2021
Aug. 2021
- D49 Board of Education votes to approve resolution opposing principles of Critical Race Theory
- “The first version of the resolution called for an outright ban of CRT in D-49. Heated and emotional debate during the July 8 board meeting kept members at the meeting from Thursday night into the early-morning hours of Friday. The tone was much less intense Thursday night with a new version of the resolution.”
D49 school board to vote on proposal to ban teaching of Critical Race Theory
- Coloradan Explains How She Helped Ban anti-CRT In Her Local Schools
- “Derrick Wilburn, the executive director of the Rocky Mountain Black Conservatives, made national headlines this month for an impassioned school board meeting address prior to the district outlawing critical race theory (CRT). Behind the effort is Ivy Liu, the board director.
- “Liu, Moms for America Colorado Liaison, who served in the U.S. Navy and has volunteered in churches for 30 years, was elected to the Falcon School District 49 board in April. She prepared the anti-CRT resolution with board secretary Rick Van Wieren. As an Asian-American and mother of five, she felt obligated to outlaw what she saw as blatant discrimination of people based on the color of their skin.”
Nov 2021
- Baby We Were Born for War: To Dominionist Christian Groups, No Election is Too Small — and Colorado is Just the Beginning
- “Nine days before the election, Holt announced during Sunday service at his new, much smaller church, The Road @ Chapel Hills, that three members of his church were running for school boards in two districts. All three went on to win: Aaron Salt in Academy District 20 and two of the three members of the winning (and Coalition-backed) slate in District 49, Lori Thompson and Ivy Liu.“
- Yes, Colorado’s school board races are becoming more politicized. Here’s why
- Conservative political action groups, sometimes with religious affiliations, like “Stand for the Constitution” in Grand Junction, are also weighing in on races. The 1776 Project PAC is backing a slate of candidates in Douglas County, District 51 in Grand Junction, and Academy 20 and Falcon 49 in El Paso County. The group is dedicated to electing school board members willing to promote “patriotism and pride in American history,” and says it opposes “critical race theory.”
- Colorado Springs Forward spent $130,000 on school board races in October
- In District 49, the money is funding advertising for Ivy Liu, Lori Ann Thompson, and Jamilynn May D’Avola.
- All three are running on conservative platforms as well.
- In 2021, Liu was one of the D49 board members who voted to ban CRT in D49 schools.
- Thompson supports parental choice for schooling, and believes the “premise of CRT is wrong because it divides people based on racial makeup.”
- D’Avola is against Critical Race Theory, which her website calls a “Marxist ideology that divides students by oppressors and victims,” LGBTQ+ curriculum or books in schools, and teachers’ unions.
- D49 Board of Education votes to approve resolution opposing principles of Critical Race Theory
2022
- National watchdog group accuses D49 board of promoting personal religious views | KRDO
- Following Thursday’s controversial quote reading, FFRF shifted its focus to Falcon School District 49’s School Board after receiving seven complaints from stakeholders in the community, the non-profit accuses board members of using the public position to promote their religions.
- In the letter, obtained by 13 Investigates, the watchdog group accuses the board of holding prayer vigils outside the administration building before meetings.
- The letter also alleges newly elected D49 board member Jamilynn D’Avola “proselytized a student in the District in an email sent as part of official District correspondence.”
- “A board member using their position on the board to tell a student they need to believe in Jesus Christ, it’s just completely inappropriate and not something a school board member should be doing,” Line said.
- Threatening Letters And Transphobia at D49 Board Meeting
- D’Avola used her board comment time to read an excerpt from David Barton’s book, America’s Godly Heritage. The Southern Poverty Law Center describes Barton as “a self-styled ‘historian’ who has acted as a key bridge between the mainstream political right and radical-right religious ideology.” D49 recently received a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, alleging violations of separations between church and state, due to statements made by D’Avola about transgender people and the “Word of God.”
- National watchdog group accuses D49 board of promoting personal religious views | KRDO
2023
April 2023 Updated Jan. 2024
- School District 49 passes resolution opposing mental health screening bill | Gazette
- “The School District 49 board unanimously passed a resolution opposing a bill that seeks to establish a mental health screening program for sixth through twelfth grade students in Colorado public schools. The board’s move on Thursday responds to a bill it says violates parental rights.”
