The die was cast in Jeffco approximately two years ago when the conservative reform majority surprised the union by taking over the school board. Since then, the Jefferson County Education Association has been working to take the board of the state’s second largest school district back. Â So, yes, tonight, the unions won, but not because of the public’s repudiation of reform ideas, but because of the union’s disgusting tactics in every district in which it played.
If this was a call to action for conservatives, it’s a call to organize. To run disciplined and ruthless campaigns. To undercut the union at every turn and to expose unions as the liars they are. To bring boots on the ground and run a 24/7, 365-day-per-year campaign.
In Jeffco, the likelihood of winning once the petition made the ballot was slim. According to an analysis of recall elections, 307 school board recalls have been attempted. Of those 307, 58 have actually had legs. Of the 58, 24 officials were kicked out, 21 resigned, and 13 beat the school board recall attempt. Further, according to the analysis, most successful recall attempts result in a clean sweep. With this data, Jeffco’s results should not be surprising.
Given the union resources dedicated to creating unrest and discord within school boards in Thompson School District and Douglas County School District, those results should not be surprising either.
While Jeffco’s board majority was replaced and Douglas lost three board seats, they are not the real losers in this equation. It’s parents and kids that are the real losers tonight given the union’s proclaimed anti-choice positions.
Have a few beers and chin up, happy warriors. We win some, we lose some, but it’s time to get ready for 2016.
Hey Republicans… not a single suggestion that the election results were the work of immigrants or voter fraud? Well hell, I call that progress.
I do hope you realize the fatal flaw of your argument (if that is what you are trying to present – a logical argument).
If Planned Parenthood supported the recall in any way, how is that implied consent or collusion in any way? If a hypothetical known cannibal sent a donation to and publicly supported Witt, would you logically deduct that Witt colludes with, supports, and caters to cannibals? Does that statement make any logical sense? It does not. The Planned Parenthood argument is a red herring.
To their credit, I think they are comparing the numbers of those ousted to the number of the recall campaigns that actually had "legs."
You know, come to think of it, look at all these things:
– Witt and Newkirk going out of their way to publicly humilitate and intimidate a minor,
– Doing a "nationwide" search and coming up with one unproven candidate from just down the road,
– Ignoring an independent fact finder's recommendations
– Ignoring public input that *they* solicited
– Williams' posting information from a hate group
– Williams' ignorance of what an "AP" is during a school board meeting
– Williams' plagarism of another BoE's proposal
– Constant introductions of items for vote with no (or incredibly recent) information available for ALL board members
… I think you are right — the Unions have FAR more control than I ever realized. It's amazing how they made these three do what they did and upset so many people, and I have barely scratched the surface! I will be sure to rescind my union membership first thing in the morning – so much political work at play here. Thank you for helping me realize this stuff!
William Kucharski, you have outed yourself as being uninformed. I know *plenty* of teachers who are not JCEA members. No teacher has to pay JCEA dues. Sorry, but your credibility just turned to poo.
I have never heard of anyone being part of a teachers' union prior to getting a job. Do you even know what you are talking about?
Please defend this….hope you all are proud….http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/planned-parenthood-supporters-funnel-cash-to-local-school-elections/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=story&utm_campaign=ShareButtons
Power of big money, by special interests, for corporate greed, were banished from Jefferson County public schools today. As a parent of Jeffco school-age children, I say hurray! Please leave us alone to focus on student learning. We need to remain vigilant to keep extremist political candidates out of our school districts.
The most ironic sentence in this whole post: "To undercut the union at every turn and to expose unions as the liars they are."
Wasn't Colorado Peak Politics the blog that failed to publish a retraction of the completely fraudulent claim that Julie Williams' disabled son was bullied into participating in an imaginary parade against his own mither?
The second most ironic sentence in the post: "Given the union resources dedicated to creating unrest and discord within school boards in Thompson School District and Douglas County School District, those results should not be surprising either."
Two words: Koch brothers.
