October 21, 2021
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An edition of the Littleton Independent A publication of
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 48
ARAPAHOE UPSETS NO. 2 CREEK
Meet more Cherry Creek school board candidates STAFF REPORT
The Centennial school’s strong defensive effort upended powerful Cherry Creek in Centennial League action. Jim Benton has full PHOTO BY JIM BENTON details on Page 22.
LPS hopefuls strive to avoid mask uproar Opinions vary, but board hopefuls call for following legal requirements BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Furor over masking policies in schools has swept across the Denver metro area as districts are faced with
angry parents and shifting legal realities. In Douglas County, commissioners broke with the Tri-County Health Department to make their own health board, which recently ruled that students, faculty and staff could opt out of Tri-County’s mask mandate. The move comes after weeks of tense school-board meetings and protests. In Cherry Creek’s school board election, a candidate sued the dis-
trict for not allowing her to remove her mask during forums. A federal judge ruled in the candidate’s favor. For candidates for Littleton Public Schools (LPS) Board of Education, the uproar is what they hope to avoid. “I’ve heard horror stories about what’s going on in districts around us like Douglas County and in Denver, and (I) didn’t want to open SEE MASKING, P24
In the election that ends Nov. 2, residents of the Cherry Creek School District, which includes central and eastern Centennial as well as Greenwood Village, will fill two seats on the Cherry Creek School District Board. The school board members represent different parts of the district but they are elected “at large” by all district residents. At stake in this year’s election are the District D and E seats. Board District D includes parts of far east Centennial and southeast Aurora. Board District E includes central and east Centennial as well as parts of Greenwood Village, Aurora and unincorporated Arapahoe County. This week, turn to Pages 2-6 for Ellis Arnold’s profiles of the three candidates in District D: incumbent Kelly Bates and challengers Jennifer Gibbons and Schumé Navarro. Our profiles of the three Cherry Creek District E board candidates appeared in the Citizen on Oct. 7 and are also online at centennialcitizen.net. There you’ll also find more coverage of Centennial candidates and issues, including our Q&As with candidates for city office and the Cherry Creek and Littleton school boards. After the polls close on Nov. 2, check with us online for results of local races in Election 2021.
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19 | SPORTS: PAGE 22
NEW PROMISE
Treatments mean shorter recovery from scoliosis P16