The school board and Carter agreed on Tuesday, Feb. 25, to an addendum to the contract, which gives the district the option to extend Carter\u2019s service on a year-by-year basis after the expiration of the current contract.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis board is committed to positive change,\u201d said board member Pete Montano, \u201cand we see Alex\u2019s leadership as an important piece of the puzzle. We\u2019re thrilled that he will be at the helm for the foreseeable future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carter became superintendent at the start of the 2012-13 school year.<\/p>\n
Montezuma-Cortez Re-1 schools have not met state performance expectations for four straight years. According to the Colorado Department of Education, the Re-1 received a total accreditation score of 43.7 percent in 2012-13, again requiring school officials to adopt a priority improvement plan. In 2010, the district received a score of 50 percent, and the scores have steadily declined to last year\u2019s low.<\/p>\n
Accredited with a priority improvement plan for the fourth consecutive year, the school district received less than 40 percentage points for academic achievement in the state\u2019s annual preliminary performance report. For overall academic growth, the district received 52 percentage points. Test participation, safety and finance scores, all of which met state requirements, helped keep the district above a 41 percent turnaround status.<\/p>\n
According to the board, Carter has implemented research-based instructional frameworks to accelerate student learning; provided district-wide support for teachers to study data that would lead to improved student achievement; and led efforts to build a new high school, which is set to open in 2015.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlex has helped build bridges between the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal community and the school district,\u201d said board secretary Eric Whyte. \u201cWe\u2019re excited for him to continue to serve our district for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carter admitted that a lot of work remains, but he said he\u2019s optimistic about the direction of the district. He said students were capable of outstanding achievement; teachers were highly professional, committed and hardworking; and the district was dedicated to readying students for post-secondary and workforce success.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are starting to see some early indicators of success,\u201d he said. \u201cI am confident that we will be seeing even more positive data in the coming year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Board vice president Jack Schuenemeyer agreed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve clearly made progress,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re happy that Alex will be here to provide continued leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schuenemeyer said the board believes it\u2019s important for the district to maintain a continuity of leadership as efforts are made to meet students\u2019 needs.<\/p>\n
According to a press release, the terms of the contract reflect that Carter\u2019s salary and benefits will remain unchanged. Carter receives an annual salary of $115,000, health coverage, a car and continuing-education allowances.<\/p>\n