May 2023
- School District 49 facing lawsuits due to disruptive behavior during school board
- Schmidt is a D49 resident, grandmother and consistent Liu ally. Ohio resident Kohls is a conservative school board activist and a senior director for the national group Moms For America. It’s a movement that claims to “promote the principles of Liberty to restore the Republic, and create a culture of truth, family and freedom in our homes and communities.” Moms For America is anti-LGBTQ and promotes false narratives about Critical Race Theory, including that CRT (which is not taught in K-12 schools here) “promotes racism in the classroom” and “includes indoctrination on LGBT Agendas … and Comprehensive Sex Education promoting pornographic and sexual content to children.” The group also supports false claims that teachers’ unions encourage “pornographic sexual content under the guise of curriculum.”
- Moms for America: The Other ‘Moms’ Group Attacking Public Education | Bucks County Beacon
Nov. 2023
- Truth and Liberty Coalition Targets 30 School Boards, including Buena Vista, for what some call its “Rule the Godless” Initiative
- “A movement led by Christian nationalist/dominionist televangelist and Charis Bible College founder Andrew Wommack appears determined to force a far-right version of education on Colorado school districts.“
- “It is this movement, Transform Colorado, that has recruited and trained candidates and filled ballots across dozens of school districts with far-right candidates. According to its website and Wommack himself, they have a stated goal, “that unites Christian leaders to restore biblical values in the public square.”
Dec. 2023
- D49 Adopts ‘In God We Trust’ Resolution | Colorado Times Recorder
- “The District 49 Board of Education in Colorado Springs last night approved a resolution to encourage the display in schools and other public buildings of the national motto “In God We Trust.” The board voted 3-2 to approve the resolution, with newly elected board members Mike Heil and Marie Lavere-Wright opposed, and Lori Thompson, Jamilynn D’Avola and Deb Schmidt supporting.”
- School District 49 passes resolution opposing mental health screening bill | Gazette
2024
April 2024
- Jan 6 Insurrectionist Disrupts Colorado School Board Meeting | Colorado Times Recorder
- “Tensions mounted during a recent Falcon School District 49 board meeting when January 6 insurrectionist Thomas Hamner accused Superintendent Peter Hilts and attorney Brad Miller of failing the district’s students and continued to disrupt the meeting after returning to his seat.
- Jan 6 Insurrectionist Disrupts Colorado School Board Meeting | Colorado Times Recorder
2025
March 2025
- DISTRICT 49 BOE February Meeting Wrap-Up
- “Thompson attended the Colorado Leaders for Academic Success conference in Denver. She said the presentations were content rich on public education and encouraged district leadership to attend next year. “
May 2025
- Banning biological boys from girls’ sports: CO school district to discuss policy | KOAA News
- District 49 passes policy limiting sports teams to biological sex | KOAA News
- District 49 sues Colorado and state athletic association over protections for transgender students | Chalkbeat
- Colorado school district files lawsuit over biological sex and sports policy, superintendent explains why | KOAA
Sept. 2025
- D49 BOE meeting wrap-up | The New Falcon Herald
- “Thompson attended the third annual Teachers Freedom Summit and met teachers from across the United States. She said the recent court case lost by the district — Schmidt and Kohls vs. D 49 — exonerated the district’s security team. “
- “Dan Snowberger, executive director of Colorado Leaders for Academic Success and superintendent of the Elizabeth School District, gave a presentation about the CLAS organization. He said its mission is to “advance student achievement by helping public school board members hone their leadership skills in governance, professional development, communications, legislative outreach, networking and policy.” He said the organization believes that leaders in the public school sector should be focused on academic achievement, parental rights and educational excellence. The introductory fee to join CLAS is $1,000 for the BOE and includes newsletters, networking opportunities, webinars and in-person training opportunities. The BOE moved it forward for a vote on joining CLAS at the next meeting.”
- “Thompson attended the third annual Teachers Freedom Summit and met teachers from across the United States. She said the recent court case lost by the district — Schmidt and Kohls vs. D 49 — exonerated the district’s security team. “
Oct. 2025
- Colorado Springs teachers speak out against textbook censorship and anti-LGBTQ+ policies | Rocky Mountain PBS
- “The new rules are part of a wave of policies in Colorado Springs focused on LGBTQ+ students. District 49, one of the largest in the state, recently implemented a new bathroom policy and a ban on transgender student athletes participating in sports that align with their gender identity.“
- Colorado’s ‘first public Christian school’ faces state funding warning over religious curriculum | KOAA
- Religious curriculum materials under scrutiny
- “The state says Riverstone’s curriculum, according to the school’s website, includes Masterbooks and Berean Builders, which they describe as “sectarian in nature.”
