[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6283715,"mediaKeyId","2586156-8c91d1de5747fbe0374ba4a1ac3a6631","parentId",2586156,"title","Residents demand accountability, call for superintendent search and question Merit sale that led to $3 million funding loss","audioSeconds",1707,"startMs",933000,"endMs",2640000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2586156-8c91d1de5747fbe0374ba4a1ac3a6631&start=933&end=2640","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2586156-8c91d1de5747fbe0374ba4a1ac3a6631/thumbnail_933000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6283715/Colorado/Residents-demand-accountability-call-for-superintendent-search-and-question-Merit-sale-that-led-to-3-million-funding-loss","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283715-5443e1609dbe961fee5f5f9d4d54ac61/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137111&Signature=OL5KBUzUzcHDwygM9yG4RvE9jI5LuNS0hFBK7cVQ5D4H9Z9MasqDdo3A49yx7i5tcqQqBnPItgKZFatFLh7Am2iFOOhem9ThJ-aDk3X5anEkirfT69tWCCDqoCIoIOSrUz6ZSnI84AbvNQ60Qdnqjk6irZorKBw6kt5fNJd0gQ5CnNZIJUuGDlL9jUiCNH67QICJ6uUFhZTKC1guMMIoKT1P~hL4X6aFXD1oWiHrQKsdn42pclr7D7p8VOeDX4tlXsEtyMh5kGLhnrgRMxH~dokt-a3vSpw0JBbG51U2tAVW4vWGEHd3yMj~~X0Ewss6yyIZ-EEH0z-WSKyuut7Kyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-12T21:27:16Z","article","A large public-comment turnout pressed the Woodland Park School District RE-2 Board of Education to start a thorough superintendent search, reverse recent administrative changes and publicly account for a contract and facility sale process that speakers blamed for a $3 million loss of sales-tax funding.

Speakers included long-time residents, teachers, former employees and parents. Many asked the board to form a search committee that includes parents, business owners, students and staff. Bill Brown, who opened a series of public comments on the topic, asked the board to “please take the time to go through a proper superintendent search” and to create a committee representing the broader community.

Multiple commenters urged the board to undo staff-handbook changes and restore benefits. Jean Rogers asked the board to “immediately undo the changes that were made in the staff handbook that actually undermined staff’s dedication,” and listed reinstating longer bereavement leave and teacher input mechanisms as specific examples.

Several speakers blamed the board and district leaders for the city’s repeal of the sales tax. Sierra Whalen told the board the fault for losing the $3,000,000-a-year sales tax lies with those who drafted sale terms she said made the tax binding in a 30-year contract and with board leadership: “Their actions led directly to the repeal of this critical funding source, and our children will pay the price.” Other speakers demanded transparency about attorney fees, charter relationships and financial decisions.

Supporters of the board’s prior policy decisions also spoke. A retired teacher, Sean Peckron, praised the board for teacher raises and facility consolidations and defended board decisions to pursue school choice and charter options.

Why it matters: The concentrated public pressure reflects community anger over recent decisions and the audit. Residents demanded public, inclusive procedures for hiring the next superintendent and said they expect full accounting of where district money was spent and why the sales tax was lost.

Board response and next steps: Board members acknowledged the need for a public superintendent search and for community input; several directors said they will schedule work sessions to develop a job description, define committee membership and set timelines. The board also heard calls to investigate attorney invoices and consider independent forensic review of district finances.

