Center Consolidated School District recall, Colorado (2015)
| Center Consolidates Schools District Board of Education recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
James Sanchez Philip Varoz |
| Recall status |
Recall defeated |
| Recall election date |
| March 17, 2015 |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2015 Recalls in Colorado Colorado recall laws School board recalls Recall reports |
A recall election against Center Consolidated Schools Board of Education members Yuridia Cendejas, James Sanchez, and Philip Varoz took place on March 17, 2015. Sanchez and Varoz were recalled from their respective District B and at-large board seats, while Cendejas was retained in the District C seat. Unopposed successor candidates Misty Jo Montoya-Palacios and G. Lyn Bogle filled the vacancies created by the successful recalls.[1]
Sanchez and Varoz were the initial targets of the recall process. Proponents of their recalls took issue with the criticism Sanchez and Varoz aimed at Superintendent George Welsh, which included asking for his resignation in August 2014. At that school board meeting, Sanchez and Varoz criticized Welsh and held him responsible for the district's average ACT scores being below the state average.[2]
The recall effort was led by the Center Committee for Truth and Transparency. The recall petitions were approved for circulation in October 2014 and found sufficient on December 16, 2014.[3]
A different group, Committee for Educational Excellence, began the recall process against fellow board members Richard J. Barela and Yuridia Cendejas. The group initially submitted signatures in December 2014. After multiple switches in the sufficiency status of the petitions, both were ultimately deemed sufficient as of January 13, 2015. Some signors withdrew their names from the Barela petition, however, and his petition became insufficient to schedule a recall election. The recall against Cendejas made it to the ballot.[4]
Cendejas and Varoz's terms were set to expire in November 2015, while Sanchez's term was due to end in November 2017.[5]
One successor candidate filed against each of the three board members who faced a recall election. Annette Torrez ran to replace Cendejas, Misty Jo Montoya-Palacios ran to replace Sanchez, and G. Lyn Bogle ran to replace Varoz. Voters could also write-in a candidate of their choosing.[6]
Recall vote
Sanchez and Varoz were successfully recalled by voters on March 17, 2015. They were each voted out of office by more than 70 percent of the votes cast. Misty Jo Montoya-Palacios replaced Sanchez, and G. Lyn Bogle replaced Varoz. Both successor candidates received votes totaling just under the amounts cast to remove their predecessors.[1]
The recall against Cendejas was not successful. Over 67 percent of voters voted in favor of retaining her in the District C seat. As the recall vote was not successful, the votes cast for the successor candidate, Annette Torrez, were not tallied.[1]
Yuridia Cendejas recall
| Yuridia Cendejas, District C Board Member, Center Consolidated School District | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Recall | 216 | 32.38% | ||
| 451 | 67.62% | |||
| Election results via: Margaret Koenig, "Email correspondence with Carla Gomez, Saguache County Clerk and Recorder," March 27, 2015 | ||||
James Sanchez recall
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Philip Varoz recall
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Recall supporters
Arguments for recall
Sanchez & Varoz recall proponents
Teachers and community members did not agree with Sanchez and Varoz's criticism of superintendent George Welsh. The board members criticized Welsh for the lack of progress in the school district over the last 20 years at a school board meeting in August 2014.[7] Supporters argued that the school district had done well under Welsh's leadership.
On the Center Committee for Truth and Transparency's Facebook page, recall proponents argued:
| “ | Why are we recalling Sanchez and Varoz?
The schools are doing well!
|
” |
| —Center Committee for Truth and Transparency Facebook page (2014)[9] | ||
| “ | Sanchez and Varoz get in the way by . . .
