Court rules the board's seat appointment was improper and an earlier set of meetings broke the Open Meetings Law

What happened

On August 11, 2026 a district court ruled in Lewis v. Pueblo County School District 70 Board of Education that 2025 meetings about an agreement with a regional education center violated the Open Meetings Law, and that the board president improperly appointed Susie Carnes to the vacant District II seat because it was not done at an open meeting. The court order took effect September 11 after a stay was denied, which left the seat vacant. The board is interviewing applicants.

Why it matters to families

Who sits on the board decides votes on the budget, policies and the superintendent. The ruling also raises legal costs and questions about open-government compliance. A statute gives the board 60 days to fill the seat or the president must appoint someone.

The evidence

The district's attorney described the ruling at the August 18 meeting. The October 6 recording says the stay was denied and the seat is vacant by statute. The October 20 agenda lists public interviews of applicants for the District II vacancy.

The source