Elizabeth School District’s board voted unanimously Tuesday night to sever its relationship with Education ReEnvisioned BOCES, a Monument-based education agency that drew scrutiny after a short stint authorizing what its leaders called Colorado’s first “public Christian school.”
The school board approved a resolution to withdraw from the ERBOCES, as it is commonly referred to, after joining in January.
“After thoughtful review, we’ve concluded that our membership in the ERBOCES was not providing sufficient benefits to justify continued participation,” board President Rhonda Olsen said before the board voted. “And as a result, we determined that it is time for a fresh start and new approach. This decision was based solely on what we believe is in the best interest of the district and not on social media commentary, political pressure or outside influence.”
Four of the five board members were at the meeting. Mike Calahan, who was the board treasurer, resigned in May, Colorado Community Media reported.
A BOCES, which stands for board of cooperative educational services, acts as a hub that connects school districts with services and resources they could not otherwise afford on their own. That includes special education services, technology support, applying for grants or purchasing supplies. Colorado has 21 BOCES agencies working with more than 150 districts, according to the Colorado BOCES Association.
Ken Witt, executive director of ERBOCES, did not respond Tuesday night to multiple requests for comment from The Colorado Sun about the board’s decision.
Meanwhile, the board of School District 49 in Falcon — the only other district that is part of ERBOCES — will consider stepping back from the agency at its board meeting Thursday.
A memo from board Treasurer Mike Heil and approved by Board President Marie La Vere-Wright says the board will “re-evaluate D49’s relationship with ERBOCES in light of recent developments.”
“Since announcing their opening of the ‘first Christian public school in Colorado’ in our board room in October, ERBOCES has been subject to increasing public scrutiny,” the memo reads. “In light of developments that have followed, it is appropriate for the board to have a discussion about emerging facts and controversies, and consider the organizational impact. As not only a BOCES member district, but also their fiscal sponsor, D49 is a part of the public conversation around them, for better or for worse.”
The “public Christian school,” called Riverstone Academy in Pueblo County, closed earlier this month after changes in state law disqualified the school from receiving state funding, Chalkbeat Colorado reported. The state education department last fall raised questions over whether the school could receive public dollars in light of its Christian affiliation.
The school was born out of a mission by a conservative law firm to set the stage for a religious freedom lawsuit that could ultimately be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, Chalkbeat Colorado reported.
This is a developing story that will be updated.