|
” |
| —Center Committee for Truth and Transparency Facebook page (2014)[10] | ||
Grounds for recall of Sanchez and Varoz
Identical general statement of grounds were submitted for the recall of Sanchez and Varoz, which read as follows:
| “ | We the Recall Committee of the Center Consolidated School District 26JT request the removal from representation on the Board of Education of [District B director James Sanchez/at-large director Philip O. Varoz] for the following reasons:
|
” |
| —Center Committee for Transparency and Truth (2014)[3] | ||
Grounds for recall of Barela and Cendejas
Identical general statement of grounds were submitted for the recall of Barela and Cendejas, which read as follows:
| “ | [Richard Barela/Yuridia Cendejas] as a Center School Board Member has demonstrated a lack of concern for the low TCAP and ACT scores of the Center school students. [His/Her] unwillingness to participate in school board discussions during school board meetings and [his/her] failure to question such low scores. [Richard Barela/Yuridia Cendejas] has failed to work with all board members and is not a team player. [His/Her] behavior has created a negative work environment and low moral during school board meetings. [Mr. Barela/Mrs. Cendejas] will not question important issues presented before the school board, will not voice [his/her] opinions before [he/she] enters [his/her] vote. As an elected board member we represent our constituents and need to voice their beliefs and concerns on all issues. [He/She] has failed to do this, therefore we the undersigned voters call for [Richard Barela/Yuridia Cendejas] to be recalled from [his/her] office of Center School Board member.[8] | ” |
| —Committee for Educational Excellence (2014)[3] | ||
Recall opponents
Arguments against recall
Support for Barela and Cendejas
The Center Committee for Truth and Transparency, the group trying to recall Sanchez and Varoz, also began campaigning to protect Barela and Cendejas from the recall efforts against them. The group encouraged signors of the petitions against them to withdraw their names. After it was determined that Barela would not appear on the recall ballot but Cendejas would, the group campaigned to retain her.[11]
Recall target responses
Each school board member targeted for recall submitted ballot statements explaining why they should not be recalled.
Barela's ballot statement
The recall against Barela did not ultimately make it to the ballot. However, he submitted this ballot statement while the petition against him was still active:
| “ | I am requesting that you vote against this unnecessary effort to remove me from my position on the Center School District board or education. I am being recalled in retaliation to the effort by a large group of concerned citizens to remove two other questionable board members. Petitions against me claim I don’t care about student achievement scores, I don’t ask enough questions at board meetings, and that my behavior has created a hostile environment on the school board.
I am a proud Center High School graduate and I care very much about how much our students are learning. Each year I monitor our state test results and have grown to understand that the gains Center Schools has made recently have helped the district to become fully accredited by the state of Colorado. If there were any concerns about student performance would't CDE let us know? Despite this great work our schools are doing, Sanchez and Varoz have attacked our teachers and administrators saying they should be ashamed of the results they are getting out of our students. These other board members have also asked our superintendent of schools to resign from his position. Because I do not agree with their assessment of the district, and because I actually talk with our superintendent when I have questions, Sanchez and Varoz feel that I am not a good board member and I have created a hostile environment. The truth is they are the ones creating this hostile environment. Not only for the rest of our board members, but for our teachers and administrators who are working on behalf of our children.[8] |
” |
| —Richard J. Barela (2015)[3] | ||
Cendejas' ballot statement
| “ | Please vote against this effort to remove me from my position on the Center School Board. Sanchez and Varoz are recalling me in retaliation to a citizens group that is holding them accountable for their poor behavior. Their petitions, about which they lied to many people when collecting signatures, claim I am not concerned about student achievement scores, I don't ask enough questions at meetings, and my behavior has somehow created a hostile work environment on the school board.
The facts are that my children attend Center Schools and I deeply care how they and their classmates are learning. I closely watch our state test results and know enough about them to understand the gains Center Schools has made in the past few years have helped the district to become fully accredited by the state of Colorado. Center is even held up as a model for how school districts CAN grow student achievement despite the challenges of high poverty and large numbers of English Language Learners. Despite these facts Sanchez and Varoz have continually attacked our excellent teachers, saying they should be "embarrassed" of the results they are achieving. They have even gone so far as to ask our effective and well-respected superintendent of schools to resign from his position. Because I have not caved in to their pressure, and because I choose to seek information and ask questions about board agenda items prior to the actual meetings being held, Sanchez and Varoz feel that I am not a good board member and I have somehow created a hostile environment. The truth is they are creating this hostile environment, both for the rest of our board members, and for the good teachers and administrators who work extremely hard each day to grow our children academically.[8] |
