ESD Insider

07/26/2026

Submitted by a follower:

Some people don't like the idea of a conservative school board appointing a conservative board member and have called it unethical. That's their perogative. But before rushing to judgment, it's worth asking whether the same level of concern has been shown by those individuals for the ethical, legal, and governance issues facing several progressive-led school boards across Colorado:

Cherry Creek School District: A progressive board is now under federal investigation over allegations that district programs discriminated based on race.

https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-probes-colorado-school-district-amid-reports-of-rampant-racially-discriminatory-programming

Cherry Creek School District: A progressive board approved $3 million dollars in contracts with a vendor now under scrutiny over alleged financial misconduct.

https://www.denverpost.com/2026/03/27/cherry-creek-schools-education-accelerated/

Denver Public Schools: A progressive board is facing a lawsuit alleging its financing structure violates Colorado's racketeering law.

https://www.denvergazette.com/2026/02/24/parent-group-accuses-dps-of-racketeering-in-challenge-to-school-financing-structure/

Jeffco Public Schools: A progressive board is in a standoff with the U.S. Department of Education over allegations that its policies allowing males to compete in girls' sports violate federal civil rights law.

https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/jefferson-county-colorado-schools-education-department-impasse/

07/24/2026

Listen to Jeff & Bill interview one of ESD'S lawyers as he explains the ACLU lawsuit regarding the removed library books. It starts at approximately the 27 minute mark.

The Jeff and Bill Show - July 23, 2026 Hour 4: The ACLU is fighting the removal of explicit book from school libraries in Elizabeth, Colorado. Jeff and Bill welcome Julian Ellis, First and Fourteenth Law. He dissects the case and the ACLU arguments. Who gets to decide what is explicit and what kids....

07/22/2026

Submitted by a follower:

A friend of the page recently asked in a Parker Facebook group what parents in Douglas County pay beyond the $200 athletic registration fee to participate in school sports. Below is a compilation of responses from parents.
A few notes: This is not a scientific survey, and I can't verify the accuracy of every response. The information is anecdotal and based solely on what parents shared in the comments.
⭐️Ponderosa High School-
Poms: $2,500
Boys Lacrosse: $400
Flag Football: $300–350
Basketball: Additional $750 (either paid directly or through fundraising)
⭐️Legend High School-
Girls Swim: $100, plus swimsuits and training aids
Football: $1,600
❗️Varsity Poms: $9,000, paid in monthly installments through MySchoolBucks❗️
⭐️Chaparral High School-
Soccer: $550
Band: $500
Lacrosse: $900
Football: $900
⭐️Lutheran High School-
JV Cheer: $2,350
Varsity Cheer: $3,290

According to the parents who responded, these are required costs that help support booster clubs, additional coaching salaries to attract better coaches, uniforms, and other program expenses.
In addition, Douglas County does not provide transportation to away games or events.
There are a few exceptions in our district, such as expenses related to Poms, Cheer, and Dance. However, as a whole, our costs are significantly lower than those reported in Douglas County. Our student athletes are extremely fortunate to have district provided transportation, no required participation fees beyond registration for most sports, and booster clubs that work tirelessly to raise funds and keep costs down for families.
Food for thought as we continue conversations about school athletics and the value of supporting these programs.

07/18/2026

Well, looky here. This certainly connects some dots.

Dan Snowberger repeatedly tried to bring ACCEL Schools into Elizabeth. First, he unsuccessfully tried to steer ICA toward ACCEL as its management partner. But ICA chose a more responsible route - one that protected its funding and local control. After that, Dan fought ICA at every turn.

Then he tried to bring ACCEL directly into the district through a statewide homeschool-enrichment program he had never even discussed with the school board. The board never approved it, so it did not happen.

Now we have this May 27 email.

ACCEL’s Vice President of New Development introduced Dan to another ACCEL employee to “explore potential work at the new Peyton school.” He accidentally sent it to Dan’s ESD email, then followed up two minutes later: “Oops. Please use this email for Dan,” providing his personal email instead.

That “new Peyton school” is Jefferson Classical Academy of Colorado, an ACCEL online public school now being marketed to students statewide.

