Board holds executive session on Merit Academy contract after public concern about finances

A public commenter at the May 13 Woodland Park School District RE-2 board meeting said she had reviewed Merit Academy board meetings and audit materials and urged the board to scrutinize any new contract with Merit from a financial perspective. The commenter cited audit figures and asked the board to examine legal authority to require recordings of Merit's meetings.

Following that public comment, trustees voted to convene an executive session to "confer with the school district's attorney pursuant to CRS 24-6-402(4)(b) to receive advice on specific legal questions concerning the terms of the Merit Academy charter contract." The board announced those attending the closed session would include district counsel, the superintendent, the CFO and trustees.

After returning to open session the board recorded that "no decisions were made" and that the discussion was limited to legal questions about the charter contract. The board did not release details of the legal advice given in the closed session.

The public comment that prompted the session raised fiscal concerns about Merit Academy's reported fund balance and communication between Merit and the district finance offices; the commenter said 2024 and 2025 audit materials show a decreasing fund balance and recommended a legal review of the liaison arrangement.

Next steps: Trustees signaled they would continue to review contract issues and pursue legal advice as appropriate; no formal action or contract change was reported in the open record.