News-Press DCCR 7-4-13
Castle Rock
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 11, Issue 15
July 4, 2013
Free
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourcastlerocknews.com
Building permits, sales tax on rise Castle Rock numbers show recovery underway By Virginia Grantier
vgrantier@ourcoloradonews.com Castle Rock is definitely seeing economic recovery, Deputy Town Manager Fritz Sprague told the town council at its June 18 meeting. Sprague said staff is having to revise numbers in the town’s three-year plan because of an increase in both building permit numbers and sales tax revenue. The town expected a 6 percent increase
in sales tax revenue in 2012 and actually saw a 7.7 percent increase, he said. In 2013, the town expected 5 percent, but is going at a 5.3 percent rate. He said staff is upping the 2014 projected increase in sales tax revenue from 4 percent to 5.5 percent. Building-permit numbers are much larger than expected. In 2012, there were 534 single-family building permits, instead of the expected 425 permits, he said. For 2013, staff expected 350 permits, but at the rate the town is going, that projection has been changed to 750 permits. And Sprague expects even more.
“I’m not really a betting man, but I bet we get pretty close to 800,” he said. The town’s revenues and fund balances are in a good place, he said. Councilmember Clark Hammelman’s reaction to Sprague’s presentation was to ask whether the council shouldt consider changing the sales tax rate. “One of roles is making sure people aren’t paying too much in taxes,” he said. “I’m wondering if that is something (to) consider.” The town council can mull that over, among many other ideas, at a budget workshop set for July 30, a major step in crafting next year’s town budget.
Mayor Paul Donahue said he personally wasn’t “as bullish on the next few years.” He said there is the specter of rising interest rates, and that “we’re possibly moving into another housing bubble.” Also he said the stock market has been going up for about five years without any big corrections yet. “My recommendation … let’s be cautious,” he said. Donahue there are a lot of indications that a house of cards is being built, nationally. He said he wants to make sure the town is ready for another downturn. He said the town’s reserves really helped them get through the last one.
Teacher turnover declines School district figures show 380 departing By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com
Northridge Elementary sixth-grade teachers Lynn Carey, left, and Christine Kounkel were among 200 Douglas County elementary-school teachers to recently spend two of their summer days learning labs and ways to better teach physical science. Photos by Virginia Grantier
Educators go on working vacation 200 teachers attend summer science camp By Virginia Grantier
vgrantier@ourcoloradonews.com It’s summertime, time to be lounging by the pool, just like teachers Amanda Schmidt and Karen Stanfield. Well, maybe not just like them. The two elementary school teachers were sitting on a concrete sidewalk June 24 next to a kiddie wading pool in 90s temps, and they were dressed in long pants. Not cool. Stanfield’s long shirtsleeves were pushed up for work. And their focus was on handfuls of nails and the sand-dollar-size boats they had just designed out of soft clay. The idea was to see how many nails they could load on their boats before it sank. Ultimately, Schmidt prevailed with 16 nails to
Stanfield’s 11. They had taken the plunge, just like about 200 other Douglas County elementary teachers, to spend two summer days soaking up not sun but science camp at Castle Rock Elementary School — an opportunity that Jaime Bailey, a district assessment specialist for professional development, and others had organized. Bailey said busy elementary teachers often focus on teaching life and earth sciences instead of physical science. The Science continues on Page 9
Debbie Charleton, a fourth-grade teacher at Bear Canyon Elementary, tries to create energy without the traditional battery, making an “enviro battery” using vinegar and other ingredients. She was learning the ins and outs of a new lab for her students.
A total of 380 teachers, or about 11.7 percent, of Douglas County teachers are leaving the school district this year. That figure is down from the 2012 turnover rate of 13.26 percent recorded by the Colorado Department of Education. Returning teachers were required to return contracts by June 23. After two spring protests surrounding the district’s new teacher evaluation program, and reports that large numbers of teachers would leave DCSD this year, the district report makes school board president John Carson very happy. “It validated what we’ve been hearing,” he said. “The Carson vast majority of teachers are staying. The TELL survey tells us they’re happy with their school environment. “These numbers are not large. If (departing teachers) wish to be vocal about it, it indicates they’re not happy. So we wish them well.” The state education department’s Teaching, Empowering, Leading and Learning (TELL) survey showed 84.7 percent of DCSD teachers agree their school is a good place to work and learn. But it also showed 22 percent of teachers — more than twice the state average — planned to leave the district or the field of education entirely. The district’s recently released teacher statistics show those numbers did not come to fruition. Teachers’ union president Brenda Smith had a different take on the numbers. “Three hundred eighty teachers leaving is equivalent to 10 elementary schools losing their entire staff,” she said. “Most of these teachers leaving are experienced teachers with a record of accomplishment and close ties to the community. It is sad Turnover continues on Page 9