Thank you, Courier

I really appreciate all your wise editorials, also having young (and older) local writers contributing with their columns. This is local news at its best!! Thank you for what you do and Pat Hill too!!

Ann Esch, Green Mountain Falls

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No to Norm

Norm Michaels is running for the school board, but as a parent, I don’t believe he’s the right choice for our community.

My concerns began with a disturbing incident at Pride Above the Park, where I saw him taking photos of children. For someone who claims to support “parents’ choice,” it’s alarming that he was photographing other people’s kids without their consent. This behavior is creepy and raises serious questions about his judgment. I don’t trust him to make decisions for all of our community’s children.

Furthermore, Norm doesn’t have any children or grandchildren in our school district. While he frequently attends board meetings, he has consistently praised the current board, even in the face of significant failures. For example, he commended them after an audit found numerous errors and supported renewing the superintendent’s contract without it even being read.

In his campaign announcement, he stated, “I plan to make decisions. Period. I intend to solicit input by these updates I plan to put out to the community.” Are you kidding me? This top-down, “outsiderist” approach is exactly what has torn our community apart. This approach has shrunk the middle school, then closed the middle school, then closed Gateway. We’ve seen the consequences: our finances are a mess and enrollment has dropped.

Our schools need leaders, not culture warriors. We need candidates that are involved in our schools and will bring vision, competence and care for all of our kids. Our children deserve the best, and Norm Michaels simply isn’t it.

Allison Avery-Wollenhaupt, Woodland Park

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Don’t forget the record

Former Woodland Park Superintendent Ken Witt will soon speak at the Truth & Liberty conference at Charis Bible College. His appearance is more than symbolic — it highlights the conflicts and abuses that left our district divided and financially strained.

While leading WPSD, Witt arranged sweetheart contracts that allowed him to hold simultaneous roles with both WPSD and Education reEnvisioned BOCES, all funded with taxpayer dollars. He pushed through expensive curriculum purchases without teacher or parent input, wasted resources and left financial problems that audits are still uncovering.

Enrollment declined, staff departed, and families bore the cost. Transparency was replaced with secrecy. Schools were closed without notice. The middle school was abruptly moved into the high school. Board actions were taken behind closed doors and in violation of open meetings law. Parents and taxpayers were consistently shut out. Andrew Wommack bragged about having “spies” inside WPSD and claimed control of the school board. Wommack and Richard Harris appeared with a Charis student who served on the WPSD District Accountability Committee. On the Truth & Liberty broadcast, they urged Charis students to flood a board meeting. That meeting was overrun, while many parents and taxpayers were left standing outside.

Now Witt stands on their stage. The ties once denied are undeniable. Woodland Park cannot forget the record: conflicts of interest, financial abuse, and leadership that served a few at the expense of the majority.

Jeralee Gonzalez, Woodland Park

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LETTERS POLICY: Letters are published on a space-available basis. Letters must be 250 words or less. Guest columns will be published, space allowing, with a firm limit of 500 words. Both must be received by noon Friday for publication the following Wednesday. Please email your submissions to Courier Editor Doug Fitzgerald at doug.fitzgerald@pikespeaknewspapers.com. The Courier reserves the right to edit or reject submissions, which should have the author’s name, address and phone number, for verification purposes.