Educators urge board to 'cut the ropes' and voters to back statewide funding measure as community voices press for transparency
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Summary
Teachers, classified staff and community members asked the board to back a statewide funding referral, warned about consolidation and transportation proposals, and urged transparency on legislative positions and closure analysis; the board unanimously endorsed a resolution supporting a funding ballot measure.
Poudre educators, classified staff and community members used the Feb. 10 public‑comment period to press the Board of Education on funding, transparency and the potential local impacts of consolidation and transportation changes.
Candace Mosher, president of the Poudre Education Association, told the board she supports referring a statewide measure that would allow existing tax dollars to be used for K–12 funding and boost educator pay. "We are here this evening to speak to the importance of this resolution and the need for systemic changes to the funding of structure to the funding structure for public education," Mosher said; the board later voted 7‑0 to endorse the referral.
Teachers and staff described how constrained funding affects electives, paraprofessional staffing and student supports. Oren Logan, an elementary music teacher and speaker for the Whole Child Collective Committee, urged guarantees that arts, music, PE and other whole‑child subjects not be the first casualties of budget cuts.
Several commenters pressed for transparency on consolidation planning and on the board’s legislative committee work. Annie Lawrence asked that meeting materials and bill‑tracker documents be posted to the public agenda and expressed concern that committee positions may have been set without a public process.
Other public comments raised safety and equity concerns: Sabrina Herrick warned that moving students to city buses could reduce protections provided by school buses and disproportionately affect BIPOC students; Reggie Johnson, representing PFLAG Fort Collins, urged the board to protect LGBTQ+ students in light of proposed state and federal policy changes.
The board accepted the public testimony and moved forward with ceremonial and policy items on the agenda. Directors said they would seek additional information on consolidation analyses and legislative committee transparency in response to public requests.
Next steps: Board members asked staff to post requested materials where appropriate and to follow up with data on consolidation impact and CTE participation rates for students with IEPs.