3/5/2023 Weekly Update

Last week:

  • A locally produced podcast released their first episode about our school district
  • The big news was that sixth grade would be moved from the Middle School back down to the three elementary schools to make more room for Merit. There were no discussions in board meetings about this, no discussions with teachers or the principals, and no details have been worked out yet.
  • A book-club style meeting was held at the public library to discuss the book banned from the high school classrooms, as well as discuss the larger question of book banning in general.
  • We made public the details of Ken Witt’s contract with the district, including the fact he has a similar contract with nearby ERBOCES (being paid for two full-time jobs).
  • Many schools across the country celebrated Public Schools Week. We did not.
  • We posted some information about Social Emotional Learning (SEL). It’s on the chopping block for next school year.
  • Witt met with staff at four of the five schools this week (he meets with the High School Monday). One staff member summed up the meeting best by saying, “Staff left crying, furious, unheard.”

Here’s what’s coming up this week:

  • Witt meets with the high school staff on Monday
  • Wednesday 3/8 is a regular school board meeting, 6:00 in the district offices conference room.
    • The board will finalize their change to policy GP-5 to narrow the focus of the board to educational interests only. Witt explained to teachers this week that their focus is on academic performance.
    • The board will do a first reading of proposed changes to GP-9, the policy that deals with changing or developing policy.
    • The board will discuss redistricting. It’s not clear why; note that this is an election year.
    • An executive session is scheduled to discuss security arrangements. While that might sound serious, an email we obtained via CORA suggests it’s likely about routine security arrangements in the schools, which by their nature might be more effective if details are not widely known.

What’s going on?

  • Fiscal recklessness
  • Plummeting teacher morale; firings and reassignments
  • Attacks on traditional public education
  • Dismissing student concerns
  • Lack of communication and community involvement
  • Lack of professionalism within the school board

Click to learn more

Protests, staff ‘sick-out’ over Woodland Park Middle School decision – Sixty35Media

Staff members and families in Woodland Park School District are protesting after the district announced on Feb. 28 it would move sixth graders from its middle school and expand three elementary schools to preschool through sixth grade by the 2023-2024 school year. 
— Read on sixty35media.org/news/protests-staff-sick-out-over-woodland-park-middle-school-decision/

Parents stand up for middle school staff

Thursday morning, around 80-100 parents, students, and concerned citizens showed their support for staff at the Middle School by lining the sidewalk as teachers arrived for a scheduled meeting with interim superintendent Ken Witt. This comes a day after nearly two dozen middle school staff members called in sick in protest of Witt’s decision to move the sixth grade classes back to the district elementary schools. This was NOT a decision the board had discussed with the public, though surveys in November did ask this question…with the answer (on page 5) clearly showing the public did NOT support the idea of splitting sixth grade off from the middle school like this. This was not a decision made in collaboration with staff at any of the schools, and elementary school staff has expressed uncertainty about how to fit the extra kids in place. There are also unanswered questions about less opportunity for sixth graders with this move, especially band and forensics.

Wednesday, in response to the staff’s sick day, Witt sent this following email threatening action if this were done again:

The teachers appreciated this show of public supported, though ultimately the day ended on a sour note as Witt fired one middle school staff member for alleged interactions with media, as explained (without much detail) in this letter below:

So, what’s next? Well, when the middle school was partitioned last spring, a feasibility study showed Merit being given a bit more than half the space when viewing student capacity…theoretical capacity of 471 students, vs. the Middle School’s theoretical capacity of 432 students. With 331 students enrolled this year, Merit did not seem to need more space. The middle school, at 391 students, was full but not quite capacity. So how does this change make sense? Especially since it will leave the Middle School at around 270 students (based on current 6-7th grade enrollment).

This screenshot shows the division of the school between Merit (top) and the Middle School (bottom):

Witt said this change was being made to provide more space for Merit…and looking at this map, it’s not clear what will change to accomplish that, easily. What we actually expect to happen next is 7-8 grades to be moved to the high school, and the entire Middle School building to be given to Merit.

And therein lies one of the biggest complaints about this school board…they are not up front about their plans. They are not telling the whole story here, there are blanks yet to be filled in, as their story about moving sixth grade to the elementary school buildings just doesn’t add up on its own.

