Teens fan out to provide assistance at 24 locations
Elizabeth High School held its annual Big Help day on April 23. EHS describes the event as an “opportunity for our students to reach out and `give back’ to the community they live in!” Organized this event is being able to o er the students an opportunity to help out others in the community,” she said. “ e stories that are told after their experience are so fun to hear and every location is so thankful for the help that is provided.
being the lead. e committee spends a huge amount of time working to organize the event.
“Each year we get together with our committee right after homecoming to start planning this event,” she said. “We
Library books are returned to shelves in ongoing saga
Elizabeth School District loses a round as lawsuit filed by
ACLU of Colorado continues
BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Nineteen titles removed from Elizabeth School District libraries last year have been returned to circulation for now as a result of an April 28 court order, but the books are on the “sensitive topics” list so parents can opt out of allowing their children to access them, Superintendent Dan Snowberger told the Elbert County News. e order from the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver upheld District Judge Charlotte Sweeney’s preliminary injunction ordering the school district to return the books to library shelves. e appeals court had temporarily granted the district’s request for a stay of Sweeney’s injunction, but then ruled that the stay was unjusti ed.
work on calling businesses in and around Elizabeth to see if they would like any help. We ask each business how many students they would like to help them. Getting this number early on helps us make sure we can get all of our students placed somewhere. is is a key step because we place every student at the high school.”
Antinora said this year EHS sent students to a total of 24 di erent locations to help
However, the legal battle between the ACLU of Colorado and the Elizabeth School District is far from over, and the ultimate outcome of the ACLU’s lawsuit seeking to keep the books in the libraries permanently has not been decided. e April 28 order from Chief Judge Jerome A. Holmes and Judge Nancy L. Moritz read, “Having carefully considered the parties’ arguments, we nd Appellant (ESD) has not carried its burden to show the circumstances justify a stay. We therefore lift the temporary stay and deny Appellant’s motion. We also deny, without prejudice, Appellant’s request to stay the district court proceedings, and we deny Appellant’s request for expedited brie ng.”
e ACLU sued the district last December seeking the return 19 library books that the ESD board had voted to permanently remove. In August the board initially suspended the books and allowed community members to review speci c passages and weigh in on whether or not the district should keep them on library shelves. In September, the board announced it had o cially decided to remove the titles,
Elizabeth High School student Lainey Quinby holds a vibrantly colored parrot while students help at The Gabriel Foundation, a bird sanctuary and rehabilitation facility, during the Big Help on April 23.
PHOTO BY NICKY QUINBY
Douglas County launches Hall of Fame program
Initiative honors those who positively impact community, preserve legacies
BY FRANK DEANGELI
SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
In March, the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners launched a new Hall of Fame program. e initiative aims to both o cially acknowledge the e orts of people who positively impact Douglas County and ensure their legacies are preserved.
Commissioner Kevin Van Winkle, who spearheaded the e ort, said that giving o cial recognition to prominent and accomplished Douglas County residents has been a personal aspiration since his time in the Colorado state legislature.
“I would constantly come across local heroes, anyone from an Eagle Scout to a decorated war veteran,” said Van Winkle. “And since coming home to Douglas County, honoring these folks has been a priority of mine.”
Van Winkle said his fellow commissioners, Abe Laydon and George Teal, were “excited as can be,” about the idea when he originally proposed it.
On March 11, the board o cially inducted the Hall of Fame’s rst member: 101-year-old SSgt. Howard A. Berger. Berger fought in World War II, continued his service overseas for over 50 years after the war, and launched an “Over 90 Charitable Gift Annuity Plan” at age 97.
Van Winkle rst heard about the sta sergeant through a constituent hoping ceremony, Van Winkle had an opportunity to sit down and speak with Berger at Berger’s home. e veteran told the commissioner stories and showed o some of his memorabilia collection. Afterwards, Van Winkle gave Berger a county “challenge coin” - a small coin awarded to exceptional residents that is engraved with Douglas County’s values.
just seemed like a perfect rst person to commemorate,” said Van Winkle.
In addition to commemorating important community members, Van Winkle hopes that the Hall of Fame will provide a point of positivity amidst a di cult political and social climate.
“In a time of bitter anger between state and federal, or left and right, this is one thing without politics. It’s important to
A 19-year-old Eagle Scout and another decorated veteran are next on the docket to be honored by the county. e next ceremony will take place on May 27. Residents can nominate anyone who they feel has had an important community impact and deserves o cial recognition by the county. e nomination form is available on the county’s website.
DUI crash brings murder conviction
Victim was killed while pumping gas in Castle Rock
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN
A Castle Rock man faces life in prison after a Douglas County jury convicted him of rst-degree murder in a DUI crash that killed a decorated Air Force pilot and father of four.
Jurors found 57-year-old Paul Stephenson guilty on April 28 for the August 2024 crash that killed Lt. Col. Matt Anderson, 39, who was at a 7-Eleven gas station in Castle Rock after attending the Douglas County Fair with his family. Anderson was pumping gas while his wife was walking into the gas station
phenson admitted to drinking a bottle of Fireball whiskey and two beers prior to the incident.
According to prosecutors, Stephenson’s blood alcohol content measured 2.5 times the legal limit . e crash marked his third DUI o ense.
District Attorney George Brauchler said that disregard is what prompted him to pursue the rare rst-degree murder charge versus vehicular homicide.
“ is is not just some other DUI,” Brauchler said. “ is dude does not care about the value of human life. at’s how we charged it.”
Surveillance and witness accounts revealed Stephenson accelerated his Chevy Silverado directly into the Andersons’ vehicle, striking it with such force that it threw Anderson more than 15 feet, causing fatal injuries. Brauchler said the impact severed Anderson’s foot above the ankle and caused massive head trau-
“What made this di erent was not just the brutality of the crash but what came after,” Brauchler said. “In the hospital,
Stephenson never once asked about the children. His questions were about his glasses, his truck and asking the nurses for ice and water.”
Jurors also convicted Stephenson of four counts of attempted murder, four counts of child abuse and one count each of assault and criminal mischief.
