Douglas county news press 0515

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May 15, 2014

75 cents Douglas County, Colorado | Volume 122, Issue 28 A publication of

douglascountynewspress.net

School district talks up reforms ‘Innovation Summit’ set for three days in June By Jane Reuter

jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com

CHAMPIONING A cauSe

Former Olympic Gold Medal winning wrestler Rulon Gardner spoke May 9 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds at an event to help raise money for the recovery of Castle View senior Joe Hunsaker, who broke two vertebrae at a wrestling meet this February. for more on the event, please turn to page 24. Photo by Mike DiFerdinando

Students learn about Maasai tribe’s culture Warrior chief describes need for education, equipment By Mike DiFerdinando

mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com Students at Daniel C. Oakes High School were visited by a Maasai warrior chief during a school assembly May 5. Maasai Warrior Chief Joseph Ole Tipanko, his wife Cicilia Seleyian and tribesman John Kilenyi Parsitau spoke to students about the differences between the two groups’ cultures and the needs of the Maasai people. While the chief and Kilenyi Parsitau had been to America before, it was Seleyian’s first trip out of Africa. “It was my first time on a plane,” she said. The Maasai are an indigenous African ethnic group of semi-nomadic people who have a reputation as fierce warriors. The tribe lives in Kenya and Tanzania along the Great Rift Valley on semi-arid and arid lands. They occupy a land area of 160,000 square kilometers and have a population of approximately half a million people. They have largely stayed outside the mainstream Western development in the region. Cattle, goats and sheep are the primary source of income for the Maasai. Livestock are traded for other livestock, cash or livestock products such as milk. The chief explained the need for money for more schools and equipment for educating the children of his community. “The kids, sometimes they share a penPOSTAL ADDRESS

Maasai Warrior Chief Joseph Ole Tipanko, his wife Cicilia Seleyian and Tribesman John Kilenyi Parsitau spoke to students at DC Oakes High School about their culture, traditions and way of life. Photo courtesy of DC Oakes High School cil,” he said. “They break it in half and split it to share.” He spoke on the lack of running water and the long distances students walk to and from school each day. “How many of you have ever gone a single day without water?” he asked. “In Maasailand we have no running water.” Seleyian said she walks roughly four miles each way to get water for her family, carrying 30 liters on her back. During the presentation, students were rewarded for answering questions with handmade Maasai jewelry. The jewelry, made with colorful glass beads, was also made available for sale following the presentation, with the proceeds

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going to help fund needed improvements in the Maasai community. The chief said he has been coming to America for five years and that he is very grateful for the generosity of the people here. “Through the partnerships with many people here (in America) we have been able to build two schools in Africa, and it makes me happy to know that at last I’ve made a difference,” he said. “After some time, when I’m old, I will be able to see that I left a seed that will grow and improve the Maasai (community). We’ve been able to build two schools. Many children are going to these schools and it makes me happy that they have a bright future.”

(ISSN 1067-425X) (USPS 567-060)

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The Douglas County School District will open its doors to those in the education world curious about its reform efforts during a summer Innovation Summit. The event is planned from June 18-20. Sessions will take place in district schools. “This is not going to be your average experience,” Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen said on a promotional video for the event on DCSD’s website. “This is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to collaborate on the transformation, the reinvention of American education, that we all know is best for our kids.” The Innovation Summit is described as a way for attendees to “Get everything you need to spark change within your school district,” according to the website. “We will share best practices from actual implementation by teachers and leaders for kids. You’ll collaborate with teachers who have reinvented their classrooms and teaching for the 21st century, uncover changes that have put millions of dollars into the classroom, work alongside staff who have reinvented professional pay in education, and receive authentic feedback on your ideas and your work.” Sessions will cover professional development, market-based pay, pay-for-performance, teacher evaluations, the legally challenged choice scholarship voucher program, school security and more. During the May 6 board meeting, one parent asked school leaders about the cost of the event. She did not receive an immediate response, though board president Kevin Larsen said they would look into it. “I don’t appreciate my taxpayer dollars being spent on this Innovation Summit,” said Anne-Marie Lemieux. “There is no data to prove these innovations are working. If anything we have data to show they’re not working and are diverting funding away from authentic education resources.” DCSD spokeswoman Paula Hans said the cost to the district will be minimal, with registration and sponsorships covering the majority of the expenses. Cost to attend the event is $200 per person, or $400 for teams of two or more. Three employees of North Carolina’s General Assembly visited DCSD last June. Based on that visit, a North Carolina subcommittee recently introduced draft open-enrollment legislation to allow students to attend any public school in the state.

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