Cherry Creek Schools’ journey freeze tied to ‘selections and actions’ of ex-superintendent, spouse

The president of Cherry Creek Schools’ Board of Education acknowledged Monday that the district’s freeze on worker journey and contracts is said to the “decisions and actions” of former Superintendent Christopher and his spouse, Brenda Smith, the district’s chief human sources officer.

Board President Anne Egan additionally introduced that interim Superintendent Jennifer Perry will launch an exterior audit to evaluation the district’s organizational techniques, together with inner controls and financial obligations.

“The decision to review district policies and freeze certain travel and contracts is a result of concerns being raised about the decisions and actions of former Superintendent Smith and Brenda Smith,” Egan stated in an announcement. “Immediate action was necessary to maintain the public’s confidence.”

Her feedback got here forward of a scheduled Monday night faculty board assembly at Sky Vista Middle School, the place administrators authorized what Egan referred to as “reforms” to Cherry Creek Schools’ procurement and expenditure approval insurance policies, contracts and tips associated to worker journey.

The faculty board voted unanimously Monday to substantiate Perry as Cherry Creek Schools’ interim superintendent.

Former Superintendent Christopher Smith unexpectedly resigned throughout a faculty board assembly on Jan. 27. District officers positioned Brenda Smith on administrative depart final week and launched an inner investigation into her actions, in addition to into nepotism and conflicts of curiosity on the district.

The Board of Education additionally froze worker journey and district contracts, pending an inner investigation. District officers had repeatedly declined to say why the board was conducting the investigation, apart from to say “there were some questions.”

‘These issues will be taken seriously and investigated’

The faculty board authorized a number of resolutions Monday night as a part of its consent agenda, which is often authorized in a single vote and infrequently with out debate.

One resolution, if authorized, would require staff to get approval for purchases above $5,000. Who inside the district — government director, deputy chief of operations or one other administrator — approves a purchase order is determined by the quantity.

The decision additionally lowers the edge — from $400,000 to $250,001 — of when district directors should search faculty board approval earlier than agreeing to a contract for items or companies.

The authorized division should evaluation and approve all contracts, and an worker’s failure to get the approval will lead to disciplinary motion, together with potential termination, Egan stated.

She stated the board may also finalize tips on worker journey.

Christopher Smith and Brenda Smith spent $23,499.31 and $38,492.48, respectively, on journey — together with airfare, meals, accommodations and parking — in the course of the 2024-25 and 2025-26 fiscal years, in response to expenditures obtained by The Denver Post by a public information request.

Brenda Smith’s spending was increased than the $13,385 spent by the chief human sources officer at Denver Public Schools, the state’s largest district, throughout the identical interval.

Cherry Creek Schools has 51,844 college students and a $840 million funds. The district is projected to have a $15.4 million deficit this yr, largely due to declining enrollment.

Director Terry Bates stated in the course of the assembly that he has “dug into” the monetary operations of Cherry Creek Schools and is working with district workers to steadiness the funds, hopefully with out utilizing reserves, by lowering central administrative prices.

He stated the district is creating an audit committee, which Bates will chair, to look into Cherry Creek Schools’ funds. Bates was stopped by Egan when he was discussing the audit committee and reviews. It wasn’t instantly clear why, however Perry later stated the board has not but determined to create an audit committee.

Director John-Claude Futrell stated any allegations of improper use of funds, misogyny and racial biases “will be taken seriously and investigated.”

An ‘HR matter’

Monday’s assembly was the primary time the varsity board has held a public feedback session since Christopher Smith resigned. Parents and different neighborhood members stated that they have been met with a “wall” by district officers when seeing extra data.

“We are not asking for PR-scripted responses,” stated Shadhaa Ramadan, one of many commenters.

Directors solid the state of affairs at Cherry Creek Schools as an “HR matter” and defended themselves towards neighborhood members’ criticism that district officers haven’t been open sufficient in regards to the journey and contract freeze and the way it pertains to the Smiths’ employment with the district.

“At its core, it’s a HR matter,” stated board Vice President Angela Garland, including that she needs an inclusive and considerate seek for a brand new superintendent.

“We are listening,” added director Mike Hamrick. “We are moving forward with many things. It doesn’t happen over night and we are dealing with things that are personnel issues that we can’t go out there and blast.”

Last week, administrators met in an government session — which isn’t open to the general public — for about 4 hours to obtain authorized recommendation concerning their seek for a brand new superintendent and the district’s funds because it pertains to journey bills and contract necessities.

“Several items still under review, such as personnel matters, require legal advice and counsel, which compels the board to meet in executive session more often than we’d like,” Egan stated in an announcement. “As these matters come to resolution, we will return to a more normal cadence of board meetings and the community will continue to see the board review district policies and make adjustments as necessary.”

Decision-making by faculty board members is prohibited throughout government classes beneath the Colorado Open Meetings Law, stated Jeff Roberts, government director of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition.