June 5, 2014 Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 10, Issue 1 A publication of
arvadapress.com
McMinimee named Jeffco super
DRINKS WITH A HEART
Jeffco board makes decision with split vote By Crystal Anderson
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com
Volunteer, Charissa Classen, creates a drink behind the bar. The coffee house is largely run by its 55 volunteers and seeks more individuals to help out. Photos by Crystal Anderson
Improving the world a cup at a time
Global Goods and Coffee Shop celebrates inaugural success By Crystal Anderson
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com A random idea during the recession sparked the idea for a small business that helps people around the world, through a morning cup of coffee. In April, 2013, donorbased nongovernmental organization (NGO), WHAT: Free drip Global coffee in celebration Refuge, of Global Goods opened and Coffee Shop Global anniversary. Goods WHEN: June 6-7 and WHERE: Global Coffee Goods and Coffee Shop, Shop, 5613 Olde 5613 Wadsworth Blvd. Olde TIME: All day Wadsworth Blvd., as a way to raise funds and awareness. Ran by a group of 55 volunteers and Manager Lorianne McNeely, the coffee shop provides an outlet for the organization to promote its cause, sell goods made by people they support, and raise funds to implement projects across the globe. “People buy coffee every day,” McNeely said “We
IF YOU GO
Located in the heart of Olde Town Arvada, in a large yellow house, the coffee house serves more than 100 customers who enjoy Global Goods’ distinctive locale and handcrafted drinks. want them to come in and get as good a cup of coffee as they’re going to get anywhere else, and know it’s (the money) going to go somewhere and help.” Daily, the coffeehouse serves around 100 cups of coffee, and is swiftly grow-
ing. Through every cup of coffee or item purchase the business helps Global Refuge, which seeks to help individuals in wartorn countries and disaster zones survive the conflict by providing them with medical and nutritional aid.
“We take everything that’s above our costs and donate it back into GRI (Global Refuge International, now Global Refuge),” said Jaden McNeely, Global Refuge’s director of international programs. “Last year we put about $70,000, which for us, it enabled us to start multiple programs and responses we weren’t able to do before.” Last year, the funds enabled initiatives such as a medical clinic responding to cholera outbreaks in Sudan; water projects and wells in Syria; and help children who were orphaned by chemical weapons attacks. “It (the coffeehouse) was able to singlehandedly change the organization just in that eight month period,” Jaden said. As the coffee shop celebrates its first anniversary, McNeely said the support it has is huge, but the employees are looking to grow the coffee shop, expanding the amount of people they serve and to continue to grow awareness for Global Refuge. “Even the involvement at the level of people coming every single day to get a brewed coffee, which is two dollars, that’s their way of helping,” McNeely said. “Even interest at that level is huge.” For more information about Global Refuge or the coffee shop, call, 720-3899030 or visit www.globalgoodsandcoffee.com.
Jeffco Board of Education hired Daniel McMinimee as superintendent for the Jefferson County School District with a split vote. Despite disagreement among board members and chanting from the audience, the board May 27 approved hiring of McMinimee by a 3-2 vote, with board members Jill Fellman and Lesley Dahlkemper opposed. “I think we made an outstanding choice for the superintendent of Jeffco, and I am delighted we are able to move forward with the hiring process,” said Board President Ken Witt. The board had a lengthy discussion about McMinimee’s hiring and key points — such as salary and performance measures — in his contract. In the process, several motions, subordinate motions and amendments were voted down by a threetwo vote of the majority. McMinimee is assistant superintendent of secondary education in Douglas County School District. He has been with the district for 12 years and started as the founding principal of Rock Canyon High School in 2003. “I think tonight’s meeting sent the wrong message to our community,” Dahlkemper said. “I have never seen this district more divided than it is right now. My hope is that we would be able to come together, and we would work together.” Prior to the discussion, the board received a copy of a petition, gathered by community member Michael Clark, and heard 22 of the 87 people signed up to address the board. During the allotted 45 minutes, many people urged the board to not hire McMinimee, and said the board should follow set practices, be transparent, listen to the community and reopen the search process, which cost $40,000. “I have become very concerned with what has been going on,” Clark said. “The board has done a lot of things that has violated their own board policies, including the fact they didn’t properly follow their superintendent search. I actually did vote for both Mr. Witt and Mr. (John) Newkirk and that makes my disappointment that much greater.” Out of 63 applicants, McMinimee was named the sole finalist for the position on May 10, instead of narrowing the process to three candidates at that point. In his new position, McMinimee will manage more than 85,000 students who attend the district’s 155 schools. “Moving forward we want to do everything that we can that’s in the best interest of kids and continue to work towards those goals that set student achievement,” Dahlkemper said. According to the draft contract, McMinimee will earn a base salary of $280,000, with the addition of bonuses and some
Super continues on Page 19
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