It’s no secret that trust in the Academy District 20 school board has eroded in recent years. From lawsuits with no educational value to behind-the-scenes policy changes, voters are left wondering: who is this board really working for?
After years of headlines and heated speeches, what D20 needs isn’t more of the same – it’s a return to basics, but not the kind being used as a political talking point. This community needs leadership grounded in common sense, not culture wars. Compassion, not fear. Strong schools, not soundbites.
Let’s take a clear-eyed look at where things stand, and what needs to change.
Wasted Tax Dollars and Political Distractions
In June, D20 board members voted to join a lawsuit against the Colorado High School Activities Association and the state over an issue that doesn’t even exist in the district. That decision is expected to cost taxpayers between $250,000 and $300,000. Chief Financial Officer Becky Allen warned the board that D20 is already the lowest-funded district in Colorado, and that taking on high-risk legal expenses could backfire. Badly.
They did it anyway.
This isn’t an isolated misstep. It’s part of a pattern: ideologically driven decisions that drain resources and distract from what actually matters to students and families.
Districts that followed this path before us, Elizabeth, Woodland Park, even parts of Texas and Florida, have seen the results: staff departures, spiking legal costs, insurance hikes, plummeting morale, and deeply divided communities. D20 deserves better.
We Don’t Need More of the Same
The community is watching closely, and the question is not just who’s running, but what kind of leadership do we want?
Do we want more lawsuits? More headlines? More decisions made during the summer, behind closed doors, buried in consent agendas?
Or do we want leaders who value trust over theater. Who believe transparency isn’t just a checkbox, but a baseline?
We don’t need more performance. We need possibility.
Trusting Educators, Not Undermining Them
One of the more dangerous narratives pushed in recent years is that schools are failing and educators can’t be trusted. The data doesn’t back that up, but it’s become a rallying cry for candidates seeking control, not collaboration.
The truth? Our schools are facing challenges, like every district in the country. But blaming teachers and stripping support won’t fix them. We need D20 candidates who recognize the expertise of educators, listen to students and parents alike, and work together toward real solutions.
Whether it’s STEM enrichment, mental health services, or programs that support students entering trades, the military, or higher ed, our district needs a board that champions the full range of pathways that prepare students for real life.
That means preserving programs, not cutting them. Supporting student success, not making them pawns in national politics.
Deferred Maintenance, Not Deferred Responsibility
The district’s own records show $541 million in deferred maintenance, a staggering figure that threatens the safety, functionality, and long-term viability of our school buildings.
Instead of devoting attention to this urgent issue, board members have focused on ideological crusades. They’ve poured time and money into lawsuits, while elevators fail, HVAC systems break down, and roofs deteriorate.
D20 candidates must come to the table ready to prioritize infrastructure, not invent new distractions. Our kids deserve safe, clean, reliable learning environments, not talking points.
Safe Schools, Strong Leaders, Smart Budgets
What this community needs now isn’t more extremism. It’s stewardship.
We need board members who can manage a budget without fear-mongering. Leaders who believe that transparency isn’t radical. People who can disagree without disgrace, and govern without spectacle.
This district doesn’t need to be “taken back.” It needs to be lifted up, through hard work, real listening, and a shared commitment to our children’s future.
Restoring Civility, Choosing Compassion
The damage done by division doesn’t heal overnight. But it starts with voters refusing to reward it.
This year’s D20 election isn’t just about politics. It’s about the kind of community we want to raise our children in. One where disagreement doesn’t mean destruction. One where facts matter more than Facebook threads. One where compassion is stronger than fear.
This moment isn’t about red or blue, it’s about right or wrong. About choosing what works over what wounds. About remembering that education is not a battlefield; it’s a bridge to opportunity.
Let’s protect tax dollars. Let’s restore trust. Let’s expect better from our D20 candidates and demand it when the stakes are this high.