Shelton Condemns District 11 Board Vote on Discriminatory Policies and Costly Lawsuit
- sheltonford11
- Jun 11
- 2 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2025
Shelton Condemns District 11 Board Vote on Discriminatory Policies and Costly Lawsuit
Colorado Springs, CO — As a candidate for the Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of
Education in the upcoming November election, I am deeply disappointed in the Board’s decision tonight to adopt policies IMD and JBA—both of which undermine protections for LGBTQ+ students and violate state and federal anti-discrimination laws.
These policies are in direct conflict with Title IX and Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA), both of which affirm the rights of students to learn in environments free from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Policies that create exclusion or restrict access to safe, affirming spaces in schools are not only harmful—they are illegal.
Even more concerning, the Board approved authorizing Superintendent Michael Gaal to begin the process of signing onto a lawsuit initiated by District 49, without giving the public the answers it deserves. According to Director Jason Jorgenson, the cost of this legal action could range from $50,000 to $250,000—with an expectation that up to $1,000,000 may be spent before litigation ends.
Let’s be clear: transparency matters.If District 11 cannot fully fund the completion of critical school projects and plans to ask voters to approve a bond this November, how can it justify spending potentially $1,000,000 on a lawsuit with a high probability of failure?
As a candidate, I firmly believe District 11 must prioritize students—not politics. These decisions send a harmful message to LGBTQ+ youth and their families, and they jeopardize the financial integrity of our schools.
I want to thank Director Julie Ott, who stood alone tonight in opposing these harmful decisions. She listened to the voices of the community, both in person and through public comment, and reminded the Board of its responsibility to all students—especially those most vulnerable to harm.
District 11 needs leadership committed to transparency, inclusion, and responsible stewardship of public funds. That’s the kind of leadership I intend to bring to the Board.
Every student matters. Every voice matters. Our future depends on it.
Joseph Shelton
Candidate for Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education – November 2025 Election
719-290-0440
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