Jefferson County Superintendent Tracy Dorland has canceled the district's planned State of the District address on January 9, following the tragic death of the district’s former Chief of Schools, David Weiss, alongside revelations concerning investigations alleging his possession of child pornography materials. Weiss died earlier this month from what appears to be self-inflicted gunshot wounds during a visit to family members in Washington County, Maryland, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
"Right now, we are putting additional time and attention on providing support where it is needed most as we face this challenge head-on, together with our school and district leaders," Dorland stated. "For this reason, the State of the District event is no longer happening on January 9." Instead, the district plans to host several digital updates later this month to keep the community informed.
The cancellation has raised eyebrows as the district confronts shocking allegations about Weiss’s former activities. "Educators must provide safe environments where students can succeed and thrive. I want to be clear: any crime against a child is indefensible,” Dorland remarked, reinforcing the district's commitment to student safety amid the investigation. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) has confirmed the inquiry but clarified it does not seem to involve individuals currently within the district.
District stakeholders, including parents, have expressed mixed sentiments over the last two weeks, oscilling between expressions of support and frustration. "Over the course of the past two weeks, I have received messages of support and messages of frustration,” Dorland continued, emphasizing the importance of patience as law enforcement completes its examination. The district has pledged to update the community as the investigation progresses.
Simultaneously, leaders from the Jefferson County Educational Support Professionals Association (JESPA) have pushed for improved wages and benefits for support staff during recent school board meetings. Despite severe financial challenges affecting the district, JESPA President Zander Kaschub stressed the need for competitive pay, urging the board to prioritize the needs of those who support students daily. "Without communication, there is no relationship," he stated, advocating for open dialogue during tense negotiation discussions.
A notable highlight from these meetings was the reaction to the district's hiring of what JESPA representatives called a "union-busting lawyer" during last year’s negotiations. Kaschub described this move as a breach of trust. "After only three hours of negotiating, the district hired this anti-union lawyer. We had supported board members who ran on pro-worker platforms, so to see such actions felt confusing and hurtful," he expressed. Fellow JESPA member Sarah McClintock echoed this sentiment, calling it disheartening to witness such decisions when the intended goal was collaborative progress.
Buy-in from board members was evident as they reiterated their commitment to transparency and collaborative approaches moving forward. Board member Paula Reed discussed the necessity of collective decision-making, stating, "No individual board member has any power without the others. We're all responsible for ensuring our communications are clear and effective."
While acknowledging the district’s budgetary constraints, Reed remarked, "Colorado funds its schools approximately $2,000 to $3,000 less per student than the national average. Eighty-seven percent of our budget is already allocated to salaries and compensation. You deserve more. If we had the means, we would provide it."
Superintendent Dorland added, “This board is one of the most unified I have encountered when it concerns staff raises and their needs.”
Despite this unity, Jespa members raised concerns about the necessity of using third parties like facilitators during negotiations for improved communication, emphasizing the importance of direct discourse. JESPA leaders expressed skepticism, referencing past instances where they felt the district's approach had been anything but open. "It’s hard to trust the process when decisions feel one-sided," McClintock highlighted, stressing the need for future discourse to build on trust and collaboration for both staff and students. Concerningly, these discussions come at a time when the district must grapple with financial realities. The board’s recent mid-year budget review indicated major challenges, including declining enrollment, which resulted in losses of about $2.4 million. This year, the district witnessed significant salary increases among staff, as 1,700 employees qualified for salary bumps due to continuing education—far surpassing the regular number of 400 or 500 employees typically benefiting from such adjustments.
Although this salary increase represented about $4 million, concerns over additional deficits surfaced due to reductions totaling $15.4 million from local valuations offset by approximately $11 million received from the state. Brenna Copeland, the district's chief financial officer, noted, "Even when valuations adjust, our total programming doesn’t change," asserting the district won’t need to dip heavily onto its fund balance to balance the budget.
With discussions revolving around complex issues such as food insecurity and mental health resources for students, both the district's board and JESPA leaders agreed on the need for continued collaboration and regular communication. Despite the challenges, there is cautious optimism as leaders on both sides look forward to addressing shared concerns for the future of Jefferson County's schools.