TRINIDAD, Colorado (STPNS) -- The superintendent of Aguilar School District is stepping down at the end of his contract this month. Jasper Butero has decided to call it quits after 18 months of running the district.

Butero's time as superintendent of Aguilar began in mid-2006.

"I had planned to retire anyways. My contract was up in December, anyways," Butero said.

Butero's resignation follows the Aguilar School District being placed on academic probation by the state. In November, the Colorado Department of Education placed Aguilar on its watch list due to the district's continuing low student achievement.



"It was time for a change. I think they (the school board) knew they needed change here. I think there has to be a focus on achievement. There has to be a change in educational culture," Butero said.

An interim superintendent was appointed at Aguilar's Dec. 19 school board meeting. Dr. Tammy Clementi-Watson was chosen by the Aguilar school district's board of education.

"She (Clementi-Watson) came highly recommended by the state," school board president Karen Salapich said.

Salapich explained that the state's participation in selecting Clementi-Watson was related to the district's probationary status. "It's part of helping us get the school back on track. We were put on probation and this is part of how they help you," Salapich said.

Butero concurred. "The time was right for the state to help Aguilar in the selection of someone who could turn this around," he said.

Clementi-Watson could not be reached for comment by press time.

Aguilar School District was placed on probationary status by the Colorado Department of Education in November due to a continuing pattern of low student achievement.

Before working as superintendent for Aguilar, Butero worked for Holy Trinity Academy from July 2004 to July 2006. Prior to that Butero worked 29 years for the Hoehne School District, with 20 of those years spent as superintendent. Before signing up with Hoehne, Butero worked as a teacher in Trinidad School District #1.

Butero stated that he now plans to retire from academia. "I think that now I'm just going to try to wake up every day and figure out what I'm going to do with the day...I'm done, I'm through, I had a lot of fun in it and now it's time for somebody else to have the fun," Butero said.

Salapich praised Butero for his work during his tenure as superintendent. "I think he did a wonderful job. He did a lot to help with getting our finances and our budgets all aligned...and a lot with the discipline we had there. He was quite instrumental in keeping things running smoothly during the 18 months he was there," Salapich said.

She added, "(Butero) is going to be very sadly missed by everyone."