Nov 2, 2021 | Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2021
Election 2021: Public Education WINS!
Voters Choose Educators and Public Education
DENVER – Tonight, faced with decisions over local mill levy and bond races, statewide ballot measures, and politically charged school board races, voters overwhelmingly chose educators and public education. The votes cast tonight will have long lasting effects on Colorado students, educators and public education across the state.
“Our students have been severely and chronically underfunded to the tune of $10 billion over the last 10 years,” said Amie Baca-Oehlert, high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association. “We are at a critical point in time where the chronic underfunding and crisis-level educator shortages are having a real and damaging effect on students, educators and school districts all across the state.”
When it comes to school board elections, this was a year unlike any other in recent memory. While there were a lot of candidates who ran on platforms that were student, education, and community focused, there were also the candidates, propped up by dark money funded by large corporations and the ultra wealthy, whose focus was on one or two hyperly divisive political issues, while genuinely not caring about actual education policy solutions that will benefit students, their families and educators. We proudly stand with pro-public education candidates, celebrate their victories tonight and look forward to working with them at the local level to give students and educators the resources they need to be successful.
In many districts throughout the state, voters sent a clear message, standing with educators and valuing students and public education by electing candidates recommended by the professional educators in their communities. After early returns, voters stood with educators all across the state from Jefferson County to Eagle County to Fort Collins to Cherry Creek and all the way to Durango, Steamboat and Summit County. Many races have yet to be called but we anticipate some more big wins in the next couple of days.
Despite one of the strongest economies in the nation, our schools are still struggling to meet the needs of students due to the chronic underfunding of our public schools, so Colorado voters were asked to decide on more than $1.5 billion worth of local mill levy and bond measures across the state. After early returns, we congratulate the following communities for passing Local Mill Levy and Bond races across Colorado: Mesa Valley Bond 4B, Ridgway Bond 4B, Ridgway Mill 4A, Roaring Fork Mill 5B. The money invested by voters into local school districts tonight will help improve the academic lives of students and educators in those communities. We anxiously await the results of more races tomorrow.
CEA opposed Proposition 120, as property taxes are the first source of funding for public schools in Colorado. Any reduction of property taxes forces the state to backfill that lost revenue and with over a half billion dollar deficit in public education funding this would have been yet another blow to Colorado public schools.
Tonight the voters soundly rejected Proposition 120, the annual ballot measure to ensure the wealthiest Coloradans get significant tax breaks while the rest of us enjoy negligible tax breaks at the expense of public services like fire and police protection and public education. We are appreciative that the voters saw through this scheme to rig the system for the wealthiest few and understand that our property taxes fund critical services in our communities.
Despite these local measures, with some passing and others failing, elections like these continue to raise a red flag that Colorado does not do enough to provide students, educators, and school districts the resources to provide exceptional public schools no matter where they live. State legislators have the opportunity this January to find creative and sustainable ways to improve public education funding, especially in light of Gov. Polis’s budget proposal, which prioritizes K-12 funding.
“We must fully fund our schools so that our students…no matter the color of their skin, or where they live, or how much money their parents make…can have an exceptional neighborhood public school to attend,” said Baca-Oehlert. “We are extremely proud of our members’ efforts during this election and for the work they do every day. No matter the outcome of the election, we remain committed to ensuring that all students have the opportunities afforded them to be successful in our public schools.”
About the Colorado Education Association
The Colorado Education Association is the voice of 39,000 educators, working together in a strong union to ensure all students get the exceptional public schools they deserve, in every neighborhood across the state. As Colorado’s largest labor union, CEA works collectively with all education stakeholders to ensure Colorado’s standing as an excellent state in which to learn, live, work, and raise a family.
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Oct 20, 2021 | Blog
Fall has always been one of my favorite seasons – the fresh, crisp air, football, pumpkin spice (yes, I’m on that team!), falling leaves and new beginnings. My oldest daughter turns 13 in October and so fall also holds that special place for me as well. When fall rolls around each year, for so many reasons, it is always me. A time to look back and a time to look ahead. Fall is commonly thought of as a time to harvest or to reap what has been planted. While I know that this fall has been full of tremendous challenges for us all, as we continue to valiantly educate students in the midst of an on-going global pandemic, it can also be a time for hope. A time to harvest.
