Q1 2026 Community Letter Woodland Park School District RE-2 Board of Education

A Letter To Our Community

Spring 2026

The first few months of 2026 have been incredibly productive for the Board of Education.

When we took office, we made a promise: to listen, to be transparent, and to do the hard work of building a district our entire community can be proud of. Since January, we’ve held three regular board meetings, nine special meetings, three work sessions, six listening tour visits, and a full board retreat. We've welcomed new leadership, launched a strategic planning process, strengthened our financial foundation, and deepened our relationships across the community.

There is still important work ahead. But we are encouraged by the progress we have made so far, and we're grateful to serve this community. Here's what we've been up to in the first quarter of 2026.

Listening Tours & Community Connections

One of our first commitments as a new board was to be present: in classrooms, at events, and around the community. This quarter, board members visited our schools as part of our listening tour, meeting with students, teachers, and staff to hear directly about their experiences and needs.

Led by interim Superintendent Ginger Slocum, the district hosted a series of Community Connection meetings designed to bring key stakeholders into our schools to share their thoughts with district leadership. Participants included local government and nonprofit leaders, first responders, military veterans and realtors. The feedback we received through both of these efforts has been invaluable, informing our strategic planning and shaping our priorities.

Board Governance & New Board Member

This quarter, the board also selected Robb Davidson to fill an open board seat. Robb brings a valuable perspective and a genuine commitment to our students and community, and we are excited to welcome him to the board.

We have also continued investing in our own governance practices: participating in training, reviewing board policies, and ensuring our commitment to transparency and compliance with Colorado Open Meeting Laws.

Mission, Vision & Strategic Plan

At our January retreat, the board spent a full day developing a draft strategic plan to guide the future of RE-2, including Mission, Vision, Values, and Strategic Goals & Priorities. In the past, this process has taken over a year to complete. Given the urgency of the challenges and opportunities facing our district, we are committed to moving on a more focused timeline while still ensuring the community has a meaningful voice in shaping our direction.

We want to hear from you. The strategic plan belongs to this community, and your feedback is important. We encourage every family, educator, and community member to review the draft and share their thoughts before March 31st.

Submit your feedback on the WPSD Strategic Plan Draft

Superintendent Search

We are proud to share that our superintendent search, conducted with strong community involvement throughout the process, resulted in the selection of Ginger Slocum as our full-time superintendent.

The multi-stage search process included community surveys for superintendent qualifications and priorities, community member interviews with 42 participants divided into two separate groups, a public forum in which candidates responded to questions facilitated by Grundmeyer Leader Services, the district’s search firm, and formal interviews with the Board of Education in executive session.

From the outset, the board was committed to a search process that was transparent, thorough, and reflective of community priorities. We are grateful to everyone who participated in forums, submitted feedback, and helped us identify the qualities and values you most wanted to see in our next leader.

View the full Superintendent Announcement

District Committees & Community Recognition

Strengthening the structures around board governance and community accountability has been a priority this quarter. The board has requested the creation of a Finance Committee to serve in an advisory capacity, providing an additional layer of financial review and transparency for our community. We have also added both a Volunteer Spotlight and a District Accountability Committee Report as standing agenda items at board meetings. Additionally, we will be implementing a recognition program led by Director Robb Davidson called “On Wings of Eagles” to recognize community organizations or individuals who inspire and uplift students across the district with a focus on academic excellence, personal responsibility, and civic duty.

Financial Update

Ensuring a sound and stable financial foundation is one of the board's most fundamental responsibilities, and this quarter, we made significant progress on that front.

The district initiated two major financial reviews: a forensic audit of Fiscal Year 2024 and the annual audit for Fiscal Year 2025. Both were substantial undertakings, and we are grateful to our finance and administrative teams for the hard work and dedication they have demonstrated. The findings have already identified areas where financial best practices had not been consistently followed in previous years. The board has taken those findings seriously. The district has begun implementing stronger financial controls, clearer procedures, and increased oversight,  and we will continue to hold ourselves and district leadership accountable for maintaining sound financial practices going forward.

The board also voted to participate in the Colorado ETRAN program, which provides interest-free short-term loans to school districts to bridge the gap between property tax revenue installments. This is a responsible and commonly used cash flow management tool that ensures our district can continue paying teachers and staff while awaiting scheduled tax revenue. The loan is repaid in full once revenues are received.

Finally, the district has been actively pursuing grant opportunities to support student programs and district needs.

Charter School Relationship

One of the most significant ongoing challenges before the board is the need to establish clear, transparent agreements between the district and Merit Academy. Previous administrations relied on informal arrangements that, over time, left both parties without adequate documentation or defined processes.

The board's goal is straightforward: establish agreements and procedures that give both the district and charter school the clarity, accountability, and confidence they need to operate effectively and build a positive, healthy partnership together.

As part of this effort, we have partnered with the Colorado Association of Charter School Authorizers (CACSA). CACSA representatives will be visiting the district on March 31 at 5:00 PM to facilitate a public work session on best practices in charter school authorizing and governance.

Community members are encouraged to attend and participate as we continue working to strengthen relationships and establish clear, effective structures moving forward.

Looking Ahead

In the coming months, we will be sharing updates on the continued progress of our strategic plan implementation. We remain committed to listening, learning, and working collaboratively with our students, staff, families, and community members. Together, we can ensure that our district continues to provide a high-quality education and a stable foundation for all the students we serve.

There are so many incredible things happening in our schools every day. See recent updates and celebrations across Woodland Park School District here.

Coming Soon:

• State of the District - Tuesday, April 28th at 6 pm in Dickson Auditorium at Woodland Park Jr./Sr. High School

  • Community forum, open to the public

Thank you for your trust, your engagement, and your commitment to Woodland Park's students.

• The Woodland Park School District RE-2 Board of Education

Keegan Barkley

Carol Greenstreet

Laura Gordon

Robb Davidson

Kassidi Gilgenast