to compensation package

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Teachers and sta in Clear Creek schools will get raises in the 2023-24 school year, and the starting salary for new teachers will move to $44,250.

e Clear Creek school board approved the contract at its June 15 board meeting, and 100% of the members of the Clear Creek County Education Association voted in favor of the contract. e increases are not as high as the CCCEA had hoped.

Clear Creek County is ready for rafting and the revenue it brings

BY CHRISTOPHER KOEBERL SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

A slower start to this year’s rafting season is expected to soon shift into high gear, according to employees at professional rafting companies in Idaho Springs.

A steady snow melt this year has kept the creek at a low-to-medium ow since the season started in mid-

May, despite the unusually heavy and consistent rain this spring, according to Ben Atwell with Liquid Descent.

However, Atwell believes warmer temperatures predicted for next week could facilitate an increase in the melting and as a result, an increase in the corresponding rate of ow, or cubic feet per second as the water moves down through Clear e steady rate of increased ow running through Idaho Springs this past month is calculated by the U.S. Geological Survey. On May 15, the USGS gauge on Clear Creek at Lawson read approximately 150 CFS. By June 11, the creek was running at 550 CFS. Atwell said many of his cus-

Creek.

“As attracting and retaining highly quali ed sta remains a top concern, I am proud of CCCEA’s uni ed e orts to ensure more competitive salaries, despite several low countero ers from the district,” counselor Brian Tracey, CCCEA president, said in an email statement. “CCCEA ne-

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tomers enjoy the faster and rougher rides.

Customer bookings are increasing now and the slower snow melt and steady release this year could create an even longer season later into August, meaning rafting companies can keep rafting longer, and employees will be able to work longer into the season, Atwell added.

e nancial bene ts of a longer season of rafting on Clear Creek for rafting businesses and employees do not end there.

e Colorado River Out tters Association reports a wild ride with the number of rafting trips in the area.

e available gures from 2021 show more than 100,000 rafters that year.

at would drop to 80,364 trips in 2022, according to Dave Costlow with the Colorado River Out tters Association. Costlow said the drop is likely due to COVID. Many people stayed local during COVID in 2021 but felt comfortable to travel more in 2022.

is year Costlow also predicts a longer rafting season going into midAugust. However, several signs this year along Interstate 70 are misnomers indicating Clear Creek is closed to rafters, Costlow said.

“Signs along I-70 might lead people to assume the Creek is closed to rafting,” Costlow said, adding that the creek is closed to amateurs but

Weather Observations for Georgetown, Colorado

Week of June 12, 2023

RASIES

FROM licensed out ts are still operating as normal. ere is no real measure for the economic impact of the rafting season on businesses in Clear Creek County, according to a county spokesperson.

However, a longer rafting season is de nitely good news for businesses in and around Idaho Springs.

Tommyknocker Brewery and Pub Manager Je Reich said weekday sales typically double during the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and weekend sales can more than double during the rafting season.

“Rafting de nitely brings in large crowds,” Reich said. “In years where the creek slows early in the season, business also goes away. However, it looks like this season could be a longer one, and that’s great.”

Reich added that even major sporting events in Denver will drive participants to Idaho Springs for, among other activities, rafting.

DOGS WELCOME FAMILY FRIENDLY

Weather Observations for Georgetown, Colorado

Week of 12 June, 2023

A local National Weather Service volunteer observer makes temperature and precipitation observations each day at about 8 a.m. at the Georgetown Weather Station. Wind observations are made at Georgetown Lake. “Max” and “Min” temperatures are from digital displays of a “MMTS” (“Maximum/Minimum Temperature System”); “Mean daily” temperature is the calculated average of the max and min. “Total Precipitation” is inches of rainfall plus melted snow. “Snowfall” is inches of snow that accumulated during the preceding 24 hours. T = Trace of precipitation. NR = Not Reported. “Peak wind gust at Georgetown Lake” is the velocity in miles per hour and the time of the maximum wind gust that occurred during the 24 hours preceding the observation time. Historic data are based on the period of record for which statistical data have been compiled (about 54 years within the period 1893-2022). Any weather records noted are based on a comparison of the observed value with the historical data set.

A local National Weather Service volunteer observer makes temperature and precipitation observations each day at about 8 a.m. at the Georgetown Weather Station. Wind observations are made at Georgetown Lake. “Max” and “Min” temperatures are from digital displays of a “MMTS” (“Maximum/Minimum Temperature System”); “Mean daily” temperature is the calculated average of the max and min. “Total Precipitation” is inches of rainfall plus melted snow. “Snowfall” is inches of snow that accumulated during the preceding 24 hours. T = Trace of precipitation. NR = Not Reported. “Peak wind gust at Georgetown Lake” is the velocity in miles per hour and the time of the maximum wind gust that occurred during the 24 hours preceding the observation time. Historic data are based on the period of record for which statistical data have been compiled (about 54 years within the period 1893-2022). Any weather records noted are based on a comparison of the observed value with the historical data set.

Temperature (T) (degrees F) Precipitation (P) (inches) Peak wind gust at Georgetown Lake Max Min Mean daily Total (TP) Snowfall (SF) Velocity (mph) Time (24 hr) During the 24 hours prior to 8 a.m. (x) (x) (x.x) (x.xx) (x.x) (x) (xxxx) Monday, 6/12 57 40 48.5 0.06 0.0 23 1130 Tuesday, 6/13 58 34 46.0 0.10 0.0 36 1205 Wednesday,6/14 54 37 45.5 T T 24 0705 Thursday, 6/15 68 42 55.0 0.00 0.0 34 1135 Friday, 6/16 63 36 49.5 0.10 0.0 39 2050 Saturday, 6/17 57 36 46.5 0.41 0.0 25 1255 Sunday, 6/18 58 39 48.5 0.05 0.0 32 1510 Summary Week’s avg max, min, mean daily T; sum of TP, SF 59.3 37.7 48.5 0.72 T Historic week’s avg max, min, mean daily T; avg sum of TP, SF 71.341.756.50.410.2

Day and date of observation (2023) gotiated educator emphasis Creek some and nesses. certi will provide to School ment, ceive plus ary new one over Creek degree earned salary $50,000 Platte $37,030. increases when degree starting Tuesday, July 4 Evergreen, Colorado 8 am @ Evergreen Middle School, 2059 Hiwan Drive gotiated strongly on behalf of both educator groups this year with an emphasis on supporting our classied educators.”

However, Tracey added, “Clear Creek pay continues to fall short of some surrounding school districts and other service industries/businesses. Until we close this gap more, certi ed and classi ed educators will remain stretched far too thin to provide the best education possible to the students of the Clear Creek School District.” e district has made salary increases a priority since 2016-17, when a teacher with a bachelor’s degree and no experience had a starting salary of $32,000.

According to the tentative agreement, classi ed educators will receive a 9% cost-of-living adjustment plus one step on their respective salary schedules. Teachers will be on a new salary schedule and will receive one step plus at least an 8% increase over their current salary.

In the 2022-23 school year, a Clear Creek teacher with a bachelor’s degree and no teaching experience earned $41,322, while the starting salary in Je co Public Schools was $50,000 and the starting salary in Platte Canyon School District was $37,030.

“We had a good negotiations process,” Superintendent Karen Quanbeck said. “We had really good teams from both sides.”

She said district o cials didn’t add more money to its capital reserves, since it would be nishing other budgeted projects, leaving more money for compensation. In addition, she said, the employer contribution to health insurance will increase from $540 to $600 a month, helping to o set premium increases.

Tracey added that “favorable and