As someone with many years of experience volunteering in youth sports and community service, I feel compelled to speak out about the situation involving Rutland Recreation Department and its former superintendent, Kim Peters.
For nine years, I volunteered as a youth basketball coach with the city of Aurora, Colorado. I also coached basketball and volleyball for four years at St. Ignatius Loyola School and delivered meals through Meals on Wheels. I worked for a nonprofit organization for eight years that supported individuals living with life-threatening illnesses. That organization relied on over 300 volunteer drivers to deliver meals to clients every week — and every one of them, myself included, was required to pass an annual background check.
Why? Because when you work with children, seniors, or any vulnerable population, safety isn’t negotiable — it’s the foundation of trust. Background checks are not bureaucratic red tape. They’re essential safeguards. In every program I’ve been part of — municipal, private or nonprofit — these protocols were treated as a baseline responsibility, not an afterthought.
I want to acknowledge and respect how much Kim Peters has done for this community over the years. Her dedication, energy and the positive experiences many families have had through the programs she led, should not be dismissed. She clearly made a meaningful impact.
However, leadership also means taking full responsibility when something serious goes wrong. The fact background checks weren’t consistently performed for more than a year — and were only rushed through after media scrutiny — is deeply troubling. Even more concerning is the apparent lack of a formal policy or clear oversight.
I had always assumed Rutland Recreation Department had a clear policy in place regarding background checks for volunteers — just as nearly every other youth or community volunteer program does. It’s standard practice and a basic expectation when children are involved.
That’s why I’m deeply upset to learn background checks were not consistently being conducted. As a grandparent who registered my grandchildren for programs through the department, I feel incredibly unsettled knowing there may have been potential safety risks because someone wasn’t properly vetted. Families should never have to question whether the people interacting with their children have been appropriately screened.
While I respect the community’s appreciation for Ms. Peters’ past contributions, leadership requires more than popularity. It requires ownership — especially when mistakes affect public safety. Accountability is not optional in a leadership role — especially one that involves the safety of children.
This isn’t about punishing a single individual. It’s about protecting families, ensuring transparency, and restoring confidence in a department entrusted with the care of our youth. Moving forward, the city must adopt and enforce a strict, transparent background check policy — and it must be led by someone who prioritizes that responsibility without hesitation.
Kris Call lives in Rutland.