Seeking school board candidates not looking to turn classrooms into battlefields

this to be “a conscious decision to hide a controversial issue.”

Amid growing discontent around their actions, the board has reprimanded staff who dare to speak up. Sara Lee, a 17-year veteran teacher at Woodland Park High School was involuntarily transferred out of her position after objecting to board decisions. She said teachers feel “targeted, threatened, and unsafe.”

In an email released through an open records request, one board member encouraged the use of another tactic for stifling resistance, “...if you advance on many fronts at the same time, then the enemy cannot fortify, defend, [or] effectively counter-attack at any one front. Divide, scatter, conquer. Trump was great at this in his first 100 days.”

Hostile strategies like these have enabled the Woodland Park board to ram through sweeping changes, including eliminating social work and counselor positions and controlling what teachers can teach.

Joe Dorhn, a Woodland Park parent who described himself as a staunch Republican, told NBC News, “I think they look at us as this petri dish where they can really push all their agenda[s] and theories. They clearly are willing to sacrifice the public school and to put students presently in the public school through years of disarray to drive home their ideological beliefs. It’s a travesty.”

How can teachers focus on teaching when school board members are governing as if they are in battle, and when fear and intimidation pervade the schools? At least four top Woodland Park district administrators have quit because of the board’s policy changes and nearly 40% of the high school’s professional staff plan to leave the district.

Teacher pay in Colorado ranks far below the national average. The high cost of living in our region makes retaining and recruiting dedicated him to order a few hundred gallons of mix, he thought it was a prank call. We got him to provide the mix in buckets and he hand delivered them to the fair to watch what happened. Over the years, fairgoers have bought thousands of gallons of mojitos, and Carbondale Arts supported countless art projects with those funds. teachers even more challenging. The last thing we need is board members creating havoc in our districts.

As we turn the fair over to the next generation, they have decided not to serve mojitos this year. I did not want to miss the opportunity to thank folks from Freshies, the many fair mint donors, the years of Cantina master mixers and the hundreds of volunteers who worked to satisfy a seemingly endless demand for the cool refreshing summer drink. One part rum, three parts mix, one part soda on top, add over mulled mint and ice.

We’re already seeing worrisome moves on the Garfield Re-2 board. Without listing it as an agenda item, the board spent over an hour at their June 14 meeting discussing the controversial topic of rejecting the state's social studies standards. The Colorado Board of Education completes an extensive public process for each set of standards they adopt. Rejecting state standards is a highly unusual move.

The Re-2 board discussed hiring the consultant who advised the Woodland Park district on switching to the American Birthright Standards, which proponents describe as the sort of work Trump's 1776 Commission might have created had it continued. Like Woodland Park, the Re-2 board is also considering opting out of state-funded mental health services for students.

Here in Garfield County we pride ourselves on being good neighbors and looking out for one another. I hope some of you will take that commitment to caring about our community one step further and consider running for your local school board.

You don’t need an advanced degree or educational expertise to serve as a good school board member. You simply need to be a good listener, team-player, and problem-solver; and you need to prioritize our students and teachers over any political ideology.

Regardless of political party, we need board members who value transparency, collaborative decision-making, and constructive dialogue.

The deadline for candidate petitions is Sept. 1. Do you know someone who might run with a little encouragement from others? Let’s find some good candidates to keep our school boards running smoothly and make sure our schools are great places for students to learn and teachers to teach.

Mojito, you were a good friend. This year, I will toast you … with a margarita.

Bob Schultz, Carbondale

Vote Andrews

I am currently running for Colorado’s Third Congressional District’s Republican nomination. My only credible opponent in the 2024 general election is Aspen’s own Adam Frisch, whose single platform plank when I announced my candidacy was to defeat Lauren Boebert. Since I plan to do just that, I believe it’s time for AspenAdam to discuss actual policy proposals.

Last year, 920 Coloradons died from opioid poisoning, along with 105,779 other young Americans of military age. That’s the equivalent continues on page 22

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Crystal augmentation

On July 21, Aspen Journalism published a story by Heather Sackett, “Studies say Janeway site promising for Crystal River backup water supply.” The article details plausible water-replacement options at Janeway to replenish the river in the late summer and supply users during extreme drought years and critically low flows. Downstream senior water rights holders can put in a “call” to upstream junior holders to limit their use when that senior holder is not getting their quota. The last and only time a call was made was the summer of 2018. When it comes to water rights, the user with the oldest has the right to first use. Therefore, there are senior holders that even trump the Town of Carbondale. Find the full story at www.aspenjournalism.org and tune in Everything Under The Sun this Thursday, July 27 at 4pm, for a live interview with Sackett.

