Board discusses Merit Academy proposal for middle school, holds executive session; no action taken

The Woodland Park School District RE-2 Board of Education held a public discussion and an executive session about proposals involving Merit Academy and the district's middle school building, hearing multiple public comments asking the board to delay any sale and to pursue a forensic audit.

Members of the public urged the board to pause. "I'm asking respectfully that you delay a vote on selling the middle school building to Merritt Academy until significant shareholder discussion can be held," said Carrie Miller, who identified herself as a community member and parent, during the public-comment period.

Why it matters: Commenters said the middle school was built using bond funds and community effort and that selling the site would remove a district asset that could be needed if enrollment rises. Speakers also asked for a forensic audit to establish the district's financial standing before any sale.

In public comment and task-force presentations, residents raised several recurring concerns: the district's fiscal condition and recent audit findings, whether the transaction would help traditional public schools, how proceeds or land might be used, and whether sufficient stakeholder engagement and an appraisal had been completed. Brian Bosse and Allison Avery Wallenhaupt described community investment in district facilities and urged fairness in how any decisions are made. Kelly Hunsaker and others pressed the board to approve a forensic audit to clarify where money has gone and whether mismanagement occurred.

Board members acknowledged the concerns in public session and said they would discuss the matter further in executive session. Board leadership read into the record the statutory basis for the closed meeting and called a motion to go into executive session "pursuant to C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(b) and (e) for legal advice and specific legal matters regarding Merit Academy facility proposals and for the negotiations and directions to negotiators regarding Merit Academy facilities and the charter contract." The motion passed on roll call.

After the executive session, the board reconvened in open session and explicitly stated that no actions were taken during the closed meeting. No sale, contract, or direction to staff was approved at that time.

Community requests recorded during the meeting included an appraisal or valuation of the property (commenters reminded the board that the campus sits on roughly 28 acres), a forensic audit before any final decision, and broader stakeholder engagement. Board members said staff are working to identify a commercial real-estate appraiser and that further information would be sought before any formal action.

The board did not set a timetable for decisions in public session and said it would continue discussions internally and in future public agenda items.

Ending: The record shows public concern and multiple requests for additional financial and valuation information. The board left the matter in discussion and took no final action; future meetings will be the venue for any formal decisions or votes.