Colorado voters this year were particularly deft in separating the good from the bad when it came to educating children.
They approved much-needed bond measures across the state to patch up old buildings and build new schools in growing areas and sent a bipartisan slate of quality leaders to the State Board of Education and, eventually, to the University of Colorado Board of Regents, while also wisely dispatching two wrong-headed ballot measures.
Yet the fate of one of the biggest ballot measures for education is still, unbelievably, not known.
The Denver preschool tax, which could send thousands more city children to preschool, was still clinging to a minuscule lead Monday as the Denver Election Commission tallied some 6,000 remaining votes. The at-large race for CU regent also still hangs in the balance, with Republican Brian Davidson leading Democrat Stephen Ludwig – but barely.
Amendment 39, known as the “65 percent solution,” was soundly rejected by voters who obviously spent some time considering the measure. It would have required districts to spend 65 percent of their operating budgets on classroom expenses, including teacher salaries, books and supplies.
At first blush, it may have looked like a reasonable way to channel more money into classrooms without raising taxes. But when voters took a closer look, 62 percent of them said “no” to the insanity of locking an unproven funding formula into the state constitution. Voters also said “no” to its less-threatening companion measure, Referendum J.
Colorado voters also showed their commitment to education by approving higher taxes in more than a dozen school districts for new school construction.
In fast-growing Douglas County, voters who waited in line as long as three hours delivered two crucial victories for schools. Six new elementary schools and a new middle school will be built, while a mill-levy override was approved to expand the district’s world language programs.
Voters also sent a mix of strong leaders to two boards. Incumbents Bob Schaffer and Karen Middleton will return to the State Board of Education. Their often divergent views on education will keep the board on its toes.
If Davidson wins his CU regent seat, he’ll be one of the few Republicans to win statewide. Otherwise, Ludwig, the Democrat, will join Tilman Bishop and Kyle Hybl, two Republicans newly elected to the board.
Overall, education received a passing grade at the polls.