Ending: Speakers repeatedly requested accountability and some asked board members to resign; the record shows the board agreed to further public work sessions and to pursue staffing and financial fixes discussed elsewhere in the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular Board Meeting 3-12-2025","oneSentenceSummary","More than two dozen residents used public comment to demand a full superintendent search, call for board resignations and question the district’s handling of a proposed sale that critics say cost the district $3 million in annual sales-tax revenue. Several speakers pressed the board to restore staff benefits and transparency.","taxTitle","Woodland Park School District RE-2, School Districts , Colorado","taxId",45829,"location","Colorado","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6283720,"Contract CFO outlines audit findings: 83 journal entries, grant-reporting gaps and need for full-time finance roles",879,5161000,6040000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2586156-8c91d1de5747fbe0374ba4a1ac3a6631&start=5161&end=6040","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2586156-8c91d1de5747fbe0374ba4a1ac3a6631/thumbnail_5161000.jpg","/articles/6283720/Colorado/Contract-CFO-outlines-audit-findings-83-journal-entries-grant-reporting-gaps-and-need-for-full-time-finance-roles","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283720-a8fcc571e9d48e83494c68dc85073ccc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137111&Signature=KmRdM8do49mfvfAgttgPqJBsuCO1OQX4fBg2DTZ5STDLU8Jev9ksryodOf1mQJKZWHHn9qMdzYHa3luqsCNTbzKRUX~7AUnp6nccstxWjKG5yC7FU10b-O1usszLG1w5NKmmIX1LvrU9UNN-ezU3McpXt96Q33HONuSTeQ2Qu01Qms~Cp1W3nuRvHB7CK~RLRSar~HpSnd63pwrX1erDaDex92UMrQHyVUgG6OgIP4Hd4wyY05Ajzh3CeRAM9HEomt5jocRekZ28MNCMTQa3wMs3W8TYFKDQ7y1wSDX6E8Msj9-wi2BoBhp-z31~4Irn1hW1Kq2F9GeFpEndz4jLDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Woodland Park School District RE-2’s contract chief financial officer, Courtney Krauch, briefed the board on an independent audit that the district filed with the state and described a series of significant findings that the district must correct.

Krauch said the audit submission process used the Colorado Department of Education data pipeline and that the auditors identified 83 journal entries requiring correction; by comparison the prior year showed fewer such items. She told the board the independent auditors had flagged 16 material issues and multiple areas where the district’s grant reporting, revenue recognition and receivable records were incomplete or could not be substantiated.

Krauch summarized specific concerns raised in the report: 27 state and federal grants had balance, revenue or expenditure reporting issues; more than 10 grants did not have properly reviewed revenue entries; and nine grants generated receivable balances that together could not be substantiated and total “exceeding $1,600,000” according to the audit discussion in the meeting. The ESSER grant was cited as another instance with reporting questions.

Krauch and other administrators said immediate priorities are completing bank reconciliations, hiring a permanent CFO, separating accounting duties to create internal controls, and working with principals on building-level budgets to get through the fiscal year. The board and staff also discussed the possibility of commissioning a forensic audit “to definitively rule out fraud,” as several speakers urged, and the auditors indicated they would be willing to attend the next meeting to answer questions in person.

Why it matters: The audit findings raise legal and financial risks, including the potential obligation to return improperly recorded grant funds. Board members repeatedly described the need for transparency, immediate staffing fixes and clearer financial controls to restore public trust.

Selected remarks
- Courtney Krauch (contract CFO): “Typically, the approach… is to start there [with the findings] and identify curative actions that can be taken to ensure that whatever the findings are addressing no longer occur.”
- Board member (public comment and discussion): administrators said they plan to post a CFO position and to segment finance duties to establish internal controls.

Next steps noted at the meeting: the board directed staff to continue bank reconciliations, consider posting and hiring for a permanent CFO and grant specialist, invite the independent auditors to the next meeting to present findings, and investigate costs and scope for a forensic audit.