In the CEA world, Fall is also that time of year when we kick into high gear with election season. Like most things this school year, this election season feels harder than those of the past. But every day, I remind myself of what is at stake education victory on election night. Whether it is a post on social media, post card writing, phone banking, talking to a neighbor, family member or friend, safely
canvassing a neighborhood, each day I do at least one thing to support election 2021, big or small.
When life gets overwhelming, I try to remember that adage of taking one bite of the way to do small things to ensure victory on election night, then we know that we will reap the rewards with school boards that value educators and support our students and our public schools. We know that there are those out there who are trying to that serves all students, regardless of zip code, skin color, or background. They are counting on us to be too tired to care. But they don’t know the will of educators and what we are willing to do to ensure a great public school for every child.
As the great labor leader, Cesar Chavez reminds us, “We don’t need perfect political systems; we need perfect participation.” The Colorado Education Association is over 39,000 educators across the state of Colorado. We are powerful when we come together. We are powerful when we participate. We are powerful when students and public education. Let’s elect pro-public education advocates to our
school boards. Let’s support local bond and mill levy overrides. While the work is long and hard, the harvest will be bountiful. Si se puede!
Amie Baca-Oehlert is a high school counselor and president of the CEA.
Sep 29, 2021 | Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2021
New Poll Shows Colorado Parents and Voters Value Health, Truth
Likely voters trust educators, embrace candidates supporting common sense issues
DENVER – Today, the Colorado Education Association released new polling data showing clear majorities of Colorado voters and school parents trust educators and would elect candidates to local school boards who support safe learning environments for students with masks and vaccinations and believe students deserve an honest, age-appropriate account of history in schools.
“School board races are important because they determine whether public schools are going to be places that protect the health and learning of all students – rich, poor, Black, brown, white and more – or they become toxic political battlegrounds,” said Amie Baca-Oehlert, high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association.“New polling shows that Colorado voters support common sense policies like vaccination and masks and fact-based curriculum in public schools to keep students healthy and learning.”
The poll shows that among likely 2021 Colorado voters:
- Almost 3 in 5 are more likely to vote for a pro-mask school board candidate
- Almost 60% are more likely to vote for a candidate supporting vaccine requirements in schools
- Almost 9 in 10 are more likely to vote for a candidate who“supports students learning the complete and honest history of our country – including the good and the bad parts.”
- Almost 70%, are more likely to vote for a candidate who“thinks students should learn the facts about slavery in America and the ongoing effects of racial discrimination in our society.”
“As any teacher or parent knows, school is a place where children develop their understanding of the world and their ability to make meaningful change in it,” said Baca-Oehlert.“When I was in school, I was never given a full picture about our country’s history, like western Colorado was part of Mexico or Japanese Americans were jailed in Colorado’s Amache internment camp. Today’s students deserve a full and honest presentation of history so we can right past wrongs and it’s encouraging to know that voters favor electing school board candidates who support healthy, safe and honest learning.”
Links to:
About the Colorado Education Association
The Colorado Education Association is the voice of 39,000 educators, working together in a strong union to ensure all students get the exceptional public schools they deserve, in every neighborhood across the state. As Colorado’s largest labor union, CEA works collectively with all education stakeholders to ensure Colorado’s standing as an excellent state in which to learn, live, work, and raise a family.
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Nov 7, 2020 | Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7, 2020
Statement from Amie Baca-Oehlert, high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association (CEA), on the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as president and vice president of the United States:
“The 39,000 members of the Colorado Education Association are proud to have helped elect former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris as the next president and vice president of the United States. President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris share in our values for equal opportunity for all students, regardless of their ZIP code, and an unwavering commitment to educators everywhere. After four years of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’ failed leadership and policy decisions, we look forward to President-elect Biden selecting a Secretary of Education who has the best interests of students at heart.”
