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April 22, 2021
JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19 | SPORTS: PAGE 24
VOLUME 16 | ISSUE 46
Allendale Elementary to close next year Despite last-minute pleas to continue operation, Arvada school’s days are numbered BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Olde Town Arvada water tower lit up in Arvada West High School’s colors. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CITY OF ARVADA
Olde Town Arvada water tower lit up in Pomona High School’s colors.
The water tower’s lighting system was updated to a computerized LED program in 2018, which allows for the city’s facilities team to easily switch colors in celebration of different events, according to Arvada Chief Communications Manager Ben Irwin. In the past the water tower has been lit red to honor first responders, purple to mark a year of the COVID-19 pandemic and rainbow to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month in June. Irwin said that the idea to honor graduating seniors in a similar
The final slide of the presentation said it all. “The decision of leadership staff is to consolidate the Allendale Elementary school community in the Spring of 2021.” And with that, the school’s 57-year run is coming to an abrupt end. Teachers, parents and Jefferson County Education Association members gave public comment to protest the closing of the school during the April 13 Jeffco School Board Study Session meeting. Joshua Kaus, father of two Allendale students, was one of those who spoke. He said he went to Allendale as a child and moved back into the house he grew up in, to give his children the same education he valued in his own upbringing. “When I heard about the talk of Allendale closing, just three weeks ago, it broke my heart,” he said. Other concerns commonly voiced — Allendale students have missed out on choice open enrollment window; staff have missed critical time in locating new positions and the District not adhering to processes for closing a school — something more than one speaker brought up. Indeed, there is a detailed policy in place for how the district is supposed to handle school closures. District document FCB-R, states that a report on a closure will be distributed six months prior to study and/ or action on any school closure — something not done in this case. When public comment closed, Susan Harmon, School Board President, talked about standards the district looks for in a school. “Our district vision calls on us to deliver engaging learning experiences for all students,” she said. “In order to do this, four conditions for learning must be
SEE TOWER, P9
SEE ALLENDALE, P12
Olde Town Arvada water tower lit up in Arvada High School’s colors.
Olde Town Arvada water tower lit up in Ralston Valley High School’s colors.
Olde Town water tower lights to honor graduating seniors Tower will be illuminated in school colors throughout May BY RYAN DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Continuing a tradition that began last year, the Olde Town water tower will bear the colors of seven local high schools on different dates in May to honor each of the school’s graduating senior classes. The water tower will feature the colors of Arvada High School May
The Early College of Arvada’s graduation date is set for May 14; Arvada May 20; Pomona May 20; Arvada West May 21; Two Roads May 21; Ralston Valley May 21 and Faith Christian Academy May 27. 7, Two Roads Charter School May 8, Arvada West High School May 14, Faith Christian Academy May 15, Pomona High School May 21, The Early College of Arvada May 22 and Ralston Valley High School May 28. The water tower will be lit at sunset and display the school’s colors until sunrise, with time varying by day.