Skating

An art class at Colorado Rocky Mountain School (CRMS) took it upon themselves to create an impact beyond the Bar Fork, promoting equity and inclusion of trans people and women in skateboarding and the broader community.

Before becoming a full-time art teacher at CRMS, Noah Sakamoto grew up in Piedmont, California, which he described as the “donuthole of Oakland.” He started skateboarding on the notoriously steep streets of Northwest California and eventually got into the professional downhill world circuit. In his day, when a girl “ripped” on a skateboard, a common expression would be, “she skates like a dude.” While perhaps intended as a compliment, the phrase, of course, carries an off ensive connotation.

During the pandemic, when team sports were put on hold, CRMS came to Sakamoto and asked if he’d lead an after-school skateboarding program. He jumped at the opportunity and it continues today. “I really would like to thank CRMS for being open to skateboarding, because they could easily not be,” said Sakamoto.

For the purposes of this project, Sakamoto reached out to Terence Stilin-Rooney of Skate Like a Girl (SLG), a nonprofi t with the mission to make skateboarding more inclusive while developing leadership skills among participants. SLG has chapters in Seattle, Portland and the San Francisco Bay Area.

According to its website, the vision of SLG is to “empower skaters, especially young women and/or trans people, to grow into strong, confident leaders who promote and implement social equity.”

“It basically creates a space for women and trans people in skating,” explained Mace Perrin-Rockett, a senior at CRMS who identifies as non-binary.

“For a long time, and still, it’s been an intimidating scene if you’re not a male,” added their instructor, Sakamoto.

Th is dichotomy of the sexes mirrors the world beyond skateboarding. By breaking patterns of sexism within the sport, and experiencing that triumph, it elevates participants' confi dence and drive to do the same in other aspects of their lives, from professional to social settings.

“SLG works toward providing inspiration and a possibility model for others to organize around a shared goal of more inclusive communities in the future for both skateboarders and beyond,” Stillin-Rooney told Th e Sopris Sun.

Mace Perrin-Rockett smoothes the edges. Courtesy photo

Th e build

Skateboards are made from seven layers of pressed wooden veneers. Sakamoto ordered pre-pressed veneers which came in a rectangular shape. The students shaped the planks to the point they wanted, refined the edges and came up with a design to print on the decks.

Th e designs were intended to highlight culture diversity as well as inclusion. For instance, one student drew a representation of Frida Kahlo, while, for a deck they sent to SLG, Perrin-Rockett created a stretched trans fl ag that also resembles a vital sign monitor reading.

Th ese days, skateboards are typically made in a factory, so it’s unique in itself to build decks by hand. Each student constructed two skateboard decks, one to keep and one to send to SLG. A few students, including Perrin-Rockett, made three. Perrin-Rockett gave the third deck to their brother.

“I never really actually owned one and used it, until I made this one,” said Perrin-Rockett, proudly displaying the skateboard they created and kept.

For SLG, this collaboration “was a bit unique in the sense that the entirety of the project was developed and delivered by Noah and his students,” explained Stillin-Rooney. SLG intends to display the skateboards at its upcoming events and workshops. “We want to showcase the ideas and work done by Noah and the students of CRMS to help encourage folks in our communities to elevate issues of diversity, equity and inclusion within skateboarding,” he added.

“As a person who has identified as a woman and as trans … it’s really impactful to know that I have already interacted with a nonprofit organization that supports the queer community and women,” said Perrin-Rockett. They added, “The opportunities that have been brought to me, especially in the art program at CRMS, are insanely incomparable to any other place.”

Ambar Linares Egger sets the graphic on her Frida Kahlo deck. Courtesy photo

Working Together For Pets And Their People 2801 CR 114 Glenwood Springs, CO (970)947-9173C.A.R.E. has 17 dogs and 9 cats available for adoption. RJ Paddywacks offers a “C.A.R.E. package” for new adoptive package” for new adoptive families, including a Paws for Points plan and a first time 15% discount for your new pet.

Sissy is a 12 year old cattle dog mix who came all the way from the Navajo Nation to find her new home in our valley. Due to dental issues,her teeth were removed and now always has her tongue hanging out in the cutest way. She likes to play with other dogs and children, and would make a loving addition to any home. Please scan the QRCode or call C.A.R.E. at 970-947-9173 for more information about Sissy.

RJ Paddywacks

400 E Valley Rd. # I/J Next to City Market in El Jebel 970.963.1700 rjpaddywacks.com

Cool Brick Brick Studios

photography • film • video 360° virtual tours

world-class multimedia studio

Join these community members in supporting Erica!

