2014-2016 :The Annual Fund facilitated the Renovation of Starbuck Stadium's Track/Football Field by pursuing a community partnership with the ERBM Recreation & Parks District, a Great Outdoors Colorado grant and targeted fundraising.  The facility's student safety hazards were successfully mitigated and wide community use was guaranteed for the future.

2017 to date: Curricular Resource needs of the District's Curriculum Development Plan are the priority.  To this end, the Annual Fund and Grant Award Program have effectively merged for now.

  • 2014–2016: The Bob King Track & Football Field Renovation at Starbuck Stadium was completed
  • 2016-2017; 2017-1018, 2018-2019: Helping fund major content area curricular resources identified by the School District’s Curriculum Development Plan

       ** MEF's Grant Award Program will continue to fund textbooks, curricular               materials and equipment  identified by the School District's Curriculum                   Development Plan to guarantee those identified each year are in place at                 the beginning of that school year.

Goals of District Plan  

  • Review curriculum and materials annually to ensure each classroom teacher has quality and current resources aligned with Colorado Academic Standards.
  • Restore courses, positions and programs lost to budget rescissions which successfully go through the reinstatement and adoption process.
  • Superintendent Selle, "Research is very clear that he most significant influence on student learning is the classroom teacher.  The next most influential factor is an aligned and viable curriculum."

The needs are extraordinary.  For the last few years, prior to FY 2016, the District has been ‘getting by’ due to mandatory austerity budgets. This is turn has resulted in minimal focus on curriculum development.    Compounding  poor school funding has been the state’s Negative Factor which will cost Meeker $722,583 in the 2017-2018 school year.  

Needs were documented.  A current review of existing materials was strong testimony that content areas need an updated curriculum plan and supported by updated  texts and resources. The review found textbooks and other materials were very out-dated and, in some  cases, there weren't enough copies for all students.

See the Grant Award Program for the textbooks/curricular materials, equipment and classroom needs purchased in 2016-2017, 2017-2018 and the 2018-2019 school years.

The School District deals with poor funding

The School District committed to judiciously using some of its General Fund reserves to relieve annual budgets and meet certain vital needs.  Deficit spending is not ideal, but student needs are extreme and the priority. Using reserves is a balancing act for they must also ensure that the District can cash flow itself during the year and cover emergency expenses.  Simple math points out, the balance of reserves will only last a few years if used foe operations.

How You can help:

  • Donate Online (Credit /Debit card or PayPal): Use 'Online Payment Tab' & go to drop down menus
  • Pay by Check and send to Meeker Education Foundation, PO Box 255, Meeker, CO  81641
  • Restricted donations: Please use 'Contact' tab with your message.  We will respond and you can either pay online or by check.

   

 Track/Football Field Project:  2014 - 2016

The Renovation of the  Track/Football Field 

trackThe completed track was named for Bob King - Superintendent of schools for 27 years and under whose tenure the original synthetic track was built in 1984-85.  It is now the Bob King Track at Starbuck Stadium. 

It should be noted that no school district funds were used and 92% of the monies which completed the project were dollars which  could not go into the academic classroom (ERBM contribution of $400,000 and a Great Outdoors Colorado grant for $350,000).  The extensive disrepair of the track made student safety the most compelling reason for the endeavor.  To protect them while exercising long overdue stewardship of Starbuck Stadium,  with no impact to the taxpayer has been a win-win.

A middle school meet was held in April,2017, in which over 600 7th and 8th grade athletes participated from a large number of school districts.  The first high school meet is scheduled for the spring of 2018.   Out of town guests support our local businesses; the community will benefit from expanded ERBM programs; and our high school and middle school track & field programs have been rescued. Community members who use the track for personal exercise and multiple governmental agencies who use it for trainings, are now able to use a safe and excellent facility.

Hellas Construction, Inc. completed the project before the 2016 Football Season.   The firm installed its own synthetic running surface on the track. It specializes in manufacturing sport surfaces and has put in many thousands of fields, tracks and courts across the country.

Scope of the Project:

    • Replace old track with a new 8 lane asphalt and synthetic track with inside and outside curbing
    • Two 100 meter runways with pits on each end for long jump, triple jump with curbing
    • New high jump pad
    • Pole vaulting once again is in place
    • A non-rebounding permanent, aluminum  discus cage which meets NFHS/NCAA  specifications
    • New trench drainage system for the football field and track
    • Football Field was  re-graded/re-crowned/re-sodded. 
    • A new irrigation system will be installed for the field
    • New NFHS code compliant 6 ft, offset goal posts
    • Shore up and support visitor grandstand support columns and replace the front apron surface to be ADA compliant
    • New 4' chain link perimeter fence
    • New Asphalt sidewalk from the stadium entrance to the visitor stands
    • A Donor Wall with a lighted flag pole will be constructed to honor Paul Starbuck and Bob King, those for whom the stadium and track are named respectively; and to thank the project donors.
    • The Donor Wall funds are in place, but the wall will not be constructed until the success of the high school bond election is determined.  If htis construction porjrect goes forward, the Donor Wall must fit with its design.

Bricks For the Wall can still be purchased for $100 & inscribed to your specifications.  

All Foundation Donors and Sponsors will be honored on this website and in Foundation news releases.  Accumulated donations will move up in category as the sum increases over time.  Sponsors may have their logo displayed with their name if they so choose.

 

Meeker Education Foundation Sponsorships:

  • Benefactor – accumulated donations of $50,000 or more
  • Platinum Sponsor – accumulated donations of $25,000 to $49,999
  • Diamond Sponsor – accumulated donations of $10,000 to $24,999
  • Gold Sponsor – accumulated donations of $5,000 to $9,999
  • Silver Sponsor – accumulated donations of $2,500 to $4,999
  • Bronze Sponsor – accumulated donations of $1,000 to $2,499
  • Valued Friend of M.E.F. – Donations up to $999
  • “A Brick For the Wall” at $100@
©2015 Meeker Education Foundation, Meeker Colorado