Residents urge board to mend divisions and meet with Merit Academy leaders
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Summary
During public comment Pat Miller urged board members to meet with Merit Academy officials to 'heal the divide'; Karen Francis criticized prior board conduct and called for personnel/contractual changes.
Public comment at the Woodland Park School District RE‑2 meeting featured appeals for reconciliation and sharp criticism of the recent board’s conduct.
Pat Miller told the board there is a "unique opportunity at this moment in time to heal the divide" and urged the new board to meet with members of the Merit Academy board to identify major issues, hold public hearings and present an agreed plan to the community. "This needs to be done in the spirit of cooperation," Miller said.
Karen Francis, a longtime district resident, offered a stronger rebuke of the previous board’s behavior. She said the district has been "tarnished" by what she described as division and narrow‑minded policies and urged decisive action. In the transcript she also urged removal of a named contractor; no formal personnel or contracting action was taken at the meeting.
Board policy requires that personnel and individual student matters be discussed in executive session; the Board President reminded speakers that those topics are confidential under Colorado law and not for public comment.
No board response that changed policy or personnel was recorded during the public‑comment period; commenters asked for follow‑up in future public hearings.