Brauchler said his decision to personally try the case was driven in part by the gravity of the loss and his own connection to the victim’s story.
“I’m a father of four. He was a father of four,” he said. “I’m a colonel in the Army. He was a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force. When the rst murder trial in the 23rd came up, and it was this one, I wanted to show what leadership and accountability look like.”
Brauchler also wanted to send a message to the broader community.
“If you kill someone while driving drunk,” he said, “I will do everything I can to take away your freedom and as punishment for the death you caused.”
Senior Deputy District Attorney Nate Marsh said the verdict re ects the devas-
tating impact of Stephenson’s actions.
“ e Anderson family was torn apart because this defendant had complete disregard for the lives of anyone but himself,” Marsh said. “ eir strength has been on display through this entire process and hopefully this verdict will help in the healing process.”
Lt. Col. Anderson served more than 18 years in the U.S. Air Force. His wife, Alli Anderson, thanked the district attorney’s o ce, rst responders and the Castle Rock community after the verdict.
“ e kindness and support shown to me and my children has been deeply felt and will never be forgotten,” she said.
Brauchler praised the prosecution team and said the verdict brings some measure of justice.
“For the Anderson family, this murderer has sentenced them to a lifetime without a husband and father,” Brauchler said. “ ey can take some small solace in knowing the killer will never again take a free breath.”
e court set Stephenson’s sentencing for July 3.
The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners awards SSgt. Howard Berger with a commemorative plaque. COURTESY OF DOUGLAS COUNTY
Here’s What Being a “Full-Service” Real Estate Agent Means to Us
To me — and, I believe, to my broker associates at Golden Real Estate — being a “full-service” real estate agent means more than providing the minimum “uniform duties” set forth by the Colorado Real Estate Commission, with my comments in brackets:
“Broker shall exercise reasonable skill and care for seller, including, but not limited to the following:
Performing the terms of any written or oral agreement with seller;
Presenting all offers to and from seller in a timely manner, regardless of whether the property is subject to a contract for sale;
Those are the minimum duties spelled out by the Real Estate Commission for an agent representing a seller. The Commission spells out similar duties for a broker representing a buyer, tenant or landlord.
”
be on this
Disclosing to seller adverse material facts [about the buyer] actually known by broker;
Advising seller to obtain expert advice as to material matters about which broker knows but the specifics of which are beyond the expertise of broker;
Accounting in a timely manner for all money and property received; and
Keeping seller fully informed [throughout] the transaction.
Those are the minimum duties, whether the agent is functioning as a transaction broker or an agent. A transaction broker, which we don’t recommend, is a broker who owes no fidelity to either party, but merely facilitates the transaction. If the broker is an agent, broker has the following additional duties:
“Promoting the interests of seller with the utmost good faith, loyalty and fidelity [above those of the buyer or him/herself].
Seeking a price and terms that are acceptable to seller [or better].
Counseling seller as to any material benefits or risks of a transaction that are actually known by broker.”
At Golden Real Estate, my broker associates and I are always seeking to “go the extra mile” when serving our clients. For sellers, that could include such things as providing a free professional staging consultation before the home goes on the market, so that it shows its best.
Sometimes the staging consultant recommends moving furniture, and, of course, we help there. And sometimes repairs are required, for which we provide our in-house handyman at the client-only rate of $30 per hour. He can handle light plumbing and light electrical matters such as replacing a vanity, toilet or chandelier, and he’s also good at doing drywall repair, including texturing.
A seller who is downsizing may need to sell or give away unwanted furniture. In many instances, we’ve been able to get the winning buyer in a bidding war to agree to purchase all the unwanted furniture — even if they didn’t want it. If there’s enough good quality furniture, we have an estate sales vendor who will run a sale and then donate the unsold furniture (using his own truck) to the International Rescue Committee, which donates that furniture to refugees from other countries for whom the IRC has found housing.
(When Rita and I sold our Golden home in 2022, we had a bidding war, and the buyer paid us $10,000 for the furniture we didn’t want in our 55+ apartment, and, best of all, I wrote into the contract that we could leave anything else that we didn’t want. That included our garage full of tools and “stuff”!)
Before our box truck died, we provided it
Here Are Some Reviews From Our Past Clients:
for only the cost of gas used by buyers and sellers, and we still have a storage shed full of previously used moving boxes of all sizes, packing paper and bubble wrap, which we provide free to clients. Many times I have delivered those boxes and packing materials to a client so they don’t have to pick them up. (We’re running low on small moving boxes, if you have some you’d like to give us.)
Sometimes a seller will need to move furniture or other belongings into a storage unit so their home shows better, and we have been able a couple times to procure a free first month’s rent, with no contract beyond that.
Our personal “cleaning lady” isn’t taking on new accounts but is always available for one-time move-out cleanings of our listings. I just found out that she pulls out the range and refrigerator and cleans behind them, which I wouldn’t have expected, but which makes sense, because the buyer is likely to replace one of those appliances and would be disgusted at how dirty it was there! Thanks, Cybil!
Golden Real Estate is still one of the only brokerages which shoots a narrated video tour for every listing and posts it on YouTube, with links to the MLS, which in turns gets it onto the public and broker websites which get their listings from the MLS. We’ve been doing that for two decades, yet other brokers have been slow to realize its value. It has resulted in some out-of-state buyers (including one last fall) going under contract without seeing the listing in person until they fly in for the home inspection.
We also have switched to a photographic vendor owned by Zillow for shooting the magazine-quality still photos and Matterport interactive photos for our listings. They also
every other
so the next time you’ll
create accurate floor plans of every listing and shoot a drone video and aerial photos. Because the vendor is owned by Zillow, our listings garner priority display on that important website.
I’m also a member agent on Homes.com, the nation’s new #1 listing website, which garners each of our listings many times more views than otherwise. Here’s a recent statistical report sent to one of my sellers:
I love rolling up my own sleeves and getting dirty for my clients. Once I used a logging chain and my truck to pull juniper bushes out of the front yard of a listing to improve its curb appeal. I look forward to the opportunity to surprise and delight you with what we consider being a “full service” Realtor!
