New schools o er career, technical education

BY HALEY LENA AND MCKENNA HARFORD COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Douglas County School District celebrated the openings of two new campuses that expand career and technical education and non-traditional educational opportunities.

e district hosted back-to back ribbon cuttings on Aug. 2 and Aug. 3 at the Legacy Campus in Lone Tree and the VALE Campus in Parker, respectively.

At the Legacy Campus, juniors and seniors from across the district will have access to programs that will provide college credits or prepare them to enter a career, such as robotics, aviation, culinary arts and nursing.

Legacy has partnered with a number of Colorado colleges, including the University of Colorado, Metro State University and Denver University.

“If (Douglas County School District) is the engine of Douglas County, our alternative schools are the supercharger on that engine,” School Board President Mike Peterson said at the VALE ribbon cutting.

For an alternative high school experience, VALE, or the Venture Academy of Leadership and Entrepreneurship, will combine traditional classes with real world experience. Unlike Legacy, students enroll full-time at VALE with classes starting on Aug. 8.

VALE administrator Katy Kollasch described it as a place to allow students to have a multi-sensory learning experience with the support and partnership of local industry professionals. VALE is also much smaller than most high schools, with a sta of 18 teachers.

“We can’t wait to bring school to life for our students,” said Kollasch.

Classes will run Monday through ursday and on Fridays students will go into the community and learn through local partnerships. Students will start with volunteer work and move onto mentor experiences, internships and apprenticeships. e goal is for students to apply for a patent, submit a work to be published or become practitioners through their Friday work based learning.

“ e substance that these kids will have starting on Tuesday is like nothing I have ever seen in 20 years in education, and they are going to be amazed,” founding principal Lee Ann Hayen said. e district bought Legacy for $10.3 million and VALE for $5 million in 2021 and spent roughly $23 million to renovate both buildings.