November of 2024, the Gilpin County RE-1 Board of Education reversed their decision to drop wrestling as a sport after listening to parents and athletes give impassioned pleas during their meeting.
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Peko Cope, Tiana Cope, Mike Cope, Hank Thompson, and Russ Thompson advocating for better training facilities and equipment to meet the increased participation in the wrestling program.
Cabin behind the school that is being used by the wrestling program. The cabin doesn't have running water or changing rooms for the athletes.
GILPIN COUNTY — In November of 2024, the Gilpin County RE-1 Board of Education reversed their decision to drop wrestling as a sport after listening to parents and athletes give impassioned pleas during their meeting. Now, the Board heard about the progress that has been made by the team over the last two seasons at their March 3, 2026, meeting.
During the public participation section of the meeting, Mike Cope and Russ Thompson spoke about sending Gilpin wrestlers to the regional and state meets and the things that need to be done to improve the team. Both parents have children in the program.
Cope singled out training at the cabin behind the school as the biggest handicap to the program. The cabin does not have water or proper changing rooms for the athletes. The wrestling mats are very old and not very hygienic, so the athletes have had to deal with a variety of health issues during the season.
The cramped condition at the cabin limits the number of athletes who can practice on any given day. Cope requested that the Board provide space for 20 athletes and new mats. Board President Joe Marr indicated that there was a solution to the situation, and the Board would consider this request. Interest in secondary school wrestling has increased since girls have been allowed to participate.
Under Old Business, the Board voted 3-2 to change the days of their meetings to the first and third Monday of the month. The first Monday meeting is scheduled for April 20, 2026. The District Accountability Meeting (DAC) will also change the day of their meetings to Monday to accommodate the new schedule.
Under New Business, the Board voted unanimously to approve on second reading the District calendars for the 2026/2027, 2027/2028, and 2028/2029 school years. The school year will start in mid-August and finish at the end of May.
The Board’s final action of the evening was to unanimously approve the adoption of a Mill Levy Override Distribution Plan which will update the District website regarding the 2003 Mill Levy and its intended uses. The update to the website will bring the District into compliance with a 2017 law requiring financial transparency regarding tax revenue.
In Other Business, the Board discussed possible responses to any potential actions by the County that could have an impact on the District’s Memorandum of Understanding with Black Hawk.
The next Gilpin school board meeting will be on Tuesday April 7, 2026, at 7 p.m. There will be no meeting on March 17, 2026, because of spring break. The meeting on April 7, 2026, will have the District auditors present final audit reports for the previous three years.
Documents for this meeting and a link to the District YouTube recording of the meeting can be found on the District website (gilpink12.co.us). The discussion between the Board and the parents regarding the wrestling program starts at 14:05 of the recording.
