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In 2009, a conservative majority elected to the school board introduced market-based education reforms. The controversial reformer board had a huge impact on the district and community. - Voucher Program: Introduced a voucher program that was later struck down in 2017 - Lack of Accountability and Transparency: Decisions were made behind closed doors without community input - Mass Exodus of Teachers & Staff: The policies and atmosphere led to a significant loss of teachers and staff By 2015, an anti-reform minority was elected, slowing these reforms and increasing community input. Teachers were still leaving at high rates due to low pay, and poor culture and climate. In 2017, a pro-public education board was elected. This led to: - Improved teacher retention: The mass exodus of teachers (2011-2017) was halted. - Financial Wins: The first MLO and Bond in nearly a decade passed, addressing teacher pay and a $500 million maintenance backlog. - Community Focus: The board actively worked to rebuild relationships with teachers, parents, and the community. The COVID-19 pandemic (2020) brought new challenges, including debates over remote learning and mask mandates. In 2021, a new conservative majority was elected in response to the mask mandates. However, once in place, many voters expressed regret because of the new board majority's extreme actions, including the illegal firing of the Superintendent. While there were still three pro-public education directors on the board, the majority steam-rolled many initiatives and policy changes in two years in office, harming the district. - Policy Rollbacks: Reversed previous policies, including DEI initiatives - Increased Community Conflict: Sparked disagreements and tension within the community. - Loss of Trust: Damaged relationships between the community and the school board - Failure to Pass Funding: The new leadership failed to pass a new bond for two years and the MLO passed once before finally passing in 2023. In 2023, a slate of three pro-public education directors were elected. The still-divided board improved the working relationship, but controversy still thrived. - Passed Bond: After two failed attempts, the board finally passed a bond that supported building two new schools, the first neighborhood schools built in nearly 15 years. - Controversial Director Appointment: The board majority appointed a new director with limited district knowledge over more experienced candidates, causing community division. - Mishandling of Critical Issues: The board mishandled issues related to bullying, racism, and policy adherence, leading to further community concerns. During 2024 DCP hopes to provide a more detailed history in a Blog series for those that want more detail.