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Gitanjali Rao, 16, aims to use science for kindness

BY MADDIE BROWNING SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Gitanjali Rao, a 16-year-old STEM School Highlands Ranch student, has given four TED Talks about innovation and Tethys, her detection device for determining the presence of lead in drinking water.

Rao is among the top 50 fi nalists for the Chegg.org Global Student Prize 2022. The prize awards $100,000 to the student making the greatest positive impact on their peers and society.

Rao’s interest in STEM began at the age of 4 when her uncle gifted her a science kit. She has always been interested in innovation and “using science for kindness.” Her most notable accomplishments include earning a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30—a list created by Forbes magazine recognizing 30 game changers under the age of 30 in 20 different industries — in 2019 for creating a lead detection device called Tethys to recognize lead in drinking water. She also created a tool for early diagnosis of prescription opioid addiction and launched an anti-bullying app in partnership with UNICEF.

Rao’s research aims to help the people she cares about and beyond to make the world a better place.

“So for me, personally, I heard about the water crisis in Flint, Michigan and then one of my friends got into a car accident and ended up getting addicted to opioids,” said Rao. “Beyond that, cyberbullying is something I went through, and a lot of my other friends went through as well, and so it’s always these things that are either personal experiences or ones that I form connections with.”

Rao also published a book in March 2021 called “A Young Innovator’s Guide to STEM.” It details the steps from identifying problems to developing solutions in a more modern way. Some problems occurring now never existed before, so Rao argues for a new approach to innovation.

“It’s really a methodological way of how to go about the innovation process and really [move away from] what we think is normal and break it down into fi ve steps for anyone to take their idea from a problem to a solution because it’s really easy to get lost somewhere in the process,” said Rao.

Recently, she worked on lung tumor research and easier drug delivery methods. Rao said her current

Rao

“using science for kindness.” complishments include earning a spot on the Forbes list created by Forbes magazine recogniz-

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investigation into whether Thomas released the document to CBS. Laydon seconded that motion and the two voted in favor of it. They then passed another motion directing their legal counsel to “provide enforcement options” if it’s found Thomas did release the document.

Thomas left the meeting early and wasn’t present for the votes or discussion.

County attorney Lance Ingalls told Teal and Laydon it’s possible that because one media outlet has the document, it may not be able to be considered privileged anymore.

He also discussed another argument the county has heard that the document shouldn’t be kept private after commissioners have read from and discussed it in public.

Both Teal and Laydon said they would like to still see the document kept from the public.

“I have nothing to hide,” Laydon said.

He added that he doesn’t want the names of county staff mem22nd Annualbers discussed in the report made public to protect them.

Teal and Laydon asked for an investigation into Thomas in April after they said she violated the board’s direction by asking their legal counsel for names of supporters of a controversial water proposal from the San Luis Valley. The proposal, from Renewable Water Resources, had strong opposition in the southern Colorado community and Laydon expressed concern for its supporters.

The investigation found that Thomas gave direction to the county’s legal staff that was “contrary to a prior vote” by asking for the names of supporters Laydon planned to meet with.

The report also looked into allegations that Thomas created a hostile work environment and caused the resignation of a fi rst responder in the county by distributing an anonymous letter received by the county that detailed concerns about employees of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Offi ce. The investigation found that Thomas did distribute that letter but didn’t determine who wrote it, according to the county’s announcement.

“The investigation found that it was more likely than not that Commissioner Thomas did not create a hostile work environment or cause the discharge of a former employee,” according to the public announcement.

Thomas did not reply to a request for comment for this story.

An executive session, or closeddoor meeting, titled “investigation update” was scheduled for the commissioners Aug. 9 at 9:15 a.m. Results from the meeting were not available at press time.

Metropolitan State University of Denver locks tuition rate

Current, incoming students get a break from infl ation as school holds line

BY KYLE COOKE ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS

Citing economic uncertainty, Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU) announced Aug. 2 it is freezing its tuition rate for both current and incoming students.

“Our students are facing tremendous fi nancial challenges right now,” said Janine Davidson, the university’s president. “Many are working multiple jobs just to keep up with rising costs for rent, groceries, gas and other necessities, while also persevering to earn their college degrees.”

The news from MSU comes as fears

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of a recession rise due to concerning economic reports and the worst infl ation outbreak in four decades. President Joe Biden, meanwhile, has downplayed recession fears and pointed to near-record-low unemployment as a sign of a strong economy.

Davidson said rising costs have been challenging for MSU students, and that is part of the reason why the university implemented the tuition freeze.

“We want [students] to know that their tuition is one cost that won’t be rising,” Davidson said in a statement.

Starting in the fall 2022 semester, tuition for fi rst-time undergraduate students will be locked for four years. For current students, tuition will not change for three years. Transfer students will have their rate locked for two years.

The tuition freeze does not include mandatory fees, which increase annually. You can explore the mandatory fees here.

In-state undergraduate tuition at MSU is $3,378 per semester, and that does not include fi nancial aid. For out-of-state students, the tuition is $10,510 (nearly 96% of the undergraduate student body is from Colorado).

Earlier this year, MSU announced tuition would be free for students who are enrolled in any of the 574 Indigenous nations recognized by the federal government. The university also provides free tuition to descendants of people who were displaced by the construction of the Auraria Campus, where MSU, the University of Colorado Denver and Community College of Denver are located.

This story is from Rocky Mountain PBS, a nonprofi t public broadcaster providing community stories across Colorado over the air and online. Used by permission. For more, and to support Rocky Mountain PBS, visit rmpbs.org.

SCHOOLS

As of Aug. 2, the district’s career portal listed 496 open positions with 97 of them requiring a license.

“The last two years have been really rough on teachers,” Kane said, citing the stresses of the pandemic.

Currently, the district is in the process of potentially going to voters for a mill levy override to increase staff compensation and a bond for capital improvements, like constructing new neighborhood schools.

No specifi c language for a mill levy override or bond has been approved, but Kane is adamant about the need for additional funding to help keep Douglas County schools successful and competitive.

The Board of Education is expected to make a fi nal decision on whether to ask for mill levy override and bond, as well as specifi c language, in August.

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research focuses on the optimization of gene sequencing technology. She wants to fi gure out how to create vaccines for diseases like COVID-19 with faster turnaround.

She is currently completing a summer program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to further her research and interact with other like-minded students.

“She’s hard to quantify because she’s so unique in her worldview,” said Dr. Penny Euker, the former executive director of STEM School Highlands Ranch. “I think what sets her apart is she’s always scanning her environment and people around the world on what she could create, on what she could invent to improve lives.” Euker said Rao has a “restless mind” and she admires her optimism and resilience in tackling global issues.

Rao said her support system has been a crucial part of her ability to turn her ideas into reality.

“My best friends back home, since day one, have been everything and more to me to kind of lift me up, but also humble me when needed,” said Rao. Her family also supports her in any way they can.

However, the scientifi c community isn’t always as welcoming and supportive.

“Many times, I feel I’m the only girl in the room, more importantly, the only girl of color in the room, and the biggest thing I’ve had to remember is you can’t change what other people say about you, but you can change what you say about yourself,” said Rao. “At the end of the day, by being the only girl in the lab, I’m setting that up for anybody else who comes along after me because one day there’s no longer going to be a stereotype of women in STEM. It’s just going to be people in STEM.”

The top 10 fi nalists for the Global Student Prize will be announced in late August.

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Goals, state of district spur discussion

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

At the fi rst of two retreat sessions, Douglas County School Board directors aired concerns and discussed proposed norms in an effort to address rifts among the board and with the community.

The retreat on Aug. 6 at the Legacy Campus in Parker consisted of directors outlining policy governance goals, the state of the district and what is needed to accomplish the board’s goals. Much of the discussion centered on rebuilding relationships among the board and with three key groups: teachers, parents and students.

Directors Susan Meek and Elizabeth Hanson focused their comments on the lack of trust within the group and the community’s perception of the board. Meek brought up the lawsuit against the district for fi ring former Superintendent Corey Wise as one of the main catalysts for losing support.

“I don’t know how we move forward and build trust when we have issues that we haven’t addressed or discussed as a team,” Meek said.

Board majority members, Directors Mike Peterson, Becky Myers, Christy Williams and Kaylee Winegar, didn’t comment on the ongoing lawsuit.

Myers did respond to say that trust has been lost on all sides and she was working to address it.

“We’re not the only ones being distrustful,” she said. “I know that the people you’re talking to are saying they don’t trust the board. Well, I’m hearing that same thing and getting those same conversations.”

Many of Hanson’s comments were about wanting to fi nd solutions to the loss of trust among the board and with teachers and parents, as well as suggesting better communication is crucial. She both accepted and doled out blame for the damaged relationships.

Hanson said her decisions and experience during the pandemic showed her that many parents felt unheard and she admitted to losing their trust. However, she added that the majority directors’ actions regarding fi ring Wise and directing new Superintendent Erin Kane to evaluate the equity policy equally upset educators in the district.

