Subject: Addressing Recent Open Meeting Lawsuit
Dear Cotopaxi Consolidated School District, RE-3 Community,
The District recently received a complaint for alleged violations of the Colorado Open Meetings Law in connection with an executive session with board counsel to receive legal advice about its legal rights and obligations in connection with the potential purchase of real property for affordable housing for district staff.
The Board is committed to transparent governance and takes seriously its obligations under the Colorado Open Meetings Law. The Board does not agree that it violated the Colorado Open Meetings Law but recognizes that the cost of defending the action would far exceed the cost of resolving the matter under the settlement agreement proposed this evening. In this era of declining revenue for school budgets, we are considering settlement because we believe it is better to prioritize the needs of our students instead of pursuing litigation.
In response to the complaint, the District’s legal counsel conducted a thorough review and has advised that the District did nothing wrong. We are confident that our board acted appropriately and within the bounds of the law.
Legal matters such as this can raise questions, and we remain committed to open communication. Please know that we are fully cooperating with the process and will continue to focus on serving our students and supporting our staff.
We appreciate your continued engagement and support of our schools.
Sincerely,
The Cotopaxi Consolidated School Board RE-3