April 7, 2016 VO LUM E 1 1 | IS S UE 45
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J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
SPRING IS LOOKING UP!
TIME TO CELEBRATE The Seder dinner, which includes songs and stories, is an important part of Passover celebrations. PAGE 12
Teacher turnover figures show increase Jeffco has new board, new climate, after growth in number of teachers leaving By Crystal Anderson Canderson@coloradocommunitymedia.com
The young, and young at heart, flocked by the hundreds to Arvada’s annual kite festival Saturday. For the full story, and more photos, turn to PAGE 5. Photo by Crystal Anderson
2015 was strong year for Jeffco Open Space By Christy Steadman csteadman@colorado communitymedia.com While a person’s goal may be to bike or hike a trail they had never been on before, or perhaps photograph an animal they have never documented before, Jefferson County Open Space is always working on goals to help people enjoy the parks. Open Space, which was founded 1972 as a land conservation organization, released its 2015 achievements and progress on goals documented in the organization’s 2014-19 Master Plan. The eight goals are as follows: land preservation, land stewardship, trails, communications and Open Space continues on Page 26
North Table Mountain deer peer at a Jeffco Open Space trail-user. Photo by Glenn Wallace
At the end of 2015, the Jefferson County School district welcomed in a completely new board of education, and a culture shift. But recent stats from the Colorado Department of Education shows, while change might be in the air, the number of teachers leaving the district is still on an upwards trend, with 789 teachers leaving the district in 2015. “Jefferson County School District reported a 16.3 percent teacher turnover rate in 2015-16,” said Jeremy Meyer, the assistant director of communications for the department, reporting on the 2015 numbers. “While that percentage is still below the state average of 17.05 percent, Jeffco — over the past three years — has seen that gap narrow each year.” In 2014, Jeffco had 710 teachers or 14.7 percent leave their positions, and in 2013 — prior to the former board majority’s election — that number was 10.71 percent. Those numbers include teachers that took jobs with other districts, left teaching, obtained administrative promotions, or retire. Amy Weber, Jeffco’s director of human resources, said her office reported the district’s turnover stats in December 2015, reflecting the amount of turnover in that calendar year. The state then compiles those statistics and releases a statewide report the following spring. Weber added that the numbers are on a trend with what they’ve seen in recent years, explaining that while there’s an increase, the board and district are committed to becoming a place where people want to live out their careers. “Jeffco, like all districts, wants to retain our effective teachers,” she said. “Back in 2005 and 2006 we had teacher turnover rates that approached 14 percent, so we certainly see turnover as a cyclical event, but our Board of Education has been clear — they want Jeffco to be a destination district.” Turnover was a point of contention among community members, teachers, staff and board members during the 2015 elections. Following the November 2013 election of Ken Witt, John Newkirk and Julie Williams to the board of education Turnover continues on Page 8