Garfield Re-2 Board President steps down over ‘political climate’ | PostIndependent.com

There has been a whirlwind of responses after ABS was proposed for Garfield Re-2, including a local effort to recall May from the board. The recall effort comes amid emails obtained through open records requests revealing Fletchall and May requested ABS guidance from the Woodland Park District. Woodland Park, northwest of Colorado Springs, voted to incorporate ABS and has since then seen 40% of its teachers resign in protest. 

New Castle resident Steve Beaulieu said during public comment that Woodland Park’s ABS incorporation has turned into a “dumpster fire” that has become a “flaming disaster.”
— Read on www.postindependent.com/news/re-2-board-president-steps-down-over-political-climate/

Woodland Park High School principal let go

Parents this afternoon received an email from the district (see below), announcing the immediate change of leadership in the high school. No mention of the now-former principal Kevin Burr was made, only that the assistant principal would be assuming interim principal duties. No details have been provided to the public, and this was not a topic of discussion in the board meeting this past Wednesday. For a school board and administration like Woodland Park has these days…it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to us to see moves like this. But I wonder…what prompted this, and what’s their next move?

Woodland Park, CO – 12/15/2023 – Woodland Park School District announces new leadership at Woodland Park High School effective immediately.

The school district recognizes the importance of stability and continuity for students, staff, and parents. In light of this, Assistant Principal Cindy Gannon, who has been an integral part of the school’s leadership team, will assume the role of Interim Principal for the remainder of the current school year.

Gannon has led in Woodland Park High School for 15 years and brings 26 years of experience in education to this role. She is committed to maintaining a positive and supportive learning environment for all students. The school district is confident Gannon is well-equipped to lead Woodland Park High School as the district determines long-term leadership for the school.

Superintendent Ken Witt stated, “Woodland Park schools are committed to a laser focus on the academic success of our students while always honoring parents’ rights, recognizing the trust our parents place in Woodland Park School District to educate their children without undermining the values of the home.”

The district is committed to supporting Gannon in her new role and ensuring a smooth transition, maintaining a positive environment keenly focused on the academic success of every Woodland Park student. 

Rob Reiner drops trailer for documentary on Christian nationalism – al.com

Director Rob Reiner dropped a trailer this week for his upcoming documentary, “God & Country: The Rise of Christian Nationalism,” which critiques the mixing of right-wing politics and Christianity.

“Christian Nationalism is not only a danger to our Country, it’s a danger to Christianity itself,” Reiner tweeted on X, as he released a trailer for the documentary that he said will open in theaters in February.
— Read on www.al.com/life/2023/12/rob-reiner-drops-trailer-for-documentary-on-christian-nationalism.html

Conservative LGBTQ+ group supports book removal from El Paso County schools | FOX21 News Colorado

(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) — Conservative groups have submitted a petition urging a criminal investigation into the El Paso and Teller County schools over the possession and promotion of what they term “obscene books.” This move has sparked a response from members of the LGBTQ+ community who advocate for the removal of these books from […]
— Read on www.fox21news.com/news/conservative-lgbtq-group-supports-book-removal-from-el-paso-county-schools/

Woodland Park School Board sees change as elected members are sworn in

The three members were sworn in during a ceremony at the District Administration Building Thursday afternoon. Barkley said her goal as a new member is to promote more board transparency.

“My biggest hope is to be able to make sure that the conversations are happening out in the open now. A lot of the feedback we were getting as I was campaigning was that so much of the decision-making was happening behind closed doors,” she said.

— Read on www.koaa.com/news/covering-colorado/woodland-park-school-board-sees-change-as-elected-members-are-sworn-in

Letters to the Editor – 11/15/2023

From the 11/15/2023 Courier:

Close race should be a message

We were so proud to be a part of the campaign for Keegan, Mike and Seth. They ran a clean, honest campaign without negative false attacks on their opponents. We personally know them. They are good people of this community whose only concern is for a strong public school system that offers a valid academic curriculum with appropriate support structures in place.

Of course, the election did not completely go in the direction we had hoped. However, there is an important outcome that needs to be stated. The election results were close. Very close, which means almost 50% of the voters selected the above candidates. That 50% of voters included many traditional conservative voters who disregarded the false accusations against the candidates.

This election should never have been about politics. It should only have been about education. If the new board listens carefully to all of the voters, all the parents, all the taxpayers, they may be much more in line with the values of the whole community.

True leadership includes compromise, compassion and commitment to open conversation. It does not include bullying and closed-door deals or stacking meetings with young people who have no connection to the community other than the courses taken at the local bible school and being bused to the voter polls. The 50% of the community that voted against the present board are here to stay and are watching.

Michael Stewart and Darlene Schmurr-Stewart, Woodland Park

Outside influencers

As a fascinated outsider looking in, I believe that the two incumbents who won re-election surely must realize that their razor thin victories were due exclusively to Andrew Wommack and his Christian nationalist group known as the Truth and Liberty Coalition.

This should be a frightening wakeup call to the residents of Woodland Park and Teller County. Unless of course, in the not-too-distant future, you are at ease of living in a hierocracy with a religious autocrat in control.

Steve Plutt, Lake George

Can We Stop Pretending that Religious Conservatives Care About Parental Rights?

In a document in which she endorses Evanson, Darcy Schoening of Smart Choice Colorado makes clear that her aim is not to respect the rights and choices of all other parents. Rather, her aim is to “move school policy towards the Right, rather than further left.” she writes to those who share her views, “We must take control of our children’s education.” Even if that means taking control of the education of other parents’ children too.
— Read on coloradotimesrecorder.com/2023/11/can-we-stop-pretending-that-religious-conservatives-care-about-parental-rights/57910/