Here’s what happened in January:

• The Courier published various letters from community members
  • a letter to the editor by Carol Greenstreet.
  • a letter to the editor by local Rodney Noel Saunders.
  • Letters by Melissa Clark and Gail Gerig
  • a letter by Curt Grina
• The January 11th board meeting saw policy changes to facilitate charter school adoption in the district, and the board voted to adopt the American Birthright standard for social studies.
  • Read Colorado Public Radio’s story on this
  • Read KRDO’s reporting on this
  • Read more about this from the Thompson School District Reform Watch.
• The Woodland Park school district banned its first book from a classroom, “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
• We reported on the fiscal recklessness of this school board.
• The January 25th board meeting saw a new board member chosen (Mick Bates).
  • Here’s the video of all questions/answers with Mick Bates
  • KRDO’s coverage of the meeting
  • David Illingworth’s interview questions to board member applicants regarding the book, “Between the World and Me”
• Local residents saw Mike Miles, from Third Future Schools, touring district buildings on a Saturday with David Illingworth and Ken Witt.
• Third Future Schools submitted a letter of intent to apply to operate a ‘partnership charter school’ in the district.
• Students are continuing to be active, expanding into an online presence with the Woodland Park Student Alliance.