With little controversy, and control of the school board not at stake, this fall’s school board in Jefferson County has centered on whether a board that is consistently united could use a dissenting voice.
Three of the , but only two of the incumbents have challengers — a single one in each race.
A win by the two challengers, both conservatives who oppose much of what the current board has done, would not change many of the votes or direction of the school district, but it could change the conversations.
Some voters now say they are weighing whether to vote to keep the stability of the current board, whose members often vote unanimously, or whether more diversity of thought is needed. One question is whether different voices would repeat the drama of the previously split school board that saw conservative members ousted in a recall election.
“Everyone in Jeffco wants us to commit to maintaining civility,” said Ron Mitchell, the board president, who is the member running unopposed. “I don’t see that changing.”
Chalkbeat Colorado is a nonprofit news organization covering education issues. For more, visit chalkbeat.org/co.