September 10, 2020
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DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
DouglasCountyNewsPress.net
VOLUME 118 | ISSUE 46
COVID-19 quarantines impact Douglas County schools 11 schools affected in 1st full week of hybrid learning A rendering of the View, a mixed-use development planned for downtown Castle Rock. The project is planned for a 2-acre lot. COURTESY PHOTO
Town Manager David Corliss told council during a budget introduction on Aug. 18 and before council’s first vote on the budget during the Sept. 1 council meeting that sales tax is the biggest driver of town revenue, making up 65% of the general fund. That makes for tough budgeting during economic downturns like
Public records show students and staff from nearly a dozen schools were impacted by quarantines during the first full week of hybrid learning for the Douglas County School District, and health officials investigated at least one outbreak. A Colorado Community Media analysis of emails among district officials and letters issued by the district’s Health, Wellness and Prevention Team between Aug. 22 and Aug. 31 shows 11 schools were affected by quarantines in roughly the first full week of hybrid learning. The local health department also investigated at least one outbreak after two cases were confirmed in one school cohort. District staff presented data at the Sept. 1 board meeding showing there were at least four positive cases of COVID-19 among district staff and students. Approximately 55 staff members and 247 students had been in isolation or quarantine. Colorado Community Media’s analysis found the district notified community members of at least six positive cases at schools by Aug. 31. The Douglas County School District opened its year on a “hybrid” learning model, where students are divided into two groups that alternate
SEE BUDGET, P4
SEE SCHOOLS, P11
Downtown Castle Rock development advances The 6-story building will have offices, apartments and retail space BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Downtown Castle Rock is one step closer to having a new, mixed-use
development with more than 200 apartments after council members voted to move forward in a Sept. 1 meeting. The View, which is a collaboration among Sunflower Development Group, Treanor HL and First Construction, will be at the corner of Sixth Street and Jerry Street. The site, which currently holds a storage facility, is more than 2 acres. If completed, the development will
have 182,000 rentable square feet with 218 apartment units, 14,500 square feet of office space and 5,000 square feet of retail space, said Banks Floodman with Sunflower Development Group. The project will allow for 429 new parking spaces, town manager David Corliss said. In exchange for the town waiving $3 million in fees and SEE BUILDING, P13
Castle Rock council gives initial OK to 2021 budget Budget shortfalls were less than expected in 2020, town manager says BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The Castle Rock Town Council has given initial approval to the
proposed 2021 budget as the town closes a rocky 2020 budget year due to COVID-19, although staff said budget shortfalls have proved less drastic during the pandemic than first expected. The $229.8 million 2021 budget is up for final approval on Sept. 15. It includes $56.7 million in transportation spending and $54 million for water rights and infrastructure spending.
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | SPORTS: PAGE 23
BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM