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October 8, 2015 VOLUME 113 | ISSUE 49 | 75¢
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DouglasCountyNewsPress.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
WHAT’S INSIDE
OKTOBERFEST FLEXES ITS MUSCLE
Biz expansion: Castle Rock company finalist in competition. See Page 5
Espresso to latte: A guide to coffee culture in the south metro area. See Page 14
Softball: Douglas County squares off against Chaparral. See Page 25
James Morgan struggles to be the last man standing in the afternoon stein-hoisting competition. The Average German Band provides traditional music at the event.
POSTAL ADDRESS
From keg bowling to stein hoisting, the Castle Rock Oktoberfest, hosted by the Castle Rock Downtown Alliance, offered activities for all ages. The event, which was moved to Wilcox Street for the first time in 22 years, drew a crowd close to 10,000 people Oct. 3. “We’re blessed with great weather in Colorado this time of year,” said John Manka, who performed the keg tapping at this year’s event. “We ran out of beer last year, but we made sure that’s not happening this year.”
PHOTOS BY SHANNA FORTIER
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, and the towns of Castle Rock, Parker and Larkspur, 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: Fri. 11 a.m. Legals: Fri. 11 a.m. Classifieds: Mon. 5 p.m.
PL E ASE RECYCLE
How will we care for our schools? Paying for Douglas County’s aging and new schools at heart of capital needs issue
By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com The discussion about what the Douglas County School District’s capital needs are and how to pay for them has produced differing philosophies among district officials, parents and community members. The school district considers a year-by-year approach the best way to address capital needs. In this way, it can pay for what it considers the most importrant needs annually from the district’s operating budget, without raising taxes with a new bond measure. School officials also believe a projected increase in property tax revenue will help cover those costs. The Long Range Planning
Committee — a group of community members and parents charged by the district with studying its capital needs — puts the price tag at $275.1 million for current and future projects over five years. The committee identified major areas of need as facility reinvestment at $133.6 million, technology at $53 million and new construction to accommodate growth at $38.8 million. To help pay for these needs, the planning committee proposed placing a $200 million bond measure on the November election ballot. “We heard the recognition of the need for a bond; we heard a concern about a long-term strategy to address our capital needs,” said committee chairman Todd Warnke during the Apri 21 planning committe presesentation to the board. “One thousand-plus people came out, on snowy nights, on school nights, to sit there thoughtfully and give us very good feedback.”
Schools continues on Page 6
A
TAKING CARE OF OUR SCHOOLS
ging buildings, rapidly changing technology and new construction spurred by enrollment growth are among the Douglas County School District’s top capital needs, according to a report conducted by the district’s Long Range Planning Committee. No one disputes that these needs — among others — exist. But exactly how to address and pay for them has become a debated topic between the school board and community members who worked on the report. Mike DiFerdinando, who covers education for Colorado Community Media, explored the issue, interviewing district officials, committee members and parents to give readers an in-depth look at the district’s capital needs situation. INSIDE: The school district’s approach: An increase in property tax revenue will allow the district to address needs as they arise and help plan for
growth down the road. See Page 6. The Long Range Planning Committee’s approach: A bond issue is necessary to handle maintenance of aging facilities and new construction from student enrollment growth. See Page 6. Keeping up with technology: Aging hardware needs replacement, and strengthening the district’s network is a priority as more and more students bring their own technology to school. See Page 6. Can schools handle expected growth? Student enrollment is projected to reach 128,000 by 2040, nearly double what it is today. The district says it will be ready to deal with the increase, but parents worry about overcrowding. See Page 7. Getting older: The district has 31 schools less than 15 years old; 27 were built before 1996. DCSD has spent more than $35 million on maintenance and improvements since 2012. See Page 7.