“I lost part of the parents … and if we’re being really honest and candid and really looking at ourselves, you have lost part of the teachers and the educators,” she said. “We can’t be successful until we rebuild that.”

In later comments, Meek said she felt many of the district’s concerns stem from the conversation about the equity policy and potential changes. Meek emphasized those conversations should stay top of mind and that she hoped to include more student voices in the equity policy discussions.

“I think getting equity right and fi guring out what it means for everyone to feel valued and respected and included — on the board, but also student-wise — (should be a priority),” Meek said.

Hanson also pointed to the language used by the majority board directors, especially when referencing teachers, as another barrier to building trust. She cited former comments made about some teachers putting the union above education, as well as accusations of teachers being too biased or political.

“There are more teachers willing to walk for your recall than for their own pay raise. That is not OK,” Hanson said.

Hanson also noted that she believes the board isn’t doing enough to highlight all of the good happening within the district.

“It’s the middle that we have completely failed to communicate with and work with and show respect to,” she said.

Board President Peterson thanked Hanson for her thoughts and agreed that the district could do better in focusing on positive things and communicating more clearly. For his part, Peterson said the board should focus on balance.

“We do need to make sure that we balance parent voice and honoring our teachers and giving them the ability to do what they do best, which is teach our kids,” he said. “I would like to concentrate on that balance and I know I have work to do in that area, especially the words and messaging to teachers.”

He acknowledged that some of his past comments could have come off as derogatory, even if that’s not what he intended.

“I’ve been imprecise with my language and I’ve had people come back to me and say ‘Mike, it sounds like you’re not appreciative of teachers,’ and I’m totally appreciative of teachers and what they’ve been through,” he said.

While discussing communication breakdowns, Peterson and Myers said some of their comments were misinterpreted or taken out of context. One example Peterson gave was the community perception that the board drastically changed the equity policy when it asked the superintendent to evaluate it.

“We didn’t rescind it, we didn’t change it, we didn’t alter it, we still have the same policy in place,” he said.

Peterson also addressed Hanson’s comments about his actions regarding Wise’s fi ring, noting there was a mutual loss of trust at the time.

Hanson said she felt disrespected when Peterson didn’t inform her about his plan to meet with Wise to discuss his job. Peterson responded that he felt disrespected by the special meeting called in response to that meeting.

“If I could go back and replay that and have done things differently, would I? Yeah, I would, with the 20/20 hindsight from where we are today,” he said. “I still believe that I would have cast the same vote at the end of a different process.”

Myers, David Ray, Winegar and Williams did not speak to the current state of the board.

Winegar did say she felt the district’s monitoring reports will be crucial to keeping track of accomplishments and areas of concern, while Williams said she wanted to know what each director needed to move forward.

At press time, the board was to continue its retreat on Aug. 9, where the agenda includes setting norms.

Douglas County School Board President Mike Peterson speaks at the retreat on Aug. 6 at the Legacy Campus in Parker. Board members met in the fi rst of a two-part retreat to discuss trust and norms. PHOTO BY MCKENNA HARFORD

About $405,000 was awarded to local organizations supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in 2021 from the Douglas County Developmental Disabilities Mill

Levy. COURTESY OF DOUGLAS COUNTY

County to fund housing for people with intellectual, developmental disabilities

Dollars will pay for hotel conversion

BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A portion of the county’s federal COVID dollars will go toward housing residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities, or IDD, after commissioners announced a partnership with Wellspring Community.

Wellspring Community, a nonprofi t based in Castle Rock, helps meet the social, emotional, intellectual and job-related needs of about 100 adults with disabilities in the county.

Through $6.4 million of the county’s American Rescue Plan Act funding, Wellspring will convert La Quinta Hotel at 884 Park St. in Castle Rock into about 35 apartment units for independent living for their clients.

The apartments will have a kitchen, bathroom, living space and bedroom and will have 24/7 support for residents.

The hotel is located next to Wellspring’s main facility, allowing residents to easily participate in daily programs there. The units are planned to be an affordable option for families.

“I think that this project specifi cally, it’s going to be more than just a housing facility,” said Wellspring Executive Director Nicole DeVries. “Because of where its located it will become more part of the community here in Castle Rock,”

As care for people with disabilities has improved, life expectancy has increased substantially, DeVries said.

“Families that used to outlive their child with IDD, and now that is no longer the case,” she said. “Which is a beautiful and wonderful thing and also now has created a very signifi cant issue for families.”

