May 22, 2014 Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 9, Issue 51 A publication of
arvadapress.com
Tensions rise in negotiations with district Jeffco School District negotiations remain uncertain By Crystal Anderson
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com A relationship forged over decades is falling apart. Through federal mediation, negotiating teams from the Jefferson County School District and the Jefferson County Educators Association (JCEA) agreed on
a memorandum of understanding May 8, but a later amendment raised concerns the agreement won’t be ratified. Both sides said such a breakdown in negotiation had not occurred in recent memory. “I’m hoping the board will go ahead and ratify the agreement, and we can move forward together,” JCEA President Ami Prichard said. Shortly after the agreement was made, the board of education asked for a provision in the teacher compensation clause, asking that nonprobationary teachers
rated ineffective or partially ineffective be ineligible for step increases, which are increases based on years of teaching experience. Prichard said the JCEA was in favor of teacher evaluation, but recent board decisions had raised red flags among some teachers regarding the amendment’s impacts. After speaking with its counsel, the JCEA negotiating team presented the agreement to its board without the amendment, and it was signed. The agreement was then voted on and approved by 88 percent of the as-
Battle of the Bands
sociation’s voting members, before being sent to the board of education on May 15. Prior to the association vote, the district’s negotiating team sent out an memo to Jeffco teachers, stating that the initial agreement was tentative, and the JCEA leadership knew that the district might request revisions or modifications to the agreement before the Jeffco school board would approve it. “The JCEA leadership has chosen to not Tension continues on Page 5
Restaurant space evolves New eatery to replace DiCicco’s By Crystal Anderson
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com
Cole Krebs, lead singer of The Bandrews, strums a few chords while his bandmate looks on. Arvada High School student, Mya Gonzales, showed her illuminating support of the bands by participating in a time-honored practice of lighting her lighter in the sky.
Photos by CRystal andeRson
The inaugural high school battle of the bands fundraiser, Jam Out Hunger, took place Friday, May 16, at the Arvada Center Ampitheatre. The event featured five area bands, Syke 96, Extraterrestrial Philanthropy, Osmium, Red Federation and The Bandrews, playing three or four original songs and a cover song. Each band battled over three rounds to win a grand prize, and raise money to help fight hunger. Organizers say the concert/fundraiser will hopefully become an annual event, providing an affordable alternative activity for youth while promoting hunger awareness in the community.
Guitarist, Nate Savage, jams during Extraterrestrial Philanthropy’s performance at Jam Out Hunger.
As the Gold Line approaches, new restaurants and businesses are arriving at Olde Town. The latest arrival at Olde Town is the School House Kitchen and Libations. Sitting on the corner of Olde Wadsworth Boulevard and 57th Avenue, in the old DiCicco’s building (which closed in April), the restaurant and bar is now under construction. “It’s a really cool space that wasn’t used in the best way possible, and we’re hoping that it will be now,” said owner, Scott Spears, who also owns Olde Town’s candy and ice cream shop, Scrumptious. The soon-to-come restaurant will seat around 200 people and feature three separate areas. Currently, Spears and his team are seeking to enhance the space, turning the Old Schoolhouse into a large bar; the upstairs space into a lounge, expanded rooftop bar, and a venue for special events; and keeping the main area for family dining. According to Spears, the area will be similar to the Arvada Tavern, but with a full restaurant, lounge and bar, a concept to bring more people to the area. “We are so pleased that Mr. Spears has chosen to invest in another location in Olde Town Arvada to bring a new restaurant concept. His plans for the building are very exciting and I can’t wait to visit,” said Hazel Hartbarger, executive director of the Arvada Economic Development Association (AEDA). Since opening Scrumptious four years ago, Spears has had an eye on the schoolhouse property, wanting to own the space. After a few efforts, he gave up, and it was in that moment, he got a call notifying him the building’s owners were ready to sell. “It’s awesome, we first looked at it three years ago,” Spears said. “We waited and waited and waited, and as we gave up on it, we got a call saying they were ready to sell. We’re going to maintain it and take care of it.” The team is working on the restaurant’s three spaces one at a time, and Spears said this restaurant is going to be something different for residents to look forward to. “I want people to never again think DiCicco’s — this is something totally new,” Spears said.
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