Author: Dustin Flesher
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We have broken our social contract
The following speech was given by school board member William Dolphin on May 7th, 2026. We have broken our social contract. More precisely, the state and federal governments have broken the social contract with public education and Widefield. The social contract is simple: communities support public schools because strong schools create strong communities. In return,… Read more
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Speech to the WSD3 Board of Education
The following speech was delivered by Dustin Flesher to the school board during the public comments section of the board meeting on May 7th, 2026. Greetings to the board. Greetings to the administration. And happy almost-summer to everyone. My name is Dustin Flesher, and I’m the president of the Widefield Education Association. Tonight I will… Read more
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A Comparison of Expenditures from Several Colorado School Districts
General Fund Expenditure Comparison — FY2025 Twelve Colorado school districts · year ended June 30, 2025 · actual amounts · sorted by Instr + SS + IS % (high to low). Instr is the Instructional expenditures. SS is the Student services expenditures. IS is the Instructional Staff expenditures. These are standard accounting categories for school districts, as mandated by Colorado… Read more
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“I Am Tired of Being Poor”
Widefield Education Association · Non-Licensed Employee Survey · January 2026 Widefield Staff Describe Financial Hardship and Feeling Unsupported · February 9, 2026 Executive Summary A Workforce That Stays Out of Loyalty, but Is Struggling to Survive. A survey of 287 non-licensed Widefield School District employees (educational assistants, bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers, and office staff)… Read more
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Custodial & Security Disciplinary Data
Widefield Education Association · CORA Request · 2025–2026 Six-Year Trend Analysis · School Years 2020–21 through 2025–26 (Mid-Year) Executive Summary Serious Disciplinary Actions Are Escalating in Both Departments. This analysis examines disciplinary trends for Widefield School District 3’s Custodial and Security departments across six school years, from 2020–21 through the first half of 2025–26. The… Read more
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A Case for Competitive Teacher Compensation
Two Comparison Group Analysis · 2025–2026 Colorado Education Association Licensed Comparison Salary Book Executive Summary The Investment Has Worked. It Is Not Yet Complete. The image associated with this post was used according to a Creative Commons license. This analysis presents the case for continued teacher compensation investment in Widefield School District 3 through two… Read more
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WE KEEP GIVING MORE, AND IT KEEPS NOT BEING ENOUGH
Teacher Survey Findings · WSD3 · 2025–2026 The Stories Behind Widefield’s Teacher Survey Numbers Every statistic tells a story. A recent survey sent out to all 574 teachers in Widefield School District 3 shows that many teachers — 24% of the 338 who responded — might not return next year. Behind this story, there are… Read more
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A Critique of Widefield Budgeting Priorities
Over the past four fiscal years, Widefield School District experienced sustained revenue growth of 21.1% — an increase of $22 million that should have flowed primarily to the classroom. Instead, the evidence shows that overhead categories have grown nearly twice as fast as instruction, raising urgent questions about where the district’s priorities truly lie. +21.1%… Read more
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Attend the February All-Member Meeting for CEA
The Colorado Education Association is holding its next All-Member Meeting, and this is one of the easiest, most important ways to stay connected to what’s happening statewide. This meeting is a chance to get quick updates, hear what’s coming next, and make sure your voice is part of the conversation as CEA moves forward on… Read more
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The “ALL IN” Problem
While attending Widefield’s February 6th All In: Learning Together – WSD3 Secondary PD Conference at Widefield High School, I noticed that very few people wore the district’s “All In” t-shirts that were so present during the district kick-off event in August. The word had gone out, at least in some schools, to fly those colors… Read more
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A Call for an Interim Superintendent and a Legitimate Search
Dear WEA Members, I am writing to share serious concerns about the district’s current process for selecting our next superintendent. In most school districts, hiring a superintendent is a deliberate and transparent process that takes time and includes meaningful stakeholder input. Districts typically form a search committee that includes school board members, staff representatives, parents,… Read more
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Protest at Community Parade
In a very public display of support for inclusive education, community members wearing IHOP t-shirts lead the Widefield Community Parade, just ahead of the truck carrying the school board members. The protestors carried signs saying, “Stop School Board Bullies” and “Support Widefield Students.” They chanted loudly, “Watch out for those school board bullies!” We are… Read more