Adams 12 superintendent reports staff fatality, student protests and operations costs; outlines response on staff social-media posts

Superintendent Chris Kuroski told the Adams 12 Five Star Schools Board of Education on Sept. 17 that a transportation mechanic, identified by the district as Gerardo Campos Luna, died in a fatal automobile crash earlier in the week and that the district has been supporting staff and family while waiting for coroner confirmation and next-of-kin notification.

Kurowski said student walkouts over gun violence took place at several high schools the same day. He reported estimates of about 200 students at Horizon High School, roughly 100 at Legacy High School and 30 to 40 at Mountain Range High School and Northland High School, and said the district saw the protests as peaceful. “While they’re on campus, we keep a watchful eye and try to make sure that nothing turns into a confrontation,” Kuroski said.

Kurowski also addressed the recent shooting at Evergreen High School and said the district continues to weigh how to communicate about such incidents. “I struggle about what to say at this point,” he told the board, saying he has grown weary of messages that only offer condolences and that preventing future violence is “complicated.” He urged schools to model civil discussion in classrooms as one long-term approach to lowering tensions in the community.

On two staff members whose social-media posts drew community complaints after the Charlie Kirk assassination, Kuroski said the district reviewed the legal standards that apply to public employees and has asked their principals to meet with them. He described the legal test the district uses to assess whether off-duty speech can lead to discipline and said, after preliminary review, the district concluded that most legal factors favor not imposing discipline in these specific cases but that staff were being reminded about the possible impact of their public statements on perceptions in classrooms.

Kurowski also told the board the district has spent more than $100,000 in the past six months responding to sewer blockages and backups at multiple schools. He said much of the damage is caused by so-called flushable wipes and by students flushing large quantities of feminine products and other non-toilet items, and the district will launch messaging to students and parents to reduce avoidable repairs. “Toilets are not trash cans,” he said.

The superintendent said he will be out of the district for two days for an annual superintendent conference and that Assistant Superintendent Megan Kane and Deputy Superintendent Molly (last name not specified in the transcript) will be in charge during his absence.