The Salida School District Board of Education has initiated a process to review new charges brought against Salida High School (SHS) Principal Talmage Trujillo. The Board will meet in a special board meeting at the District’s Administrative Office located at 627 Oak Street, at 5:00 p.m. Friday, February 18 in a closed executive session.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss personnel matters concerning Principal Trujillo as authorized by CRS 24-6-402(4)(f) and confer with the District’s legal counsel as authorized by CRS 24-6-402(4)(b). Information is being collected to help the Board have as much insight as possible to have an informed conversation and determine the next steps.
In the meantime, Principal Trujillo will remain on paid administrative leave, in accordance with contractual and statutory requirements. Director of Academic Affairs Jackie Crabtree is acting principal at Salida High School.
The School District reiterated that teachers and staff continue to show up each day to focus on students and their needs. “We are a small and tight-knit community which will have students and families potentially impacted by these events and how we as a school and community respond. We ask that all parties are thoughtful in their responses and civil discourse remains appropriate in discussing the situation. We want to remind everyone that Principal Trujillo has not been convicted of any charges at this time.”
Salida School District staff have noted the importance of coming together as a community to take care of the district’s schoolchildren, saying, “Safety is always a top priority for the district and students should always feel safe on school property”.
For additional information please contact Kim LeTourneau at 719-530-5225 or kletourneau@salidaschools.org.
I believe that Talmadge Trujillo is a fine man who is 100% committed to the welfare of the young people in his charge. I am also convinced that his actions, as well as those of the school superintendent, in response to the incident earlier in the school year were based on deep and sincere concern for the troubled student at the incident’s center. I had hoped that the subsequent third party investigation findings had laid the issue to rest; that seems not to be the case. Just what evidence in pursuit of what case the Salida PD meant to obtain by seizing Mr. Trujillo’s phone is unclear. What seems a bit more clear is that the Salida PD is not ready to let the issue go. It is sad to see the latest fallout from the incident. It is sadder still to see our schools and our PD engaged in a pissing match over turf/authority. Saddest of all is the thought of what our community could lose if this stand-off is not equitably and speedily resolved.