So while Dan was still superintendent in Elizabeth, ACCEL was discussing “potential work” with him involving its new statewide school. This came after he tried to steer ICA toward ACCEL and tried to bring an ACCEL homeschool-enrichment program into Elizabeth without board approval.

Was Dan already discussing a job with ACCEL while serving as superintendent? And did ICA’s decision to reject ACCEL have anything to do with why he fought ICA at every turn?

Is this what legislators were concerned about when they raised alarms about statewide programs operating through small districts and BOCES? Is this really a locally developed Peyton school, or another statewide enrollment and revenue operation for ACCEL?

Good thing the ESD board recognized what Dan was trying to do. Good thing it exited the ERBOCES, refused to approve the ACCEL program and continued supporting ICA’s responsible choices to protect its funding and local control.

07/18/2026

Legacy posted an email saying the expansion is “finally moving forward,” that they are interviewing general contractors, and that once a contractor is hired, permitting can begin.

But according to the June board agenda, Legacy was still discussing a D.A. Davidson funding update, which appears to be the shift from the USDA government loan they had been pursuing for roughly 18 months to a private bond option.

That means they are not just waiting on a contractor. They are still working through how to pay for the project.

Legacy was also apparently counting on four modular classrooms from the district modulars former superintendent Dan Snowberger had no authority to promise without board approval. Now they are not getting them.

So Legacy is adding 75–100 more students this year without the district modulars and without a completed expansion.

Their own March board minutes said the goal was to increase capacity, not increase classroom size, and to keep classes capped at 24 students.

But if the temporary space is not available, and the expansion financing is still being worked out, where are those students going on August 12?

And it is not just classrooms. It is lunchroom space, bathrooms, hallways, specials, recess, drop-off, and pick-up.

07/17/2026

According to this email exchange, Legacy Academy believed it had an agreement with former Superintendent Dan Snowberger to use two district-owned modulars, giving them four additional classrooms.

Merlin Holmes said Legacy was already working on permitting to move those modulars to campus in MID-JULY.

Isn’t that right now?

But Superintendent Ted Knight said this had never been socialized with the Board, and that he could not honor the request because Dan had no authority to make that commitment without board approval.

So Legacy was counting on four additional classrooms.

And now they are not getting them.

That raises the obvious question: why was Dan making promises to Legacy that he had no authority to make?

It also raises the question of whether Legacy was being helped behind the scenes to pull more students out of district schools and absorb waitlist families who might otherwise consider ICA.

Legacy is now counting on 75–100 more students, but without the four classrooms it apparently planned on having.

Their own March board minutes say the goal was to increase school capacity, not classroom size, and keep classes capped at 24 students.

So where are those students going on August 12 — just 26 days from now?

And if Legacy is getting modulars from somewhere else, have they been secured, permitted, delivered, installed, and inspected?

Parents deserve to know whether the space for their children actually exists.

07/10/2026

Let’s set the record straight on the high school theater program.

The theater program was not cut. Some of what’s been shared in public comment and online just isn’t accurate.

Here are the facts: a few non-theater classes that were not academically focused were eliminated. The theater classes? Still there. That change is what led to the theater position moving from full-time to half-time - a budget call focused on academic priorities, not a statement about theater’s value.

Regarding the comments on afterschool costume and stage design work, there’s already a solid stipend in place to support exactly that kind of time commitment. So the idea that funding needs to be pulled from sports to cover theater costs doesn’t really hold up once you look at the numbers.

I get that people are passionate about theater, but let’s keep the conversation grounded in facts.

07/06/2026

Have you looked at the documents being provided on the ESD website, through The Horses Mouth?
It seems Dan didn't quit or leave on his terms, he admits he was forced to leave, and it appears he wasn't very happy about it.

07/05/2026

I feel these comments got lost in the shuffle and thought perhaps, we could have a more extensive conversation.
They are from yesterday's post regarding Elizabeth Classical Academy.
Anyone care to add their thoughts?

07/04/2026

Remember in March when Richelle McKim, with Elizabeth Classical Academy posted in all the mom groups about her 4 day a week, full-time, classical charter at Frontier, opening this fall? Ever wonder what that was all about?
The emails between Dan Snowberger and Ms. McKim state one thing, but the schedule and contract state another. What was Dan up to?
One more attempt at obstructing ICA's success? Why open 2 charters in the same building at the same time?
You be the judge!