Their well funded campaign to take over local school boards across the country with the intention of eviscerating our public schools has met its first setback here in Colorado. Our communities have shown they have the capacity to stand up to outside interference and defend themselves.
And now we march.
Cathy Sutherland Swartwood Sometimes there really are witches and they must be hunted. No apologies.
As someone who has worked with victims of cults, your assessment of people as "brainwashed" is spectacularly ignorant. However, given some of the other responses that I've seen here from people who seem to share your political leanings, "spectacularly ignorant" doesn't seem to be all that outstanding a quality.
William Kucharski you spelled "deformed" wrong.
I'm not a union. I spent hundreds of my own money on printing costs. Countless hours running the Nacho Libre Ken Witt Satire site. Not once did I ever even meet a union member. It was just me. In my house. Doing what I believe in. I am representative of why you lost. If you attempt to paint people like me with your badly frayed Union brush, you will continue to lose to people like me. I am only one of many who operated not just at a grass roots level, but entirely independantly — simply because the BOE were unmitigated ass-clowns. You ignore us, and you brush us off as "Union pawns" at your own peril.
William Kucharski and why does that only happen in the republican party? You don't think there are registered democrats who vote against their party's base on certain issues? In order to paint the recall as a republican vs. democrat issue, you'd have to call half of registered republicans "RINOs". So for the sake of argument, let's say you're right. a huge chunk of republican voters are actually not true republicans, and so it can't be said that more republicans votes were counted last night than democrats. That's fine, BUT:
1. If you sde with only a portion of republicans, and the rest voted against what you think republicans should be voting for, then what you believe republicans should be voting for is officially a fringe, minority oppinion. If you believe in democracy, you'll have to conceed that the majority of the population thinks your position is flawed, whether some of them call themselves republicans or not.
2. Why do only republicans "pretend" to be a part of the party they're registered as? Where are all the informed voters pretending to be democrats, who see all us "union thugs" for the demons we are?
Again, I'll ask: isn't it possible that this is a bigger issue than which of two parties each voter sides with? I'm independent, but I sure got passionate and motivated when I saw an organized, national, big-money, political movement steamrolling the school district my kids are in. Here's a challenge: If you watch the board meeting videos and attempt to suspend one very simple belief; that every voice expressing dissent in reaction to the actions of this board majority is a "union operative," and consider even for a moment the possibility that some of them might just be concerned parents from both political parties (or neither one), the results of last night's election make a lot more sense than they do through the lens of simply claiming that the union gamed the system and that half the republican voters actually registered with the wrong party, and all the same union-bashers that make up the real republican base just didnt make it to the polls.
You think AFP opposition automatically means union involvement, and opposition to the AFP candidates automatically means democrat, and that the issue s a polar right vs. left debate that only lefties and union operatives could possibly support, yet TWICE as many voters from a pretty even distribution of political affiliation thought we needed the recall than didn't. The numbers just don't suport your interpretation.
It is actually very easy getting a teaching job without being in the union. As every teacher is first hired by the district. Then has to go out of their way to meet the union to sign up with them. Teachers unions are organized by school districts. You have to be hired by the district before you could ever join them.
Veronica Rivera I was a Jeffco parent, too. I saw some of the most rotten teachers get away with things and no one could touch them because they had tenure. Pay for performance was never a bad idea. Yes, I do believe in the Constitution and yes, We the People do prevail…..unless we vote for someone that has a different point of view like we did a few years ago then here comes the left, ready to attack and lie to get the result they want. We the people spoke a few years ago but the attack started as soon as they were elected. It didn't count then, did it? Feel sorry for me all you want…..I feel sorry for what lies ahead for Jeffco with the union in complete control…..and you and your ilk can deny their involvement l you want. I listed a couple of links in my previous posts, read them. It's not what I'd want for my student.
William Kucharski you have an interesting definition. If people disagree with you even if they are from your party you immediately brand them as traitors. Sounds like a personal problem. You are like those ideologues who refuse to accept that normally people who seemingly have ideas or opinions similar to yours can be open minded and choose to act differently.
Cathy Sutherland Swartwood Yes, the right cannot govern, one just has to look the states of Kansas and Louisiana. Why don't you take a look state by state Red vs Blue and then opine? Why are the red states backwards in so many metrics? Why are they the ones who take more per dollar from the rest of the country than the blue states? I read a few of your comments, it appears you are an ideologue with such a closed mind that you do not even want to look at facts before making up your mind.
As a parent of 3 Jeffco grads and college grads. I totally supported the recall 100%. The damage 3 board members were doing to the community and schools was horrific. Who wants to move to a school district with a school board that's so toxic. I was truly worried about the affects on housing down the road if board continued this way.
SHAME ON YOU for generalizing and diminshing our community's efforts. SHAME ON YOU for insulting my intelligence. Brainwashed, please lady. What you have just witnessed madam is Democracy at it's best. You are just on the side that didn't prevail. Are your beliefs wrong? No, but they are different than mine and what the will of the majority was. I would never diminish or disrespect your views because they are your right. I'm assuming you are a fierce protector of the Constitution. WE THE PEOPLE of all stripes and politcal afiliations voted for this recall. I have learned you can never reason with an Idealogue such as yourself because all you can do is throw out regurgitated generalizations, insults, and negativity. Your heart and mind is closed. You don't seek understanding, clarity, or truth. You have no empathy for any point of view that does not align with yours. Your individual need to be right trumps all else. I feel sorry for people like you, for the bitterness you carry in your heart must be a heavy burden and it no doubt creates barriers to engage and learn. I am a Jeffco Parent and I most certainly DO NOT feel like a loser this morning. I feel NO shame and I am Proud. As a fellow citizen you should respect that if you truly believe in Freedom.
And AFP plowed a lot more resources into it, like they're plowing the ass of America.
I agree with Amy Mackenzie!!!
Lizz Lincoln Look up the word bully and you will see that the recall initiative fits the defintion. Yes, the schoolboard was not perfect, but did you see parents who are conservative and wanting some common sense trying to get rid of the former school board? No we accepted the voice of those who voted and waited for another election. The recall process was not the correct way to get your way. You should have let the current school board do their job even if you disagreed with some of the decisions– the students were never hurt by any of their decisions–only the liberal agenda.
The right has had control of Congress for 6 years and produced nothing, opposed everything. They could hardly find a leader for the House. They can lead, they can't direct. They represent only the extremely wealthy who are out to fleece everyone including you.
Thank you for including the grandparents in your statement, because we certainly do have vested interest in what happens in the schools that our grandchildren attend. Politics has no place in our school system. I have two teachers and two grands in Jeffco, and as a registered Republican I did not want anyone to believe that I agreed with the agenda of the three recalled board members. I have followed this closely since the onset, and I have been appalled by the broken promises, the outright lies and the laws broken by the recalled three. The people have spoken, and they were heard, loud and clear last night. Now, let's get busy and get Jeffco back on track! It is not too late!
Felix Herzog Have you tried getting a teaching job without beint part of the union?
Cathy Sutherland Swartwood – Cathy here's the differences between 2013 and 2015:
In 2013 113, 500 votes were cast for school board candidates, 177,500 in 2015
Williams recieved 82,868 votes in 2013, 63,636 in 2015
Newkirk 72,769 votes in 2013, 64,570 in 2015
Witt 78,943 votes in 2013, 63, 326 in 2015
The Board's actions and disrespect towards parents, students and teachers ignited voters to vote against them.
William Kucharski I hate to break it to you but the district was already using a pay for performance plan prior to the one that got implemented. What they had a hard time with was that it got pushed forward a week after it was introduced with no discussion, and that an independent organization (HIRED BY THE BOARD) determined it to be inaccurate. Teachers dont mind being paid for performance, but they want the criteria of that to be fair. I dont see that as asking for too much.
