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ROCKIN’ THE NIGHT AWAY

School funding options explored This year is the last chance to ask voters to maintain taxes By Jane Reuter

jreuter @colorado communitymedia.com

People had plenty of opportunities to boot-scoot and line dance March 26 during country/rock night, the last event part of the Mansion Dancin’ series. The series featured a different style of dance for all three events, which took place once a month in January, February and March. There was a lot of line dancing, two-stepping and boot-scootin’ happening at the Highlands Ranch Mansion March 26, country/rock night. Narrow Gauge Country, a south metro-area band, provided the music for the evening. The crowd filled the dance floor to dance to the band’s covers of everything from “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd to “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison, and, of course, “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks. During the band’s intermission, dance instructor Liz Deville, a competitive country ballroom dancer from Evergreen, taught attendees how to do the Cowboy Cha Cha. Country/rock night wrapped up the Mansion Dancin’ series, which provided people two other opportunities to dance the night away — salsa night in January and ballroom night in February.

Representatives of 13 Douglas County School District School Accountability Committees let the school board know they want a bond measure to fund capital needs on November’s ballot. They presented a position statement to the board during a recent meeting. School board President Kevin Larsen said the board hasn’t yet made a decision about the potential ballot issue. Doug Benevento, board vice president, said at a recent meeting he won’t support such a question until the Larsen state addresses its schoolfinance formula. Larsen said the district is considering every potential financing angle and prioritizing needs. “Only after we’ve done that next phase do we know what the solution is to be,” he said. “I think we have an obligation to say, is this only solved by bond debt or — Percentage are there other of the 84 school solutions? I don’t district facilities think putting it on deemed in need of the ballot is a foresignificant capital gone conclusion.” improvements, The school diswith five trict has a final categorized at opportunity in “high risk of November to ask component taxpayers to mainfailure.” tain tax bills that would otherwise — Number go down this year. of facilities If voters approved considered in good the proposal, their condition school tax bill would remain un— Average age changed instead in years of school of dropping by district buildings about $36 a year. “I don’t think — Age of the there’s any chance oldest building there’ll be a tax in the district, increase on the Douglas County ballot this fall,” High School in Benevento said Castle Rock during a Feb. 20 Republican party breakfast in Castle — Number of Rock, noting votstudents projected ers rejected simito be enrolled lar proposals in in the Douglas County School 2008 and 2011. “I District by 2040. think what they That’s double the told us when they present enrollment rejected all those tax increases is, Source: Douglas `Why don’t we County School have a more fair District and equitable system for getting our money back from Denver?’ ” Larsen agreed the state funding formula remains a grave concern.

BY THE NUMBERS

PHOTOS BY CHRISTY STEADMAN

Peter and Karen Jomscher enjoy a dance. The Highlands Ranch couple attended all three of the Mansion Dancin’ series, and said each one was a lot of fun, and added they wish there were more dances to the series.

Dave Schroeder, of Highlands Ranch, leads his wife, Donna, in a series of twists and twirls — Western-style — around the dance floor.

Copper Mesa Elementary principal resigns The innovation class at the center of the debate will continue By Jane Reuter

jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com An elementary school that has become accustomed to tumult recently learned it will lose its new leader at the school year’s end. Copper Mesa Elementary Principal Peggy Griebenow recently announced she will resign, citing differences with the Douglas County School District. Many parents whose children attend the school say they’re frustrated. “If this continues, there’s only so much

you can do as a human,” said Lee Tompkins, who’s been an active participant in recent parent meetings. “I don’t need that toxic environment for my child. We’ve talked about enrolling him in Littleton Public Schools.” School board president Kevin Larsen said the district is resolved to find a new leader for the school who will help build the school community’s strength and unity. Concerns at the HighGriebenow lands Ranch school are wide-ranging, but Griebenow’s resignation apparently centered on debate over continuing an innovation classroom. Griebenow conducted a parent

survey in January 2015, and determined there was insufficient parent interest and funding to continue the class in 2015-16. District leaders intervened, saying they want to keep it going and will fund it with district money. Copper Mesa teacher Jenny Henry’s innovation classroom encourages more student collaboration and less teacherfocused instruction. Students help design their own curriculum based on individual interests. Larsen said the district is trying to meet the wishes of all Copper Mesa parents, and can tap into funds specifically earmarked for fledgling programs like the innovation classroom. He said several parents wanted Principal continues on Page 9

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