The Woodland Park school district back to school night is traditionally a student-focused time, where parents and kids get to meet their teachers and check out the schools before school starts a couple days later. While that was still the schools’ focus, the three school board incumbents – Mick Bates, Cassie Kimbrell, and David Illingworth – took advantage of this opportunity to campaign for re-election this fall. They made the rounds at each of the district schools, working the crowds (the two board members NOT up for re-election were not seen at the schools). The three challenging these incumbents were sighted at the schools where their children attend, but not the others.

Traditionally, the district has declared a Work Session whenever three or more board members gather at a school, as this would potentially be a violation of Open Meetings Law if they discuss district business. No such declaration was made this time though.

When they appeared at Merit the previous Friday, they even met with the two Deans of that school…and Illingworth’s Facebook post made it clear they were there acting as board members in support of Merit. So, it was communicated not as a campaigning event, but as board members meeting with the Denas to show their support (ie, district business). Here’s the post, along with a picture of them posing with the two Deans: