Woodland Park School Board holds public interviews for superintendent finalists; schedules executive session

The Woodland Park School District RE-2 Board of Education held public work-session interviews with two finalists for the superintendent post and agreed to convene an executive session to review the candidates before any public action.

The board questioned interim superintendent Aaron Stultz and Columbine principal Ginger Slocum about transparency to the board and community, how they would use academic data, plans to rebuild staff trust, approaches to curriculum and professional development, and how to address enrollment and tight district finances after a recent sales-tax repeal.

"I was gonna operate in a transparent fashion. I've been working to provide I provided semiweekly updates…" Stultz said, describing semiweekly updates he provided after assuming the interim role and a plan to reinitiate regular public reports. He told the board he monitors state assessment results and is pursuing more frequent unit testing and staff/community "pulse" surveys to guide professional development and accountability.

Both candidates emphasized staff visibility and restoring trust. Stultz said, "When you walk through, it feels differently… people seem to be able to breathe a little easier," and advocated for more proactive communication when answers are not yet available. He urged careful review before adopting a new math curriculum and recommended strengthening in-class instruction and teacher supports before large purchases.

Slocum proposed a communication "bridge" between principals and the board, weekly updates and listening tours at each school. "If we want schools to be the best place for students to learn and grow, the culture of the school must be the best place for teachers and staff to work and grow," she said, describing surveys and small-group stakeholder conversations she uses to rebuild climate and culture.

On finances and enrollment, both candidates acknowledged budget limits. Stultz said the district should promote distinctive offerings such as career and technical education but cautioned against costly direct-mail advertising while budgets remain tight. Slocum highlighted the district's CTE and CareerStart programs and urged continued grant-seeking and community partnerships to expand apprenticeship and postsecondary pathways.

Candidates discussed school safety and partnerships with local law enforcement. Stultz said he has pursued SRO reinstatement and cross-training with the sheriff's office and called for greater district presence in the community to reduce institutional isolation.

A contentious exchange focused on transgender students and access to bathrooms and girls' sports. Stultz said he would "protect our girls to the greatest extent possible," involve parents in conversations and follow board policy, but added he would not direct actions that knowingly violated state law. Slocum said she would "do the very best I can to provide our girls the opportunities they deserve and also follow Title IX." Both framed their answers as constrained by existing law.

After both interviews the board discussed next steps and tentatively scheduled an executive session to review the interviews and compare notes, targeting Monday the 14th for that meeting. The public work session concluded with a motion to adjourn and a roll-call vote that carried.

Votes at a glance: The board voted to adjourn the public session (motion moved: not specified; second: Director Barclay). Roll call recorded "Aye" votes from Directors Barclay, Bates, Kimbrough and Rosterholtz; the motion passed and the meeting was adjourned.

The board plans a follow-up executive session to review the interviews in private and to continue deliberations before any public decision on hiring. No appointment was made at the meeting.