The president of Douglas County’s school board on Thursday announced his resignation following a tumultuous tenure leading the suburban district.
Mike Peterson, during a special meeting of the board Thursday evening, said he planned to resign at the end of the meeting, effective Friday. He previously told the Douglas County News Press that he was stepping down because his family was moving out of state.
Peterson’s term would have expired in November 2025.
Christy Williams — like Peterson, a member of the board’s conservative majority — was elected by a 4-to-3 vote to become the next board president. Peterson declined to recuse himself, voting for Williams over director Susan Meek.
The directors, in nominating Meek and Williams for the chairperson role, said it was crucial the board avoid the bitter infighting that marked the previous two years under Peterson.
Williams cited 25 years of leadership experience as proof that she would make a good board president.
“I don’t stir up drama,” she said.
Three board members were officially sworn in Thursday evening: Meek, an incumbent, Brad Geiger and Valerie Thompson. All three won in November’s election and opposed conservative policies promoted by the board’s majority, which, in addition to Peterson and Williams, includes Becky Myers and Kaylee Winegar.
When a member resigns, Douglas County’s school board has 60 days to appoint a replacement. The president holds the tie-breaking vote in the event of an even split.
Peterson’s time helming Colorado’s third-largest school district has been marked by controversy.
The four-member conservative majority secretly decided in February 2022 to fire the district’s superintendent, Corey Wise, without informing the rest of the board. A judge later ruled that the majority violated Colorado open meeting laws. The district ended up paying more than $100,000 as part of a lawsuit.
Wise in April of last year filed a state and federal discrimination complaint against the school district and the four conservative board members members, saying he was unlawfully fired because he advocated for students with disabilities and students of color.
The district settled that lawsuit earlier this year and agreed to pay Wise more than $830,000.
The superintendent fiasco led to widespread protests from Douglas County teachers, students and parents.
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