Teacher Parent Synergy

The scandal surrounding Stefanie Dickinson, an Ellicott School District 22 board member who resigned in the wake of her arrest in connection with sexting of a 14-year-old boy, has come at a contentious time in the rural community and some fear it could harm attempts to pass a bond issue.

The small district on the Eastern plains is asking voters to approve a $2.3 million bond measure for a new building, and backers worry about the negative publicity. The case also raised questions about the technicalities of the school board race, which includes a recall question regarding Dickinson. Dickinson’s resigned from the board was accepted Friday.

“We don’t know the truth of allegations, but of course, everyone’s first concern is for the families and kids involved,” said school board Vice President Gary Lake, who also is targeted for recall in November.

“Beyond that, my prayer is that folks realize that what is going on in the life of one board member is separate from our school district and the bond election. We have to keep our focus on what is best for kids,“ Lake said.

Dickinson is scheduled to be in court Wednesday to be advised of charges. She was released on bond after being arrested Sept. 18 on suspicion of Internet luring of a child, a Class 4 felony. She allegedly sent a series of text messages to the high school student’s phone offering to have sex. She and her attorney did not return phone calls seeking comment.

The lurid details of the accusations against Dickinson is like throwing salt on wounds, community members say. The arrest is only the latest brought more turmoil to the community that has had back-to-back school board recall efforts.

The recall effort against Dickinson and Lake began over concerns such as fiscal oversight, poor teacher retention rates and less than stellar state test scores. The same complaints spurred a recall last year of those two, along with Todd Schainost and Sherri Jorgenson. That effort failed when the county clerk determined that some petitioners gave misleading information.

Jorgenson isn’t running for re-election this year. Schainost filed at the last minute to run again for his seat.

No matter the chaos, “the Ellicott election will proceed,” said Liz Olson, El Paso County election manager.

County Clerk Wayne Williams explained: “It is important for voters in the Ellicott School district to know that they must vote on Question 400 to retain or recall Dickinson in order to have their vote count for a successor.”

The ballot has two parts. The first is the recall question, and the other is the selection of replacement candidates. Running for her seat are Gary Dahn and Cody Chambers. Dwight Hobbs is the lone candidate for Lake’s position if voters recall him.

The recall has often turned ugly, both sides agree.

“This recall has split the community,” said Ernest Hudson, who is running for the board, but not for one of the recall seats.

There has been name calling and destruction of election signs, he noted. He was part of the first recall effort.

“Now some people are trying to blame candidates for setting this arrest up. Well, do they think the sheriff is stupid?”

Lake agrees the campaigns have been over the top. “I’ve never been part of a process that has gotten as ugly as this one. I have no idea if the allegations about Dickinson are true or not, but there have been a lot of personal attacks.”

He added, “The community has told us they are sick and tired of backbiting and it’s all detrimental to kids.”

Now, officials worry if there’s time to restore trust to get the bond passed with mail ballots going out in two and a half weeks?

Bond money would pay for a new building that would house a middle school, pre-school and administration. The old one is leaky, hot, dingy and not environmentally efficient. The district determined it would be nearly as expensive to repair it as to replace it. The district was approved this year for a $15.8 million state BEST grant for the building. However, to get the money the district must come up with $2.3 million in matching funds.  

Marna Booker, chairwoman of Ellicott Kids First, which is promoting the bond measure, said, “There is no reason to even consider this incident (Dickinson’s arrest) to be reactive on the school bond issue.” 

She notes the building is needed not only because the old one is deteriorating but because the district is growing as more students from Shriever Air Force Base enroll.

Matt Searle, a fundraiser for the group, says, “I’m convinced that the voters recognize that the issues going on with the board and board members is separate issue from this bond opportunity.”

He adds, “I’ve been out here 30 years and have seen board members come and go, and that is a short term thing. On the other hand, what we are talking about here is a building for kids that will be here much longer and we need to take advantage of this opportunity regardless of what is going on.”

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Tags: Scandal, Scandal Wont

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