Betrayed by the Board: Montrose Schools' Illegal Spending and Radical Ties Exposed

In the tight-knit community of Montrose, where families trust their leaders to steward public funds responsibly, a shocking scandal has unfolded under Superintendent Dr. Carrie Stephenson's leadership. The Montrose County School District misused nearly $20,000 in taxpayer dollars to illegally promote a $200 million bond measure for a new high school in the 2024 election. This violation of Colorado campaign finance law not only wasted hard-earned money but also demonstrated a troubling lack of transparency and accountability from Dr. Stephenson, who oversaw partial fixes that failed to fully address the wrongdoing.

Colorado statute is unambiguous on this matter. Section 1-45-117(1)(a)(I), C.R.S. (2024), bars political subdivisions, including school districts, from using any public money to urge voters to support or oppose referred measures. While neutral factual summaries with balanced arguments are allowed under § 1-45-117(1)(b)(I), the district crossed the line into advocacy. After referring the bond to voters, which they rejected, the district created a website section with positive spins on the measure, linked to a promotional video by a professional vendor, and distributed over 16,000 brochures urging approval. These materials included a superficial list of pros and cons, but overwhelmingly cast the bond favorably, aiming to sway public opinion.

The district's spending totaled $18,913: $14,272 on brochures and $4,641 on the video. When resident George Kerber filed a complaint on September 15, 2024, alleging improper advocacy on the district's website and Facebook page, Dr. Stephenson's response was inadequate. The video was removed from public view, and arguments were made more prominent online, but the brochures were already out, and webpages retained biased content. This evasive approach highlights Dr. Stephenson's failure to be forthright, prioritizing damage control over full compliance.

The Elections Division of the Colorado Secretary of State filed a formal complaint on May 12, 2025, under § 1-45-111.7, C.R.S., charging the district with a prohibited contribution and seeking penalties per 8 CCR 1505-6, Rule 23.4.3, and § 1-45-117(4), C.R.S. Rather than contesting in a hearing, the district settled out of court. A Notice of Dismissal was issued on June 26, 2025, noting a settlement agreement approved by the Deputy Secretary of State. The terms, including any financial penalties, remain undisclosed, leaving taxpayers guessing how much more was spent to resolve this self-inflicted issue. Dr. Stephenson, as the superintendent named in service documents alongside Public Information Officer Thomas Matthew Jenkins, must be held accountable for this breach and the secretive resolution.

Adding to the concern are radical influences on the school board. Alice Murphy, now District C Director, has affiliations with Indivisible, a far-left group criticized for communist leanings and ties to the Communist Party USA. Indivisible's Montrose/Ouray chapter has openly supported the recall of conservative county commissioner Scott Mijares, they also connect to figures like Governor Polis, who has shown contempt for the US Constitutional through his support of legislation like SB25-003. Polis was featured prominently in the 2014 documentary "The Rocky Mountain Heist," which exposes how a group of wealthy left wing politicians, including Polis, employed dubious strategies to shift Colorado far left through coordinated funding and tactics. Murphy's involvement with such a mindset raises alarms about ideological biases infiltrating our schools, where education should remain neutral and focused on students, not politics.

As of August 2025, this scandal lingers as a reminder of eroded trust. Dr. Stephenson's oversight allowed illegal spending and incomplete remedies, while board members like Murphy bring questionable associations. Montrose residents, who value integrity and fiscal prudence, deserve leaders who uphold the law without excuses. It is time to demand full disclosure on the settlement and scrutinize board influences to protect our children's future. Anything less betrays the community that funds these institutions.



Michael J Badagliacco, “MJB”

Michael is a United States Air Force Veteran, father of five and grandfather of three, passionate about this country and the Constitution. 

Editor-in-Chief, Colorado DOGE Report.