Pueblo County School District 70 meeting breaks down as members and public question a unilateral appointment

A Pueblo County School District 70 meeting on issues related to a board vacancy devolved into dispute Thursday as members and public speakers said the district did not follow its adopted process for filling the opening and raised potential conflict-of-interest concerns.

Brad Miller, the board's legal counsel, warned the gathered members that proceeding with an appointment outside the proper meeting process would be "improper," signaling legal risks if the board acted while an earlier meeting remained in question. A motion to remove an agenda item tied to a Feb. 10 board date passed, but a subsequent motion to approve the entire agenda "as amended" failed for lack of a second amid confusion over whether the Feb. 10 meeting had ever been formally adjourned.

Why it matters: Members and some public commenters said the sequence of events involving interviews, multiple rounds of voting and an appointment announced by "Anne" on Feb. 15 created transparency and process concerns. One questioner cited "Colorado revised statute 22 31 1 29" and asked whether the board had followed its own rules requiring candidate materials (resume, cover letter, letter of recommendation) and consistent interview procedures.

The dispute centered on process and potential conflicts. A speaker who identified themselves as raising formal questions told the board it was "inappropriate and premature for the board president to appoint someone before the February 10 meeting adjourns," and asked whether the board had followed its adopted candidate assessment steps, noting that counting emails of support as a selection metric was unfair. The same speaker flagged a possible conflict involving the "Miller Farmer Law Firm" (the transcript later transcribed the name as "Mueller Farmer"), saying that firm had filed a lawsuit and asking whether that posed an ideological or financial risk to District 70.

Board member Mark Emery, who said he has served multiple terms and "ran for this board seat," reviewed the timeline of work sessions and interviews, telling the gathering that the board conducted interviews in late January and early February and then had "10 rounds of voting" at the Feb. 10 meeting. Emery said he proposed a second interview for certain finalists but that request was denied; he said Anne later sent a letter appointing Susie Karnes on Feb. 15 without further discussion.

Operations continuity and recognition: A district official told the meeting that, despite the governance dispute, the district would "move forward with the February payroll" and carry out essential business "with or without the vote." That speaker also thanked First Student and named drivers Daniel Lynn and Chelsea Faseco for assisting in response to a recent crash on I-25.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to amend the agenda to remove "item 10 o 2, the board date from February 10" ' Moved by a member and seconded; recorded votes included 'yes' from Mark Emery and Michelle Erickson; outcome: approved (motion carried). - Motion to approve the agenda as amended ' Moved but received no second; outcome: not approved (no action).

What was not decided: No formal vote on the contested appointment occurred during this session. Members and public speakers demanded clarification about whether the appointment process followed district rules and quoted the cited statute; the meeting concluded with unresolved procedural disagreement and instructions about public-comment sign-ups and recording/streaming the session.

The board and members named in the transcript: Brad Miller, legal counsel (first spoken SEG 029): cautioned that proceeding outside proper process is "improper." Sam Bennett (first spoken SEG 041): called roll on a procedural vote. Mark Emery (first spoken SEG 046): reviewed the interview timeline and defended his account of the voting rounds. Michelle Erickson (first spoken SEG 047): recorded as voting in favor of the amendment. Anne (first spoken in multiple segments, last name not specified in the transcript): referenced as having sent a letter appointing a candidate on Feb. 15. "AJ" (initials used in transcript): referenced as a member who left the Feb. 10 meeting due to illness.

The transcript also referenced candidates Jonathan Lewis, Tara Strassen, Adolf Veil and Susie Karnes and organizations including Riverstone Academy and First Student.

Next steps: Speakers pressed for clarifying documentation (minutes, application materials and a clear record of votes) to determine whether the board complied with its adopted appointment process and the statute cited. No further formal action was recorded in this session on the appointment itself; public commenters and board members requested follow-up and transparency before finalizing any appointment.