Forest Service advances

press release, “roughly half of Garfield County falls in the three highest wildfire risk categories,” prompting the need for the plan. “Garfield County organizations and residents can use this guide as a resource to navigate smoke events and increase awareness regarding the dangers of wildfire smoke exposure.” Visit www.bit.ly/SmokePlan to view the document.

Bustang fares reduced

The Polis administration and Colorado Department of Transportation announced that the state is cutting its Bustang fares in half for most routes in August and September, including the West Line between Grand Junction and Denver. “During the hot summer months, it is important we find ways to reduce ozone emissions,” commented Governor Jared Polis. Last summer, 50% reduced fares spurred a 77% increase in ridership across the state.

Carbondale Rec’s little league baseball team, the Yankees, defeated the Aspen Dodgers on July 20, defending their championship title! Congratulations! Courtesy photo

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The Aspen-Sopris Ranger District announced on July 21 the opening of the construction bidding process for redevelopment of their offices in downtown Carbondale. The project is estimated to begin in early 2024 and involves demolition of three buildings. “The current facility [constructed in 1939, with an expansion in 1995] is no longer meeting the needs of the district and is not cost-effective to maintain,” stated a press release. Local contractors are encouraged to submit bids by Aug. 21. For more information, call 970846-6864.

Fire restrictions

The City of Glenwood Springs has joined Garfield County and the Bureau of Land Management in enacting Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. Campfires are only allowed within designated fire grates in developed campgrounds; no smoking is allowed except within designated areas free of combustibles; fireworks and other explosives are not allowed; burn permits are postponed; and caution is mandated for activities like welding.

Wildfire smoke

Garfield County released its Wildfire Smoke Preparedness Plan which details the potential impacts wildfire smoke can have on residents’ health. According to a

Glenwood Springs library

Garfield County Public Library District welcomes Abraham Korah as the new manager of the Glenwood Springs Branch Library. Korah grew up in Iowa but lived most of his adult life in Texas with stints in Chicago and New York City. He holds a doctorate in higher education administration from Sam Houston State University and earned his master’s in library and information science from the University of North Texas.

Buford logging

Logging operations have resumed along the Buford-New Castle Road to stimulate new aspen growth in the White River National Forest by removing conifers and older aspen trees. The project began in 2021 and has spanned more than 235 acres with another 220 acres planned for this year, in addition to 220 acres near Meadow Lake. Timber is chipped and trucked to the biomass plant in Gypsum to produce electricity.

County Fair arrest

On Saturday, July 22, Rifle police attempted to make contact with a female driving recklessly at the conclusion of the Garfield County Fair parade. The chief of police, driving an unmarked patrol vehicle, was allegedly being tailgated by 30-year-old

Diana Jean Anaya, shouting obscenities. Two officers also in an unmarked vehicle initiated a traffic stop by flashing their lights. Anaya, who had previous charges from recent incidents in the area, tried to drive away, nearly hitting an officer and striking several barriers, tables and chairs, blowing stop signs and traffic lights before being penned by police vehicles. She was placed in custody and transported to Grand River Hospital for medical clearance. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

Nature Camp

Lisa Dancing-Light and Diana Alcantara are hosting the Magic Mountain Nature Camp at the Carbondale Community School, Aug. 14-18 from 9am to 3pm, for ages 4 and up. Activities include art, music, gardening, theater and yoga. To reserve a spot, call 970-274-2472 or email dianagardengoddess@gmail.com

They say it’s your birthday! Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Franz Alderfer and Vince Savage (July 27); Tom Baker and Brent Moss (July 28); Owen O'Farrell, A.O. Forbes, Randi Garcia, Sarah Kemme, Liz Phillips, Jake Spaulding, Greg Tonozzi and Jess Worley (July 29); Nancy Barnett, Debbie Bruell and Cheryl Loggins (July 31); Anibal Guevera and Sarah Uhl (Aug. 1); Jeff Dahl, Hattie Gianinetti, Catherine Masters, Maciej Mrotek and Justin Patrick (Aug. 2).