These Past “Real Estate Today” Columns May Interest You
Clickable links for each column can be found at www.JimSmithColumns.com
Feb. 20, 2025 — We Have a Tool to Help You Find the ‘Perfect’ Home That’s Not on the MLS
Sept. 28, 2023 — Insurance Companies Are Pulling Out of California. Is That in Our Future?
Aug. 10, 2023 — What Are Some Common Mistakes That Homeowners Make When Selling?
Golden Real Estate is the best residential real estate agency i have ever worked with. And I have bought more than 20 houses. What I like most is that they are not afraid to express their frank opinions about any piece of real estate. And I love the house they found for us on South Golden Road.
— Don Parker
Dave Dlugasch did a phenomenal job working with us! We were not easy buyers because of an extensive “wish list” and he did his homework on each property we looked at until we found the right one. He gave us great advice and was very supportive of all our questions throughout the entire process.
— M. Madigan
Based on Jim Smith's knowledge, experience, and expertise in the real estate arena, we decided to work with him when it came time to downsize. We used Jim and his real estate firm to both purchase the new home and sell our existing property. All communication with Jim has been top notch. He also provided all packing materials and labor to make our move. It was a great experience from start to finish.
— R. Trujillo
We were beyond impressed with Kathy Jonke! She went above and beyond for us. She accommodated all of our needs. She was insightful and extremely helpful throughout the entire process! I can’t recommend her more! — Eve Wilson
Not only did Jim Smith do a superb job in the marketing and sale of our home, he provided his company's moving truck and long time handyman Mark to move our belongings to our new home in Broomfield. When a problem occurred, he hired an outside moving company to help complete the move in one day instead of two! We are so pleased that Jim helped us through the process of selling our home and moving us into our new home.
— Reese & Sally Ganster Chuck Brown is a superb Realtor. He is very knowledgeable regarding the market, very
proactive and highly professional. Chuck was great at identifying potential properties that met our criteria, he moved very quickly to show us potential properties and his analysis of property values was on point and very thorough. Chuck was extremely proactive and responsive in his communications with us. Chuck went above and beyond our expectations. My wife and I have done six real estate transactions and we think Chuck is the best Realtor ever. We would highly recommend Chuck to other home buyers. — S. Diamond I was helping my mom and her husband sell the house. David Dlugasch was very accommodating to this dynamic. He arranged for all the paperwork to be done at the nursing home for the ease of my mom. David and I worked together to get the very full and dated house ready to go on the market. He went above and beyond by going to the paint store and hardware store etc. He was always available via text for any question I had along the way. He had a lot of resources. The best one was Mark, the handyman. I could always count on Mark. Mark was very meticulous and could do anything. What a great team! I could not have taken on this monumental task without them!!
—Heidi Warner
Greg Kraft was knowledgeable and professional. He was very easy to work with and was super proactive in searching the listings. That was a key in us managing to buy the townhome in a very competitive market. He was also very responsive and communicated really well with us and the listing agents. We would recommend him without reservation.
— J.
Knight
Jim Swanson was kind and patient while listening to my questions. He helped me to translate the real estate language and manage the sale process. He connected the dots, allowing me to make good decisions, maintain my personal integrity and profit from the sale when a great offer came to the forefront. Jim, Thank you for putting communication and community first. — Name Withheld
Dec. 26, 2024 — As Pro-Tenant Laws Expand, Some Small Landlords Are Considering Cashing Out
Dec. 19, 2024 — What Are the Costs of Buying or Selling a Home in Colorado?
Nov. 7, 2024 — We Need to Take Seriously the Pollutants Emitted When Cooking With Gas
Oct. 31, 2024 — Cooperative Living Presents an Attractive Alternative for Downsizing Seniors
Sept. 26, 2024 — Some Thoughts on Keeping Your Death From Becoming an Undue Burden on Your Heirs
Sept. 5, 2024 — What Knowledge and Skills Should You Expect Your Real Estate Agent to Have?
Aug. 8, 2024 — Seniors Over 70 Might Consider Downsizing Into a Rental, Not a Smaller Home
July 25, 2024 — Many Homeowners Don’t Understand Title Issues, Which Could Lead to Big Problems Later On
June 6, 2024 — Here Are Some Simple Steps to Take to Avoid Unpleasant Surprises After Closing
Mar. 21, 2024 — What’s Behind the Buzz About ‘Indoor Air Quality’ and ‘Sick Building Syndrome’?
Feb. 22, 2024 — Most Sellers Don’t Know How to Interview a Listing Agent. Here’s Some Guidance.
Dec. 21, 2023 — D.R. Horton Inks Deal to Build Homes With OSB Made From Grass Instead of Wood
Nov. 23, 2023 — Scamming Has Become Its Own Industry, and We’re All Prospective Victims
June 15, 2023 — Don’t Let Capital Gains Tax Deter You From Cashing Out on an Investment Property
May 11, 2023 — Do Agents Inflate the Cost of Buying or Selling Your Home with ‘Junk Fees’?
Apr. 20, 2023 — What Are Some Affordable Ways to Make Your Home More Attractive to Buyers?
Mar. 16, 2023 — Here Are Some Ways to Make Your Home More Accommodating to Seniors
Feb. 9, 2023 — Understanding Indoor Air Quality and How It’s Managed in Super-Insulated Homes
Oct. 27, 2022 — Sales Taxes May Be Lower, But Property Taxes Are Higher in Unincorporated Areas
Oct. 6, 2022 — How to Make Sure That the House You Buy Will Not Be a ‘Money Pit’ Sept. 22, 2022 — What Steps Can You Take to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient?
July 28, 2022 — Aging in Place vs. Moving to a 55+ Community: Here Are Some Considerations
May 26, 2022 — Reflections on Selling Our Home and Moving Into a 55+ Rental Community
Jan. 6, 2022 — Marshall Fire Is a Wake-up Call for Building More Fire-Resistant Homes
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Oct. 14, 2021 — Court Rules That Sending an Email Can Bind You, Even Without Signing It Oct. 7, 2021 — What Are the Most Common Foundation Issues You Might Encounter in a Home?