” |
| —Yuridia Cendejas (2015)[3] | ||
Sanchez's ballot statement
| “ | My responsibility as a Center School Board member is to think about the best interest of Center students and the Center School District. I have continually expressed opinions and questions voiced to me by the constituents who elected me. We have acquired health insurance for classified staff and purchased buses to insure students’ safety because of the questions and concerns I have raised. I have voted with the rest of the board 99% of the time on the superintendent’s resolutions including staff hiring and staff pay increases. I have been labeled disruptive because I have raised questions about the Alternative to Expulsion Program in which students are placed in isolation cells for up to 7 hour per day for up to 10 weeks. I have also questioned the academic performance of Center students. I want all Center students to succeed. My concerns are the academic excellence and well-being of all Center students. For these reasons, I do not feel I should be recalled. Thank you.[8] | ” |
| —James Sanchez (2014)[3] | ||
Varoz's ballot statement
| “ | Do you have a photo of Philip Varoz that could go here? Submit it for this profile by emailing us! Responsibility as a school board member is to oversee the education, safety and welfare of Center school students and to review the way tax dollars are spent. I have upheld this responsibility and should not be recalled. As a board member it is important to listen to parents and community members and ask questions of the administration. I have questioned the academic performance of Center students. Although Center students show some growth, we need to continue to raise our expectations so that all Center students are prepared to continue their education after high school or prepared to enter the work place. All Center students have the ability to be successful if given a good education. This requires honest assessment of student performance levels. I have also questioned the Alternative Expulsion Program. This program has been in existence since 1998 and yet until this year no board members have spoken on behalf of students placed in isolation cells for up to 7 hours a day for up to 10 weeks. This administration continues this program. Since elected a year ago I raised the issues of hiring more teachers in order for class size to be reduced, purchasing more buses because of an aging bus fleet and for student safety concerns, and providing health insurance for the classified staff. We successfully prioritize district funds for these expenditures. I feel the community needs to be informed about district matters. Other board members have been bullied off the board because they asked tough questions. I was asked to run for the school board because of my educational background, to ask the tough questions, to review student achievement and oversee the expenditures of tax dollars. I have tried to do this. Thank you[8] |
” |
| —Philip Varoz (2014)[3] | ||
Background
George Welsh
Welsh earned a B.A. in secondary education from the University of Arizona in 1986. He then worked as a middle school social studies teacher in Marana Unified School District in Arizona form 1987 to 1996, when he earned a master's degree in educational leadership and administration from Northern Arizona University.[12]
Welsh became the superintendent of the Center Consolidated School District in August 1997. He also worked as an adjunct professor at Adams State College from 2001 to 2008.[12] He was named Colorado’s Superintendent of the Year by the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE) in 2013.[13]
In the fall of 2014, Welsh defended the district's in-school isolation discipline as an alternative to expulsion and a way to reduce the dropout rate.[14] The method includes placing students who have committed infractions ranging from carrying weapons or drugs to talking in class and passing notes in a 4-by-6 foot room during school hours with material to study. The doors to the rooms were not locked. Following complaints from parents, Welsh agreed to have the doors removed and to increase the supervision of the students there. Twice a day exercise and lunchtime with other students also amended the program. The program was limited to the following amounts:[14]
- Eight weeks for high school students
- Six weeks for middle school students
- Four weeks for elementary school students
District statistics
- In the fall of 2014, Center Consolidated School District had an enrollment of 649 students.[15]
- In the 2004-2005 school year, the truancy rate for the district, or the total number of student days with unexcused absences divided by the total number of days possible, was 1.88 percent. In the 2013-2014 school year, the rate was 9.88 percent.[15]
- In the 2012-2013 school year, the dropout rate for the entire district was 2.9 percent. The state average for that year was 2.5 percent. The staff turnover rate in was 23.58 percent while the state's average was 20.37 percent.[15]
- The district reported 285 in-school suspensions and four expulsions in the 2013-2014 school year.[15]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Colorado
Sanchez & Varoz petitions
Language for the recall petitions was filed on September 30, 2014. The Saguache County Clerk approved the language on October 9, 2014, allowing the petition to be circulated.[16] The Center Committee for Transparency and Truth of the recall had 60 days to gather signatures.