This article title says "unions plow resources" while ignoring how unevenly matched in revenue the pro-recall side was. I didn't see any pro-recall commercials, the most they could afford was mailers. There were lots of Pro-Julie Williams commercials being run, and yet she lost by the biggest margin of any board member. Voters saw her for what she was, someone who has no business anywhere near a school board. She's willing to use her kids to lie, made one mis-step after the next and now is complaining that it was union resources that brought her this butt kicking. That's exactly why she lost, she is not clued in to her community at all.
William you are wrong on so many levels… Colorado IS a right to work state and teachers do not have to pay into the jcea. It is not required to be an employee in the Jeffco school district. Educate yourself.
THIS is what you fought for? http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/06/02/college_boards_reckless_spin_on_us_history.html
Hope you all are happy…..this is what you fought for?http://thefederalist.com/2015/06/03/eminent-scholars-blast-nationwide-u-s-history-program/#.VjmKdCjIKaF.facebook………..
Look at the state of this country after 6 years of Barack Obama. I can't believe your statement. Blaming THIS mess on Republicans? Seems to me the people were fooled. The right can't govern? LOL I invite you to look at Chicago or Detroit…..whose policies have failed?
A well funded angry group is hard to defend. The recalls of Evie Hudak and the BOE demonstrate the ability of a mob to force an agenda. The "recall" process is broken in Colorado and its undermining the very principles upon which our republic was founded.
As far as teachers are concerned union membership can't be required, but all teachers benefit equally from negotiated agreements, according to the Labor Peace Act. https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/Labor%20Peace%20Act.pdf It's not quite the same as a direct right to work law for all shops. However for teachers the implications are the same.
Jeffco had school choice before the school board took office…they actually reduced school choice by voting down expansion of a STEM program and free kindergarten. They did not want to out a limit on the number of kids in kindergarten but the union thugs fought and won that battle. Doubcos scores are dropping, buildings are falling apart, kids are not learning. Now they will. Public education is working….private schools should not be paid for with public money. If you disagree, travel to a country without public schools…huge difference in the standard of living.
A great deal of time and Koch money would be wasted if you choose to run in 2016. That's one of the silliest things you've said… And you've said so many silly, ignorant things.
Yes, lots of people do. And they realize that feeling strongly about it doesn't pardon the other actions this board majority has taken. When parent input is appreciated at board meetings again, we can talk about things like Common Core in JeffCo. Apart from Julie Williams' facebook page, I don't recall these board members mentioning it much.
William Kucharski No, "we the people" felt a reliable method for determining teacher effectiveness should be found, instead of adopting a model that even the "highly effective" teachers objected to. We also didn't like watching the board majority, who just spent district money on the outside firm that evaluated their new performance rating system and found that it couldn't provide reliable performance metrics, adopt that plan anyway.
We the people are less concerned with seniority and more concerned that if we pay newcomers more than we pay our veteran teachers, that we won't retain those teachers. Many parents don't believe that our district will be best suited to meet the needs of our kids by turning things over exclusively to inexperienced teachers. And since some of us parents were actually in classrooms taught by these teachers, and would love to see them stick around to teach our own kids. This is a big deal to us. We bought our houses in JeffCo because we wanted our kids to have the same access to the level of education my wife had in this district, back before the very same teachers were somehow branded the devil.
Wait, 307 recalls have been attempted since 2012, and of them, only 24 officials (or roughly 7.8% of all recall targets) were successfully removed, and you say "with this data, Jeffco’s results should not be surprising." So… it's not surprising that Witt, Newkirk and Williams were in the lowest 8th percentile of popularity, among the notoriously popular Recall Target demographic?
Thousands of people who bought the JCEA lines and the advertising the union dues bought.
Let's not forget the effective in-kind contributions of TV stations like 9News that finally issued a "we lied" mea culpa after most people had already made up their minds.
Thousands of people who bought the JCEA lies and the advertising the union dues bought.
Let's not forget the effective in-kind contributions of TV stations like 9News that finally issued a "we lied" mea culpa after most people had already made up their minds.
