qualifications and who desires to be considered for the appointment is invited to file a written notice of such intention with the secretary of the Board of Education by 5 pm on Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 627 Oak Street. The notice should include:

• A professional resume or CV

• A one-page essay answering the following questions:

  • Why do you want to be on the board and what do you hope to accomplish during your time on the Board?

  • Is there any specific area of interest to you personally?

The Board will interview prospective candidates on Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at a work session prior to the regular monthly meeting.

The appointee will serve until the next regular school biennial election in November 2027, the remainder of the current term, at which time an election will be held for a successor to fill a full four-year term.

For further information, contact School Board Secretary Kim LeTourneau at 719-530-5225 or kletourneau@salidaschools.org.

Board Member Qualifications

To be qualified, a candidate must have been a registered elector of the school district for at least 12 consecutive months before the election and a resident of the director district which will be represented. A person is ineligible to run for school director if he or she has been convicted of committing a sexual offense against a child.

The next election for the Salida School District R-32-J School Board will be held with the regular general election in November of 2027. 

For more information, please contact School Board Secretary Kim LeTourneau.

If you are considering running for the School Board, please read CASB's School Board Candidate Guide (Colorado Association of School Boards) website for more information and answers to many common questions. They have links for information about what Board members do, how to become a candidate, resources and an FAQ.