School Board Director Faces Ethics Inquiry Over Real Women Rock Shirt

A school board director faces an ethics discussion for wearing a t-shirt that said “Real Women Rock,” while Colorado Union of Taxpayers volunteers continue their tireless watch over state legislation.

School Board Director Under Fire for T-Shirt

Start listening at 29:39 – Hour 1 Nancy Rumfelt, a board director for Thompson School District, discussed the controversy surrounding a t-shirt she wore to a school board meeting in February. The shirt simply stated “Real Women Rock,” which Rumfelt purchased after watching a video from Jennifer Sey’s XX-XY Athletics featuring athletes like Riley Gaines.

“The really sad truth, Kim, though, is what we forget about is there are kids, there’s actual kids getting caught up in all of this stuff that’s driven by adults. We’re forgetting about the real humanness of transgender kids, kids who are experiencing gender dysphoria.”Nancy Rumfelt

The shirt sparked complaints and led to a 15-minute ethics discussion at a March 5th study session. Rumfelt explained that she has repeatedly asked to have discussions about Title IX compliance, particularly regarding fairness in girls’ sports, but has been shut down. She noted that Thompson School District’s gender transition policy allows schools to socially transition students without parental consent.

Title IX and Federal Funding at Stake

Start listening at 36:08 – Hour 1 Rumfelt emphasized the practical implications of the Title IX debate, noting that Colorado school districts face a conflict between federal requirements and state laws. She called for adult conversations about compliance rather than personal attacks.

“Again, we need to stop, act like adults, talk about, are we going to comply with Title IX?”Nancy Rumfelt

A school board meeting was scheduled for that evening in Loveland where Rumfelt expected significant public comment on both sides of the issue. She emphasized that teachers are often trapped in a difficult system and don’t like the mandates any more than parents do.

Colorado Union of Taxpayers Legislative Update

Start listening at 17:56 – Hour 1 New CUT board member Paula Beard discussed the organization’s work monitoring legislation at the state capitol. With 560 bills proposed so far this session, CUT has taken positions on 216. The organization also launched “CUT Engaged,” a new tool making it easy for citizens to contact legislators about key bills.

“My perspective is if people in Colorado knew what was going on in the legislature, things would change.”Paula Beard

This week’s highlighted bills included House Bill 1269 on building decarbonization, Senate Bill 37 on coal transition grants, and House Bill 1211 on tap fees for special districts.

Trump Executive Order on Election Integrity

Start listening at 7:48 – Hour 1 Kim discussed President Trump’s new executive order on election integrity, which she said aligns with existing lawsuits filed in Colorado with United Sovereign Americans and the Wisconsin Center for Election Justice. The order cites how other developed nations use voter ID tied to biometric databases and paper ballots, while the United States relies largely on self-attestation for citizenship.

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold issued a press release calling the executive order “unlawful,” but Kim noted that federal law supersedes state law.

Rural Education Success and Public Lands Debate

Start listening at 71:32 – Hour 2 Sixth-generation farmer Trent Loos shared an inspiring story about a high school industrial arts program in Marcus, Iowa, where 167 of roughly 200 students participate in hands-on learning including welding, construction, cabinet making, and engine rebuilding.

“I’m thinking about how much money we waste in our public school systems… we’re spending a lot of money, and we’re not accomplishing development of skills or proficiency in the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic.”Trent Loos

Loos and Kim had a spirited debate about Trump’s proposal to use federal lands for affordable housing. While Kim saw potential for expanding homeownership opportunities, Loos expressed concern about the concept of “freedom cities” and argued that existing land users should have first priority to purchase federal lands.

Colorado Wolf Update

Start listening at 97:57 – Hour 2 Kim and Trent discussed how a Colorado wolf was legally killed 400 miles into Wyoming, demonstrating that wolves don’t respect state boundaries. Loos noted wolf sightings are now occurring in Nebraska, likely from young males dispersing from established packs in Colorado and Wyoming.