D14 board recaps school year; teachers comment on administration

I cannot stay as a teacher in this district. Kelly Perry

The Monday, May 22, school board meeting kicked off with commentary from teachers regarding their treatment by school administration. Kelly Perry, a science teacher at Manitou Springs High School, read comments on behalf of teachers at the school. The comments detailed incidents in which teachers alleged the school’s administration favored some students and staff over others, as well as failed to prioritize teachers’ well-being.

Perry is leaving the district based on what she deems a negative experience and qualms with the administration. She read a comment that explained how one student was granted accommodations for an assignment, while another student was not granted accommodations for a different assignment, which Perry identified as unequal treatment of students.

“I’m sorry to my students, but I cannot stay as a teacher in this district,” she said to the board.

Perry presented a letter her students had written to the school board that included, “the amount of disrespect towards you this year was tremendous and that’s a shame.”

Another teacher followed Perry’s commentary and countered her criticism of the administration, speaking to the board to report her positive feelings toward District 14’s administration. The teacher seemed to respond to Perry by telling the school board that there is a “victim narrative that we are being mistreated,” and it’s “simply not true.”

She detailed what she experienced as a great school year at Ute Pass Elementary.

“We have figured out how to provide children something other than the traditional learning environment, all while challenging them academically and nurturing their natural sense of wonder and curiosity,” she said.

In response to the teachers’ comments, President Natalie Johnson stressed keeping personal matters out of school board meetings, as Kolleen Johnson, director of Student Success, was mentioned by name in an anonymous teacher comment read by Perry.

Perry responded that “she’s a public official.” Directors Tina Vidovich and Christi-Marie Butler doubled down on Natalie Johnson’s point, saying that “we don’t mention people by name.”

Steve Bethke, head coach of Manitou High School’s robotics team, then presented three robotics students who earned a spot at the robotics world championship in Houston.

“I think we surpassed our expectations, going to worlds,” a robotics student remarked at the board meeting. “And I think that next year we can do even better. I hope we can get into the finals.”

Later in the meeting, Chief Financial Officer Suzi Thompson discussed updates in the school budget. She mentioned that Colorado increased the “school finance act” by 8 percent, which Thompson said was “totally inflation, really.” The school finance act is a funding formula created in 1994, which fluctuates based on inflation and student counts, according to Thompson. She implied that the 8 percent increase will offset the effects of inflation.

Thompson also mentioned that the state’s “budget stabilization factor” was decreased by $180 million, a measure that reduced public school funding in 2008. Thompson said she’s optimistic that the factor will close entirely by the end of 2023, its set end date.

Thompson proposed an ongoing 8 percent increase to all district salaries and mentioned that her department wants to focus on underpaid staff.

“We know some people are making wages that are not livable,” said Thompson, mentioning that her team individually adjusted salaries for staff members who made less than $20 per hour. “It’s not bringing everybody to $20 an hour, but it’s getting them closer,” she said.

Thompson also said the district is considering raising the certified substitute teacher rate from $115 a day to $150 a day in the first 19 days of substitute teaching to be more competitive with neighboring school districts.

The board will meet again for a special meeting at 4:30 p.m. Monday, June 12. The board’s next regular meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 22.