Christopher Smith (Photo courtesy Cherry Creek Schools) The president of Cherry Creek Schools’ Board of Education acknowledged Monday that the district’s freeze on employee travel and contracts is related to the “decisions and actions” of former Superintendent Christopher and his wife, Brend a Smith, the district’s chief human resources officer. Board President Anne Egan also announced that interim Superintendent Jennifer Perry will launch an external audit to review the district’s organizational systems, including internal controls and fiscal responsibilities. “The decision to review district policies and freeze certain travel and contracts is a result of concerns being raised about the decisions and actions of former Superintendent Smith and Brenda Smith,” Egan said in a statement. “Immediate action was necessary to maintain the public’s confidence.” Her comments came ahead of a scheduled Monday evening school board meeting at Sky Vista Middle School, where directors were expected to vote on what Egan called “reforms” to Cherry Creek Schools’ procurement and expenditure approval policies, contracts and guidelines related to employee travel. The school board was also expected to vote Monday to confirm Perry as Cherry Creek Schools’ interim superintendent. Cherry Creek Schools Chief Human Resources Officer Brenda Smith (Photo courtesy Cherry Creek Schools) Former Superintendent Christopher Smith unexpectedly resigned during a school board meeting on Jan. 27. District officials placed Brenda Smith on administrative leave last week and launched an internal investigation into her actions, as well as into nepotism and conflicts of interest at the district. The Board of Education also froze employee travel and district contracts, pending an internal investigation. District officials had repeatedly declined to say why the board was conducting the investigation, other than to say “there were some questions.” Last week, directors met in an executive session — which is not open to the public — for about four hours to receive legal advice regarding their search for a new superintendent and the district’s budget as it relates to travel expenses and contract requirements. “Several items still under review, such as personnel matters, require legal advice and counsel, which compels the board to meet in executive session more often than we’d like,” Egan said in a statement. “As these matters come to resolution, we will return to a more normal cadence of board meetings and the community will continue to see the board review district policies and make adjustments as necessary.” Decision-making by school board members is prohibited during executive sessions under the Colorado Open Meetings Law, said Jeff Roberts, executive director of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition. Related Articles Cherry Creek Schools won’t elaborate on decision to freeze travel, contracts after superintendent resigns Cherry Creek Schools puts human resources director on leave after superintendent resigns Cherry Creek Schools superintendent resigns following report of ‘toxic culture’ “The open meetings law allows closed-door conferences with the school board’s attorney to get legal advice on specific legal questions, but policy discussions are supposed to happen in public,” he said. “That’s the whole point of the law — that the formation of public policy may not be conducted in secret.” The Smiths were married before they began working at Cherry Creek Schools. The district hired Brenda Smith in 2019, before her husband became superintendent. Brenda Smith reported to Perry to comply with the district’s staff conduct policy, which says employees can not engage in a supervisory relationship with an immediate family member. Christopher Smith earned a $332,601.15 salary and his contract wasn’t set to expire until June 2027. Brenda Smith earns a $232,142.40 salary. Cherry Creek Schools has 51,844 students and a $840 million budget. Get more Colorado news by signing up for our Mile High Roundup email newsletter. ...read more read less