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Why we started Mesa County Compass
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, Local, Top Stories

Why we started Mesa County Compass

By Ruth Kinnett and Lisa Fry | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice In June 2023, we were sitting at a kitchen table watching headlines move faster than facts. A recall effort was underway against District 51 School Board member Andrea Haitz, and something didn’t sit right. We kept hearing fragments — social media posts, clipped quotes, secondhand outrage — but we couldn’t find the full conversation. So we decided to start one. Mesa County Compass began on June 10, 2023, during that recall effort. At the time, we believed the full truth had not been properly revealed and that Haitz was being unfairly accused of something she had not done. What started as a response to that moment grew into something larger — a platform dedicated to conversation, clarity, and giving p...
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Proposed DPS Policy Would Shield Undocumented Students From Certain Law Enforcement Actions
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CBS Colorado, Approved, Local

Proposed DPS Policy Would Shield Undocumented Students From Certain Law Enforcement Actions

By Chierstin Roth | CBS Colorado Denver Public School Board President Xóchitl Gaytán has been working with immigration advocacy groups to create a set of policy changes that would add further protections for undocumented students. However, some community members believe the proposal goes too far. For Gaytán, protecting undocumented students is personal. "I am the only board member on the DPS board of education that has a lived experience as being someone who is undocumented for half of her life," said Gaytán. Therefore, for me, this issue is something that I have deep ties with." Which is why she's working with immigration groups to propose a new policy that would enhance protections such as establishing safe zones and would not allow any student to be questione...
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External Audit Planned Following Superintendent Resignation in Cherry Creek
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DENVER7, Approved, Local

External Audit Planned Following Superintendent Resignation in Cherry Creek

By: Natalie Chuck | Denver7 The superintendent resigned and the chief of human resources was placed on administrative leave within days of one another following a series of Denver7 Investigates stories. DENVER — "Immediate action was necessary." Those are the words of Cherry Creek School Board President Anne Egan amid the announcement of an external audit following a series of Denver7 Investigates reports which put district leadership under the microscope. In a statement released ahead of a public meeting on Monday night, the board of education announced additional reforms and changes are being made after drastic administrative changes. Just over one week has passed since Christopher Smith, the district's now former superintendent, resigned. ...
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The quiet takeover: What early oaths and a Friday ultimatum meant for Douglas County Schools
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Local, Top Stories

The quiet takeover: What early oaths and a Friday ultimatum meant for Douglas County Schools

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Douglas County’s newly elected school board majority took office days early and outside public view after a week of private oaths, a Friday deadline, and a dispute over whether a policy on the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS) should be added to the December 2 meeting agenda. Emails, texts, and public comments released since then show conflicting explanations from the incoming directors and intensifying concerns about transparency. A Sudden Shift in Board Composition Outgoing Board President Christy Williams said she first learned something was wrong on November 26. “I was notified by the superintendent that Tony Ryan had gone to get sworn in the day prior to that, and I said, ‘so what does that mean for Beck...
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Incoming Progressive Douglas County School Board Sparks Backlash With Early Swearing In
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The Denver Gazette, Approved, Local

Incoming Progressive Douglas County School Board Sparks Backlash With Early Swearing In

By Noah Festenstein | The Denver Gazette The new members of the Douglas County school board have already assumed their seats — in “secret,” according to the outgoing president. The move by incoming directors effectively kicked out the four outgoing members early, said the outgoing board president, who accused the new members of being less than transparent. Douglas County voters in November elected a group of progressive-leaning directors, flipping the once conservative Douglas County School District Board of Education.  Elected directors already started their positions before Tuesday’s special meeting, when the board is supposed to be formally sworn in, according to Christy Williams, the outgoing board president. “This action, conducted without transparency, appears to ...
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Colorado mom shows what courage and conviction looks like on the campaign trail
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Daily Citizen, Approved, Commentary, Local