Corey Scott Registered "Republicans," many of whom are Republicans in the same way Boehner, Jeb Bush or Lincoln Chafee are "Republicans."
John Marion Better yet; libertarians are even better than conservatives when it comes to matters of fiscal responsibility, something the JeffCo schools need desperately.
The board members were "destructive" to you; I can think of few things they stood for which I wouldn't stand up and cheer.
Cathy Sutherland Swartwood republicans outnumbered democrats at the polls yesterday, yet the recall was successful by a 2:1 margin, so I'm not sure why you still think this is just a partisan issue. From this very website:
Jefferson County
R: 57,721
D: 52,228
U: 47,538
TOTAL: 158,898
https://coloradopeakpolitics.com/2015/11/03/final-ballot-returns-election-day-coverage/
Also worth noting is that more people voted to recall than originally voted to elect these three, by almost 30,000 votes each. Clearly it's just the 4,000 member teachers union dissenting, and not the community deciding they needed to remove these three, right? Democrats and teachers didn't do this alone. JEFFCO recalled these three.
Republicans outnumbered democrats in JeffCo polls as of 3pm.
The teachers union in JeffCo consists of about 4,000 members (I won't even mention that all 4,000 of them are teachers we should appreciate, not demonized). More than 100,000 people voted each member of this board majority out. THOUSANDS of parents, JUST LIKE ME, who are neither teachers nor union activists, mobilized to help make this recall happen. We donated our time and money, we collected petition signatures, we talked to other community members, we helped people register to vote, took to the phones and streets with information, and we stayed constantly involved in what was going on.
We didn't do this because "union thugs" told us to. They didn't, nor would we do all this for a union we're not even a part of. We didn't do it because we hate charters. Some of us have kids in charter schools we love. We didn't do it because we're leftists. I myself am a registered independent. Republicans outnumbered democrats at the polls today, as of 3pm. We didn't do this because of a loyalty to any labor association or political party.
On the contrary, we, the citizens of JeffCo recalled this board majority because we found their behavior at board meetings deplorable. We didn't like seeing a student called a racist by this board president, for a very NON-racist comment she didn't even make herself, identified by name with her picture on the screen at a board meeting, and denied the chance to speak despite having signed up for time in accordance to the new majority's new rules. We didn't like seeing one member of the board majority say "students shouldn't skip school to potest" when they were protesting her own misguided proposals, and then posting links to events sponsored by hate groups on her public facebook page, urging parents to keep their kids out of school to protest an anti-bullying event. We don't like seeing people in her personal circle of friends posting on her page saying people who oppose this board majority should be executed (yes, executed!) and their kids expelled (she's blocked parents but still hasn't unfriended that fine citizen). We didn't like seeing our board minority members receive redacted invoices when they asked to see what they were paying Brad Miller for. We didn't like seeing that the board majority had apparently met with Miller before the meeting at which he was hired, behind closed doors, and that only one other (conveniently out-of-town) candidate was even considered. We didn't like seeing that the Thompson school board was aware we were hiring Miller before the vote to retain him even took place here. We didn't like the thinly veiled movement to "take over" (your words) the school boards of neighboring districts, with the same attorney and game plan used here, backed by national political special interest groups. We didn't like seeing the vote to hire Miller rushed through at the same board meeting at which retaining an attorney was proposed for the first time, in violation of school board policy. We didn't like seeing that same rushed vote tactic used all the way up through the selection of the new DAC last month. We didn't like seeing the board majority urging people to text them, in an attempt to make sure they could have communication that wouldn't be subject to CORA requests (even though it still would have been subject to CORA requests). We didn't like seeing Miller say board communication didn't need to be retained. We didn't like seeing the board majority hire an independent firm to evaluate their new pay-for-performance plan, and then adopt the plan anyway when it was found to be ineffective in determining teacher performance. We didn't like receiving emails asking us to prioritize the qualities we hoped the board would use when looking for superintendent candidates, only to find out they'd already chosen the only candidate that would even be considered. We didn't like seeing our students dismissed as "pawns" as if they are incapable of thinking for themselves, or seeing their actions blamed on a union that has no control over them. We didn't like all of our concerns dismissed as "union agetation" when we didn't agree with this board majority. We don't believe that union-busting or privatizing public schools are helpful agendas or are more important than working together as a community to maintain and improve the quality of our school district.
