1 day Ago
Recently, the Woodland Park School Board issued a press release announcing significant improvement in test scores, noting that every single school in Woodland Park had increases in composite scoring. The Press Release said, in part, “The district has marked one of its most impressive years yet, with a nearly 10% increase in both Math and English Language Arts scores from the previous spring testing cycle. These gains signify progress and position the district above the state averages in both subjects.
WPSD achieved a composite score percentage of 73.8% and was awarded a Distinction rating for elementary and middle school performance. These scores surpass this year’s state averages and represent a significant improvement over the district’s scores last year, reflecting the success of its ongoing commitment to academic excellence.
” This is clearly a tribute to teachers and a School Board that have emphasized the need to focus on sound academics, instead of controversial ideology. I applaud the Woodland Park School Board for their work creating a successful environment focused on educating our children on the subjects that will help them excel throughout life. Congratulations to the Woodland Park teachers and Board, this is truly an accomplishment that deserves recognition.
Richard Harris , Woodland Park • • • On principle, I object to this relatively new trend of voting businesses out of business. Trappers and hunting guides have businesses. Trapping and hunting are regulated by our State Wildlife agency (DPW).
This lion and bobcat hunting ban Initiative illustrates the dangers of a democracy whereby the majority can persecute the minority. We don’t have a democracy; we have a republic! Reminds me of another initiative to put a Denver lamb meat processing facility out of business. Picking winners and losers in business via our government is a dangerous trend.
I also object to these emotionally motivated ballot initiatives for another reason. We the people have authorized and funded the DPW to expertly manage the public wildlife for us. This is their role.
The department is full of hundreds of experts and in my opinion, they are doing a fine job. So why don’t we simply leave it up to them? The State has delegated this responsibility to the DPW as they should, so why is there a citizen’s initiative to override their decisions? Lions and bobcats are essentially management tools that the DPW harness as part of their overall plan. Increase these predators’ numbers dramatically and we upset the management plan.
This issue should be handled internally within the DPW with citizen’s input not with a Citizen’s Initiative that manipulates low-information voters. PS: to those who make decisions emotionally: Wolves and lions kill the babies; hunters do not. Mark Kostelic , Elbert • • • My name is Fred Hostetler and I have lived in Woodland Park for 34 years.
Should the 1.09% sales tax to benefit our school be repealed, the school district will lose 11% of its budget, and our community will suffer. Covid has devastated so much when it comes to education, and we are only now seeing a recovery in testing scores nationwide.
In Woodland Park, all schools showed drastic increases in CMAS scores, just released. Our teachers are doing a fantastic job and deserve credit for these accomplishments. They are dedicated and committed to our kids.
They will be the ones most negatively affected by the repeal of the 1.09% sales tax, most of that money going to teacher salaries. Teachers who give it their all every day to take care of our kids.
Teachers who are community members who will lose their jobs. We cannot thank them enough for working so hard to raise our kids up by knocking them down and showing them that, in Woodland Park, they are not valued. This is not a question of whether or not you agree with the school board; it is a question of whether or not you think our teachers are valued.
We must band together as a community if for no other reason than to say we value our kids, we value the education of the next generation. Vote NO on Ballot 2A and continue to support those who support our Woodland Park kids. Fred Hostetler , Woodland Park • • • Prop 127 is an investment in ethical hunting, our economy, bipartisanship, and science.
It’s continuity from our vote to protect bears with cubs from cruel and unethical baiting and hounding. My former colleague, Colorado Division of Wildlife lead bear biologist Tom Beck, supported that, saying: “Most hunting can be ethically defended. Some cannot.
Change, where necessary, is our only hope of survival.” Prop 127, then, protects wildlife from what we already determined is cruelty and with no economic benefit, as trophy hunting plus fur trapping offer a meager 0.4% to CPW’s budget.
There’s major economic risk in killing trophy males most adept to selectively kill infected deer and elk with Chronic Wasting Disease, which The National Deer Association calls “the most serious long-term threat to the future of wild deer and deer hunting that we face today” Our herds are infected at 60%. A report by Dr. Jim Keen, DVM, PhD, infectious disease specialist shows where there are lions, there is less disease and vice versa.
Politically appointed wildlife commissioners set wildlife policy. Prop 127 is an ethical issue yet supported by 22 wildlife scientists specializing in lion population biology and ecology. Former congressmen Republican Tom Tancredo, and Democrat Mark Udall endorse Prop 127.
Prop 127 allows proactive livestock protection seen in California, where trophy hunting ended 52 years ago, and where predation is at historic lows, with just 15 lions killed for predation last year. Vote YES, Prop 127, because Cats Aren’t Trophies. Julie Marshall , Lafayette • • • LETTERS POLICY: Letters are published on a space-available basis.
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