Author: O’Dell Isaac
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State education commissioner considering takeover of Colorado Springs Charter Academy operations
After months of internal strife at the Colorado Springs Charter Academy, the state’s education commissioner is weighing whether to step in. The head of the Colorado Department of Education, Katy Anthes, could ask for a third party to provide external oversight for the K-8 school on Chelton Road that has struggled with its financial controls.…
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Air Force Academy graduates nearly 1,000 on day of mixed emotions
Mixed emotions swirled in the air, along with a persistent wind, at Wednesday’s U.S. Air Force Academy graduation. The 973 seniors, aware that they would only be cadets for a few more minutes, sat on the field at Falcon Stadium, flush with excitement and pride in their accomplishments, eager to celebrate with their families before…
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US Forest Service to unveil new airtanker base in Colorado Springs
The Rocky Mountain Regional Office of the U.S. Forest Service on Wednesday will unveil a new airtanker base in Colorado Springs that officials say will increase capability and efficiency in supporting firefighting efforts in and around the city while also standing ready to augment fire crews anywhere in the state. Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera and…
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Air Force Academy cadet submits resignation after refusing vaccine on religious grounds
A senior Air Force Academy cadet who faces the possibility of being kept from graduating with his classmates after refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds has begun proceedings to resign from the school, according to an academy official. The cadet, whose name was not released, has submitted paperwork but his resignation has…
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Teller County requests statewide fire emergency decree from Polis as High Park fire burns
Teller County is asking Gov. Jared Polis to declare a statewide wildfire emergency, according to a Monday news release from the county. The Board of County Commissioners cited the High Park fire and other recent wildfires around Colorado in its request for the declaration, which would allow the state to access emergency funds and allocate…
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Attorney general’s office accuses Colorado Springs charter school board of financial, ethics violations
A Colorado Springs school is under investigation by the legislative body that governs the state’s charter schools, according to a letter from Senior Assistant Attorney General Joseph Peters. Peters issued a cease-and-desist order to the Colorado Springs Charter Academy on April 22, alleging that the school’s board committed several violations of the Colorado Charter School…
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Colorado school safety agency launches statewide plan for dealing with school shootings
Colorado’s top school-safety agency has launched a plan designed to help schools prepare for and respond to large-scale emergencies, particularly shooting threats. In a Thursday news conference, the Colorado School Safety Resource Center announced the release of its Crisis Response Guidelines for K-12 Schools and Institutions of Higher Education, a 38-page document compiled by a…
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LGBTQ references removed from Colorado social studies standards for grades K-3
When Colorado’s revised social studies framework is presented to the state Board of Education on Tuesday, it will not include a proposed revision that would have allowed discussion about LGBTQ people’s historical contributions and issues in lower-grade civics and social studies classes. The Social Studies Standards Review and Revision Committee has withdrawn its plans to…
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District 11 Board of Education votes to dissolve equity department
Less than two years after Colorado Springs School District 11 adopted an equity policy and instituted a Department of Equity and Inclusion, the district’s Board of Education has voted to shut down the department. After a contentious discussion during a work session Wednesday, the board voted 4-2 not to fund the department in the 2022-2023…
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U.S. Mint unveils Sally Ride quarter at Space Symposium in Colorado Springs
Representatives of the U.S. Mint on Wednesday unveiled a coin honoring the first American woman in space at the Space Symposium. Astronaut Sally Ride is one of the first two women to be honored on coins issued under the Mint’s American Women Quarters Program. Famed author and poet Maya Angelou graces the other quarter. Rich…