About 70% of the families served by Wellspring have no residential care plan for their loved one in the future, she said.

The organization, formed in 2008, also operates the Castle Rock Collective, a coffee shop which employs their clients.

The commissioners approved the purchase in October. It is scheduled to close in October and will be functional some time next year.

The commissioners have decided to focus their $68.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funding on seven areas: water and wastewater, homelessness, broadband, mental and behavioral health, wildfi re suppression, economic investments and the intellectual and developmental disabilities community.

“The citizens of Douglas County have made it clear that supporting persons with IDD is a high priority. Ensuring that there is a greater physical presence in this County that delivers effective services will help accomplish this goal,” Commissioner Abe Laydon, the board chair, said in a statement released by the county.

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BY TAMARA CHUANG THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado has paid back 87% of the $1 billion it borrowed from the federal government to provide outof-work Coloradans unemployment benefits during the pandemic. As of the start of August, the outstanding balance was $133.1 million.

There’s still a way to go to get the depleted unemployment insurance trust fund healthy again. But with Colorado’s strong job recovery in the past year, the state is on track to pay off the loan by Nov. 10, in time to eliminate a higher federal tax that would start for employers in January, according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

Ryan Gedney, a senior economist at the labor department, credited federal pandemic aid that reduced the loan by more than half in recent months. But that wasn’t the only reason, he said. With more people returning to work and fewer collecting unemployment, more money is going into the unemployment trust fund than leaving it.

“A stronger-than-expected economic recovery also aided in relative improvement in the UI trust fund, mainly due to a steep decline in benefit payments,” Gedney said.

The state paid weekly relief to a record number of people who lost their jobs due to pandemic disruptions that started in March 2020. More than $3.5 billion in regular unemployment benefits was paid to out-of-work Coloradans in the following two years.

Colorado used $600 million from its share of the American Rescue Plan Act, which nearly two dozen states also tapped to pay off their federal unemployment loans, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Of the $600 million, Colorado used $580 million to pay down the loan, saving $20 million to pay interest later. The trust fund is only allowed to fees, like loan interest.

Other states, including Ohio and Georgia, used much more of their ARPA allotment to eliminate their entire loan. Texas used $7.2 billion to pay off its loan and replenish its trust fund.

That’s what Colorado should have done, said Doug Holmes, president of UWC Strategic Services, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that advises businesses on unemployment and workers’ compensation issues.

“The reason for the insolvency in large part was due to governmentmandated shutdowns in light of the pandemic,” Holmes said. “There should therefore be a recognition of the need to restore balances prior to the mandated shutdowns. Employers did not cause the insolvency.”

If more states had used the federal help to build back their trust fund, the states would be better prepared for the next recession, he said.

Since the Treasury allowed states to use ARPA funding to pay off the loans and refill their trust funds, “We recommended it to everybody,”

Two big financial holes for employers

Paying off the loan is one financial chore for Colorado. The other is replenishing the trust fund, which had $1.1 billion before COVID-19 struck. The fund was wiped out within five months. Without outside help, employers will shoulder the financial burden, which has grown since the pandemic. According to the state labor department, 203,000 employers paid for unemployment insurance for their staff in the fourth quarter of 2021. That’s up 11% from the 183,000 employers contributing in the fourth quarter of 2019.

The trust fund is supposed to be large enough to cover workers who lose their jobs during an economic downturn. When it’s not solvent — it hasn’t been solvent since August 2020 — a surcharge turns on and employers must contribute additional money for every worker.

To assist employers, the state legislature passed laws in 2020 and 2022 to stop the surcharge through 2023. But if the trust fund doesn’t get to an estimated $1.2 billion by the end of the fiscal year, or June 30, the surcharge will resume Jan. 1, 2024. — unless it’s paused again. And the following year, the trust fund needs to be at $1.3 billion by June 30.

Gedney doesn’t think Colorado will meet those minimums in time.

“Even based on a strong growth forecast, the trust fund balance would be below $1.2 billion for both of those periods, thus I anticipate the solvency surcharge would be in effect for 2024 and 2025,” he said. “However, it’s possible the solvency surcharge is turned off again through future legislative action.”

