Woodland Park board approves 30-year Merit Academy charter extension after heated public comment

The Woodland Park School District RE-2 Board of Education voted 4–1 at its meeting to approve an extension of Merit Academy’s charter contract, extending the term to 2055, after extended discussion and more than an hour of public comment.

The extension was presented to the board by Brad Miller, the district’s attorney, who described the change as largely ministerial aside from the new duration and a few clarified responsibilities. Miller said the primary practical effect of the longer term is to make external financing for facility upgrades feasible because a lender could treat future per-pupil revenues as the primary available collateral. “The only collateral available to an operating school is its PPR,” Miller said during the discussion, referring to per-pupil revenue streams; he explained that longer-term commitments make certain financing options viable.

Supporters of the contract extension, including multiple Merit Academy board members and parents who spoke at public comment, said a longer term is necessary for the charter school to invest in repairs and improvements without asking the district to pay. Mary Sekowsky, a Woodland Park resident and a member of the Merit Academy board of directors, told the board Merit Academy “desires to shift this expensive burden from the district to Merit Academy” and argued the proposal includes annual review provisions for some shared services. Merit board member Jason Ledley said Merit’s budget is projected to be just under $8 million next year, that the school…