Voice
Lone Tree 7-4-13
Lone Tree
July 4, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourlonetreenews.com
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 12, Issue 25
County teacher turnover declines School district figures show 380 departing By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com
Balloons released during Sky Ridge Medical Center’s groundbreaking ceremony for its $117 million expansion float past a construction crane on the site. Photos by Jane Reuter
sky ridge kicks off expansion Project will add beds, women’s center, more By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com Two months shy of its 10th birthday, Sky Ridge Medical Center is undergoing its fourth expansion. This one — a $117 million project that will add 90 beds, a women’s center, medical office building, four operating suites and a parking garage by late 2014 — is by far its largest. Sky Ridge kicked off the massive expansion during a June 26 morning ceremony in a hospital parking lot that soon will be part of the construction site. Officials from Lone Tree and Douglas County, including state Rep. Frank McNulty — who brought his Sky Ridge-born daughter, Victoria — watched as dozens of colorful balloons soared into the air past a construction crane to mark the project’s official start. Several of the officials and key medical staff also spoke during the event, many crediting the hospital for much of south suburban Denver’s robust economic health.
Sky Ridge CEO Maureeen Tarrant addresses a gathering that included SkyRidge staff during the groundbreaking for the newest expansion on June 26. Photo by Jane Reuter “When we sold the land, it was in fact the key piece to launch RidgeGate from cows to people,” said Keith Simon, RidgeGate’s director of development. “There’s no doubt RidgeGate is really the key catalyst to devel-
opment.” “It has been and will continue to be the foundation of the economic engine here in Sky Ridge continues on Page 7
Leader of new church has questionable history Calvary Chapel says former pastor left it in fiscal disarray By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com A pastor who recently started a new church in Lone Tree left his former Castle Rock church in financial disarray after leaving there in December 2011, according to current leaders of Castle Rock’s Calvary Chapel. Abeyta Brian Abeyta, senior pastor at Calvary Chapel from 2003 to 2011, in April led the debut service of the Beauty for Ashes Fellowship in a rented space at the Lone Tree Recreation Center. In January 2012, he gave his last address to parishioners at Castle Rock’s Calvary
Chapel, asking forgiveness for his behavior there. “I let my guard down,” he said in a recorded address. “I became self-absorbed, financially irresponsible, bitter, a liar, deceptive, even unforgiving, all within these last few months. And for this, I’m deeply sorry.” According to officials at the Castle Rock church, they’re still paying back rent and property taxes on their building, left unpaid under Abeyta’s leadership. Senior pastor Dave Love and board member Dave Weston said that for the last three years Abeyta was at the Castle Rock church, it operated without a board, in violation of bylaws. Based on an independent audit, they believe Abeyta spent more than $200,000 for personal use in 2011 alone. “The money we’re talking about is well beyond any benefit or salary,” Love said. “It’s unambiguous,” Weston agreed. “People have gone to jail for less.” Abeyta said the money was properly
spent for his housing and gas allowances. “At the audit, they said we think you should be taxed on this housing allowance and gas allowances,” Abeyta said. “I said, `I agree.’ Whatever you feel is income that is invalid, send it to me. We’ll take that hit. “I was irresponsible with some of the church finances. To say there was money that was stolen, or taken from the church? I’ll tell you what, it’s still 100 percent inaccurate. Everything’s been twisted and distorted to make us look like something we are not.” Abeyta also consistently failed to pay the full monthly rental amount, leaving the church $440,000 in arrears with its landlord, Love and Weston said. Love said the landlord has agreed to reduce that amount and is allowing the church to slowly repay the balance. “We’re hoping by the end of the year to be debt-free,” Love said. Abeyta continues on Page 7
A total of 380 teachers, or about 11.7 percent, of Douglas County teachers are leaving the school district this year. That figure is down from the 2012 turnover rate of 13.26 percent recorded by the Colorado Department of Education. Returning teachers were required to return contracts by June 23. After two spring protests surrounding the district’s new teacher evaluation program, and reports that large numbers of teachers would leave DCSD this year, the district report makes school board president John Carson very happy. “It validated what we’ve been hearing,” he said. “The vast majority of teachers are staying. The TELL survey tells us they’re Carson happy with their school environment. “These numbers are not large. If (departing teachers) wish to be vocal about it, it indicates they’re not happy. So we wish them well.” The state education department’s Teaching, Empowering, Leading and Learning (TELL) survey showed 84.7 percent of DCSD teachers agree their school is a good place to work and learn. But it also showed 22 percent of teachers — more than twice the state average — planned to leave the district or the field of education entirely. The district’s recently released teacher statistics show those numbers did not come to fruition. Teachers’ union president Brenda Smith had a different take on the numbers. “Three hundred eighty teachers leaving is equivalent to 10 elementary schools losing their entire staff,” she said. “Most of these teachers leaving are experienced teachers with a record of accomplishment and close ties to the community. It is sad that the Douglas County School District is saying this is the new normal.” Turnover continues on Page 7
why teachers are leaving dcsd • Retirement: 101 • Resignation other: 71* • Resignation to work for more money at another metro-area district: 62 • Resignation to move out of area: 61 • Resignation to care for family member: 26 • Resignation to work for a school district closer to home: 16 • Resignation involuntary: 12 • Resignation to work for more money in Denver metro-area private sector: 11 • Resignation to work for
private sector closer to home: 7 • Resignation personal conflict: 5 • Dismissal: 3 • Downsizing: 3 • Resignation due to program reduction: 1 • Deceased: 1 • Total: 380 Information provided by Douglas County School District * Reason other than those listed, such as career change, spouse relocation, stay home with children, etc.
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