But based on assumptions about the economy and labor market growth and even another possible recession, the fund could reach $2 billion anytime from 2025 to 2028. Doing so would keep future solvency surcharges at bay and better prepare the state for another recession. • 2023 increases for employers • No change in rates since they’re already at the highest level • Taxable wage base increases to $20,400 per worker. That means employers must pay insurance on a worker’s first $20,400 of pay, up from $17,000 in 2022. • No UI trust fund solvency surcharge because SB 234 stopped it for one year • No change in the Federal Unemployment Tax Act if federal loan is repaid by November 10. If it’s not repaid, employers will start paying $63 in FUTA per employee per year, instead of $42.

The state stopped borrowing federal money last year because there’s enough money coming in to cover Coloradans on unemployment. That number has been in decline from last year. And based on current forecasts, there will be enough additional revenues in the trust fund to make the Nov. 10 repayment deadline.

But if the state leaves even a dollar on the outstanding loan on Nov. 10, employer taxes will rise. That’s because failure to pay off the loan would cause a reduction in a tax credit known as FUTA, for the Federal Unemployment Tax Act that created it.

Instead of paying 0.6% on the first $7,000 of an employee’s wage, the employer will pay 0.9% to the IRS. That increases the tax by 50%, resulting in payments of $63 per employee instead of today’s $42 per worker.

“Avoiding a FUTA credit reduction would save Colorado employers around $50 million in potential additional costs,” Gedney said.

States that didn’t pay off their entire loan using federal aid should have made sure that enough of the loan was paid off to avoid losing any of the FUTA credit in November, said Holmes, with UWC Strategic Services.

That tax burden, Holmes said, “should be avoided particularly when employers are recovering from a recession. Increased taxes impose increased costs of hiring and make it more difficult for employers to rehire or hire new employees.”

The local chapter of NFIB, an organization representing small businesses and a client of UWC, lobbied state lawmakers last spring to use ARPA funds to pay off the loan. Businesses are already paying more on insurance premiums after another law kicked in to raise the base wage used to calculate premiums. But many companies have essentially moved on, said Tony Gagliardi, NFIB’s state director for Colorado.

“My members are busy running their business,” Gagliardi said. “While this topic comes up for discussion, they’re not dwelling on it because (they’re) making sure they can keep the business staffed. I don’t know how many restaurants I’ve been into in recent months where many tables are pushed to the side because they don’t have enough servers. Or they’ve gone to takeout only. I’ve never seen anything like this in my life where there’s placards on the doors advising customers they have an employee shortage, please be patient.”

This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. The Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

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Two aerospace companies will work on satellites

BY DENNIS HUSPENI DENVER GAZETTE

NASA recently awarded two aerospace companies with a large Colorado presence work on weather satellites that “will ultimately help save lives by enabling even more accurate weather forecasting,” according news releases.

Broomfield-based Ball Aerospace will complete two 20-month studies on new instruments for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s “Geostationary Extended Observations” (GeoXO) program.

One instrument will measure atmospheric composition; the other ocean color.

The GeoXO is being dubbed “NOAA’s next-generation constellation of geostationary weather satellites to address critical operational environmental prediction requirements” — i.e. weather forecasting and the environmental impacts of global warming conditions.

Lockheed Martin, which has a large campus in Waterton Canyon that houses about 8,000 of the company’s 11,000 Colorado employees, was awarded a $5 million contract to work on GeoXO’s lightning mapper and another $5 million contract for “spacecraft bus” design.

The lightning mapper tracks 1 million strikes per day globally.

“We’re thrilled at this opportunity to take all we’ve learned — through developing remote imaging capabilities for NOAA’s current lightning mapper and the agency’s GOES-R satellite series — and infuse new technology to build a powerful, weather-monitoring platform of the future,” Adrián Cuadra, Lockheed Martin’s weather programs director, said in the release. “We’ve continued to advance this technology, which will help provide more timely forecasts and snapshots of our environment to enable decision-making that makes our world a better place for upcoming generations.”

For Ball, the 20-month studies “will be based on Ball Operational Weather Instrument Evolution (BOWIE), a series of innovative environmental sensing systems to meet next generation space-based observation needs identified by customers,” according to the release.

“These studies are just the first steps in NOAA’s efforts to improve the nation’s ability to monitor, forecast and understand the conditions impacting weather, climate and health; from air and water quality to coastline health,” Makenzie Lystrup, vice president and general manager of Civil Space for Ball Aerospace, said in the release. “As weather events become increasingly unpredictable and extreme, we need to keep building better monitoring and forecasting tools. The instruments we are helping to define and design will be critical in NOAA’s commitment to building a weatherready nation.”

This story is from The Denver Gazette, which publishes a daily electronic edition. Used by permission. For more information, visit denvergazette.com.

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