Jim Smith Broker/Owner
State lawmakers brace for special session on Medicaid
Budget director estimates cuts to federal funding could reach $1 billion
BY JOHN INGOLD THE COLORADO SUN
Lawmakers and other state officials have for weeks been bracing for the possibility of coming back to the Capitol later this year to deal with potential federal cuts to Medicaid likely to be included in Congressional Republicans’ still-beingwritten budget proposal.
“There certainly are a lot of indicators that would suggest that we might end up having to come back in the event that there’s a dramatic cut to Medicaid,” state Sen. Judy Amabile, a Boulder Democrat and member of the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee, said in March, as first reported in The Colorado Sun’s politics newsletter, The Unaffiliated.
Speaking to a group of health care leaders in April, Gov. Jared Polis’ budget director put it a little more bluntly. Mark Ferrandino said the state is estimating up to $1 billion in cuts to Colorado’s federal Medicaid funding under proposals being discussed in Washington, D.C..
“Just to be clear to everyone,” Ferrandino said, “if that’s the cut, we are not backfilling, which means we have to make cuts both in Medicaid and other places in the state budget to deal with it.”
Medicaid is the state’s most expensive program. The agency that runs the program has an $18 billion budget for next year. More than $10 billion in that bud-
get comes from federal funds, meaning Colorado could be facing a 10% cut in that funding if Ferrandino’s projections are correct.
Colorado contributes about $5 billion to the Medicaid program out of the state’s general fund, making it the largest source of general fund spending. When Ferrandino says the state will not backfill, he means the state won’t chip in more general fund money to make up for the possible federal cuts. There just isn’t enough cash to do so.
This is especially true because next year will see another tight budget, regardless of what happens at the federal level. Ferrandino described what lawmakers did this year to close a $1.2 billion budget gap as essentially punting the problem into next year.
“It is going to be a more difficult budget,” Ferrandino said in remarks at the Colorado Hospital Association’s Hospitals on the Hill, a lobbying day for health care leaders that also features informational sessions for those leaders. “We are going to have to look at cuts. I will say Medicaid … if not controlled is going to eat up the entire state budget. Which is going to mean we have to make difficult decisions in the health care space.”
The combination of these two funding crises has sent Colorado officials and health care leaders into overdrive in the past few weeks to fight against federal cuts to Medicaid.
Earlier this month, Polis and Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera sent a letter to Colorado’s Congressional delegation urging them to reject cuts to Medicaid. The envisioned cuts could mean a loss of 12,000 jobs, $1.3 billion in state GDP
and $82 million in state and local tax revenue, the pair argued.
“Children, hardworking individuals, people with disabilities, seniors, and safety net providers are not political pawns or talking points,” they wrote in the letter. “These cuts would mean losing access to lifesaving care with devastating consequences.”
urging House leadership to preserve Medicaid. Nearly one-third of people in Hurd’s district are covered by Medicaid, the highest percentage of any Colorado representative.
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The Colorado Health Policy Coalition, a group of more than 80 health care organizations from across the policy spectrum, followed that with its own letter opposing cuts. Just this week, the Colorado Rural Health Center released a statement criticizing proposals to cut programs that specifically support rural health care providers.
“Cutting funding that has been a cornerstone supporting the rural health care delivery system for decades is both short sighted and profoundly damaging,” said Michelle Mills, the CEO of the Colorado Rural Health Center, said in the statement. “Every dollar of federal funding invested in rural healthcare is an investment in thriving communities.”
The debate over health funding cuts has also created fault lines among Republicans in Washington.
Colorado U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd, a Republican who represents western and southern Colorado signed onto a letter
Meanwhile, Colorado U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, a Republican who represents a swing district predominantly in Adams and Weld counties, told Colorado Public Radio that cuts to Medicaid would be made only to eliminate misuse of funds and to make the program work better.
“We’re going back to cutting out the fraud, waste and abuse that actually preserves the program by making sure that we can get more resources to the people who are actually lawful beneficiaries of it,” Evans said.
If the cuts do happen, Ferrandino said state officials do not yet have a plan for what they would slash — in part because it remains uncertain exactly which areas of Medicaid the GOP may target.
“I don’t know what we will do,” he said. “I don’t know what the legislature will do. I know we’ll be in a special session, so we’ll see all of you in July or September or August to deal with it.”
This story was printed through a news sharing agreement with The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonprofit based in Denver that covers the state.
The Colorado state Capitol, pictured in 2023.
PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD
Dougco transparency lawsuit has first day in court
Judge wants to see proposals over claim that commissioners broke Open Meetings Law
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITY
During a lengthy, and at times tense, court proceeding in late April, Douglas County District Court Judge Robert Lung heard from both parties in the Concerned Citizens of Douglas County v. Board of County Commissioners for Douglas County lawsuit.
The hearing came about a week after state Rep. Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch, along with former Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas and Lone Tree resident Julie Gooden, filed a lawsuit against the current county commissioners for allegedly violating Colorado’s Open Meetings Law
OPEN MEETINGS
the mission of the district.”
In Colorado, any citizen can enforce the Open Meetings Law and, if they prevail in court, they are awarded attorney fees.
Capsel’s attorney, Matt Roane, said the judge starts by determining a reasonable amount of hours for the work performed, multiplied by a reasonable hourly rate.
The exact amount is decided by the judge and is based on many factors, including the attorney’s rates, experience,
through a series of non-public meetings since December 2024.
The lawsuit claims that the board discussed public matters, such as home rule, behind closed doors and without public notice.
The main focus of the April 29 hearing was to determine if the plaintiffs could demonstrate that the Board of County Commissioners violated the Colorado Open Meetings Law. However, it came to a short halt when the defense’s counsel was unable to cite the exact statute concerning Colorado’s Open Meetings Law.
