D-38, a politically conservative school district that serves 6,922 students primarily from the affluent Tri-Lakes communities of Monument, Palmer Lake and Woodmoor, has been divided for years. But scathing posts on social media sites have widened the rift in recent times.

Vitriolic social media conversations were pegged as a reason that the community did not support a $1 million mill levy override (MLO) and a $36.5 bond authorization, some commenters said.

“Any opposition to the MLO was equated with hatred for D38/teachers/students, greed, or blind following of the vocal anti-D38 suspects,” one Thoughtexchange contributor wrote.

Other commenters said they don’t trust the school board or district leaders and were dismayed that one school board member abruptly resigned last year, an education reformer who cited bullying by other members as contributing to her decision to quit the elected position.

Primarily, respondents said they didn’t vote for the ballot measures because they weren’t clear where the money would be spent, the questions were not specific enough, and they thought other solutions would be more cost-effective.

Many mentioned the district’s strife with its sole charter school, Monument Academy, as a sore spot, along with students who are accepted to “choice in” to attend D-38 schools but live in other school districts.

Stephen said the information is useful to the board to help figure out what went wrong and how to move forward on addressing enrollment growth and space constraints.

Brofft announced in December that she plans to retire at the end of this school year.