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NEW: Conservatives took over a Colorado school board, and then:
• Adopted a right-wing group’s social studies program
• Did not reapply for grants to pay counselors
• 40% of the high school’s professional staff won’t return next year
nbcnews.com/news/us-news/w…
• Adopted a right-wing group’s social studies program
• Did not reapply for grants to pay counselors
• 40% of the high school’s professional staff won’t return next year
nbcnews.com/news/us-news/w…
When a conservative slate of candidates won control of the school board in Woodland Park 18 months ago, they began making big changes to reshape the district.
After teachers protested, employees were barred from discussing the district on social media, and some were forced out.
After teachers protested, employees were barred from discussing the district on social media, and some were forced out.
These sweeping shifts were taken from the MAGA playbook, designed to catch opponents off guard, according to a board member’s email.
“Divide, scatter, conquer," one of the new conservative school board members wrote to another. “Trump was great at this in his first 100 days.”
“Divide, scatter, conquer," one of the new conservative school board members wrote to another. “Trump was great at this in his first 100 days.”
The school board installed a new superintendent late last year.
Ken Witt had previously been recalled from another school district after he backed a plan to make classes more patriotic.
When students protested, he called them “pawns” of the teacher’s union.
Ken Witt had previously been recalled from another school district after he backed a plan to make classes more patriotic.
When students protested, he called them “pawns” of the teacher’s union.
At a meeting in March, Witt told staff members he prioritized academic achievement, not students’ emotions.
“We are not the department of health and human services,” he told teachers, according to a recording made by staff and shared with @NBCNews.
nbcnews.to/3VNbmZE
“We are not the department of health and human services,” he told teachers, according to a recording made by staff and shared with @NBCNews.
nbcnews.to/3VNbmZE
Staff members tried to explain why it was critical to address students’ emotional well-being, citing recent local homicides.
Employee: "We had a murder-suicide..."
Witt: "Did you have a social worker at the school?"
Employee: "Yes.”
Witt: "Did the murder-suicide still occur?"
Employee: "We had a murder-suicide..."
Witt: "Did you have a social worker at the school?"
Employee: "Yes.”
Witt: "Did the murder-suicide still occur?"
That same week, Laura Magnuson, district’s mental health supervisor, had a call with Witt to press him on reapplying for $1.2M in grants for the district’s mental health professionals.
Witt would not commit to reapplying for the grants. Magnuson soon resigned.
Witt would not commit to reapplying for the grants. Magnuson soon resigned.
Zehan Rogers, a sophomore, says he’s had a friend die by suicide and others who have had depression. He said he doesn’t think the board understands how important mental health staff is for the district.
“There’s so many unforeseen consequences that will come from this.”
“There’s so many unforeseen consequences that will come from this.”
Read @tylerkingkade on how conservatives took over a Colorado school district — and transformed it:
nbcnews.com/news/us-news/w…
nbcnews.com/news/us-news/w…
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