Colorado Revised Statutes Title 24, Article 6, Part 4 outlines the requirements for public meetings of state and
field of practice, geographical location, etc. The judge also factors in things like public importance of the case. “The final amount is then what is awarded to the citizen,” Roane said. “... in Ms. Capsel’s case, any amount awarded to her would ultimately be paid by the Elizabeth School District.”
District weighs options Snowberger said the district is considering its options. “We disagree with the court’s decision, but respect the legal process,” he said. Snowberger also explained that since the district currently has meetings on Monday evenings, agenda chang-
local bodies. It states that all meetings — which are described as any gathering convened to discuss public business in person, by phone, electronically or other means of communication — of a quorum or three or more members of a body in which any public business is discussed, must be open to the public.
Open Meetings Law does not apply to chance meetings or executive sessions, according to the state statute. It further states that executive sessions can only be called during a regular or special meeting, the topic for discussion must be announced during an open meeting, and an electronic record of the detailed discussion must be made. However, elements that constitute privileged attorney-client communications are not required to be recorded.
Additionally, a meeting is part of the policy-making process if it is being held to discuss rules, regulations, or-
es are particularly challenging.
ESD is consulting legal counsel and meeting with appellate attorneys to determine its options moving forward. Snowberger said no final decision on an appeal or any legal action has been made at this time.
In regards to a possible appeal, Capsel said, “Is that what the Elizabeth community wants? Or is that what the school board and their attorney wants? They have already filed a fiscal exigency and let go of several ESD staff — is now really the time to commit to yet another lawsuit? I hope they will get back to the true work of the district and stop wasting district money.”
dinances or actions, according to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.
The April 29 hearing consisted of hearing testimony from five witnesses, including Douglas County Attorney Jeff Garcia, Douglas County Assessor Toby Damisch and Douglas County Commissioner George Teal.
Testimony primarily centered around the different types of meetings that the Board of County Commissioners engaged in, as well as the timeline of when the topic of home rule became a talking point in the county and has been discussed.
After four hours of counsel arguments and witness questioning, Lung made no ruling and asked both parties to provide him with written proposals by May 9. These proposals are to include the citation of testimony, evidence and exhibits for their arguments, the judge said.
The full text of Colorado’s Open Meeting (or Sunshine) Laws, CRS 24-6-402, is available at leg.colorado.gov/agencies/ office-legislative-legal-services/colorado-revised-statutes.
Elbert County News wrote about the suit previously at coloradocommunitymedia.com/2023/11/14/sunshine-lawsuit-sheds-light-on-actions-of-elizabethschool-board/.
Elizabeth School District agendas and meeting minutes are available at elizabethschooldistrict.org/domain/124. ESD also posts meetings on their YouTube Channel, youtube.com/@elizabethschools.
State preschool enrollment high but quality guardrails lag
BY ANN SCHIMKE CHALKBEAT COLORADO
Colorado’s popular universal preschool program has dramatically increased the number of 4-year-olds who get statefunded preschool, but it’s unfolded largely without guardrails to ensure quality.
A report released by the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University highlights these twin realities and provides a more detailed look at where Colorado stands compared to other states.
Overall, the report suggests Colorado has prioritized quantity over quality as it moved from a small tuition-free preschool program for children with certain risk factors to one that’s open to all 4-yearolds. e state’s universal preschool enrollment numbers are impressive, with 70% of eligible children enrolled last year. at number helped Colorado leapfrog from its previous ranking of 27 to third in this year’s “State of Preschool” report. Only Washington, D.C. and Vermont had a larger share of 4-year-olds enrolled in public preschool programs last year.
Leaders at the research institute noted that California added more 4-year-olds to state-funded preschool than Colorado last year — 35,000 compared with 30,000 — but Colorado made far bigger gains than California when it comes to the percentage of children served.
“ e progress Colorado made in terms of enrollment and expanding access was pretty remarkable,” said Allison Friedman-Krauss, an associate research professor at the institute.
A new report from the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University ranks Colorado high for preschool access, but not for quality standards.
PHOTO BY JIMENA PECK / CHALKBEAT SEE PRESCHOOL, P9
and it was later revealed that the district discarded the books at that time.
e ACLU alleges that the removal violates First Amendment rights and is based on partisan politics. e school district maintains the content in the books does not support ESD’s curriculum and contains graphic content.
Snowberger said the school district is disappointed in the April 28 order. “Although the Tenth Circuit denied the stay, it will proceed with our appeal. We feel con dent the problematic content of these books will be exposed during the appeal,” he told the Elbert County News.
“In the meantime, we will respect and comply with the lower court’s order. We are in the process of obtaining copies of the books now since they are no longer in the district’s possession.” e books were then returned to circulation on May 1.
“Because the books were identi ed as books containing sensitive topics,” he went on, “they will be placed on the
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Scan the QR code or visit mountain.commonspirit.org/sportscenter to learn more or schedule an appointment.
the medical building at 11960 Lioness Way, Suite 190 Parker, CO 80134 (303) 649-3790
School library content and 19 suspended books were a main focus of the Aug. 26, 2024 Elizabeth Board of Education Working Session. Board members read aloud excerpts from some of the books on the Suspended List. President Rhonda Olsen read aloud from “Thirteen Reasons Why.”
Push back on Sterling Ranch charter
I urge the citizens of Douglas County to reach out to the Colorado Charter School Institute (CSI) and advocate for the denial of the pending charter authorization application for John Adams Academy (JAA). There are several compelling reasons why this application should not be approved.
1. Non-compliance with Colorado curriculum standards
JAA’s application fails to demonstrate compliance with Colorado’s curriculum standards. The reliance on classical curricula such as Core Knowledge and Singapore Math, without explicit mapping to state standards, raises concerns about potential misalignment with Colorado’s educational requirements.
2. Poor performance of existing schools
John Adams Academy locations in California perform significantly worse than charter schools in Douglas County. For instance, in 2024, only 37% of high school students at John Adams Academy in Roseville demonstrated proficiency in mathematics, 46% in science, and 71% in reading. These metrics are far below the standards of excellence we expect in Douglas County.
