Highlands Ranch named Tree City USA for the 35th

Recycling event May 7

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e Arbor Day Foundation has named Highlands Ranch a Tree City USA for the 35th consecutive year. e foundation is a national designation that honors community commitment to e ective urban forest management.

“It’s a huge honor and a great source of pride for the community of Highlands Ranch, it’s almost like a badge of honor for us,” said Dennis Donovan, forestry supervisor for time the Metro District parks, recreation and open space. e administration o ce for the school district said on Monday it did not have any comment on the settlement. e settlement is not an admission of liability for the district or board members.

Located in parks and open spaces throughout the community and along roadways, Highlands Ranch is home to more than 15,000 trees in its urban forest.

Under the settlement, the school district will pay Wise $270,733 for the remainder of his superintendent contract, as well as $562,000 to resolve the lawsuit. According to a news release from Wise’s attorneys, the money will come from the district’s insurance policies, so no money will be diverted from students.

Wise told Colorado Community Media the settlement is vindicating for him, adding that he hopes it will deter politicization and discrimination in Douglas County moving forward.

“I feel validated that this sends a statement that politics should not enter education and, at the same time, discriminatory acts have consequences,” Wise said.

Board President Peterson said in a statement that he voted to re Wise because of a lack of competency and reiterated that the settlement is not an admission of liability.

“As one director, I voted to terminate the former superintendent due