HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. – The Douglas County School District has proposed a resolution to rescind a three-year charter agreement between them and STEM School due, in part, to the events of the May 7 shooting that left one student dead and eight others injured.
“…the STEM Incident has raised questions about school safety and security that may impact the terms and conditions of STEM’s charter school renewal and charter school contract,” reads a proposed resolution that will go before the Douglas County School Board.
The resolution to renew the school’s charter to a three-year agreement was adopted on January 8 of this year, with the condition that STEM meet certain conditions. STEM appealed that decision, and both the school and the board agreed to stay the appeal so they could resolve their disagreements over renewal term and conditions.
Among those disagreements, the resolution states, are prior issues with transparency, mandatory training, and the hiring of licensed special education teachers and mental health professionals.
In response, STEM Executive Director Penelope Eucker sent a letter to parents praising the school’s response in the aftermath of the shooting, their accessible mental health programs on campus, the school’s diverse student body, their special education programs, and the school’s overall academic excellence.
“The tragedy of May 7th, 2019 will be woven into the fabric of our community going forward. But it in no way defines our community, now nor in the future,” Eucker’s letter reads.
Additionally, she asked parents to attend a board meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18 at the district’s administration building, located at 620 Wilcox St. in Castle Rock.