August 5, 2021
$1.00
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
DouglasCountyNewsPress.net
VOLUME 119 | ISSUE 39
Backlash stalled DCSD equity plans, records show Contract with consultants came to abrupt end BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Every event held in Castle Rock this summer has had higher-than-expected attendance, with parks being filled with grateful PHOTO BY THELMA GRIMES visitors.
Castle Rock events are booming Attendance, participation have exceeded expectations BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
After having no summer concerts or events in 2020, Castle Rock Spe-
cial Program & Events Supervisor Jennifer Reinhardt said she did not know what to expect at the start of the 2021 summer concerts and festivals season. The results are better than expected, said Reinhardt, as every event, concert and festival held in Castle Rock this summer has been packed and beyond successful.
“I have never seen anything like it,” she said. “We ran into trouble booking vendors because they are all booked up. We have had food trucks running out of food because there are so many people. Everything this summer has been exciting and so full of energy.” SEE EVENTS, P10
Paying respects to the unknown County coroner leads effort to memorialize babies, man BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Three people, including two
newborn infants, were laid to rest with dignity thanks to the efforts of Douglas County Coroner Jill Romann and the compassion shown
by several businesses and organizations. Romann said after a funeral home in Castle Rock closed, the coroner’s office was called in to SEE UNKNOWN, P31
Dream Big Dreams...
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 20
Plans between Douglas County Schools and a consulting firm hired to conduct diversity and equity training crumbled last school year after backlash toward the group’s work mounted, records show. Now the district is preparing to continue equity work in 2021-22, but leadership said the district is not ready to release details. “We heard and reflected on the concerns raised and have decided to slow down and regroup on Educational Equity and Inclusive Excellence in DCSD,” district spokeswoman Paula Hans said in an emailed statement. The Gemini Group, a consulting firm based in Denver, became a lightning rod in April and May as some community members argued their trainings were evidence the district was teaching the much-discussed academic concept of critical race theory after adopting an equity policy. The district has repeatedy denied that it teaches critical race theory to its students. Nevertheless, the controversy culminated when Superintendent Corey Wise abruptly canceled a staff summit scheduled with The Gemini SEE EQUITY, P2
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