3. Failed attempts in other states
Other attempts to start John Adams Academy schools in different states have failed due to similar concerns. For example, a proposal to establish a John Adams Academy in southern Oregon was denied by the local school district, citing issues related to the school’s educational model and community fit.
4. Legal and land acquisition issues
There are significant legal and land acquisition issues associated with John Adams Academy’s application. The Douglas County School Board’s resolution to release JAA’s charter application to CSI explicitly states that the school would not be located on land intended for future use by the Douglas County School District (DCSD). The land described in JAA’s application has been identified by DCSD for future dedication for a district-run school, which contradicts the stated intent of the DCSD board.
Additionally, JAA has not provided concrete evidence that it can obtain the land. The application only mentions a nonbinding “Memorandum of Understanding” that is still under negotiation. This lack of certainty poses a serious risk to the feasibility of the proposed school.
The application for John Adams Academy is fraught with issues that make it unsuitable for approval. Our community deserves schools that are transparent, accountable, and aligned with our educational standards and values.
I urge the citizens of Douglas County to take action by emailing the CSI board at CSIBoard@csi.state.co.us to ask them
to deny JAA’s application or by attending CSI’s next meeting of the board on May 20 at 1 p.m. to provide live public comment against the school.
Lori Wright, Sterling Ranch
No on home rule
After the Board of County Commissioners announced the home rule proposal, I invited them — on behalf of eight Douglas County Indivisible groups — to speak at a public meeting. I sent a letter, followed up by email, and proposed three dates. I received no response.
At a public event 10 days later, I personally spoke with Commissioners Abe Laydon and George Teal. Both claimed they hadn’t seen the invite but agreed a meeting was a good idea. Teal, citing a staff transition, gave me his card and asked me to resend the details — which I did that same day.
Three days later, a meeting appeared on the commissioners’ website — with the wrong date and location. I contacted Teal, and the incorrect listing was quietly removed. Since then, I’ve followed up multiple times. Still no response.
These commissioners looked me in the eye and promised to meet with us. They broke that promise.
If the board believes home rule is such a vital issue for Douglas County, why won’t they engage with the public at the public’s request? If they won’t honor a simple commitment to meet, how can we trust them with greater power?
That’s why I’m voting no on the home rule proposal. We shouldn’t give more authority to officials who refuse to show up and be accountable.
Carol Sorensen, Lone Tree
Service group creates opportunities
The Early Childhood Service Corps (ECSC) is bridging generations to address two urgent challenges: the shortage of early childhood educators and the growing loneliness among older adults. Founded by Lisa Armao, a leader with over 30 years in early childhood education, ECSC connects older adults with meaningful roles in early childhood classrooms.
Lisa saw firsthand the critical gaps in early childhood education, worsened by the pandemic. She also recognized the wisdom and patience of older adults eager to make a difference. ECSC creates opportunities for these generations to connect, ensuring children receive the support they need while older adults find renewed purpose.
Why Douglas County?
With over 200 members making a difference statewide, ECSC needs more participation from Douglas County.
ECSC corps members serve in three key roles:
— Classroom Volunteers assist with reading, crafts and small group learning. — Encore Substitutes complete training
SEE LETTERS, P27
socks, lukewarm coffee, and a whole lot of heart.
OBITUARIES
CPL. DAVID MICHAEL SONKA, U.S.M.C.
Multi -Pur pose Canine Handler 11/28/89 -05/04/13
KIA-Farah, Afghanistan Canine: FLEX
Dave, We love you and ntiss you every day. God has you in His ke eping, We have you in our hearts.
Death leaves a hearta che no one can heal, Love leaves a nte01ory no one can steal.
Mother and Stepfather: Glenn & Donna Francis Beine Brother: Matt Sonka Grand01other: Nancy Uncle: Francis.
A game-winning goal. A solo that didn’t make your ears bleed. A moment when your kid looks proud, and you remember why you said “yes” in the first place.
7. Remember: This is a season (literally and figuratively)
The chaos won’t last forever. The time will come when your Saturdays are weirdly quiet and your car doesn’t smell like sports. Until then, keep showing up the best you can — with mismatched
You don’t have to do it perfectly. You just have to keep going. And, if things are teetering on the edge at home while you’re in sprint mode, we happen to know a service that can be that extra set of hands you could use, wink, wink … ahem TULA Life Balanced! And maybe — just maybe — remember where you put that other shin guard.
This guest column was written by Megan Trask and Cody Galloway, Denver residents and co-founders of TULA Life Balanced. Learn more about their business at tulabalanced.com.
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
When Justine Williams came to Colorado from England, she pursued horse therapy for people with disabilities.
“As a kiddo in England, I was one of those kids who asked my mom and dad if I could ride horses, and I’ve always loved horses. So, they bought me a horse for my birthday, and I took 10 riding lessons and worked at the barn to pay for my riding lessons,” Williams said. Williams said that when she was 11 years old, her friend had a stroke, so she grew up with her childhood friend being disabled.
“By the time I graduated from high school, I knew I wanted to work with people with disabilities, and I found out about therapy horses,” Williams said. Williams went to Budapest to train in conductive education at the Pet Institute.
“It’s where I learned about therapy and horses,” she said.
She ended up getting married and then came to the U.S., moving to Colorado in 2001. With her passion and education as a therapist, she started her Rhythm of the Horse therapy services in Fort Lupton in 2021. Williams works with children with di erent types of disabilities, such as kids with autism, who don’t speak much.
“With training, I initiate a lot of language when they are on the horse. I teach them to say ‘go’ or ‘stop’ with my horses, Chloe or Gus,” Williams said. “It could be overwhelming to make the horse move, which is what they want, but they need to say something. So, they’re motivated to say something,”
She also works with children and adults with cerebral palsy.
“I also work with disabilities from stroke, ADHD, Down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, anyone with neuro-motor dysfunction, and I also work with other neurodivergent issues such as autism (and) sensory processing disorder,” Williams said.
