Here are the candidates vying to fill Pueblo D60's Board of Education vacancy

Pueblo School District 60 has announced the five candidates looking to fill a vacancy on the Board of Education following the resignation of former director Matthew Cranswick.

Joseph Samuel Andenucio Jr., Daniel F. Comden, Tiffany K. Grainger, Dennis Maes and Anthony P. Perko are among the applicants to be interviewed by the four current board members during a public meeting inside the Arapahoe Room in the Administrative Services Center, 315 W. 11th St., on or before Oct 10. The applicant chosen by board members will be obligated to serve until the November 2023 election.

Applications and resumes from each candidate are posted on the Pueblo D60 website and will remain open to public comment until 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8.

Joseph Samuel Andenucio Jr.

With experience teaching drama and language arts at Pueblo-area schools, serving on several local boards of directors and being co-owner of Thrifty Gents Floral and Events, Andenucio may be a familiar face for many in the Pueblo community.

In his application, Andenucio said teacher recruitment and retention, student retention, school maintenance, school safety and mental health initiatives are among the most urgent needs in Pueblo D60. At each school in the district, he would seek to create a culture that celebrates student uniqueness, motivates students to strive toward academic excellence and encourages participation in extracurricular activities.

Andenucio has been a co-owner and designer of Thrifty Gents since 2019. His most recent teaching position was as an English language arts and career and technical education teacher at East High School during the 2021-22 school year. He also has served as vice president of the Pueblo Broadway Theatre League and is on the boards for the Pueblo Zoo, Sangre de Cristo Arts Center and Rosemount Museum.

"I have had the privilege of being born into a family that takes a lot of pride in being educators and valuing the work that needs to go into education for the youth of Pueblo," he said. "Being on the Pueblo School District No. 60 Board of Education would be a way to give back to the community in the field of education without being in the classroom."

Daniel F. Comden

Comden is no stranger to Pueblo D60 — he served on the board of education from 2003 to 2011 and his five children and three grandchildren were educated in district schools.

During his tenure on the board, he served through bond issue and building programs, the recall of other board members, controversies with district charter schools and closures of schools within the district, according to his application. Improving test scores, decreasing drop-out rates, developing career training programs and improving morale among staff members are among Comden's current priorities for the district.

In addition to eight years of service on the Pueblo D60 board, Comden has served as vice president of the Pueblo Area Council of Governments, with the Colorado High School Activities Association and with the Rocky Mountain Honors Camp. He also was a director of AWANA Youth Club and has been an elder at New Life Bible Church since 1979. In 2006, he was a founding director of Rocky Mountain Bible Camp.

"With the knowledge that the majority of the (Pueblo D60) budget is taken up with salaries and designated programs that are required, the small percentage that is left to the board's discretion must be trusted carefully," he said. "I would want to see that all money possible would be focused to help the individual schools and the student population succeed."

Tiffany K. Grainger

With experience with the New York City and Colorado Springs police departments, Grainger is a civilian criminal investigator, Colorado State University Pueblo adjunct professor and anti-human trafficking consultant.

If appointed, Grainger would seek to address learning gaps, improve Pueblo D60's reputation and ensure K-12 students are equipped with skills to excel in post-secondary education. With quality public schools, she believes families will be more likely to come to Pueblo. She hopes Pueblo can become a "beacon of light to others" and the "education capital of Colorado," according to her application.

"Education is not simply about memorizing information in order to pass tests," she said. "Education is a gateway into vast worlds, delving past the known and into the unknown with an eagerness to learn and grow in knowledge and understanding. Teachers, administrators and all involved in the education system play a vital role in nurturing a love of learning for students."

Since January 2021, Grainger has served as board president of Oasis USA, a nonprofit that raises awareness of human trafficking. She also has volunteered with the Alliance to Combat Human Trafficking-Pueblo and Rocky Mountain Family Church. She spent time in Bangalore, India, mentoring at-risk youths with Chai 3:16 and leading youth ministry at Youth Vineyard Church.

Charles Dennis Maes

Best known for his experience as a judge for the 10th Judicial District and his four years of service on the Pueblo D60 board among other achievements, Maes is vying to return to the board.

In his application, Maes listed school safety, funding, teacher recruitment and retention, mental health services and advancement of school curricula among his priorities for the board. As a former director, Maes served with current board directors Margaret Wright, Tommy Farrell and Barb Clementi at various times. During his tenure, Maes and other directors adopted a vision to "become a high performing school district that inspires community confidence."

"I have continually been entrusted with leadership positions in my profession, my community, education and non-profit sectors ... While I realized I am strong willed, I have the capacity to work with my colleagues to reach consensus on difficult issues," Maes said. "My years as a trial judge provided my with experience to listen and reach difficult decisions, including those that might not be popular."

Since coming to Pueblo in 1972, Maes has worked as a staff attorney with Pueblo County Legal Services and as a deputy state public defender, and he opened a private practice before serving with the 10th Judicial District. From 1995 to 2012, he was the judicial district's chief district judge. He has lifetime achievement awards from the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, Pueblo County Bar Association and Pueblo Latino Chamber of Commerce.

Anthony P. Perko

Along with being the owner of Perko Law LLC, Perko is a product of Sunset Park Elementary, Pitts Middle School and Central High School.

His priorities for the district include improving state accountability scores, retaining students and addressing habitual truancy. To retain students living in district boundaries, Perko said in his application the district should consider seeking state legislation to impose restrictions on charter schools outside Pueblo D60. He believes students are leaving the district for out-of-district charters, resulting in lost revenue.

"Steps should be taken to preserve and defend the district's share of (per pupil revenue) while balancing parental interest in school choice," he said. "The goal of ensuring that the district is the first choice in which to enroll their students would assist in this goal ... American Rescue Plan Act should be wisely targeted, focused on the district's most pressing concerns with an emphasis on attracting and maintaining qualified faculty and staff."

Perko earned his juris doctor degree from the University of Denver in May 2013. From August 2013 to April 2020, he was an associate attorney with Gradisar, Tretcher, Ripperger & Roth. He was general counsel for Pueblo County School District 70, the Pueblo City-County Library District and three towns in Crowley County, among other entities. He opened Perko Law in May 2020.

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached by email at JBartolo@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Who are the Pueblo D60 school board candidates vying to fill vacancy?