On December 16, 2014, Saguache County Clerk's office confirmed a sufficient number of valid signatures had been submitted to recall both Varoz and Sanchez. Recall supporters needed 232 signatures and submitted 438 verified signatures to recall Varoz. They needed 163 separate signatures to recall Sanchez and submitted 423 verified signatures for his recall.[17] On January 2, 2015, the clerk set the recall election for February 24, 2015.[18] On January 15, 2015, however, the date was moved to March 17, 2015, after the county clerk's office consulted with the Colorado Secretary of State to ensure all four recalls could be held legally on the same date.[19]
Barela & Cendejas petitions
Initially, the recall petition against Barela was found insufficient while the petition against Cendejas was found sufficient. However, due to signatures being withdrawn on Cendejas' petition and Barela's petition being remedied within the 15-day window of its being found insufficient, their statuses were reversed.[20][21]
The Saguache County Clerk found the petition to recall Cendejas sufficient on December 17, 2014.[22] The petition was approved with just eight signatures more than the required 109 to set a recall election. Thirty signatures were then withdrawn by signers, which dropped the total below the required amount. The county clerk then declared the petition insufficient.[20] On January 13, 2014, the county clerk announced that about 80 additional verified signatures were added during the remedying period, which made Cendejas' petition, once again, sufficient.[21]
The petition against Barela was initially submitted with 309 signatures. The county clerk rejected 132 signatures as invalid and an additional eight signatures were withdrawn, and the petition was deemed insufficient. The Committee for Educational Excellence cured 46 of the 157 rejected signatures on the petition during a 15-day window to remedy the petition it being found insufficient. The additional signatures raised the total valid signatures to 290, nine more than the necessary 281 to call a recall election for Barela.[20] However, sufficient signors withdrew their names in time to ultimately keep Barela off the ballot.
Recall boundaries
While the majority of Center Consolidated School District lies in Saguache County, Alamosa and Rio Grande counties also have properties within the district. Therefore, both counties were required to accommodate the recall election. Alamosa County only had five registered voters in the school district.[23]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Center Consolidated Colorado school board recall. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Sample ballot for Saguache County voters
- Recall campaigns in Colorado
- Political recall efforts, 2015
- School board recalls
External links
- Center Consolidated School District
- Center Committee for Truth and Transparency
- Saguache County Clerk and Recorder
- Alamosa County Clerk and Recorder
- Rio Grand County Clerk and Recorder
Additional reading
- Center Post-Dispatch, "Sanchez, Varoz recalled, Cendejas retains seat," March 19, 2015
- The Pueblo Chieftain, "2 school board members recalled," March 19, 2015
- Valley Courier, "Voters recall Varoz, Sanchez," March 18, 2015
- The Pueblo Chieftain, "Center board members face recall," March 14, 2015
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Margaret Koenig, "Email correspondence with Carla Gomez, Saguache County Clerk and Recorder," March 27, 2015
- ↑ Center Post-Dispatch, "Superintendent Welsh asked to resign," September 18, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Margaret Koenig, "Email correspondence with Carla Gomez, Saguache County Clerk and Recorder," January 15, 2015
- ↑ Margaret Koenig, "Email correspondence with Carla Gomez, Saguache County Clerk and Recorder," January 23, 2015
- ↑ Center Consolidated School District, "Board of Education - Member Profiles," accessed January 15, 2015
- ↑ Margaret Koenig, "Email correspondence with Carla Gomez, Saguache County Clerk and Recorder," February 19, 2015
- ↑ Center Post-Dispatch, "Committee initiates recall process," October 2, 2014
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Facebook, "Center Committee for Truth and Transparency," October 8, 2014
- ↑ Facebook, "Center Committee for Truth and Transparency," October 8, 2014
- ↑ Facebook, "Center Committee for Truth and Transparency: Timeline Photo," January 31, 2015
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 LinkedIn, "George Welsh," accessed January 16, 2015
- ↑ Lindamood Bell, "George Welsh Named Colorado Superintendent of the Year," October 30, 2013
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Associated Press, "Students isolated as expulsion alternative," October 31, 2014
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Colorado Department of Education, "Colorado Education Statistics," accessed January 16, 2015
- ↑ Margaret Koenig, "Email correspondence with Carla Gomez, Saguache County Clerk and Recorder," October 10, 2014
- ↑ Center Post-Dispatch, "Recall of Varoz and Sanchez moves forward," December 18, 2014
- ↑ Facebook, "Center Committee for Truth and Transparency's Photos," January 2, 2015
- ↑ Valley Courier, "Center election reset," January 16, 2015
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Center Post-Dispatch, "Barela petition declared sufficient, Cendejas petition now insufficient," January 7, 2015
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Center Post-Dispatch, "Petition sufficient to recall Cendejas," January 14, 2015
- ↑ Margaret Koenig, "Email correspondence with Carla Gomez, Saguache County Clerk & Recorder," December 22, 2014
- ↑ Valley Courier, "Center recall touches Alamosa, RG Counties," January 14, 2015
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