Where did we go wrong?: In their words

IN THEIR WORDS

"We thought we were an excellent school district. People wanted to come to Greeley for our schools. ... I think the changes in the school district gradually happened, and that's why it wasn't noticeable."

Carole Anderson, school board member in the late 1980s

"It was viewed as a good school district, but I felt that many of the problems we had then still exist today."

Pres Montoya, school board member in the late '80s

"In general, the district appeared to be doing just fine, but we were getting reports from the community that students who were graduating didn't have the basic skills to go into the job market."

Pat Sullivan, school board member in the mid-'80s

"I really don't know if Greeley schools have been getting worse or if it's just a change in demographics."

David Aske, economics professor at the University of Northern Colorado who has studied demographic changes in District 6

"If you look at the CSAP results, there has been a slight improvement every year, but our improvement has not gone up as quickly as the state."

Tim Johnston, school board member for 12 years

"I suppose the trends in the district were beginning 20 years ago, but probably it has accelerated a lot more than people would have expected."

Bob Tointon, Greeley businessman and District 6 supporter