If you heard of a corporation that had secret meetings, non-disclosure of public documents, and a company policy that included a gag order for employees’ personal social media, you might say “wow, that’s a pretty toxic environment.” Now…suppose you found out it was actually a school district? Shocking, right? Well, not so much these days.

We are talking about the very real Woodland Park, Colorado school district, where the interim superintendent, despite being recalled as a member of a board of education elsewhere, was the ONLY candidate considered. Where administrators and teachers are leaving in droves. Where a charter school has been placed in the middle school building, causing the sixth grade to be moved-without a discussion with building principals or teachers.

And where the Records Custodian-the person who handles all of the Open Records Requests-was unceremoniously terminated. Strangely, after he voiced objections to some of the less-than-open practices of the District, including instructing him to not fulfill requests.

We spoke to Logan Ruths, the former records custodian for Woodland Park, and Matt Gawlowski, parent/activist and developer of the “Support Woodland Park Schools” website. It’s a story you don’t want to skip.

Because…it could happen to you.
— Read on podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wtbott-teacher-pod/episodes/WTBOTT-Season-3-Episode-5-Abbott-Elementary-Meets-Succession-Woodland-Park–CO–A-Cautionary-Tale-For-All-Districts–Part-1-e23li6j