But since this laundry list is always ignored every time recall supporters are asked for their motivations, I'm going to make this as simple as I can make it: JeffCo recalled these three because we felt they were damaging to the district and are accountable to nobody but the voters. We felt they needed to be removed from their positions before they did more damage. Julie Williams once said "I keep hearing about the public not having a chance to speak, but they did, at the election." Well, more people have voted to recall her than elected her. The public spoke, loud, clear and united. You can disagree with us if you want to. You can even claim our 100,000+ voice statement tonight was somehow the fault of 4,000 evil union teachers, if that makes it easier to sleep at night than accepting how amazingly successful these three have been at uniting the community against them. In the meantime, we're going to be repairing our school district and making sure we stay vigilant of future hostile take-over attempts from political extremists. Thanks for bringing us together to work toward something so much bigger and more important than ourselves.
Does anyone give a damn about what Common Core is? Listen to every minute of this then tell me that you're OK with it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inM8WTBT1lg
Melissa O'Connor Meuzelaar …they spoke a few years ago, too, but liberals refuse to accept anyone who doesn't agree with everything THEY do….so it didnt matter then, did it?
William Kucharski The recalled board aligned with the Libertarian "Tea Party" in their actions and policies. We the people of Jeffco voted to take politics out of our Public Schools. The recalled board members were not conservative, they were destructive.
Cathy Sutherland Smartwood – well, I guess we will have to agree to disagree. I think the people, yes the people, have spoken.
They spoke a few years go too, but it didnt seem to matter then, did it?
Listen….parents are the losers only because they allowed themselves to be brainwashed. The kids are the real losers in this. The union got its way, didn't it? There was no way in hell they were going to allow Conservatives on that board. This attack was drawn up before these board embers had a chance to work. I worked for that district for 28 years. Any form of communication I ever got from that union supported Democrats only. There was no way they were going to settle for those board members. This was a political move from the beginning. Shame on all of you who worked on this witch hunt.
With all due respect, I don't think that's your fact to state.
William Kucharski You just keep thinking that…and watch the Tea Party sink the GOP into a botomless abyss from which there is no return.
This statement brought to you by the JCEA.
Then allow teachers to opt out of paying JCEA dues at any time.
So "we the people" felt that seniority was a more important factor in determining pay than whether that teacher was actually effective at teaching?
Colorado is NOT a right to work state, and union membership can in fact be required to work in any "closed shop" workplace in the state.
Parents may have voted for this but that may well be because of the proven lies the unions spread and had teachers spread.
As a parent, we are the winners and so are our children. We will still have choices, that will NOT go away. Now, amazing teacher will stay in Jeffco with no hesitation. and hopefully the ones we lost will come back. The union attacks are getting old!
Exactly! A recall was not justified.
Lizz Lincoln Are you saying that the comment about censorship was a fact. Check again and you will find out you were told a lie.
You are correct…except that it was the liars who prevailed 2 years ago, and it was a COMMUNITY that decided the recall was justified. I am not a bully, and I have investigated the facts for myself. This time the voters acted upon the facts, and they have spoken again – from both sides of the aisle.
The defeat shows that the unions did win, if the reform candidates were recalled.
Melissa O'Connor Meuzelaar If someone voted for the recall of these candidates they were not, in fact, conservative.
That's the truth!!
Jon S. Berndt HOW??
The union blaming is tired. As is the claim that the union is anti-choice, given that Jeffco had handfuls of wonderful charters and option schools before this board majority arrived. I'm not a union member, not a teacher, and my kids aren't even in school yet, but I started paying attention over a year ago. I watched board meetings, I talked to teachers, I actually listened to people, and it was clear to me this board majority needed to go. I believe that humility, honesty, and a willing to listen and work in collaboration with others are essential characteristics for a board member and that is a big reason why I voted for the recall.
