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represents the teachers, education professionals, counselors, nurses and mental health professionals in the Cherry Creek School District.

“ is salary update is designed to provide competitive compensation for all of our teachers and certied sta , and is aligned to our core values as a district,” Superintendent Christopher Smith said in the release. “ is week’s announcement is part of our ongoing e orts to ensure that all of our sta earn fair and competitive wages for the work they do in service of students.”

Cherry Creek School District said it hopes the salary increase will attract new teachers to work for the district, which is hiring for many positions across schools and departments, according to the release.

Commissioners serve as a county’s elected leaders, somewhat similar to city councils. They make policy decisions that largely affect parts of the county that are “unincorporated” — areas that sit outside of municipalities.

In Douglas County, that includes Highlands Ranch and many other areas, such as Franktown and Roxborough.

The idea to add two more commissioners in Douglas County came up in discussion in a county meeting in August. Commissioner Abe Laydon remains opposed.

“The last thing counties need are more politicians,” Laydon said in a statement about the state legislature’s bill. “Whether you have three or 30 commissioners, there will still be a majority and a minority vote unless it’s unanimous.”

Other counties already have five

Some Colorado counties already operate with five commissioners.

Under current rules, once a county has more than 70,000 residents, a citizen’s group or the county commissioners can put a question on the ballot asking residents if they wish to add two more.

Of the 12 counties who are eligible through their population size, several have moved to five commissioners, including Adams, El Paso and Arapahoe counties. Weld County and Pitkin County have moved to five commissioners as part of their home-rule charters — essentially the counties’ own constitutions.

Denver and Broomfield have city council structures with about a dozen members each.

Boulder County has attempted to approve the expansion at least four times, according to Douglas County staff.

The counties that would be affected by the bill are Jefferson, Larimer, Douglas, Boulder, Pueblo and Mesa, all of which have three commissioners.

The proposal, state House Bill 23-1180, was introduced on Feb. 8. Another of its top supporters is state Sen. Kevin Priola, a Democrat who represents parts of Adams and Weld counties.

“While counties with populations of less than seventy thousand may be adequately represented by three commissioners, counties with populations of seventy thousand or more require greater and more diverse representation,” the introductory part of the bill reads.

Douglas leaders have long clashed

Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas, at the losing end of many 2-1 votes, has said she requested the information about possibly expanding the Douglas board after several residents asked her about the possibility.

“I’ve always been opposed to it because it would grow government,” she has said. “But I don’t know how to break this logjam with George (Teal) and Abe.”

The relationship among Douglas County’s commissioners began to fray in April 2021 when Teal and Laydon voted to remove Thomas from her position as chair following a national media request gone awry. The two accused Thomas of using her role as chair of the board to lie to residents and “attempt to influence the board” after she wasn’t selected to speak with the media outlet.

Also part of the conflict among the commissioners are multiple layers of legal wrangling that stem from an investigation Teal and Laydon initiated after accusing Thomas of circulating an anonymous letter that criticized specific employees in the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, allegedly creating a hostile work environment. They also accused her of emailing county legal representation with a request not authorized by the full board.

The $17,000 investigation into Thomas by outside legal counsel found that while Thomas had distributed the letter, doing so did not create a hostile work environment. It also found she did direct legal representation to provide her with information the board had determined to keep secret.

Thomas appeared in a CBS Colorado news story in July discussing the confidential report that showed the results of the investigation, prompting the Douglas County government’s attorney to find that Thomas could have broken the law by doing so.

A second investigation ordered by Laydon and Teal — this time conducted by the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office — did not find probable cause to believe that Thomas committed the crime of first-degree official misconduct.

Thomas held a news conference in November and called the probe “yet another bogus investigation.”

Turn To The Colorado Sun For News Across The State

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In this way, The Sun contributes to a more vibrant, informed and whole Colorado.

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Holiday o ce closure

Douglas County offices will be closed Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. Many services are available at DoItOnlineDouglas.com

Does your child need a mental health checkup?

Help is available at ImatterColorado.org. Take a brief assessment to find out if your child is eligible for free counseling. For additional resources in and around Douglas County, visit douglas.co.us and search Mental Health Resources

If you need immediate support, call Colorado Crisis Services at 1.844.493.TALK(8255) or text TALK to 38255. If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

Nominate a special teenager for a 2023 Youth Initiative Award

Do you know a Douglas County teenager, between the ages of 13 and 19, who has overcome adversity and created positive change in their lives, as well as the lives of others? Nominate them for a 2023 Douglas County Outstanding Youth Award by March 3. Visit douglas.co.us and search Youth Awards

What’s happening with your County government?

Our commitment to open and transparent government includes online posting of information about public meetings at which the business of government is conducted. To view public meeting agendas, participate in-person or remotely, or watch select meetings via live stream, visit douglas.co.us and search for Business Meetings / Public Hearings.

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