Ending: Board members and staff said the district will report progress publicly as reconciliations are completed and staffing changes are made; several speakers emphasized the need for rapid, visible improvements to finance operations to regain community trust.","Contract CFO Courtney Krauch told the board the district's independent audit flagged dozens of journal entries and material control weaknesses, including unreported grants and receivables that may total more than $1.6 million. The board discussed hiring a permanent CFO, segregating finance duties and possibly commissioning a forensic audit.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6283725,"Board approves agenda additions, consent items and adjourns after extended public comment",0,2474000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2586156-8c91d1de5747fbe0374ba4a1ac3a6631&start=2474&end=2474","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2586156-8c91d1de5747fbe0374ba4a1ac3a6631/thumbnail_2474000.jpg","/articles/6283725/Colorado/Board-approves-agenda-additions-consent-items-and-adjourns-after-extended-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283725-3d63070e0f16050941b1dcaa6078e2bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137111&Signature=b2U6pQXLd1EXzmkNSlwpbycxqOZfhko8gvj5pv5LiUlEcJ1rzGEOICLyh5G0ZRP1Fc6eAmNhsc0pqwt75fRIyCGXUhuK-cRltnp8M8r9WDwYnGW86wCcq5kICdXihTq4TKa8WVQXSyizI1S7Og77c6egrZjMWcHN~siH4dMY7SCsSQopc3Lw5-vIaeDYBoWt0AXktsuHvSz06FbIuM04G406c7732EWmWcrR3kZvv0zH0cLACUH8GEsuGxW31e2rY2z4qRMOS6shPQTvmGbtKQBpmUXTc13Ca3NV0nSVoT13-DI6kcCQmHTB8BjadWUPWxHQF5V7ODQpnoQA2zLCRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Woodland Park School District RE-2 Board of Education voted unanimously to amend the published agenda to add two discussion items — a superintendent search process (item 9c) and a discussion about a possible sale of the facility at 500 East Kellys Road (item 9d) — then approved the amended agenda and later passed the consent agenda before adjourning.

Board President Mick Bates moved to amend the agenda to add the two discussion items; after a second and a roll-call vote the motion carried. The board then approved the full agenda as amended, heard recognitions and received public comment before voting to approve the consent agenda. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn that likewise carried on a roll call.

Why it matters: The formal addition of the superintendent-search and facility-sale discussion items sets a public process for two issues that drew substantial public attention during the meeting. The consent agenda approval and adjournment completed routine business so the board can pursue follow-up work sessions noted during the meeting.

Key actions and outcomes
- Motion to amend the agenda to add 2 discussion items (superintendent search as 9c; possible sale of facility at 500 East Kellys Road as 9d): approved (motion carried). Tally (recorded during roll call): yes:5 no:0 abstain:0. Outcome: approved.
- Motion to approve the agenda as amended: approved (motion carried). Tally: yes:5 no:0 abstain:0. Outcome: approved.
- Approval of the consent agenda (minutes, routine items): approved (motion carried). Tally: yes:5 no:0 abstain:0. Outcome: approved.
- Motion to adjourn: approved (motion carried). Outcome: approved.

The board did not adopt any final decisions on the superintendent search or the facility sale during this meeting; both were added for later discussion. Several board members and staff said they expect additional work sessions or special meetings to develop job descriptions, timelines and presentations before any binding action is placed on a future agenda.

Notes: The roll-call names recorded during votes included Barkley (variously transcribed), Bates, Kimbrell, Patterson and Roster/Reister Holt; the meeting transcript records each roll-call “Aye” during the votes. The meeting packet and agenda language prompted public comment and questions about whether particular items were intended for action or discussion, and the board clarified that the newly added items would be discussion items to allow fuller conversation first.

Ending: The board left the meeting with plans for additional work sessions to develop the superintendent search process and to take a more public, evidenced-based approach to any discussion about district-owned facilities.","The Woodland Park School District RE-2 Board voted to add two discussion items to the agenda, approved the amended agenda and later passed the consent agenda before adjourning. The meeting included extended public comment and an audit update.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents demand accountability, call for superintendent search and question Merit sale that led to $3 million funding loss

Contract CFO outlines audit findings: 83 journal entries, grant-reporting gaps and need for full-time finance roles

Board approves agenda additions, consent items and adjourns after extended public comment