Voter guide: Cherry Creek school board candidates answer 6 questions about their priorities

A photograph of a green locker with a combination lock.
Voters in the Cherry Creek School District will elect two school board members on Nov. 4. (Stacey Rupolo for Chalkbeat)

Four candidates are seeking two open seats on the Cherry Creek School District board this year.

Candidates Terry Bates and Amanda Thayer are running for the District D seat representing the area that includes Buffalo Trail Elementary School, Cherokee Trail High School, and Legacy Stadium. The district is currently represented by Kelly Bates, who can’t run for reelection due to term limits. Candidate Terry Bates is married to Kelly Bates.

In District E, candidates Mike Hamrick and Tatyana Sturm are running to represent the area that encompasses Rolling Hills Elementary, Grandview High School, and the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus. The district is currently represented by Kristin Allan, who is not running for a second term.

The local teachers union, the Cherry Creek Education Association, has endorsed Bates and Hamrick.

To help voters make their decisions, The Aurora Sentinel sent all of the candidates the same set of questions. Their answers are below.

This voter guide was produced by The Aurora Sentinel in collaboration with Chalkbeat Colorado.

The Latest

Board Vice President Monica Hunter has been accused of allegedly using antisemitic language and member DJ Torres has been accused of missing multiple meetings, among other allegations.

Cornett was removed from the ballot in August after not meeting requirements to run as a Democrat. Now, she’s back on the ballot but without a political affiliation.

The Colorado Department of Education and district officials surprised finalists in their classrooms as part of the annual Colorado Teacher of the Year program.

Superintendent Aleesia Johnson said the district will switch to PowerSchool for families’ application, enrollment, and registration needs.

10 school districts in the county have school board seats up for election. Read our voter guides for candidates’ responses to our surveys in partnership with WFYI and Mirror Indy.

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