June 2, 2016 VOLUME 114 | ISSUE 31 | 75¢
CHURCH CHUCKLES Congregation uses comedy to raise money for pair of causes on PAGE 14.
DouglasCountyNewsPress.net A publication of
D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
Focus turns to Fagen’s legacy, successor Community members speak out as controversial superintendent prepares to leave for Texas post By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com Douglas County School District Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen’s decision to leave Colorado to take the same position in Humble, Texas, a district of 39,000 students outside Houston, has sparked communitywide discussion about her legacy and who will replace her. Fagen, hired by the Douglas County school board in 2010, said in a May 24 email to district staff that she expects to leave by mid-July.
There has been a mixed reaction to her appointment in Humble. A change. org petition protesting her hiring received 2,000 signatures online as of May 26. Meanwhile, parents and community members in Douglas County posted Fagen dozens of anti-Fagen comments on the Humble school district’s Facebook page. On May 25, the Humble district put out a letter defending the hire. “Our School Board was well informed on all aspects related to Dr. Fagen’s candidacy,” the letter from Robert Sitton, Humble school board president, reads. “We are aware of the posts from Colorado on our district’s social media page last night
and today. We have reviewed the posts, and we want you to know that none of the comments posted were a surprise to us, as we have done extensive research on all seven of our superintendent candidates, including Dr. Liz Fagen.” Fagen’s legacy In Douglas County, parents and educators are reflecting on the impact of Fagen’s six years at the helm of the district, which is Colorado’s third largest with about 67,000 students. “Under Superintendent Fagen’s leadership employee morale has plummeted and millions of dollars have been diverted away from the education of students to fund reform initiatives with unknown budgets and little accountability,” said Laura Mutton, president of the Strong Schools Coalition,
a nonpartisan organization of parents, students, teachers and community members. “Ideally, the next superintendent of Douglas County School District will address the many concerns of the community and restore trust so the district can move forward in a positive direction for the sake of our students.” Initiatives that sparked criticism during Fagen’s tenure included the implementation of a new market-based pay system that compensated teachers of in-demand subjects like science and math at a higher rate and measured teacher performance in categories ranging from Highly Effective to Ineffective. The district is also in the midst of multiple legal challenges surrounding its Fagen continues on Page 12
Valentine protests her recall A hearing has been set for June 3 By Shanna Fortier sfortier@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Susan Dukat, a Larkspur-based photographer, donated $26,000 worth of artwork to the obstetrics unit at Castle Rock Adventist Hospital. Photos by Shanna Fortier
Hospital walls get personal touch Local business donated $26,000 worth of artwork depicting employee families By Shanna Fortier sfortier@coloradocommunitymedia.com The walls of the Birth Place at Castle Rock Adventist Hospital are no longer bare, thanks to Susan Dukat, of Susan D Photography, who donated $26,000 worth of fine art photography that depicts employee families.
This is the largest donation the hospital foundation has received to date. “I think having the artwork in the hallways has really just given a personal touch to the unit,” said Jacque Northrup, birth concierge at Castle Rock Adventist. Dukat, who is based in Larkspur, started the project in the fall of 2015, requesting volunteers from hospital staff to pose for the wall-art project. In the following months, Dukat photographed more than 25 staff members and their families for free
in a custom portraiture session. “The fact that it’s our nurses and their families is just amazing,” Northrop said. “The nurses adore the pictures that are in here. And it is really fun to be able to see that it’s not just some general child that’s out there on our walls.” The initial installation included more than 60 large-scale, fine art canvases featuring the newborns, children and families of the participating staff members.
Castle Rock Councilmember Renee Valentine has filed a protest against the petition to recall her from her District 5 seat. “I believe this recall is an abuse of the recall process which is in place if an elected official does Valentine something ethically or legally inappropriate,” Valentine wrote in her formal protest to the town clerk. A protest hearing has been set for 10 a.m. June 3 at Town Hall, 100 N. Wilcox St., Castle Rock. The petition to recall Valentine — submitted by residents Jeff Linn, Amy Fienen and Sid Brooks — says Castle Rock and District 5 would be better served by a new councilmember who “supports responsible development, reduces debt by ensuring that spending does not exceed Valentine continues on Page 6
ALL IN A ROW Castle Rock’s annual Ducky Derby event takes shape on PAGE 4.
Walls continues on Page 6
DOUGLAS COUNTY NEWS-PRESS (ISSN 1067-425X) (USPS 567-060) OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 | PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Douglas County, Colorado, the News-Press is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT CASTLE ROCK, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 5 p.m. | Classifieds: Tue. 8 a.m. | Obits: Mon. 4 p.m. | Legals: Thurs. 11 a.m.