- “Yes, they use curriculum that has a religious framework. Some courses do, some do not. Berean Builders, I believe, is one of them, and Masterbooks is another,” said Witt.“
- “The issue is that public schools are generally required to be nonsectarian, according to CDE. But Witt argues denying Riverstone funding because its curriculum would violate federal protections.”
- “We’re confident that the U.S. Constitution and federal law prohibit discrimination based on religion, and so, we’re not going to discriminate based on religion,” said Witt.
- This ‘public Christian school’ opened quietly in Colorado. Now there could be a legal fight.
- “Over the summer, BOCES authorized the school and contracted with Riverstone Academy, a new nonprofit Friberg heads, to run it. Riverstone subcontracted with a two-year-old Christian education nonprofit called Forging Education, which Friberg also leads, to help run the school.“
- “District 49, which is based near Colorado Springs, is one of the two school districts that belong to the Education reEnvisioned BOCES and serves as the groups’ fiscal agent. An hour south is Pueblo District 70, which is not part of the BOCES but approved an agreement to allow Riverstone to open within its boundaries.“
- FFRF demands Colorado district stop funding explicitly Christian ‘public’ school | Freedom From Religion Foundation
- “In a letter sent to Superintendent Peter Hilts, FFRF attorneys Samantha Lawrence and Charlotte Gude explain that the School District 49 is unlawfully providing public funds to Riverstone Academy — a self-described “public Christian school.”
- Conservatives Clash in CO Springs School Board Race | Colorado Times Recorder
- In 2023, the D49 Board – which is represented by Miller Farmer Carlson, according to documents obtained via a records request – passed a resolution to acknowledge the United States’ alleged “Judeo-Christian biblical foundation” by hanging signs with “In God We Trust” in public buildings throughout the district. The D49 board has also waded into controversies around “critical race theory” and transgender issues in the past.
- Colorado Springs’ D-49 calls for collaboration for education at annual State of the District | The Gazette
Nov. 2025
2025 School Board Election
Conservatives Clash in CO Springs School Board Race
El Paso Moms for Liberty Endorsement Jamilynn D’Avola
El Paso M4L endorsements - School Board Roundup: Who Won, Who Lost, and Where it’s Too Close to Call | Colorado Times Recorder
- This year, two members of the board’s conservative majority bloc were up for reelection, Jamilynn D’Avola and Lori Thompson. While Thompson only had to face more progressive challenger, Chris Harrell, D’Avola was forced to fight on two fronts. To her left, she had Holly Withers; to her right, she had Ivy Liu, a former member of the board who has unsuccessfully sued the district since her controversial tenure in office.
- District 1: Holly Withers defeated the incumbent, Jamilynn D’Avola, and Ivy Liu in a close race.
- Holly Withers (Winner): 43.1% (2,242 votes)
- Jamilynn D’Avola, Moms for Liberty, (Incumbent): 42.7% (2,225 votes)
- Ivy Liu, Moms for America Colorado Liaison, 14.2% (740 votes)
- District 4: The incumbent, Lori Thompson, won re-election against challenger Chris Harrell.
- Lori Thompson (Winner/Incumbent): Won election.
- Chris Harrell: Lost election.
Dec. 2025
- Colorado Springs-area districts settle with CHSAA’s role in transgender sports lawsuit | CPR
- District 49 to cut programs, teachers amid ‘fiscal exigency’ | Pikes Peak Bulletin
- Union demands audits before D49 cuts staff | Pikes Peak Bulletin
- DISTRICT 49 BOE February Meeting Wrap-Up
2026
Jan. 2026
- The D 49 Board of Education Meeting | The New Falcon Herald
- Union demands audits before D49 cuts staff | Pikes Peak Bulletin
- District 49 suspends restroom, locker room policy based on ‘biological sex’ months after approval | The Gazette
- District 49 announces financial crisis | KRDO
- ‘We are stripping the district down to absolute essentials,’ School District 49 grapples with budget crisis | KOAA
- D-49 board repeals policy separating facilities based on biological sex | The Gazette
Feb. 2026
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