To the Colorado General Assembly:

Colorado Superintendents recently issued a Position Statement on School Funding and the challenges to meeting the expectations set forth for Colorado’s schools and students by the General Assembly.

It is both impressive and compelling that this group came together to address adequate funding for the education of all Colorado children. The position paper was straightforward and to the point, with no hidden agendas. The Superintendents are simply asking for what has been put off long enough – paying back the negative factor that has been taking money back from schools for years, so that districts can get the resources in place to provide ALL children with a quality education. One of the ways they propose to do this is to allocate some of Colorado’s budget excess –money that has already been collected- to our schools.

As residents of Douglas County, we are very disappointed that our Superintendent, without consulting the community, decided not to join with the others to improve the financial situation for schools across the state. Although the position statement may not be perfect, it is a great step forward and will address the dire needs in all Colorado schools, including those in Douglas County. We do not agree with Superintendent Fagen’s position and did not get a clear explanation as to why she chose to sacrifice this great opportunity to join with her colleagues for the betterment of all. It seems as though she is prioritizing her personal ideology over our children and her responsibilities for the financial state of our district.

The undersigned Douglas County residents SUPPORT the Superintendents’ Position Statement on School Funding. We urge Superintendent Fagen to reconsider her position for the sake of our communities and the financial health of our district and the State of Colorado.