In an unexpected move that surprised parents, educators and community members, the school board in a small Garfield County school district Wednesday night suddenly voted 3-to-1 to adopt the state social studies standards that were backed by a diverse committee of district residents.
Community members had been expecting the board for Garfield County School District RE-2 to institute the controversial American Birthright social studies standards after this November’s election. However, Board President Tony May pulled the discussion item from the agenda after learning a local committee was going to recommend the board instead adopt the state social studies standards. Pulling the item from the agenda enraged community members who packed the boardroom Wednesday night.
Twenty-nine speakers spoke in support — two did not — of the state-adopted standards. One called the Birthright standards “religiously and politically charged,” and many spoke of their fatigue over political battles at school board meetings.
“Over the last year I’ve watched the priorities change from doing whatever it takes to help every child to fighting meaningless culture wars and pushing radical agendas that do not benefit or even reflect the interests and needs of the community,” said Celeste Kratzer, who grew up in Rifle and now teaches at Rifle Middle School.
Residents of different backgrounds came together
But what most struck community members was how a social studies review committee composed of residents from different political and economic backgrounds, faiths and beliefs agreed on recommendations for the board.
Garfield County is a conservative county on the Western Slope, and the school district student body is more than half Latino.
“Everyone came together to hash it out, to really figure out what the community of this district really wanted,” said Jay Puidokas during the comment period. “And it was extremely eye-opening to see the values align.”
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