The outgoing school board members were promoting an elitist agenda. I have to say that I had not been impressed with the way business had been going and I was willing to give the new board a chance. But when they voted down full day kinder for low income kids, bailed out a charter school guilty of mismanagement and when I saw that some administrators were using the chaos caused by that board, to push their own, personal agendas, that were not good for the majority of families, I realized that board was not good for my community. This recall was successful and I hope the last few years will stick in our minds for a long time, so that we emerge better than before and actively and passionately serve ALL definitions of student within jeffco schools, and I pray that we never have to go through this again.
Lacking grace?
This election is nothing but the first few drops of the storm which will produce a tsunami of change which will take our country back from the Do Nothing, Know Nothting conservatives which have proven for the past 30 years they are nothing more than obsrtuctionists who cannot and will not govern. The Tea Party will be the end of the GOP.
Except that just about every Republican and proclaimed Conservative I know also voted for the Recall. Perhaps it's that these board members went so far right, they couldn't even see the center any more.
Are there 101,000+ members in the association…. No? So how is this an association thing?
When lies are presented as truth and most people do not have the time to investigate the facts for themselves the liars will usually prevail. The voters had spoken 2 years ago, but because the liberals did not like the outcome they had a unjustified recall. I am so sad that the bullies got their way.
So a conservative mouthpiece cites a blogger who claims to be a "Fellow" for another conservative mouthpiece (the Carey Institute for Government Reform) as it downplays a landslide loss to a grassroots effort, led by parents and graduates and, yes, teachers. Tonight the parents and students of Jeffco won their battle to take back their school district and give teachers the respect they deserve.
No, the unions didn't win. The people won. The children won. Education in our county has won.
And, I'll add, I believe it will be a win for parents, teachers, and most of all students, regardless of political orientation.
Colorado is a right to work state. Union membership is not required, in exchange unions have exceptionally low membership rates. If JCEA was able to defeat you by themselves without the community… Then you have gotta have a pretty lousy position. However, let's assume that it wasn't just the union, but parents, union and none union teachers, the PTA and and local business. Loosing to that may not feel great. But at least you can tell yourself you you tried…. Or at least Americans for prosperity tried for you.
Spot on.
Get over the union comments, this was a voice from parents, teachers and anyone who ever went to a school board meeting!
I voted for the recall and even volunteered a few times to inform voters what was happening in the JeffCo school board. The teachers union had nothing to do with my opinion that a recall was needed. It only took attendence at school board meetings to see for myself what was happening at the meetings. I'm just one the parents that wanted the best for her children. Quit blaming the union they had nothing to do with it. Again, WE THE PEOPLE, did.
Dear Ms. Williams: The voters have now spoken.
No one's falling for this "union" tag thing any more… get over it and get out of here!!
I am a longterm resident, not a newcomer. I am a busness owner, not a union member. I am a parent and taxpayer. I am a former member of Reagan Youth and can recognize the mistakes made then and since. The now former board was a bunch of radicals with no experience in education. They were puppets and idealoges…and they are gone. The country is waking up to the failed policies of the right wing and the far right over the past 30 years. The right has proven they cannot govern and the country is tired of it.
It's not a out the Union….This is about a community effort of parents, grandparents, business leaders, elected officials and yes, teacher and administrators who care more about doing what is right for all kids. It is
about putting kids and community before politics and the message is resoundingly clear.
This was the work of parents, educators, students, and the community as a whole. Please don't insult the hard work we put in to make this happen. WE did this; WE THE PEOPLE.
Not the union you idiots! They "pissed of the moms" of the comunity and paid the price for thier stupidity.
No, it's a sign that Colorado has gone permanently left, and the millions of new residents drawn here by pot certainly aren't even centrists.
No, this is a sign it's not worth fighting anymore.
Colorado's gone liberal and there's no route back.