Photos by John Heiser

Below: Former board member Hugh Eaton and his wife, current board member Dee Dee Eaton, present a hand-made quilted wall-hanging to retiring Superintendent Dave Dilley. 

Below: School Board President Jes Raintree presents a plaque to Dilley.

Below: Dilley presents commendations to Jim Carter (L) , supervisor of maintenance services, and Hal Garland (R), director of transportation.

Below: Retiring Palmer Lake Marshal Dale Smith was commended for 31years of support to the school district.

Below: Merv Bennett (R), President and CEO, YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region, updated the board on the YMCA’s building plans and funding campaign. He was assisted by architect Jim Strange. View YMCA's concept site plan

Below:  Recent high school graduate Meghan McLaws (R), who was nearly killed in an automobile accident, expresses appreciation to the school district for the support she received during her recovery. She was assisted by her mother Deborah Samek (L). In the foreground is Lewis-Palmer High School Principal Mark Brewer.

Meghan's message...

Hello, my name’s Meghan McLaws, and on September the 9th I was involved in a car accident that could have taken my life. Only hours after it happened, the Lewis Palmer School District stepped in, offering help to my family, giving them hope and the determination they needed so soon afterwards. A lot of people deserve my gratitude, and so many deserve the recognition given tonight. 

First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Dave Dilley for his support. His phones calls to my mom for weekly updates, and the informational emails he sent to the rest of the district meant so much to my family. Without his caring attitude, word wouldn’t have gotten around about my changing conditions.

Next, I would like to thank Mr. Mark Brewer and the students and faculty of Lewis Palmer High School for their letters, musical productions in the hallways of ICU, and support. They are the reason I was able to walk with the rest of my class. I wasn’t a member of the community very long, and I wasn’t very involved in anything other than the Arts department, but they treated me like I’d been attending classes with them since freshman year.

Lastly, I would like to thank Mrs. Alexis Miller Gibbore and the staff of Grace Best Elementary School for their support of myself, my mom, and my family. Without their understanding, my mother would not have been at my side for the 9 weeks I was in ICU. Their support and dedication to their Grace Best ‘family’ made our recovery much easier.

My journey’s far from over, but I was able to move forward with the help of the whole district. Not many school districts would have joined together to help one student, but that’s what sets LPSD apart from every other district in the state, even in the nation. Thank you.

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