School Board Proposes Sale of Merit Academy Facility; Concerns Voiced Over Tax Dilemma
Trevor Phipps
It’s been a volatile time in Woodland Park with both the school district board and city council embroiled in a battle that ended with the loss of a $3 million-plus in annual tax revenue, coupled with the resignation of the district’s top boss and an apparent community fallout over a possible sales deal.
The dilemma started after Woodland Park School District (WPSD) CFO Jack Bay resigned amidst the drama surrounding the school sales tax. He was highly critical of the stance taken by city council members in handling this situation.
On March 5, WPSD then maintained that the district successfully submitted their financial audit following a transition of CFOs. “The auditor financial opinions were completed on time, dated March 1; however, technical difficulties over the weekend delayed the final submission,” stated the district administration. “With the assistance of the Colorado Department of Education, the finalized report was successfully submitted to the office of the state auditor on Monday, March 3, 2025.”
The district stated that the resignation of Bay (the former CFO) caused challenges with the audit. But, after successfully contracting Cortney Crouch as the district’s interim CFO, WPSD was able to complete their report.
Regardless, certain members of the community criticized Witt for the delay and questioned the interpretation of a clean bill of health regarding the audit.
But that represented only the beginning of the district’s woes.
During a special council meeting, resulting in the end of the city’s 1.09 percent sales tax increase given to the schools (see related article), a number of people brought up claims that there were issues found in the audit. One person even claimed that the audit declared the district could soon be in a dire financial situation.
Shortly after the audit, School District Superintendent Ken Witt announced that he was stepping down, and that his resignation would be effective on April 15.
According to a district press release, Witt announced his resignation “to pursue other opportunities.” As part of the transition, officials confirmed that Chief Operating Officer (COO) Aaron Salt would serve as the district’s interim superintendent, following Witt’s departure.
“Over the past two and a half years, I have been honored to lead an administrative team that has achieved remarkable milestones in advancing education for our students,” Witt stated. “I hold the board in the highest regard for your steadfast dedication and resolve to better education for all students. Your leadership and passion for creating opportunities have been a constant source of inspiration, and I am deeply grateful for the support and trust you have extended to me during my tenure.”
School District’s Link With Merit Academy
Following this announcement, the district encountered a big controversy regarding their agenda for a meeting, held on Mach 12. The meeting agenda and other documents were then leaked to the public and city council that had big financial implications. Some of the key documents centered around the school board’s plan to reportedly sell the former Woodland Park Middle School building to the Merit Academy charter school for $5 million.
As a result of growing concerns over this sale, the school district issued a press release surrounding the possible deal. In this release, Witt claimed that the sale was proposed as a way to improve operating revenue for the district.
“Selling this facility, which does not benefit the district because it is fully utilized by Merit Academy, will allow us to retain an additional $240,000 per year by reducing flow through funding to Merit Academy by that amount annually, as payment for the facility,” Witt explained. “As this is long term financing, the district will capture more of the sales tax revenue from the city for decades, greatly benefiting this school district.”
The district also reported that the former middle school building (that currently houses Merit Academy students), needs maintenance including a roof and electrical work. These costs are expected to cost around $3 million. “Beyond just capturing additional sales tax revenue, such a sale would allow the district to avoid these large maintenance expenses, transferring the cost of all upkeep to the school,” the press release stated.
However, the press release and follow-up explanation didn’t stop the Woodland Park City Council from stripping away the school sales tax. Several members, including Mayor Kellie Case, were irked by the lack of transparency and the timing of the sales deal. During the emergency meeting, the issue of the sale of the building came up a number of times, with many people saying the price was too cheap and the terms were unacceptable.
What Now?
Shortly after the city council decided to axe the sales tax, the school district issued another press release blasting the council’s decision. District officials stated that they were “deeply disappointed” with the council’s sudden move as it “undermines the will of the voters and excessively strains the resources” of the school district.
“We are extremely disheartened by the council’s decision to overturn what our community decisively supported at the ballot box,” Witt said. “This funding has played a critical role in advancing the success of our schools, and its removal will have a profoundly negative impact on our operations.”
The district stated that they have used the sales tax funds to support staff retention and “educational excellence.” “As the full impact of this decision unfolds, the district remains committed to transparency,” stated the district, in their press release. “The district will keep staff, families, and the community updated on what this means for WPSD moving forward.”
