Sheridan educators push to recall school board as strike deadlock continues

At the center of Sheridan District 2’s ongoing strike is a basic impasse: the district has implemented a policy that requires the union to be formally recognized before negotiations to end the strike can begin — but educators say the policy is impossible to meet without abandoning staff like custodians and food service workers.

True to their promises on social media posts, the Sheridan Educators Association (SEA) began the recall process against all four current members of the district’s board of education this week. 

The SEA cited stalled negotiations, alleged retaliation against staff and what they describe as a failure of leadership. The move comes after several failed attempts at resolution and eight days of teacher walkouts.

At the heart of the dispute is the union’s request to rescind Policy H, which governs how employee labor groups can form and be recognized.

The policy was implemented after a decades-old agreement between the union and the district lapsed last August, setting the stage for the current standoff.

“What Policy H does is it creates a formal process for recognition, and once they're recognized, then negotiations can then start,” said Superintendent Gionni Thompson. “Since they’re not recognized, they can’t negotiate.” 

Thompson says the district has invited the union to apply for recognition, but union members argue the policy itself is the barrier.

The Sheridan Educators Association wants all staff — including teachers, certified professionals like mental health workers, and classified employees like bus drivers and food service workers — to be recognized under a single union.

“We are a unified front because that's what makes Sheridan great,” said special education teacher at Alice Terry Elementary, Megan Brown. “Being able to represent us through a master agreement gives classified employees the opportunity to ask and negotiate for what can make their work better.”

But Policy H requires employees to be split into separate bargaining groups, so instead of one union, teachers and support staff would have to organize independently.

“You're talking about hourly employees combining with salary employees, you're talking about two different salary schedules,” Thompson said. “We're just asking that they each form their own, which we were happy to sit down and consider those two labor groups.”

In larger districts like Jefferson County, employees are typically split into separate unions—one for teachers and one for classified staff — with each negotiating its own contract.

But the union says in Sheridan, there aren’t enough classified employees to form their own bargaining unit and that teachers are unwilling to leave those workers behind. 

“That is where we struggle because then from that bargaining unit with those stipulations, you must also have a minimum of 50 employees,” said Brown. “These are people like our kitchen workers and custodians. They're the sole providers for their families. The district isn't treating them right. And that is why this matters, so that they can be protected.”

The district and union also disagree over how talks have unfolded since the strike began.

Superintendent Thompson says the district offered multiple dates to meet, knowing that talks would take more than one day, while union representatives say they were only asked to select a single two-hour session, leading to confusion and little progress.

As the standoff continues, the impact is being felt in classrooms.

District leaders say just over half of students are currently attending school across picket lines, with substitutes and staff covering lessons in an effort to keep the disruption to a minimum.

“We have things set up for test prep. We also have master teachers that are developing lesson plans with substitutes and with principals supporting these students,” Thompson said.

Educators on the picket line say they are committed to staying out until an agreement is reached, but that they miss their roles in the classroom. 

“Most importantly, I miss having my time with my students and helping them grow and helping them feel good about themselves,” said Brown. “I know that this is right for the community, this is right for our people, and it will be what is best for our students in the long run. But right now it is really hard and I miss them a lot.”

The recall effort has also added a new layer of uncertainty.

“This was not a threat,” said Brown. “We just don't trust our board members right now. We don't think they're doing what is best for the community.”

While the union cannot remove board members on its own, it can organize a petition to force a public vote. That process is currently in the works. 

Thompson acknowledged the recall effort and the breakdown in communication. “I would say there's some mistrust. There are a lot of misconceptions that are out there. But I believe that we will get through this and we'll go through the healing process and we'll focus on our students,” he said. 

For now, both sides have agreed to meet again on Saturday at 2:30 p.m., but with key disagreements surrounding Policy H still unresolved, it’s unclear how quickly a resolution could come. 

Both the Sheridan Educators Association and the Colorado Educators Association told CPR News they are cautiously optimistic, and Superintendent Thompson said Policy H is negotiable.