Rhythm of the Horse also has a program for horse reading for children who are new readers or struggling readers, and can learn to read with a horse.
“So, they’re learning to feel more comfortable and con dent about reading by partnering with the horse. It’s very special,” Williams said.
William said Rhythm of the Horse also o ers its Equine Assisted Learning Program for people who may be overwhelmed in life or have relationship issues.
e children and adults can choose which horse they want to work with and eventually build a bond with that horse to get through their fear, anxiety or whatever they are experiencing.
Rachel Sartucci, who has cerebral palsy, comes once
Karen MacDowell, a volunteer with Rhythm of the Horse
a week for training for up to an hour. Her mom, Elizabeth Robinson, said Rachel, who is now 30, started the program when she was 21.
“I think the program is helping her not get old and tight as quickly. She has cerebral palsy, a type that makes her muscles contract and not go back out. Her right side is weaker, so when she’s on the horse, it relaxes her muscles,” Robinson said.
Karen MacDowell is retired, and has been volunteering with Rhythm of the Horse for about ve years.
“I’ve been working with Rachel the whole time I’ve been here. It’s important work, and it makes you feel good to help others,” MacDowell said.
Colleen Larson is also retired and has been volunteering for four years, helping Williams with the clients.
“What Williams does with the horses and with riders is amazing. When they get on and o the horse, it’s nothing short of miraculous,” Larson said.
Rhythm of the Horse is a nonpro t and o ers scholarships based on nancial need. e organization applies for grants and fundraises.
“We are looking for volunteers to come and help with the di erent programs. We welcome high school students or adults — anybody who is interested,” Williams said.
Go for Launch program aims to inspire students
Space travel experts and astronauts o ered STEM at Air and Space Port
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Michelle Lucas, founder of Higher Orbits Go for Launch, has worked at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and made her reputation preparing people for space ight. She traveled the world teaching people how to live on board the International Space Station.
But the satisfaction she received from that job is nothing compared to thrill of seeing a new generation get interested in space ight.
“Don’t get me wrong, training astronauts for space was ful lling, but being able to prepare the next generation is a next level of ful llment,” Lucas said. at’s what she and her team were aiming for April 26 and 27 at the Colorado Space Port near Watkins. e space port hosted the Go for Launch Higher Orbits event, a special STEM program, for 35 Denver-area middle and high school students.
Lucas said it’s incredibly ful lling to inspire the next generation of space enthusiasts, especially for kids that don’t have access to these kinds of opportunities.
She said she can relate.
“I’m a kid who is in love with space, from the south side of Chicago with no access to space-inspired STEM programming,” she said.
Post-its, tape and teamwork e students learned about teamwork, communication, technology, leadership, science, engineering and brainstorming during the two day program. eir tasks include working as teams to create a tower made of paper stable enough to support the miniature NASA Orion Capsule placed on top. Each tower was tested with a small fan to assess its strength.
Global Village Academy’s Colton Burke, Prospect Ridge Academy’s Eshaan Valles and Colorado Skies Academy students Yiri Yerikanis, and Zach Schultz worked as a team.
e group of 8th grade students brainstormed how to best build their tower, each participating with structural engineering concepts and feeding o each other for inspiration.
eir nal tower was made of Post-its, paper and some tape with room for the Orion Capsule on top. eir project was tested for strength, and they won rst place. Not only that, but they had fun doing it.
at’s the goal, Lucas said. Being able to create something that she can bring to the backyards of students across the country is so meaningful to her.
Dreams of space
e impact is huge, according to Robert Ferguson from Westminster Public Schools’ Random Innovation Center. He teaches the aviation engineering pathway, including drone classes, pilot training, engineering design, aviation electronics, and aerospace.
“I’m excited about the new opportunities for the next generation and am looking forward to seeing their progress and achievements at the Colorado Air and Space Port,” Ferguson said. “I’ve had students who have gone on to be airplane mechanics, training as pilots, and some have gone to the military, or the School of Mines, Metropolitan State University, and Colorado State University.”
Lucas said that since she was a little girl, she dreamed of working in the space industry, and had the privilege of doing that after she graduated.
“I worked at Johnson Space Center variety of di erent jobs with the International Space Station. I was part of the payload safety review panel,” Lucas said. “I was a ight controller and mission control, and then I was a technical instructor for astronauts and other instructors.”
After 12 years, commercial space started to take o , so she decided to leave NASA and start her own consulting company.
“I did some work for a nonpro t internationally. We launched Higher Orbits, a nonpro t. It’s our 10th anniversary. We’ve conducted 84 programs in 21 states, impacting over a thousand students.”
Space loomed large in Capt. Wendy Lawrence’s imagination, too. Lawrence was an astronaut with four space shuttle missions under her belt, including the Astro Two mission to the Russian Space Station Mir.
Lawrence said she grew up reading about the Mercury or Gemini space programs, but as Apollo started, she was in front of her black and white televisions at home.
“Most of us had not migrated to color yet, and we were enthralled, amazed by what we saw. For me, it was Apollo 11 watching Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the moon,” Lawrence said. “I just knew at that moment, I wanted to ride a rocket and have a chance to nd space.”
Lawrence said Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics programs, also known as STEM or STEAM, are an opportunity for the students to take what they have been learning in school and apply it to a particular challenge, coming up with an idea for an experiment that could be on the International Space Station.
“It’s their opportunity to apply knowledge and education they acquired, giving them experience that they can go on and take on challenges and be successful.”
Elizabeth Balga, another volunteer for the program, works as a senior human systems integration engineer and ight operations engineer at Sierra Space in Colorado.
She worked on the Dream Chaser program, which is a cargo vehicle designed
to bring payloads to the International Space Station.
Balga said she was inspired by Space ight since she was a little girl and was enamored with everything in science, space, and technology in her classes.
“ is age range is where kids are trying to decide what they want to do with the rest of their lives, and allowing them to learn about space, but also STEM and space, everything it takes to go into space,” Balga said.
