School Board approves Moore/Pomona school consolidation

BY JANE REUTER SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

e Je erson County School Board unanimously approved the consolidation of Westminster’s Moore Middle School and Arvada’s Pomona High School. Moore Middle School will close, and Pomona will become a 6-12 grade facility with the start of the 2024-2025 school year.

Principals of both northern Je erson County schools, located about a mile apart, proposed the plan. ey described it and the changes that will come with the merger as a vision for “a thriving 6-12 secondary experience.”

District leadership praised those who led the e ort during the June 22 board meeting. e consolidation is among several school closures planned districtwide due to declining enrollment. But unlike those district-initiated proposals, the plan for the Pomona/Moore merger came from leaders at the two schools. “ is is a great example of an idea that came directly from the community to solve a challenge they feel every day,” said Lisa Relou, Je co

Public Schools’ chief of strategy and communications. “ ey wanted to get ahead of the district in terms of coming up with their own solution.” a hard thing to do.

“ is year’s 8th graders have the opportunity to go to Pomona for some of the electives, and the following year, there will be more opportunities for students to engage with older students in some sort of mentorship,” she continued.

BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Westminster city council unanimously voted to amend the city’s development process which could save developers time and money when it comes to development review.

e item drew no discussion from the council but according to the agenda, it comes after the council approved a concept plan review

Stokes

Both institutions have seen enrollment steadily decline. Pomona’s enrollment has dropped by about 15% over ve school years, and Moore’s by about 50%. In fact, Moore will be the smallest middle school in the Je co School District in the 2023-24 academic year.

Incoming Moore Middle School

Principal Tamsen Stokes, currently assistant principal at Golden High School, will oversee Moore’s nal year. She steps in for outgoing Principal Brenda Fletcher. Stokes expects the last year will be both exciting and bittersweet.

“Regardless of why, having to close a school is challenging for all involved,” she said. “Given the decreasing enrollment over past years, transitioning Pomona into a 6-12 school is a viable solution for the articulation area, but it’s just still

As students continue from the middle school grades to high school grades at Pomona, they may also be able to earn college credit and focus their studies in a particular career eld.

“Our intention is to be able to offer a more enriched experience for middle school-aged students than they would have in a traditional middle school,” Stokes said.

Stokes also wants to pay tribute to Moore Middle School in its nal year. e school has been part of the community since its construction in 1978.

“ is is a big transition for both the students, sta and the community,” she said. “I want to celebrate the history of Moore and also make sure students have a good experience this year, regardless of the change that’s coming.”

To make Pomona a 6-12 facility, plans call for creating a 6th and 7thgrade wing, separate from the rest of the school population, and adding a drop-o area for those younger students who don’t yet drive. e cafeteria will also be expanded to accommodate 6th through 9th-grade students who, unlike high school students, likely will eat lunch on site.

Cost estimates for the work are $1.8 to $2.5 million. Relou said the district likely could allocate about $1.8 million in unused funds originally designated for Moore improvements to the work at Pomona. Additionally, combining the two allows the school to maximize resources, enhance opportunities for all students and save an anticipated $1.1 million annually.

District o cials don’t yet know the future of the building that now houses Moore Middle School, but said it will follow the property disposition process. rough that process, Je co school leaders will ask a diverse group of stakeholders to help determine the best use for each school that closes.