Week of April 20, 2023
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
LoneTreeVoice.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 24
VOLUME 22 | ISSUE 9
Wise hopes settlement puts students before politics Districts settles lawsuit for $800K BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
the Metro District parks, recreation and open space. Located in parks and open spaces throughout the community and along roadways, Highlands Ranch is home to more than 15,000 trees in its urban forest.
Douglas County School District will pay former superintendent Corey Wise more than $800,000 to settle claims that Wise’s firing amounted to discrimination. Wise filed a complaint with the Colorado Office of Civil Rights against the school district and four school board members — Becky Myers, Mike Peterson, Christy Williams and Kaylee Winegar — in April 2022 after he was fired without cause, claiming he was dismissed for advocating for marginalized students by favoring a mask policy in schools and working to implement an equity policy. Under the settlement, the school district will pay Wise $270,733 for the remainder of his superintendent contract, as well as $562,000 to resolve the lawsuit. According to a news release from Wise’s attorneys, the money will come from the district’s insurance policies, so no money will be diverted from students. Wise told Colorado Community Media the settlement is vindicating for him, adding that he hopes it will deter politicization and discrimination in Douglas County moving forward. “I feel validated that this sends a statement that politics should not enter education and, at the same time, discriminatory acts have consequences,” Wise said. The administration office for the school district said on Monday it did not have any comment on the settlement. The settlement is not an admission of liability for the district or board members. Board President Peterson said in a statement that he voted to fire Wise because of a lack of competency and reiterated that the settlement is not an admission of liability. “As one director, I voted to terminate the former superintendent due
SEE TREE CITY, P7
SEE SETTLEMENT, P7
Lone Tree City Councilmember Marissa Harmon, right of the center, smiling with her sister, Jessica Crimi, left of the center, and two PHOTO BY TAYLER SHAW other Roots and Mane employees March 7.
Local business, nonprofit team up to help students with cost of prom Eagle Academy benefits BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
When Lone Tree Councilmember Marissa Harmon learned that students at Eagle Academy High School would be having their first-ever prom this April and some students face financial burdens, she began brainstorming ways to help.
“A lot of these kids … face this food insecurity, housing insecurity, are under a ton of financial pressure,” Harmon said, explaining she wanted to do something to help the students. “We have to surround them with love in some way.” Harmon — who owns a hair salon in Lone Tree called Roots and Mane along with her sister, Jessica Crimi, and brother-in-law, Jeremy Crimi — consulted with her sister about how to help the school.
After doing some online research, Harmon came across Clover’s Closet, a nonprofit based in Castle Rock that offers free formal attire to students. Together, Roots and Mane and Clover’s Closet partnered to bring prom clothing options to Eagle students. “When people like Marissa come to me, it’s just a blessing and I just appreciate it so much,” said Karen SEE PROM, P20
Highlands Ranch named Tree City USA for the 35th time Recycling event May 7 BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The Arbor Day Foundation has named Highlands Ranch a Tree City USA for the 35th consecutive
year. The foundation is a national designation that honors community commitment to effective urban forest management. “It’s a huge honor and a great source of pride for the community of Highlands Ranch, it’s almost like a badge of honor for us,” said Dennis Donovan, forestry supervisor for