A tenuous relationship between Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Cindy Stevenson and a new conservative board hit its breaking point Saturday when the district’s longtime leader announced that she would leave earlier than expected.
Stevenson, who has been at the helm of the district for more than 12 years, told a crowded room, filled mostly with supporters, that her work was being impeded by a newly elected board majority.
“I can’t lead and manage because I am not trusted or respected by this board of education,” Stevenson said. “If I can’t lead and if I can’t manage, I don’t serve you well. And my issue is serving you, serving our community and, most importantly, serving our kids.”
Stevenson announced her retirement in November, days after a new conservative majority was elected to the school board. Stevenson said she knew then that the new majority — Ken Witt, John Newkirk and Julie Williams — would want a change in leadership, but she planned to stay on through June 30.
On Saturday morning, Stevenson said her last day is KEEP READING.
Author: Mile High Mamas
Anna
This entire situation is appalling and has been since the newly elected BOE members decided that they’re above the law with their secretive meetings, secret dealings & exclusion of veteran members. I’m already actively reaching out to offer my support & services to bring the appropriate attention this needs within the media. I want to make sure that our children’s needs are put first & that’s obviously the furthest thing from their minds right now.
Robert
Stupid is as stupid does!! we let these idiots rule our children’s future…blindly going along with the idiocy of bureaucracy!!!
Connie
You mean that there were people there to disrupt the meeting? Yep!
Robert
All of Colorado public schools better heed to the desires of better education for our children…frankly, I am sick and tired of school officials that have the final say about educational well-being of our children!! We pay these peoples’ salaries with our tax monies…superintendents and the ilk….it is time you shut up and listen to the voice that pays your salaries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get a hold of yourselves parents!!!!! Is this the future that you want for your children??? Are you not disgusted by no child left behind protocols…relentless testing of our children to secure monies for f’d up schools only looking to profiteer from test scores??? Special children left to wander in the classroom only to be eventually medicated to serve the teacher’s needs to perform for the TEST????!!!!!
Bryony
She threw a temper tantrum. I’m glad to see her go,she refuses to talk to parents thinks special needs kids are a waste of time cut funding for special needs programs. I had to threaten to go to the media to get a response. She can kick rocks as far as I’m concerned
Marie
I sure hope 9News or Denver Post follows up with some real journalism and inform the people what’s really going on here. DougCo and JeffCo are being used as a testing ground for national school reform and our local media is asleep at the wheel. This is Murrow/Pulitzer stuff we’re talking here.
Lakewood Ed
So, to recap the sequence of events:
Jefferson County voters elect three conservatives to the school board.
Stevenson determines that she will not work with the new board and announces her retirement as of June, 2014.
Stevenson gets an new job before her retirement and requests an earlier leave date to which the Board agrees.
Stevenson and the union black shirt goons show up at the Board meeting and put on their show for the media, some say as a prelude for a “recall” election campaign by the union.
Classy . . .
Robert's a loser
Robert – you don’t have as much of a clue about education as you think you do.
And your bipolar rant does a disservice to the kind of message you are trying to communicate.
Grow up.
Richard Duncan
I saw no temper tantrum and as far as testing….President Bush brought us ” No Child Left Behind “. Look at the BOE’s actions…1) hire , at tremendous additional expenditure of tax payer dollars, their own attorney, 2) force out a competent and experienced Superintendent. And for Connie, if the tea party were there to shout down Dr Stevenson, that wouldn’t have been a disruption would it? nope.