Parker Chronicle 072122

Page 1

Week of July 21, 2022

FREE

DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

ParkerChronicle.net

INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17

VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 34

Accountability questions could hinder school district bond success Poll results point to serious challenges with transparency and trust BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Transparency concerns could decide the success of Douglas County School District’s potential bond and mill levy override questions, yet school board directors have taken

limited steps to address the headwinds. Poll results presented to the school board in June showed a majority of voters wouldn’t support additional school funding in November, with many saying transparency and trust were major issues keeping them from passing an MLO and bond. “When we ask what are the issues on the outgoing surveys, trust and transparency comes up,” Brad Geiger, a member of the MLO/Bond Exploratory Committee, said on June 7. “And if you ask who don’t

you trust, every name on the board comes up.” Colorado Community Media reached out to all of the school board directors to discuss transparency and trust in the district. Director Susan Meek was the only board member to respond to questions. Meek said she continues to advocate for listening to and engaging with the entire community to respond to their concerns. Recently, she encouraged the board to do more voter outreach around what the board could do to address voters’

Town pushes forward on O’Brien playground updates $1.8 million project to be completed in November BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The Town of Parker is continuing with construction updates on the playground at O’Brien Park this summer. The old playground structures have been removed and the contractor — Richdell Construction — is now in the process of completing earthwork to prepare the site for the next stage: concrete and new equipment, said Brett Collins, the town’s park project manager. The planning phase was completed in 2019 but implementation was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In late 2021, it started up again. The playground will be closed for the duration of construction but other areas of the park will remain open, including the pool. The project is expected to be completed in SEE PLAYGROUND, P5

desire for more transparency and trust, but her motion failed. “I think it takes time to build trust back after it’s been lost, and it requires telling the truth, ensuring our actions are congruent with our words,” Meek said. “We need to admit and recognize there has been damage done by actions taken and, I think most importantly, (commit) to work together as a seven-member board and (do) our work in public and following the law.” SEE BOND, P3

Views differ on whether to stop naming valedictorians Cherry Creek has opted to end longtime tradition BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

O’Brien Park’s playground will be closed for the duration of construction, which is COURTESY OF THE TOWN OF PARKER expected to end in November.

Soon after the Cherry Creek School District in Arapahoe County announced it would stop designating valedictorians in its high schools, the criticism started pouring in. “The pursuit of excellence has suffered another blow,” wrote George Brauchler, a former Arapahoe County district attorney, in a column for The Denver Post. “The crusade against meritocracy, and for mediocrity, in our schools reached a new level,” the SEE TRADITION, P3

Evergreen Jazz Festival July 29, 30 & 31

Big Talent! Small Venues! Great Setting!

Dancers Welcome! Free Parking! EvergreenJazz.org

303-697-5467


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