Parker Chronicle 7
February 10, 2022
WISE FROM PAGE 1
be hired. As per his contract, Wise will be entitled to a one-year payout, equaling $247,500, according to Peterson. The decision came after a week of controversy among the board’s newly-elected four member majority and the three members making up the minority. At issue in the more than three-hour meeting was trust. The three-member minority said trust was violated when Williams and Peterson held a meeting with Wise the previous week, giving him the options to resign, retire or face termination from the school board’s new majority. Peterson defended the meeting, saying it did not violate open meeting laws and all board members were notified about the meeting with Wise after it happened. The majority members said trust was violated when Ray, Meek and Hanson held a public meeting Jan. 31 alleging the majority had violated open meeting laws in taking the action they did with Wise. Later in the week, teachers held a “sick-out” that caused the district to cancel all classes Feb. 3. A demonstration was held, partly to support Wise, at the district offices in Castle Rock on the same day. Wise was employed with the district for more than 26 years, climbing through the ranks to become superintendent. As the meeting got going, Wise was given the choice to discuss his employment with the board behind closed
doors in an executive session or in a session open to the public. Wise chose to keep the meeting open to the public. In fighting for his job, Wise said, “The irony a little bit is that this was about me and my performance. I would love to go back and have the time to go through each of those. Step those out. Find the root cause. There are times where I wonder if you want to fire each other or fire me.” Peterson, Myers, Winegar and Williams said they were prepared to work with Wise at the start of their terms; however, they questioned his handling of the district’s equity policy and its mask mandate. The four majority members also questioned Wise’s ability to implement the board’s decisions, alleging his alliance remains with Ray, Meek and Hanson. Peterson said while Wise is well liked by district teachers and students, he is not CEO material. Wise asked the board to give him a chance. “Let us lead. Let me lead. Let’s see what can happen,” he said. “Let’s take the handcuffs off and work together, and let’s see what can happen. Challenge me. I like to be the underdog. Let me prove myself, and if I don’t, then come have that conversation. But please don’t do it over a weekend and with the idea that the next day I have to choose to leave the district that I love.” As the meeting was coming to a close and the final vote was being taken, some confusion came up when Myers said “no” to the question of firing Wise. When Peterson asked for clarification, Myers said she meant to say “yes” before asking for the ques-
Members of the Douglas County School Board discuss trust and air differences in a Feb. 4 meeting.
After the 4-3 vote to fire him, Superintendent Corey Wise is met with hugs and handshakes after the meeting.
tion again, at which time she asked tearfully, “Can I just go home?” Hanson said it was not fair for Peterson to change her vote, stressing that Myers voted “no” when asked. Wise did not provide public comment following the board’s decision.
Superintendent Corey Wise hangs his head after the Douglas County School Board of Directors voted to fire him PHOTOS BY THELMA GRIMES without cause.
