949AAE9E4A00B0F4872582350079CA51 Hearing Summary

Senator Merrifield, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 18-118 which concerns restoring the authority of a school district board of education to approve a charter school. He distributed a handout to the committee members [Attachment D].

Senator Merrifield answered questions from the committee.

Brad Rupert, member of the Jefferson County Board of Education, spoke in support of the bill.  He answered questions from the committee.

Mr. Rupert continued to answer questions from the committee.

Wendy Vogel, Vice President of the Douglas County Board of Education, spoke in support of the bill.

Cathy Kipp, representing the Poudre School District Board of Education, spoke in support of the bill.

The preceding two witnesses answered questions from the committee.

Tim Farmer, representing himself as legal counsel to charter schools, spoke in opposition to the bill.  He discussed his experience in the charter school appeal process.

The proceeding three witnesses answered questions from the committee.

Former Senator Sue Windels, representing the Colorado Parent Teacher Association, spoke in support of the bill.

Nate Golich, Director of Government Affairs for the Colorado Education Association, spoke in support of the bill.

Tim Krug, representing himself as a parent, spoke in support of the bill.

The preceding witnesses answered questions from the committee.

Pam Benigno, representing the Independence Institute, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Shari Shiffer-Krieger, representing Americans for Prosperity, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Luke Ragland, representing Colorado Succeeds, spoke in opposition to the bill.

The preceding witnesses answered questions from the committee.

Kathy Plomer, representing the Adams 12 Board of Education, spoke in support of the bill.

Sally Kate Tinch, representing herself as a member of a District Accountability Committee, spoke in support of the bill.

James Earley, representing himself as a member of a District Accountability Committee, spoke in support of the bill.

The preceding witnesses answered questions from the committee.

Cheryl Condon, representing Americans for Prosperity, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Kim Monson, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill.