Public commenters press Cherry Creek board on large change orders and transparency; consent agenda approved
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Two public commenters at the Jan. 12 meeting raised concerns about large late change orders (including a cited $471,000 warehouse change order and nearly $5,000,000 in earlier change orders) and a proposed policy shift to move the board's official spokesperson role to district communications; despite the objections the board approved the consent agenda by roll call.
Two members of the public used the Jan. 12 Cherry Creek School District Board of Education meeting to press the board on fiscal oversight and transparency before the board approved a multi‑item consent agenda.
Tatiana Sturm, the first speaker during public comment, told the board the district faces reduced funding and increasing constraints while citing a $471,000 change order for the new food warehouse project (which she said is part of a $35,000,000 project) and nearly $5,000,000 in change orders the board approved on Nov. 10 across three projects. Sturm said late, large change orders raise questions about cost estimation, project planning and oversight controls and asserted that expenditures of that magnitude should be presented as standalone agenda items rather than embedded in a consent agenda.
Amanda Thayer addressed item J6 on the consent agenda and urged the board to vote no. She said the proposal to transfer the board’s official spokesperson role to the district communications department “places [an] additional layer between the elected officials and the community” and warned that delegating the board’s public voice to paid staff weakens direct accountability. Thayer also called for recorded study sessions and posting supporting documents in advance to improve public engagement.
After public comment, the presiding officer asked for and received a motion to approve the consent agenda (Resolutions 26.10.1 through 26.10.7). A motion was made and seconded; roll call recorded Directors Spates, Egan (also referenced as Anne Egan earlier in the meeting), Futrell, Garland and Hamrick voting Aye. The presiding officer stated the motion carries and the consent agenda was approved. The record does not show a separate recorded vote specifically on item J6 nor a roll call indicating any No or Abstain votes on the consent agenda as presented.
The board then announced its next regular meeting for Monday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. at Sky Vista Middle School and adjourned.