By Gary Colley
October 30
Denver Post Your Hub
In Douglas County School District, the community has been severely divided by a politically driven education reform agenda. Since 2010 all surveys, polls, and public forums have demonstrated the community does NOT support these major reforms. As a result, the openly partisan school board has stopped efforts to gather meaningful input that could verify where this community stands on these major reform issues.
Superintendent Liz Fagen who was hired to implement the reforms has failed to effectively engage and garner support from the community. Her reliance upon Town Hall meetings, listening tours, and a considerable amount of “anecdotal” information to bolster claims of community support for the reforms has further fractured this community. Until verifiable evidence could show community support, Dr Fagen should have backed off the implementation of these unpopular reforms.
Dr. Fagen, though committed to, and skillful in explaining various aspects of the reform agenda, has failed in her ability to lead this community. The challenges facing this school district require a Superintendent with the experience and knowledge to restore trust within the community, and bring back stability within the schools and student learning environment.
Therefore, I request that Dr Fagen resign as Superintendent of DCSD effective November 5, 2013.
It is time as well for the Douglas County School District Board of Education to show accountability to the citizens of this community, not merely to a political party, or ideal. It is the community you were elected to serve, not the individuals who voted you into office that you need to be accountable to. Do the work necessary, and demonstrate whether the community is in support of the major reforms being actively push into the school system.