Podcast – Voices of Reason: What’s Going on in Woodland Park SchoolsPodcast – Episode 1

In 2021 a group of school board members were elected in Woodland Park, Colorado claiming to be conservatives. These folks don’t act like conservatives or people who care about our students and parents. They are actually following a national agenda and working rapidly to undermine our schools. Each week on this podcast we’ll look at the issues, examine the facts and give you the information you need as Woodland Park community members to make up your own minds about what is going on.

Episode 1

This episode examines the issues facing Woodland Park Schools which has been taken over by an extremist school board. Today’s episode examines claims about student achievement in Woodland Park and the role of teachers in improving student learning. 

Listen to it on Anchor, Amazon Music

Leading Education Groups (but not Woodland Park) Celebrate Public Schools Week, Feb. 27 – Mar. 3, 2023

Families, educators, school leaders, and public education advocates across the country are joining together in celebrating public schools, Feb. 27–Mar. 3; a week designated to highlight and show support for our local public schools.

Public Schools Week 2023 (#PSW23) is part of a larger  campaign—#HerefortheKids—one that brings together families, educators, and community members to shine a light on local public schools and share the stories of the positive things happening in classrooms and school buildings nationwide. The teaching and learning in our local K-12 public schools positively impacts students and families, the neighborhoods, and communities they live in, and our nation as a whole. With commitment, creativity, and critical thinking, educators and school leaders continue to provide welcoming and engaging learning opportunities for our children.

“Public Schools Week 2023 provides a much-needed opportunity to showcase success stories and public-school champions—those who have gone above and beyond to meet students’ social, emotional, and academic needs—particularly in these extraordinary times and circumstances,” said Richard Long, executive director of the Learning First Alliance.

The weeklong #PSW23 celebration includes two live webinars and a twitter chat. 

  • Live Webinar: Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2-3 pm ET “Advancing Teaching and Learning Post-Pandemic” 

This webinar features national education leaders in a discussion about how districts, schools and education professionals are creating conditions to advance teaching and learning. 

  • Twitter Chat: Wed., Mar. 1, 7-7:30 pm ET “Engaging Your Community” 

In this best practice exchange of ideas, join parents, educators, school and education professionals in an online conversation about promising approaches to strengthen family, school, and community engagement.

  • Live Webinar: Thurs., Mar. 2, 2-3 pm ET “Why Storytelling Matters”

In this webinar, education and communications experts share insights and tools to enhance your storytelling skills.

#PSW23 is supported by members of the Learning First Alliance; leading education groups, representing more than 10 million members, including American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education; AASA: The School Superintendents Association; American Federation of Teachers; American School Counselor Association; Consortium for School Networking; Learning Forward; National Association of Elementary School Principals; National Association of Secondary School Principals; National Education Association; National PTA; National School Boards Association, and National School Public Relations Association. 

Joining the #PSW23 celebrations are Discovery Education, Association of School Business Officials International, and the Council of Administrators of Special Education. Visit this webpage for the complete list of supporters. 

About Public Schools Week, Feb. 27-Mar. 3

Visit www.publicschoolproud.org for more information about Public Schools Week and social media messages and graphics that you can use to show your support for your local public schools. 

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About the Learning First Alliance

The Learning First Alliance is a partnership of leading education organizations with more than 10 million members dedicated to improving student learning in America’s public schools. Alliance members include American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education; AASA: The School Superintendents Association; American Federation of Teachers; American School Counselor Association; Consortium for School Networking; Learning Forward; National Association of Elementary School Principals; National Association of Secondary School Principals; National Education Association; National PTA; National School Boards Association, National School Public Relations Association, and PDK International.

More than two dozen Woodland Park teachers and staff call out sick protesting school changes | Colorado Public Radio

Twenty-five middle school teachers and staff in the Woodland Park school district northwest of Colorado Springs called out sick Wednesday to protest sudden changes in district schools. It’s the latest turmoil in the small district since a controversial new interim superintendent was selected in December.
— Read on www.cpr.org/2023/03/01/woodland-park-teachers-sick-out-protest/