Colorado Board of Education denies Adams 14's request for new management

Adams County School District 14 and MGT Consulting have ended their often contentious relationship.

Adams 14 announced Sunday that they will temporarily regain their authority over the district this coming Friday after MGT agreed to withdraw from its oversight role. 

The state Board of Education in 2018 appointed MGT to oversee the district after it received poor accountability scores eight years in a row, according to the Colorado Department of Education. MGT began working with the district the next summer.

“Given the current circumstances, it’s clear that we have accomplished as much as we can,” said Eric Parish, MGT’s Executive Vice President, in a statement. “We leave with our heads held high, grateful for the support we received from the Adams 14 community and the partnerships we created in order to increase opportunities for students and families.”

“We’re proud of the progress we made in Adams 14,” he said

Officials said the district, which serves over 6,000 students, will host community meetings to explain the next steps in its turnaround efforts and seek community input. 

“It is the shared commitment of the Adams 14 Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Karla Loría, and the district’s senior leadership to minimize any disruption throughout this transition,” a statement from the district read. “Teaching and learning will continue as normal in every Adams 14 school, and faculty and staff can count on continued support.”

Adams 14 School District accreditation restored, days after it was removed

Tension between the district and MGT began last fall when Adams 14 stopped working with MGT, resulting in the district becoming the first in Colorado to lose its accreditation.

The state restored its accreditation days later after the district and MGT agreed to put aside their differences and continue their partnership.  

Last month, the Adams 14 school board voted to terminate MGT’s contract claiming a forensic audit into the company’s conduct allegedly found financial, instruction, ethical and legal issues regarding its oversight, according to school board President Ramona Lewis. 

MGT has denied any wrongdoing and Education Commissioner Katy Anthes said the state Board of Education was unaware of any investigation taking place.

The district then appealed to the state Board of Education to allow it to choose the new oversight management company; however, the board unanimously rejected the motion. 

Adams 14 loses accreditation, State Board orders new negotiations