Sheridan School District leaders, teachers union restart negotiations under orders from Gov. Jared Polis
Source: Colorado Sun
3 weeks into a teachers strike in the Denver metro district, staff were notified Wednesday their health insurance benefits would end in May
Erica Breunli 9:12 AM MDT on Apr 23, 2026
Teachers and staff in Sheridan School District could lose their health insurance starting May 1 as a teachers strike that began three weeks ago in the tiny Denver metro district drags on. The seismic tensions between district and union leaders have prompted Gov. Jared Polis’ office to intervene in hopes of making progress on negotiations.
Members of Polis’ team met in his office Thursday morning with Superintendent Gionni Thompson, school board president Karla Najera, Sheridan Educators Association president Kate Biester and another representative from the Colorado Education Association, according to CEA spokesperson Kailee Stiles.
Polis on Wednesday warned the sides that his office would step in if they did not reach an agreement.
During a news conference Thursday afternoon, Polis said the meeting set up by his office was still ongoing.
Sheridan Educators Association union members and supporters march and chant outside Sheridan School District No. 2’s administration building before a district board meeting to discuss the union’s contract and its planned April 1 strike on March 31, 2026 in Englewood. (Andy Colwell, Special to The Colorado Sun)
Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/23/sheridan-school-district-teachers-strike-health-insurance/