August 27, 2015
Inside: Jeffco Schools Quarterly
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Teachers, district Women’s Pro Challenge at crucial rolls to first finish moment Union, board face decisions that could open door to strike By Crystal Anderson canderson@coloradocommunitymedia.com This week is a momentous one within the Jefferson County School District, which could end up with a relatively stable school year, or an impending teacher strike. Through a series of meetings, teachers in the union are deciding whether or not to ratify a 10-month collective bargaining agreement. If they do, the board of education must then either accept or reject the agreement. Their decisions will directly impact the 46-year relationship the union has had with the district, the jobs of more than 5,000 teachers and Jeffco’s 86,000 students.
USA Pro Challenge winner and Olympic gold medalist Kristin Armstrong, in the yellow jersey, leads the pack of racers as she shows her strength in downtown Golden on Aug. 23. Photos by Tim McClanahan
Race could mark biggest crowd of any female cycling event in U.S. history By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com
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he fifth annual USA Pro Challenge will always be remembered as the year women pro cyclists first took part in the state’s biggest professional bike race. “This race alone has made my comeback worth it,” said Kristin Armstrong, overall winner of the inaugural Women’s USA Pro Challenge. “This is historical. I’m so happy and proud to be part of this moment. I’m happy to do whatever I can do to help grow this sport.” Making the stage and jersey wins even sweeter for the riders, this year’s prize purse was identical to that of the traditionally much-betterpaid men. Stage 1 of the women’s race took place Aug. 21, and was an 8.5-mile time trial in Breckenridge. Armstrong won the stage with a 1.2-second lead over Team Twenty16 teammate Allie Dragoo. The next day, the women raced 58 miles from Loveland to Fort Collins, and Stage 2 was won by Tayler Wiles of DNA Cycling. Stage 3 on Aug. 23 was won by Coryn Rivera of UnitedHealthcare. She was awarded the green jersey as the tour’s best sprinter. The women raced a 1.5-mile criterium loop in downtown Golden. The official starting line was at 13th Street and Washington Avenue, and started off going up a hill described as “just amazing, that extra little oomph,”
USA Pro Challenge Womens racers ride through the streets of downtown Golden as part of a multi-lap, 1.5-mile criterium. The racers were led by riders from Team Twenty16 in defense of the race leader Kristin Armstrong.
Race continues on Page 5
Pickleball goal is to help veterans Tourney to aid former servicemen who suffer from brain injuries By Crystal Anderson canderson@coloradocommunitymedia.com May 26, 2007, was a day Sgt. Jourdan Smith will never forget. During a routine clearing operation in Baghdad on his second tour of duty, Smith was seriously shot in the leg, end-
ing his military career. From this, and his exposure to multiple deployments and combat tours, the resulting injury left
him with post-traumatic stress disorder, and a traumatic brain injury, or TBI, changing his life forever. And Smith, a participant in the Operation TBI Freedom program of the Rocky Mountain Human Services agency, is not alone. This year, more than 490 Colorado veterans with traumatic brain injuries are being served or have been served Pickleball continues on Page 5
Teacher contract ratification For the past four decades, the Jefferson County Education Association and the Jefferson County School District have come together to create a collective bargaining agreement, serving as a guideline for teachers and administration. However, a new board majority elected in 2013 has fought with the union over many issues. That majority — of Ken Witt, John Newkirk and Julie Williams — is facing a recall election, which has the union’s blessing. This year, negotiators met over the past five months for more than 150 hours to craft a new collective bargaining agreement. On Aug. 6, both parties signed a tentative agreement to accept the document, which has now gone to the union’s full membership for approval. Several teachers said accepting the proposed contract was the right thing to do, but they were disappointed in the 10-month length of the agreement, which is far shorter than a traditional multi-year agreement. “JCEA members should ratify — it gives us protection while we stand by the parents and community during the recall” of the board majority, said Colleen Keefe, a teacher at West Woods Elementary School in Arvada. “WNW (Julie Williams, John Newkirk and Ken Witt) will commit political suicide if they do not ratify the CBA themselves, and there isn’t enough Koch money to buy commercials to do that damage control.” The union’s voting deadline was 8 a.m. Aug. 26, after the newspaper went to press. (For coverage on the decision, go to coloradocommunitymedia.com.) Should the agreement be rejected, union representatives said they would request negotiating teams reconvene to create a new contract the membership could accept. Once accepted by the union, the contract will go to the board of education for approval during its Aug. 27 meeting, the first board meeting of the school year. Teachers continues on Page 5