This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters
The school board in Sheridan, just south of Denver, voted Monday to allow compensation for board members, becoming one of the first in Colorado to do so.
The five-member Sheridan board voted unanimously to allow its members to get paid $150 for a full day of board work — such as attending board conferences or retreats — or $75 for a half day of work for other board assignments. No public members showed up to comment.
“It’s to give people an incentive to run for the board,” said Sally Daigle, Sheridan board president, or to offer an incentive to attend board member training outside the district. “I learn so much. There are people out there that wouldn’t have the option to take the time off or have a whole lot of time off built up.”
Board member Maria Delgado, who is a full-time college student working part time, said she would benefit from compensation for days she skipped her job for board duties.
“I didn’t realize how much work goes into it, it’s a lot to take on,” Delgado said of becoming a school board member. “It’s hard sometimes to make the time.”
Board members said they did not intend for members to be paid for regular board meetings, and were more concerned about board work that interfered with their paying jobs.