Transcript Golden
August 22, 2013
50 cents
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourgoldennews.com
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 147, Issue 38
TCAP gains for Jeffco School test scores up in majority of areas By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com Jefferson County Public Schools students performed better in this year’s state standardized testing than in 2012, but Superintendent Cindy Stevenson said there are areas for improvement. Jeffco students showed proficiency gains in 17 of the 27 tests that make up the Transitional Colorado Assessment Program, also known as TCAP. That’s an improvement from the district’s 2012 assessment results, where students improved in only seven categories of testing. Stevenson said that the results are even more impressive, considering that the district has had to do more with less over the last few years. She pointed to obstacles that included the district working with $63 million less in funding than it had in 2009, and an increase in children living in poverty in the 85,000 student district. “And yet, we went up,” Stevenson said. “I think our school district is doing remarkable work.” Jeffco students outperformed the rest of the state in each content area and grade level. Jeffco students’ scores “met or exceeded the state expectation of the 50th percentile in reading, writing and math,” according to a district news release. The district is also touting other highlights that are found in this year’s TCAP scores, such as 8th and 10th grade science scores reaching all-time highs this year. Also, students in grades 9 and 10 exceeded TCAP continues on Page 20
Crested Butte artist Adam B. Freed stands in front of his booth of original oil paintings. Photo by Glenn Wallace
Artist pays tribute to rural life Reception welcomes arts fest participants By Amy Woodward
awoodward@ourcoloradonews.com Selected artists from around the state took a break from setting up their booths in the hot sun and broke bread with each other during a reception to kick off Golden’s Fine Arts Festival. Artists in attendance at the Table Mountain Inn on Aug. 16 were as diverse as their artwork, ranging in age and creative skill, from glass blowers to photographers. “This is first-class,” said Patrick Kanan, photographer, during the reception event.
“We just catch up on where the market is and what’s going on.” “It’s really a pretty neat deal that Golden puts on here,” he added. Kanan and his wife, Emi, produce most of their photos in Europe while teaching photography. They have made a home in Castle Rock, and participate in many art festival shows in Colorado and bordering states. “It’s a very well-run show and very organized,” Kanan said. “We’ve done well in the past and decided to do it again this year.” More than 130 artists participated in the Fine Arts Fest, including this year’s featured artist, Mary Staby, of Frisco. Her colored photo “Waves of Grain, Twenty-Mile Road, Oak Creek, Colo.” was unveiled during the
reception as the featured artwork for this year’s festival. The artwork was used for the festival’s posters and other items for sale. “I’m very humbled, it was a big surprise,” Staby said about being picked as the featured artist. “This is a great honor, it’s a prestigious show and I’m glad the people appreciate what I’m doing.” Her specialty is black-and-white film photography to which she adds color by hand, using oil-based paints on the silver gelatin prints. It is a skill she took from the old art form of the 1860s, through which any color photo produced had been hand painted. Artist continues on Page 20
Governor touts school-finance reform tax hike Rally brings out supporters, detractors of possible ballot measure By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com
Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Cindy Stevenson speaks in support of a school finance act tax hike during an Aug. 15 rally at Lakewood’s Green Mountain High School. Photo by Vic Vela POSTAL ADDRESS
Gov. John Hickenlooper gave a fullthroated endorsement of a school-finance reform tax hike at a Lakewood rally on Aug. 15, marking the beginning of a campaign behind what’s expected to be the most significant ballot question voters will decide this fall. Hickenlooper was joined by other education-reform advocates at a Green Mountain High School rally that drew more than 100 supporters of an initiative that will create $950 million in new taxes that will fund
an overhaul of the Colorado school-finance system. “I refer to this all the time as the single most comprehensive education-reform initiative in the history of the United States,” Hickenlooper said. “With this initiative, we’re building a public-education system that’s going to serve as a model for the rest of the United States.” By passing Initiative 22 this fall, taxpayers would fund full-day kindergarten for all Colorado children and would provide more support for at-risk students and English learners. The initiative also aims to reduce class sizes and provide greater funding equality for school districts across the state. Hickenlooper was joined at the rally by other supporters of the Colorado Commits Tax continues on Page 20
GOLDEN TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 0746-6382)
OFFICE: 110 N. Rubey Dr, Unit 120, Golden, CO 80403 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Golden Transcript is published weekly on Thursday by Mile High Newspapers, 110 N. Rubey Dr., Ste. 120, Golden, CO 80403. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT GOLDEN, COLORADO. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Golden Transcript, 110 N. Rubey Dr., Unit 120, Golden, CO 80403 DEADLINES: Display advertising: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal advertising: Fri.11 a.m. Classified advertising: Mon. 5 p.m.
GET SOCIAL WITH US The Golden Transcript wants to share the news. Check out and like our page on facebook. Search for Golden Transcript. While you are there search for Colorado Community Media’s page too.
Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.