WPSCC Group Leaders Outline Dire Consequences of 2A Plan
Rick Langenberg
If you want to punish the Woodland Park RE-2 School District Board for their political stance on certain issues, vote them out of office in the next election; don’t take your frustrations out on the kids and their teachers.
This action could cost the area millions and kill the momentum the schools have achieved in becoming one of the best ranked districts in the state.
Moreover, if the current sales tax is not retained, the district could face dire consequences, resulting in layoffs, plunging teacher salaries, eliminating sports and programs and killing all facility improvements.
These were some of the themes that dominated one of the final local political forums of the 2024 heated election season, as the Woodland Park Schools Community Coalition (WPSCC) held an open forum on Oct. 23 at the Ute Pass Cultural Center.
The meeting marked a question-and-answer session for a local ballot issue that has triggered an avalanche of comments on social media and letters in the local media.
The issue stems from a controversial decision made by the Woodland Park City Council to put an issue before the voters of whether to rescind the current 1.09 percent sales tax the district receives for needed improvements; a ballot proposition previously approved by voters in 2016.
The forum was mostly informational, with the participants agreeing with the tone of the group’s campaign, with the theme: “Putting Kids First.”
The forum moderators were Michael Perini, the registered agent for the WPSCC group, Mick Bates, president of the Woodland Park RE-2 School District Board of Education and committee leaders Gwynne Pekron and Leanna Tally, who have been involved in many of the financial discussions facing the district.
The group was mostly greeted by a friendly audience who appeared to support the Vote No on 2A effort. No vocal supporters of the Vote Yes on 2A appeared in the audience or made any public comments.
Also, no members of the Woodland Park City Council or administrative representatives of the RE-2 District (other than Bates, who served more as a meeting facilitator), participated in the discussion.
As a result, the WSCC group had an extended period to outline their position. They mainly highlighted the financial consequences of the 2A issue, if it is approved.
Probably the most direct comments came from Bates, who in the closing moments of the meeting made a few candid remarks that were similar in tone to those made previously by Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell in a previous article appearing in TMJ New. In essence, he pleaded with board critics to take the politics out of this important fiscal situation, unless they want to hurt local students.
Bates conceded that the district has a segment of the community that wants to “punish the school board (for their views and conservative stance). They need to address these issues at the ballot box. This isn’t the place to do that.”
Moreover, he and other WPSCC leaders made it clear that the real losers of the school board critics’ action in venting political frustration through a ballot proposition like 2A are the kids and their parents and district teachers.
Similar comments were made by Tally, who looked at Bates at the close of the forum, and jokingly noted that “Mick is temporary,” in reference to him as a leader of the board and representative of the district. And unfortunately, she said the changes impacted by the potential passage of 2A are quite permanent, such as the certificate of participation monies the district has to pay on annual basis, which exceed $700,000 a year. Ultimately, the group leaders contend that if the sales tax is eliminated, the district could face cuts in teacher salaries and the number of teachers it currently employs, extracurricular activities, academics, sports, facility improvements and bus transportation. “It will hurt for years,” said Tally.
During earlier comments in the meeting, Bates made it clear that if 2A is supported, the district would face immediate consequences, contrary to some of the claims made by those who favor this issue. “It would have immediate impacts,” said Bates. Some proponents of the issue have argued that the district could consider grants or alternate funding sources, and that the changes wouldn’t go into effect for a while, giving the district time to consider other fiscal mechanisms.
But the committee leaders say that type of thinking is short-sighted and that grant reliance wouldn’t work due to the temporary nature of these types of funds.
A Great Solution to a Tough Problem
The group also praised the original thinking behind the sales tax concept in 2016, done so that property taxes wouldn’t be raised, and in fact, would experience a reduction.
Both Tally and Pekron told the audience that the message delivered to them previously by Governor John Hickenlooper was not to expect an increase in state funds for education, and that local boards and communities had to step up to the plate more to make up the difference. “It was a good solution to a big problem, “ related Bates, in referring to the sales tax proposal, which actually was endorsed by a former WP city manager.
He made it clear that the district is faced with $30 million in facility improvements. “We need every dollar,” said Bates, who contended that the district was operating in line with a 1989 spending budget. More notably, he stressed that the slogan “Putting Kids First” is not a sound bite, but a genuine concern. If the sales tax isn’t retained, Bates believes the impacts would be devastating to the schools and community. “That is like taking down the ship,” said the board president.
The group leaders maintained they were on the proper course when they adopted a proposed agreement with the city, providing strict accountability on how the monies were being spent with monthly reporting requirements.
The audience reaction to the committee’s presentation was mostly positive. Some contended that local teachers are paid too little. Few questions were raised regarding the RE-2 board’s position on the Merit Academy.
Some critics say the current board favors the Merit charter school more than its traditional institutions. The coalition group, though, denies these charges, and especially that Merit is getting a better deal when it comes to transportation services.
The vote outcome of 2A during the Nov. 5 election is one of the more significant local results for Election 2024, a ballot packed with more than 40 questions and contests. The election results should be finalized by late Nov. 5 or early Nov. 6.