“It’s science, technology, engineering, art, and math. ere are also biology and aviation paths that are part of the greater aerospace realm,” Balga said. “As a kid, I didn’t have a lot of these opportunities to learn about aerospace. I would have loved to go to a ‘Go for Launch’ as a kid.” Go for Launch volunteer Sonia Morales also works as a modeling and simulations engineer at the Aerospace Corporation.
“I’ve been looking for other opportunities to give back to students, to inspire them. I found out about Go for Launch asking for volunteers, and I was very excited to volunteer,” Morales said.
8th grade students Henry Kovacs, from Thunder Ridge, Blake Chyou, home-schooled, Ben Santos, Eagle Crest High School, and Teagan Bura, Colorado Skies Academy watch to see how the tower they constructed fares against a sti wind during the Go For Launch program at the Colorado Air and Space Port. They claimed second place for the stability of their tower.
Students work to build a tower that can withstand strong winds while holding a space capsule during the Go For Launch program at the Colorado Air and Space station. PHOTOS BY BELEN WARD
Butterfly Pavilion starts the 2025 monitoring season
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Westminster’s Butter y Pavilion is playing a key role in identifying and preserving butter ies across Colorado, as the 2025 butter y monitoring season began May 3 at Castlewood Canyon State Park in Franktown.
To kick o the season, the Butter y Pavilion has released the 2024 Annual Colorado Butter y Monitoring Network report on the state of Colorado’s native butter y populations. Last year marked the 12th year of Monitoring Network as one of the nation’s fastest-growing community science programs focused on butter y conservation.
O cials say this year’s announcement comes at a critical time in buttery habitats. A new study published in Science magazine shows a 22% decline in butter y abundance across the U.S. between 2000 and 2020.
Butter y Pavilion played a signi cant role in the research, contributing Colorado-speci c data from the Monitoring Network and collaborating with nearly two dozen scientists through the “Status of Butter ies in the United States” working group, according to a Pavilion news release.
More data needed
e ndings highlight the urgent need for local and national e orts to protect pollinators, one of the most vital and vulnerable components of our ecosystems, according to a news release.
“While we have a lot of great data, we still need more for a comprehensive picture,” said Shiran Hershcovich, Lepidopterist Manager at Butter y Pavilion and co-author in the Science study, said in the news release. “ at’s where the public comes in with community science programs like (Colorado Butter y Monitoring Network), which allow us to cover more geographies and provide essential insights for conservation.”
In a press release, the 2024 Colorado Butter y Monitoring Network Report notes that 452 surveys were submitted across 69 monitoring routes in 12 Colorado counties. Reports came from 59 active monitors, including 40 new vol-
early 2025/2026 season announcement
unteers, that contributed 385.4 hours of butter y observations.
As of Oct. 15, 2024, the program had documented 144,002 individual butter ies through 4,764 surveys, totaling 4,899.8 hours of monitoring since 2013.
Participating counties in 2024 included: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomeld, Denver, Douglas, Eagle, El Paso, Gilpin, Je erson, Larimer, and Weld.
Big growth for 2025
e Butter y Pavilion is aiming for ambitious growth of the Colorado Butter y Monitoring Network in its 13th season, according to the news release. e 2025 goals include expanding the program to 18 counties, recruiting 90 monitors, and surveying 80 sites along 90 routes. In addition, Butter y Pavilion will begin in-depth analysis of its decade-long dataset to better understand trends and inform conservation strategies statewide, the news release states.
“ is is people-powered science,” said Hershcovich. “When our community gets involved, they become stewards of our environment and champions for native invertebrates.”
e Monitoring Network trains volunteers to monitor butter ies in their communities from May to September. After attending a training session, monitors choose a route and walk it at least three times per season, recording every butter y they see within a six-meter radius. Volunteers also note weather conditions, time, and habitat data. is year’s training dates and locations include three joint sessions with the Monarch Larva Monitoring Program: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 3 at Castlewood Canyon State Park in Franktown, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 10 at Cherry Creek State Park in Denver and 10 a.m. to noon May 17 at Lory State Park west of Fort Collins.
A fourth program hosted solely by the Colorado Butter y Monitoring Network is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 18 at East Boulder Community Center. Self-paced online video training is also available. ose interested can visit and sign up here: https://butter ies. org/research-and-conserve/butter ymonitoring/
PACE Center | 7:30 PM
Join us for an unforgettable night of soul-stirring music at Devon Allman’s Blues Summit, a powerhouse gathering of blues legends that promise to electrify the stage!
early 2025/2026 season announcement
PACE Center | 7:30 PM
Fondly known as “America’s answer to The Beatles,” The Lovin’ Spoonful bring their chart-topping folk-rock hits to the PACE Center!
A male monarch pulls nectar from a Rabbitbrush, which is a vital resource for the pollinators in our region. The insects rely on the nectar from those plants and others during their annual migrations.
COURTESY LIZ GOEHRING
LETTERS
to become certified early childhood teachers (paid opportunities available). This education is valued at $3,200.
— Volunteer Business Advisors support childcare centers in strengthening their operations.
Douglas County has a vibrant older adult community. This is the perfect chance to channel skills, energy and passion into a meaningful role.
How to get involved
ECSC welcomes new members in fall, spring, and summer cohorts. Training is free and fully remote. We will begin training soon for our Encore Subs and Volunteer Business Advisors in June. Sign up now.
— Classroom Volunteers complete 21 hours of training.
— Volunteer Business Advisors complete sevenhours.
— Encore Substitutes can earn certification in two to
four months, depending on experience.
Once trained, ECSC connects participants with local early childhood education sites in need of their expertise.
Why now?
Colorado faces a severe shortage of early childhood educators. Seventy percent of program directors struggle to find qualified staff. Meanwhile, adults 65 and older represent the largest share of future population growth in the state. This demographic shift positions older adults as an invaluable workforce resource.
Join the movement
ECSC is more than a program, it is a movement. Douglas County residents, we need you. If you are looking to make a difference and support young children, ECSC is the perfect opportunity. For more information, visit earlychildhoodservicecorps. org or contact us at recruitment@earlychildhoodservicecorps.org.
