The board voted 5-0 to go ahead with the COPs — a debt instrument very similar to a bond — at an estimated cost of about $25 million.
Those who led the recall effort in Jefferson County said the vote wouldn’t cost the school district a dime. They were wrong.
“We’ve known since 2014 the national union was involved,” Atwell said. “It’s unfortunate that the Jeffco voters were unaware of it until now.”
The tactic was something Bell tried to sell to the former board as well. Former president Ken Witt pointed out that it amounted to the board taking out a loan without voter approval, then apologizing to the voters and asking them to give them the money anyway.
“If this town is just about baseball, and they’re going to recall the board based just upon that and not everything else that this district has done, then I guess I’m in the wrong place.”
And Colorado Fair Share—which, according to its website, is invested in efforts to “Get big money out of politics”—kicked in one-third of the total amount donated to the committee with a $75,000 contribution.
The assertion that the recall effort of three Jefferson County Public Schools Board of Education members is a grassroots effort was weakened this week when new revelations from required campaign
The Colorado Education Association (CEA) donated $3,500 to two Steamboat Springs Board of Education candidates they hope will flip the reform tide in Steamboat Springs.
“The CEA reported to the Secretary of State’s Office that that they donated $2,500 to Montagu on Sept. 28. But Montagu’s report does not show any donations for $2,500, donations on Sept. 28, or donations from CEA.”
“I am not seeking to be exonerated, because there is simply nothing to be exonerated from. I’m just calling their bluff.”
“If we want to build a campus and (67 million worth of schools), that needs to go to a vote of the people.”
“It’s important to keep in mind that TEA is the one suing us,” Carlson said. “And Mr. Miller is not the one litigating the case for us. This is an important issue of local control that we believe we need to protect.
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