School board candidates in the Pikes Peak region’s biggest districts were sharply divided over a number of hot-button issues two years ago, including critical race theory and COVID-19 protocols.

The issues might have changed in 2023, but the ideological divisions remain, with candidates at odds over book banning, inclusivity, school safety and other topics.

In 2021, an independent committee with Republican ties called the Springs Opportunity Fund spent more than $57,000 in support of nine conservative hopefuls in Districts 11, 20 and 49. All nine candidates won their respective races.

This election cycle, buoyed by a massive cash infusion from a nonprofit called Colorado Dawn, the Springs Opportunity Fund threw its coffers wide-open, spending nearly $500,000 on mail flyers, video ads, text messaging and door-todoor canvassing in support of District 11 candidates Parth Melpakam, Jason Jorgenson, Jill Haffley and Thomas Carey; and District 20 candidates Amy Shandy and Derrick Wilburn.

Students Deserve Better, an independent committee with a Lakewood address, has spent more than $200,000 on television, digital and print ads supporting progressive-leaning candidates in District 11 and Woodland Park School District RE-2.

On Tuesday, early returns suggested that another clean sweep for the Springs Opportunity Fund was in the offing.

Academy School District 20

Newcomers Amy Shandy and Derrick Wilburn were ahead of incumbents Heather Cloninger and Will Temby, garnering 27.8% and 26.57% of the vote, respectively. If that trend holds, Shandy and Wilburn would join Thomas LaValley, Aaron Salt and Nicole Konz — tipping the board’s ideological scales heavily toward the conservative.

Colorado Springs School District 11

In a contest for four at-large seats, newcomers Jill Haffley and Thomas Carey were the leading vote-getters in a 10-person field, with incumbents Parth Melpakam and Jason Jorgenson not far behind. Incumbent Darleen Daniels had just under 11% of the vote.

“It is a validation of the work that we have put in over the last couple of years and the direction the district is going in at this time in terms of turning around academic turnouts for our students, the increase in enrollment, and the priorities that the board has established,” Melpakam said of the early results. “These are all resonating with our community members.”

Should Daniels lose her seat, Julie Ott would be District 11’s sole progressive board member.

District 49

Debra Schmidt, a vocal supporter of former board member Ivy Liu, had a large lead over Candace Lehmann in the race for directorship of D-49 District 2. In District 3, Marie LeVere-Wright held a 15-percentage point lead over Ralene Revord, 57% to 42%. Mike Heil is running unopposed for directorship of District 5.

In other area district races:

Harrison School District 2

Incumbent Corey Williams and newcomer Pamela Robinson led the race for two at-large seats in District 2.

Widefield School District 3

In a race for two open seats, Tina West had a slight lead over Kelly Cutcher and Mark Walker.

Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8

Rose Terrell, Jill Grubbs and Kimberly Moon led a four-person race for three open seats in Fountain-Fort Carson District 8.

Cheyenne Mountain School District 12

Incumbent Susan Mellow held a 14-vite lead over Betsy Kleiner, 4,000 to 3,986. Michael Gage had the inside track on the third open seat.

Manitou Springs School District 14

Jill Bishop, Magdalena Santos and Connie Brachtenbach were the apparent favorites for District 14’s three open seats.

Lewis-Palmer School District 38

Patti Shank had a 400-vote lead over Tom Olmstead in the contest for directorship of D-38’s District 2. Kris Norris, Ron Schwarz and Todd Brown ran unopposed in districts 1, 4 and 5, respectively.

Woodland Park School District RE-2

The early returns did not bode well for Woodland Park’s incumbent candidates.

In the District A race, Seth Bryant was leading Mick Bates by fewer than 200 votes, 4,116 to 3,929. Keegan Barkley led Dave Illingworth by 438 votes in the District C contest, and Mike Knott was 175 votes ahead of Cassie Kimbrell in the race for District D.

The current board members saw early results come in at a watch party at a private residence. They remained optimistic despite the early deficit.

“It’s anybody’s game right now,” Illingworth said. “It’s a close race and we know that the earliest votes to come out usually trend to be a little bit more democratic or liberal based on voting patterns.”