Boulder school stays open — but principal sent elsewhere

BOULDER — After fighting to keep his school open, the principal of the tiny Boulder Elementary School got his marching orders from the Garfield School Board and will be replaced by a teacher's aide.

"I don't want to go. I'm happy teaching the kids here at Boulder," said Roy Suggett, who serves as the school's principal, head teacher and secretary.

Garfield School District, in southern Utah, is suffering financially and facing budget cuts much like other school districts across the state.

The board previously was contemplating closing the school altogether, leaving its 10 students with the option of being bused an hour each way to school in Escalante.

The board decided last week to keep the school open for now but switch the principal to a science teaching position at Bryce Valley High School in Tropic.

Suggett said Bryce Valley High is a 10-minute drive from his home in Cannonville, while Boulder Elementary is a commute of an hour and 10 minutes. In spite of the shorter distance to the high school, Suggett said he doesn't want to leave his position at Boulder Elementary.

"I'm committed to the kids in Boulder," he said.

Suggett currently makes $55,000, plus a $4,000 stipend for his administrator's duties. He has a bachelor's degree in life science and a master's degree in the teaching of biology, plus 60 semester units in various certifications, including language development and life sciences. He would still make $55,000 as a teacher, but not receive the $4,000 stipend. Educators are paid based on experience and degrees or certifications.

"The rationale is they need me to teach science. I only have two options: agree to it or I will be out of a job," Suggett said, adding he is taking a few days to think about what to do.

The Boulder Elementary teacher's aide, Colene Gardner, is making approximately $9,000 annually and could be paid up to $35,000 as the school's leader. She is working toward renewing her teacher's certification.

It's tough times for the Suggett household as Roy's wife, Phyllis, who teaches social studies at Escalante High School, was also notified by district officials, on the same day her husband received notice, that her position is being cut to part-time with no benefits.

The Garfield School District superintendent and school board president did not return phone messages left by the Deseret News.

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