About the Colorado Education Association
The Colorado Education Association is a membership-based organization that represents 39,000 Colorado educators. The CEA promise to our students and communities is that the members of the Association will lead the way in guaranteeing every student access to the best public education. By working collectively with all education stakeholders, we will provide the best public education for every student and assure Colorado’s standing as an excellent state in which to learn, live, work, and raise a family.
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Nov 4, 2020 | Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2020
Colorado Education Association Waits with Nation for Election Results
State Races Coming into Focus
DENVER – Americans across race, place of origin and ZIP code turned out in record numbers to stand with and for each other, despite the pandemic and deliberate barriers from day-long lines to eliminated drop boxes. America went to bed last night not knowing who had been elected president of the United States and today, we continue to wait.
“Today, and perhaps into the coming days or weeks, we will anxiously await the results of the 2020 Presidential election,” said Amie Baca-Oehlert, high school counselor and president of the Colorado Education Association.“Make no mistake about it, though: this election is not over. Not until every vote in every county of this country is counted.”
There are a number of updates to races too close to call last night:
Congratulations to all of those candidates who were successful in their elections to the state legislature, including Chris Kolker (SD-27) and Lindsey Daugherty (HD-29). As the leading voice of educators in Colorado, CEA will share its legislative priorities with the new Legislature and work diligently to address the lack of public school investment that this year alone strips more than $1 billion from Colorado classrooms. We anxiously await the results of CEA recommended candidate and District Twelve Education Association member Paula Dickerson in SD-25.
The 39,000 members of the CEA look forward to working with legislators who believe classrooms, not corporations, are a priority and who provide our students and educators the resources they need to succeed. We know that many of our new and veteran legislators share our belief that a student’s chances for success should not depend upon the ZIP code in which they live, a premise to which the Legislature should be held accountable.
We congratulate CEA recommended candidates Lisa Escarcega and Karla Esser on their victories in their State Board of Education races. We look forward to working with the new State Board of Education on policies that will prioritize Colorado students and educators rather than special interests.
CEA congratulates Callie Rennison and Ilana Spiegel on their elections to the University of Colorado Board of Regents. The university will benefit from the leadership of these regents-elect.
We’re thrilled that Colorado voters chose true representative government over the outdated Electoral College with the projected passing of Proposition 113. Colorado now commits to award its electoral votes to the candidate for president who wins the national popular vote. The president determines a lot of outcomes that ultimately affect our students, including appointing the Secretary of Education, and this proposition will make each vote across the country equal and relevant.
Colorado students have been shortchanged by over $10 billion over the last 10 years; $1.1 billion this year alone. Colorado students lose even more with the passing of Proposition 116. Proposition 116 will disproportionately lower taxes for the wealthy while causing irreparable harm to the state’s ability to raise income for basic services like health care, human services and public education. This will drain precious resources from Colorado classrooms. We urge the legislature to rein in every corporate tax giveaway and to close loopholes and tax breaks that will now allow businesses to double dip on the taxpayer dime.
We’re deeply disappointed that voters denied American citizens, under the age of 18 who were previously allowed to vote in Colorado primaries the year they turned 18 to vote in the general election, the right to participate in the democratic process. We should be making it easier for those who are eligible to vote to do so.
“We are at a pivotal moment in history with much uncertainty,” said Baca-Oehlert.“One thing we are certain of is that Colorado educators will continue to elevate our collective voice and to work with parents, our community partners and elected officials to ensure that all of our students have the public education they deserve, regardless of their skin color, sexual identity, ZIP code, or the amount of money their parents make. Elections have consequences and the members of the CEA are proud to have worked to elect candidates and support issues that will have a positive impact on the lives of Colorado’s students, educators and families.”
About the Colorado Education Association
The Colorado Education Association is a membership-based organization that represents 39,000 Colorado educators. The CEA promise to our students and communities is that the members of the Association will lead the way in guaranteeing every student access to the best public education. By working collectively with all education stakeholders, we will provide the best public education for every student and assure Colorado’s standing as an excellent state in which to learn, live, work, and raise a family.
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