Sotantar Anderson Jon Baiardo Stacey Bernot Kristin Birks Pasarini Justin Blanke Ben Bohmfalk Mitzi and John Brasier Mandy Brennan Ayana and Seth Brown Katie Browne Vicki Browne Marc Bruell Brenda Buchanan Ryn Calhoon Lindsay Leonard Cheney Corey and Jen Close Anna and Dustin Cole Jeff and Priscilla Dickinson Melissa Elzey Amy and Max Filiss Annie Flynn Forrest and Rebekah Fulker Sheri Gaynor Matt and Nina Gworek Carrie and Shawn Haberern Anders and Megan Hansen Amber Harmony Crowley Allyn Harvey Heidi Hendricks and Todd Mathis Lindsay Hentschel Sarah-Jane Johnson Chad and Lorri Knaus Chris and Rick Lawrence Rita Marsh Oriana Bier Moebius Rob and Kirsten Morey Katy and Andy Nardecchia Kiko and Graciela Pena Ken and Donna Riley Katharine Rushton Aly Sanguily and Chase Engel Sydney Schalit Kendra Schipper April Spaulding Erin and John Spiess Wendy Stewart Kenny Teitler and Karla Stukey Felicia “Flash”Trevor Gallo Jason and Emily White Dale Will Meghan and Jason Winokur

Meet me at Beer Works on Saturday, March 26 from 2-4 pm where April Spaulding is a hosting a family friendly meet and greet!

School board approves salary adjustment plan

By Jeanne Souldern Sopris Sun Correspondent

At the March 16 meeting of the Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) Board of Education, held at Carbondale's district offices, the board approved a resolution supporting a salary adjustment plan, implemented “to provide fair, competitive and living wages for all employees.”

Funding for the plan’s implementation comes from the mill levy override (MLO) — the Amendment 5B ballot measure — passed by district voters in November 2021.

Plan details include increasing the district’s minimum wage to $18 per hour and using a portion of nonrecurring MLO funds to increase the district’s starting teacher wage to $50,000 in the form of a professional wage supplement.

Th e plan will also increase salaries for teachers, counselors, special service providers, principals, assistant principals and other staff members whose jobs are found almost exclusively in schools or school districts, to ensure they fall in the top third (67th percentile or higher) of our ten comparison districts. Additionally, the plan seeks to provide a competitive wage by increasing the salaries for staff working in a local market to ensure their salaries are comparable with similar positions at local organizations or RFSD-comparison school districts.

Superintendent Rob Stein said, “the infusion of funds will allow us to make the largest salary adjustment in the district’s history.” Aft er the ballot measure’s passage in November, the salary adjustment plan emerged from multiple conversations with employee stakeholder groups and research gathered about equitable compensation practices.

Basalt Middle School has been recognized by the Colorado Association of Middle Level Education for over a decade and is celebrating its third redesignation as a Colorado Trailblazer School to Watch. Courtesy photo

2022-24 school calendars approved

The board approved 2022-23 and 2023-24 school calendars. The approved calendars largely mirror the 2020-22 calendars with a few minor adjustments, including starting the school year on a Wednesday instead of Monday.

Th e school year will end aft er Memorial Day, resolving the confl ict between graduation day and state track and fi eld competitions.

Th e calendars refl ect survey data from district staff and families, showing that respondents were generally satisfi ed with the current school calendar. Th e positive results included 61% of respondents who indicated they were “quite or very satisfi ed” with the current school calendar, and only 7% responded they were “not satisfi ed at all.”

The approved calendar also includes a spring break aligned with Garfield Re-2 district to support the many RFSD staff who live in Re-2.

In other district news, Basalt Middle School (BMS) was recognized as a 2022 Colorado Trailblazer Schools to Watch (STW)!

The Colorado Association of Middle Level Education recognized BMS, one of four Colorado schools, with the designation. BMS is also one of the 100plus schools recognized nationwide at the National Schools to Watch Conference in June in Washington, D.C.

Selection is based on a written application that requires schools to show how they met the criteria developed by the forum. State teams organized by the Colorado STW program conduct site visits to affirm the school has met the rigorous requirements of the award. The teams observe classrooms, interview administrators, teachers and parents, review achievement data, suspension rates, instructional quality and student work. Schools are recognized for a three-year period that, when ended, requires the process to be repeated for redesignation. BMS has been a recognized STW for over a decade and is celebrating its third redesignation.

In an STW press release sent by RFSD, accolades included, “Basalt demonstrates that high-performance is the result of intentional focus on the whole child.”

“An inclusive environment that cultivates student kindness, empowerment and intellectual rigor results in a dynamic school where students thrive!” explained Julie Shue, co-director of the Colorado Schools to Watch program.

SCAN ME!

Golf Course Maintenance or Landscaping Teams