August 21, 2014 VOLU M E 1 0 | I S SUE 1 2
ArvadaPress.com A publication of
J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
Jeffco considering new school By Crystal Anderson
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com
Seven-year old Eleanor isn’t so sure about the water, so her owner, Christi, coaxes her in with a pink Croc shoe.
Whole lot of shakin’ going on It was the dogs’ day of summer during the APEX Park and Recreation District’s annual dog swim Aug. 17. For two hours, hundreds of dogs of all breeds and sizes took advantage of the cool water when they waded, jumped and splashed around in the Lake Arbor and Secrest Community Swimming Pools. While some took a little convincing to step or jump into the pool to play with friends, many more were overjoyed with the opportunity and happily soaked to the bone.
PHOTOS BY CRYSTAL ANDERSON
A growing population in Northwest Jeffco means an increase in student enrollment and may result in new school construction. According to the Jeffco School District’s chief operations officer, Steve Bell, the influx of people in the area has created a pressing need for the district to build at least one new school. “There’s growing going on in the northwest, or as we call it, the 93 Corridor,” he said during an Arvada Chamber of Commerce breakfast Aug. 15. “Today, the area is five times what it was predicted to be three years ago, and with overcrowded schools, there’s an urgent need to accommodate, with at least one K-8 school in the corridor — at minimum.” On Saturday Bell will present a facilities update to the board of education, along with a proposal for a 10-acre K-8 school along 58th and Highway 93. The proposed facility would cost an estimated $25 million and would provide relief for Fairmount, Mitchell and West Woods elementary schools, which are either at or nearing capacity going into the 2014-2015 school year. “Enrollment is a tricky, tricky, tricky thing,” said board Treasurer Jill Fellman. “In Jeffco, you can find schools that are below capacity, so do you create a new school or push boundaries? We just need to put everything on the table and look at it.” School continues on Page 18
Wading through the shallow end, 2-year old, Rainbow Sparkle Pants, slowly begins to enjoy swimming with her owner.
Seeking the national side of things City attorney appointed to national committee For more than 30 years, the city of Arvada attorney, Chris Daly, has advised Colorado municipal governments. Now, he’s getting to view things from a national perspective. Daly was recently appointed as the Colorado State chair to the International Municipal Lawyers’ Association (IMLA). He will be working to help retain and increase membership in the organization, as well as be a resource for attorneys across the country for local and national municipal government issues. “I’m humbled that they accepted me to serve as the Colorado State chair for this association,” Daly Daly said. IMLA is a nonprofit organization acting as an advocate and resource for attorneys who work to represent local governments nationwide. In this position, Daly will work as an adviser to the organization’s board on policy, programming and membership matters; refer state appellate and supreme court cases
The first one in the pool, 15-month old Great Dane, Kalei, splashes around the shallow end. National continues on Page 18