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Tag: Jeffco Public Schools

Former Jeffco Educator Claims District Made Her A Scapegoat After Ex-Boyfriend Scandal
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The Denver Gazette, Approved, Local

Former Jeffco Educator Claims District Made Her A Scapegoat After Ex-Boyfriend Scandal

By Sage Kelley | The Denver Gazette Courtney Capek claims her career was completely altered by the actions of another. The Lakewood native returned to the school she graduated from, Green Mountain High School, in 2023 to begin her career teaching and establishing a new era for the school’s theater program. Her dream job didn’t last long, though, with the district not renewing her contract just a few weeks after her ex-boyfriend, James Michael Chevrier, was arrested by the Lakewood Police Department on charges of sexual assault on a child. “What was done to me is not OK. I’m tired of being quiet about it,” she told The Denver Gazette. “The district essentially used me as their scapegoat to say, ‘Hey, we did something’.” ‘Pure disgust’ Capek and Chev...
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Jeffco Schools Reject Federal Ruling On Transgender Sports Policies
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Axios Denver, Approved, Local

Jeffco Schools Reject Federal Ruling On Transgender Sports Policies

By John Frank | Axios Denver Jefferson County Schools is rebuking the Trump administration's claim that the district violated federal civil rights protections by allowing transgender students to compete in girls' sports and access their facilities. Why it matters: The clash between the Trump administration and Colorado's second-largest school district highlights the widening national debate over how federal civil rights law applies to transgender students. The dispute could also lead to a legal showdown over the interaction of federal policy, which defines sex based on biology, and state laws that protect gender identity and transgender students' rights. What they're saying: Jeffco officials said in a statement that the administration's legal arguments...
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Jeffco Schools Warns Staff of Major Job Cuts as Budget Strain Deepens
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The Denver Gazette, Approved, Local

Jeffco Schools Warns Staff of Major Job Cuts as Budget Strain Deepens

By Sage Kelley | The Denver Gazette Jeffco Public Schools employees received a voicemail from Superintendent Tracy Dorland Monday morning warning them of potential job cuts in the next year. “My holiday message this year is a more somber and serious one,” Dorland said in a voicemail obtained by The Denver Gazette. “Some of our colleagues in central services will receive notifications this week about changes to their positions at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.” The district expects to eliminate between 150 and 160 full-time positions as part of its new Budget Reduction Blueprint — or overall plan to whittle $60 million from the district’s budget in the 2026-2027 school year, according to a Nov. 13 presentation to the district’s board of education by Chi...
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‘Feeling safe is a privilege’: Jeffco board member’s remark sparks outrage after school shooting
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DENVER7, Approved, Local

‘Feeling safe is a privilege’: Jeffco board member’s remark sparks outrage after school shooting

By Adria Iraheta | Denver7 Denver7 heard from several parents who were upset by Jeffco Public Schools Board of Education Member Erin Kenworthy's remarks. JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — More than a month after the shooting at Evergreen High School, school safety remains top of mind for families across Jefferson County. Parents voiced their concerns during a Jeffco Public Schools Board of Education meeting Thursday. Many of those parents were directly impacted by the tragedy that rocked the community on Sept. 10. “Our most important job is to protect our children, and what we’re doing right now is not working,” said Evergreen resident Kim Halligan. Emotions ran high Thursday as community members made their pleas for improved school safety measures across the district, inc...
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“Not one mention of sexual abuse”: Parents slam Jeffco union as Title IX storm builds
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice, Top Stories

“Not one mention of sexual abuse”: Parents slam Jeffco union as Title IX storm builds

By Heidi Ganahl, Rocky Mountain Voice Jeffco Public Schools is at the center of a storm as teachers and parents clash with Superintendent Tracy Dorland over leadership, transparency, and the district’s handling of cultural and safety concerns.  Tensions hit a breaking point on May 29, when the Jefferson County Education Association (JCEA)—representing roughly a quarter of Jeffco’s 5,000 teachers—declared a vote of no confidence in Superintendent Tracy Dorland. The move came just days before news broke of a federal Title IX investigation into the district. Union leaders accused her of top-down leadership, fostering instability, and eroding trust. They highlighted high turnover in central office staff, the rejection of a board-approved policy on ICE protocols, and the rollback ...
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