Colorado mom shows what courage and conviction looks like on the campaign trail

By Nicole Hunt | Commentary, Daily Citizen I recently ran and was elected to my local school board. Running for office was a learning experience in more ways than one, but there are three important lessons I learned on the campaign trail that will stay with me for life.   When I first felt the nudge to step forward, I took time to talk to my family and pray about it. As a mother with sincere convictions, but no interest in being a career politician, I wanted to make sure the timing was right for my family. My husband and I have four children — two in high school and two in middle school. My family is the first and most important priority in my life after my faith in Jesus Christ. As we began to discuss the idea, I was encouraged by my kids who said, “Mom, you are perfect for ...
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Charter Renewals, Transgender Athlete Rules Dominate Douglas County Board Debate
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CBS Colorado, Approved, Local

Charter Renewals, Transgender Athlete Rules Dominate Douglas County Board Debate

By: Olivia Young | CBS Colorado Updated on: November 11, 2025 / 10:24 PM MST / CBS Colorado As of 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, the Douglas County School Board had not yet voted on a controversial resolution regarding charter schools in the Colorado county. Douglas County residents packed the final school board meeting under the current board. Last week, voters chose a progressive slate of school board candidates who ran on a campaign of data over politics, teacher retention and equal opportunities for students, flipping the board. Clark Callahan, Kyrzia Parker, Tony Ryan and Kelly Denzler are expected to be sworn in in early December, joining like-minded current members Brad Geiger, Susan Meek and Valerie Thompson. The outgoing board members are Kim Moore, Becky Meyers,...
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Grassroots effort pays off as GOP-endorsed school board candidates win big in Delta County
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, Local, Top Stories

Grassroots effort pays off as GOP-endorsed school board candidates win big in Delta County

By Angie Many & Shirley Bauer | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice We won! We won! At the Watch Party after the monthly Delta County Republican meeting, the mood was ‘Elation!’ as it was almost certain that GOP-endorsed candidates Adena Kreutz and Sheldon Kier had become newly-elected members of the local school board.  Over 40 people were at the GOP meeting, which combined regular monthly business with waiting for election results with fingers crossed and silent prayers offered. Both Adena and Sheldon attended and thanked those present for their support while everyone watched the vote tallies with cautious optimism. Adena and Sheldon were each almost 1,000 votes ahead of opponents by the time the meeting and GOP Watch Party ended. (A total of about 10,000 people voted in the...
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Heidi Ganahl and Tori Stork end the “DougCo Dirty Dozen” with a warning to voters
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Local, Top Stories

Heidi Ganahl and Tori Stork end the “DougCo Dirty Dozen” with a warning to voters

By RMV Staff | Rocky Mountain Voice If Colorado’s education battles mirror the nation’s divide, Douglas County may be the front line. After two weeks and twelve hard-hitting episodes, Heidi Ganahl and her daughter, Tori Stork (formerly Ganahl), have made their case through the “Douglas County Dirty Dozen” video series: the state’s most conservative district is facing a coordinated push from national unions and progressive networks intent on steering local classrooms away from parents and community values. The First Six: Unions, Books, and Boundaries Heidi Ganahl's first six videos exposed the growing influence of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) in Douglas County. Four candidates—Kyrzia Parker, Clark Callahan, Tony Ryan, and Kelly Denzler—each received $2,500 from AFT Col...
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Angela Lema’s commitment keeps District 51 Schools grounded in results
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, Local, Top Stories

Angela Lema’s commitment keeps District 51 Schools grounded in results

By Sara Fletcher | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Angela Lema stands as the embodiment of principled leadership and steadfast commitment in her role as a District 51 school board Director. Her contributions have had a meaningful effect on District 51 families and staff, underpinned by her extensive experience as a trade school owner and active community member for nearly twenty years. Throughout her career, Angela has guided countless young adults into the valley’s workforce, fulfilling the roles of mentor, teacher, and respected business owner. Significant Committee Work and Project Oversight Among Angela’s notable achievements is her dedication to committee work, particularly her three-year involvement with the Owners, Architect, and Contractors Special Committee. She pa...
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