I attended the May 27 DCSD Board meeting to learn about how home rule might impact Douglas County’s influence over land use and safety in the district.

Although the commissioners’ presentation was billed as information not advocacy, it seemed more like a campaign event. Commissioner Teal repeatedly used the platform to assert what he would prioritize if he were elected to the charter commission. In my view, the presentation to the DCSD Board was a clear example of electioneering, and that impression was confirmed when Teal ended the meeting by asking the directors to make a resolution that DCSD, “as a municipality,” endorses home rule.

Questions from board directors uncovered significant possibilities for a home rule Douglas County to infringe on district independence. Teal, who has consistently opposed funds for new neighborhood schools, declared his strong inclination to use home rule powers to designate land previously dedicated to DCSD to charter schools. Commissioner Laydon, who has opposed bond and MLO elections to fund DCSD security improvements, expressed a desire to use home rule authority to require (but not to fund) the use of metal detectors at DCSD schools. Douglas County Attorney Jeff Garcia clarified that, under home rule, the county might have the authority to override district policies on immigration enforcement, DEI, and school security. His responses clearly communicated a strong likelihood that any conflicts between the district and county home rule could be settled in court. Given the district’s limited resources, asserting independence from county home rule could be extremely costly.

Teal stated that he did not invite DCSD board members to a meeting he called with other elected officials, because he had never considered how home rule might affect the school district and its elected board. Ironically, he went on to malign Director Meek as “uninformed” when she directly questioned his assumption that there would be no conflicts between county home rule and DCSD policy decisions.

The commissioners’ grandstanding and clear disregard for home rule’s effects on the independent board, the staff, and most importantly the students of the only school district and the largest employer in DougCo cause grave concern. Home rule could infringe on DCSD’s planning for future schools and decisions about school security. Yet the commissioners ask for a resolution from the BOE in support of home rule?