If you missed the WP School Board Candidates Forum hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, you can watch the video here. The district has not yet posted the video of the incumbents’ separate forum; I’ll post a link if they do so.
— Read on myemail.constantcontact.com/WP-School-Board-Candidates-Forum.html
Author Archives: Matt G
Woodland Park teachers speak out against controversial curriculum | 9news.com
Hand and 80 of her colleagues with the Woodland Park School District have signed a letter addressed to their community in Teller County that calls for the board to “prioritize our children’s futures over politics.”
The letter specifically criticizes the “American Birthright” social studies model. Woodland Park’s school board was the first in the country this year to adopt the conservative civics education program, which promotes American patriotism and deems social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion topics to “inhibit student learning.”
The Colorado State Board of Education has rejected this syllabus.
— Read on www.9news.com/article/news/local/next/next-with-kyle-clark/teachers-southern-colorado-jobs-at-risk-speaking-publicly-curriculum-american-birthright-woodland-park/73-01dca652-5c24-4839-8543-cb2337d40173
School board election in Woodland Park gets attention after American Birthright curriculum used – CBS Colorado
The school board election in Woodland Park is getting a lot of attention after the American Birthright curriculum used in classrooms.
— Read on www.cbsnews.com/colorado/video/school-board-election-in-woodland-park-gets-attention-after-american-birthright-curriculum-used/
Woodland Park teachers speak out against controversial curriculum | 9news.com
The school district has lost about 40% of its teachers, including mental health and social workers.
“I’m speaking because I believe it’s the right thing, and I teach my students to use their voices to say what they believe. I’m terrified,” Hand said.
Teachers who publicly criticize the board could be considered insubordinate because of a district policy, known as KDDA, that directs staff not to speak to the media without written consent from Superintendent Ken Witt. It also limits what can be posted to social media.
The state educators’ union and its Woodland Park chapter sued over that policy in August.
“There are many more [teachers] who would have signed, if not for being afraid,” Hand said.
‘We have to get in there and face the threat’: 11 Call For Action gets inside Colorado school resource officer programs
While CSPD and EPSO were open and transparent about their training and procedures surrounding their SRO programs, it was not the same for Woodland Park School District RE-2.
On Aug. 17, 2023, the district sent out a one-page letter to the community alerting parents that they would be adding armed security officers to serve as school resource officers there.
11 News requested through an open records request the training and certification documentation for those hired to provide this armed security.
In their note to the community, the district writes, “These dedicated professionals must have completed rigorous training programs from law enforcement or other specialized training.”
Our newsroom wanted to know if these officers were certified to use rifles, and since they are not sworn officers like the majority of other local SRO programs, 11 News also requested additional information from the district about how they handle the training and certification for these armed guards.
The district responded: “No records existed.”
— Read on www.kktv.com/2023/10/05/we-have-get-there-face-threat-11-call-action-gets-inside-colorado-school-resource-officer-programs/
DAVIS: This November’s School Board Elections Are More Important Than You Think
The most important school board races in Colorado this year are not on the Front Range, and are rarely in the press. They are tucked into high valleys
— Read on coloradotimesrecorder.com/2023/10/davis-this-novembers-school-board-elections-are-more-important-than-you-think/56745/
WPSD teachers ask for community input on changes | FOX21 News Colorado
(WOODLAND PARK, Colo.) — Teachers in Woodland Park are asking the community to take action against the Woodland Park School District (WSPD) school board. “I am deeply reluctant to speak, but I cannot stay silent,” said Anna Hand, a teacher at Woodland Park Middle School. In a press conference at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, […]
— Read on www.fox21news.com/news/wpsd-teachers-ask-for-community-input-on-changes/
Woodland Park teachers speak out against current leadership; superintendent responds | KRDO
Woodland Park teachers speak out against current leadership; superintendent responds | KRDO
— Read on krdo.com/news/2023/10/05/woodland-park-teachers-speak-out-against-current-leadership-superintendent-responds/
Woodland Park teachers defy ban on speaking out publicly; allege district’s policies are harming students | Colorado Public Radio
Dozens of Woodland Park teachers spoke out at a press conference Thursday to ask district officials to restore mental health supports for children, reinstate state-approved social studies standards, and remove a gag order that prevents them from speaking about district matters publicly or risk losing their jobs.
— Read on www.cpr.org/2023/10/05/woodland-park-teachers-speak-out-against-district-policies/
Woodland Park teachers speak out against sweeping changes
More than 80 teachers signed a letter criticizing board members who pushed for a conservative curriculum and barred teachers from speaking out.
— Read on coloradosun.com/2023/10/05/woodland-park-teachers-urge-community-to-vote-out-conservative-board-that-made-sweeping-changes/