SUNSHINE LAW: Colorado Open Records Act

The Douglas County School District continues to violate Colorado's Sunshine Laws and refuses to comply due to their apparent belief that no one will challenge them or take them to court. They have been inappropriately withholding four items under CORA that I want to obtain for the public interest. 1) Estes Park Binders. The binders the new BoE members used at their secret Estes Park retreat; 2) Director Williams' Notes and VM. The notes Director Williams referenced regarding her decision to hire Gessler as counsel and the VM left by Gessler to Williams asking for the case; 3) Redaction. They inappropriately redacted an email from Hanson to Peterson where Hanson explained the ethics complaint she filed against attorney Trachman; 4) Trachman's Withdrawal. Trachman apparently withdrew from representation of the board, but the BoE is refusing to provide that withdrawal documentation.

 

 

These funds will be used to move forward on a 14-day letter and discussion with the DCSD as a prelude to a CORA suit (likely requiring about $2K) and then the suit filing fee and initial costs for the suit (approximately $700).

 

 

If you must choose between helping with this effort and helping with the HD43 campaign, please put all efforts first in the HD43 campaign. This action will move forward for the public interest no matter what, although it would be good to have some of the "hard" expenses partially offset.

Excess or recovered funds will either be donated to the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition (CFOIC) or rolled over into another Sunshine Law action.

 

Thanks!