Voices in Action: DougCo Collective

There are several organizations in Douglas County and Colorado dedicated to protecting public education. At Douglas County Parents, we aim to share their valuable voices, providing information and resources.

DougCo Collective Newsletter & Blog

DougCo Collective is an advocacy organization focused on educating the community about issues impacting public education. They provide in-depth analyses of these issues, offering context on current events and actionable steps to support our schools.

You can receive the DougCo Collective’s newsletter directly in your inbox by signing up on their website. Stay informed and engaged! This Blog is a copy of the newsletter but does not include all the links that DougCo Collective provides.

Welcome to 2025! The spring semester started just a few weeks ago, but it feels as if January will never end…

As we navigate through our changing landscape under the new Trump Administration, the ongoing attack on public education is even more pronounced with elements of Project 2025 implemented via executive orders and proposed legislation.

There is much to report on as we approach tomorrow’s Board of Education meeting (view the agenda and sign up for public comment by noon next Tuesday (1/28). 

In this DCC Update, we provide a recap of the Jan. 14th BoE study session meeting and its retreat this past weekend, as well as some topics that have made recent headlines, including two major civil rights issues at the forefront — an ongoing investigation into DCSD by the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice and the imminent threat of Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) coming to school campuses to arrest undocumented immigrants.

In this DCC Update:

DCSD Under Fire on Multiple Fronts

January 14th BoE Study Session Recap

DCSD BoE Retreat Last Weekend

DCSD Under Fire on Multiple Fronts

Anyone who has been following the news has seen an uptick in negative stories out of our school district the past several months. Last fall, we saw international media coverage of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and threats against a DCSD teacher, a delay in approval of AP African American Studies due to political posturing by DCSD BoE President Christy Williams, the granting of a politically charged request from a far-right local politician to bypass DCSD’s charter authorization process that was facilitated by Williams, a DCSD relief school bus driver abandon a busload of elementary school kids near a cemetery in Castle Rock, and the firing and arrest of a longtime DCSD teacher for sexual exploitation of a child and indecent exposure. 

Every single one of these incidents negatively reflects on our district, and some of them are even more egregious because of the way the district handled or didn’t handle the situation. Although public relations have been dismal for DCSD lately, two issues related to civil rights of DCSD students are particularly troublesome.

Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division Investigation into DCSD

Two weeks ago, investigators and attorneys from the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division were in town to conduct one-on-one interviews with former and current DCSD families. The department investigates and enforces civil rights laws to protect students in schools. This particular investigation is regarding the district’s response to discrimination, harassment, and bullying against students based on their race, national origin, religion or disability, and the district’s use of seclusion and restraint against students with disabilities. 

The 2023 federal lawsuit regarding racism filed by the Ganzys and three other DCSD families, as well as a 2022 state complaint regarding repeated incidents of restraint and seclusion filed by Disability Law Colorado that resulted in a state corrective action plan that the district had to develop to comply with state law and provide training to staff, were the impetus for the current investigation.

Families were able to meet with the investigators to share their experiences. These interviews are part of a multi-faceted investigation that will result in the DOJ choosing to do nothing or enter into a settlement agreement if violations are found.

With President Trump’s Executive Order putting an indefinite pause on all civil rights litigation within the DOJ, it is unclear how or if that impacts this investigation, as it is not currently in litigation. 

Additional Media: Colorado Public Radio (CPR), Colorado Community Media (CCM), Denver Post

DCSD’s Position on Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Entering Schools 

To date, there isn’t one, and DougCo Collective is concerned about what will happen if ICE agents attempt to enter the campuses of any DCSD schools, now that the Trump Administration has removed protections around schools and churches for immigration arrests. 

Neighboring districts like Aurora Public Schools, Denver Public Schools, and DSST Charter Schools have already put out statements regarding protocols, should ICE agency members attempt to enter their campuses.

It does not appear that DCSD has any such policy or protocol, nor has the BoE instructed the district to create one, which seems short-sighted in the current political climate. In the meantime, the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition’s comprehensive guide to immigrant rights.

Additional Media: Chalkbeat Colorado, 9News, Denver 7

January 14th BoE Study Session Recap

Growth and Decline

The ongoing discussion on Growth and Decline was highlighted again on January 14th. Steve Collela, Superintendent’s Chief of Staff, gave an update on the history of why school closures are necessary and how DCSD has been attempting to reach out to the community. Covered in this BoE meeting was a first reading for the policies that staff has created for how school closures should be managed now and in the future. 

The BoE policy is designed to be an umbrella over how school closures shall be viewed and decisions made; the staff policy defines the steps that will be taken in the current situation. And if/when another school closure need arises, this policy will adjust to be specific to that community. What appears to be overlooked, however, is input from other communities in Douglas County as this policy is being written. It does not appear that the district has included the following three groups – those who have DCSD students in Parker or Castle Rock, those who do not have school-aged children, or have pre-school-aged kids – in this discussion. The Douglas County Federation (DCF), the teacher’s union in DCSD, held its own virtual town hall last night in an attempt to reach all stakeholders in the county, and we would like to see more of this type of community engagement across the entire district. 

These policies are set to be voted on Feb. 11, so if you have feedback, tomorrow’s BoE meeting is an opportunity to provide it publicly.

School Performance Framework

Matt Reynolds, Chief Learning Services Officer, gave an overview of the district’s school performance framework. This annual report takes a myriad of data (largely from the state standardized tests) to determine how well a school and district are performing. DCSD, is just a few percentage points from earning the coveted title of “district with distinction.” The high school level is the area that needs improvement in order for the district to meet this designation. 

Physical Restraint and Seclusion Policies

A 2024 state legislator bill, combined with a federal lawsuit filed by a family of a child with special needs, sparked intense conversations in the DCSD community last year. As policies were being revamped and stakeholding was being done, it was obvious that the district did not understand the full context of how the community felt about how DCSD has performed in the past and its expectation that DCSD do better. It’s been several months since the first reading was presented and this time, the second reading feels more authentic and student-centric. 

Deputy Superintendent Danelle Hiatt  made it very clear that seclusion rooms have been eliminated throughout the district this year — a win for students and a relief for parents. There is likely more work to be done on these policies to clarify concerns that third-party driving contractors and bus transportation may not be fully included in the policies. You can review these policies yourself and email the board your feedback.

DCSD BoE Retreat Last Weekend

Dyslexia Screening

At the BoE retreat in December, directors participated in a dyslexia simulation. This powerful tool helps those without dyslexia experience the struggle of being dyslexic, as a way to encourage decision-makers to do more thorough screening. 

It is clear that DCSD is slowly making its way toward regular dyslexia screenings and the BoE is also on board. We find it interesting that it is unclear who is driving this change – the BoE or the staff.

Ends Monitoring Reports

It appears this was more of a logistical conversation about how to present information, which data is comparable and how they will create more data in the future to review. 

School Readiness Assessment

This assessment is given in the fall to Kindergarteners, but DCSD staff feel it is outdated and unnecessary. They plead their case to the BoE in the hopes to get support, should there be a way to remove it from the state-mandated assessments.

Legislative Priorities

The Board agreed to its priorities at the December retreat, so instead the conversation focused on the BoE giving legislative updates and if the BoE presenting resolutions in support or in opposition to certain items was needed, useful or redundant. 

Director Brad Geiger offered to be the conduit to deliver the current legislative landscape once a month throughout the legislative session.