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August 28, 2014 VOLU M E 27 | I S S UE 41
HighlandsRanchHerald.net A publication of
D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
District adds staff, programs for parents
THIS ONE’S FOR THE Q-MAN
Adult classes, choice fairs to debut in Douglas County By Jane Reuter
jreuter @coloradocommunitymedia.com
The 5th annual Q-Man Classic, a 5K memorial run/walk in honor of former Highlands Ranch High School student Quinton Sanford, was held Aug. 23 at the school. The event raises money for Autism Speaks and the Q-Man cross country scholarship. Sanford was a member of the Highlands Ranch cross country team and was running along the Highline Canal during a high school event when he collapsed and died at age 15 in September 2009. The then-sophomore, who had autism, was known for his kind-heartedness, perseverance and dedication. Photo by Charley Ebersole
Exploring ways to help Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office Explorer Post 10-4 gets on-the-job training
The Douglas County School District wants to make stronger connections with its parents and help them guide their children’s education. The district now has a parent liaison on staff, and in September it will launch Parent University — classes specifically designed for adults. The district also plans to offer more information on its educational programs, and host school choice fairs in October to highlight those options. Registration for Parent University classes will start in mid-September, with classes starting soon after. Details will be released soon, school officials said. The classes are coordinated by School-Community Partnership coordinator Katherine Brown with help from a steering committee of five parents. Brown was hired in April in keeping with the requirements of Senate Bill 13-193, a state law calling for greater Brown parent engagement in education. Parent University is intended to not only offer adult education, but is built around the premise that greater parent involvement translates into increased academic success for students. Classes will cover a broad range of subjects, likely including cyber security, academic success, navigating the school system, leadership skills, CPR and healthy cooking. “We have a broad and diverse list of re-
By Christy Steadman
DCSD continues on Page 7
csteadman @coloradocommunitymedia.com A 17-year-old Dan McMillan was sitting in a Castle Rock Police Department patrol car when he knew he was going to become an officer of the law. In 1989, Tony Lane, then the Castle Rock chief of police, visited McMillan’s high school government class and encouraged students to participate in ride-alongs with the officers. McMillan arranged to do a ride-along once a week, and shortly after, signed up to become a Law Enforcement Explorer with Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post 10-4. McMillan was an explorer until 1993. He then went to the police academy, and now at 42, Douglas County Sheriff’s Lt. McMillan has been a cop for 21 years. “Exploring is all about careering,” McMillan said. “It gives you a hands-on approach. It’s like a big internship.” Explorer Post 10-4 began in 1983. Head adviser and DCSO Deputy Keith Mathena said at least a couple hundred explorers have experienced a career in law enforcement with Explorer Post 10-4. At first, it may just seem “intriguing to them,” Mathena said, “then it really sparks their interest after they learn what police officers do.” The Law Enforcement Explorer Program is a sub-organization of the Boy Scouts of America, and provides youths between the ages of 14 and 20 an opportunity to explore a career as a police officer. “They learn what cops do,” Mathena said. “But they learn it at a smaller scale.”
TCAP scores take small dip Douglas County results still top statewide averages Eleven Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office Law Enforcement Explorers from Post 10-4 headed to Gunnison in July to compete at a regional skills competition. The local explorers brought home nine awards. Pictured, from left, is Aidee Castillo, Cameron Sage, Nick Espinosa, Drew Boyum, Jack Zimmerman, Josh Anderson, Justin Alvis, Jacob Martin, Sol Atencio, Addie Clay and Trevor Rademacher. Photo courtesy of the Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office Once recruited, explorers go through a training academy once a week for six or seven weeks, Mathena said. The local explorer academy is a joint effort between the sheriff’s offices in Douglas and Arapahoe counties, as well as the Parker and Castle Rock police departments. Explorers earn ranks among their post, and get to participate in yearly regional conferences and tactical competitions. In July, 11 explorers and five advisers from Post 10-4 attended a regional conferencein Gunnison and brought home nine awards. “Our explorers represented the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office very well,” Sgt. Ron Hanavan said. “They all did a great job and Explorers continues on Page 28
EXPLORER POST 10-4 HONOREES AT THE COLORADO REGIONAL CONFERENCE: 1st place in Haz-Mat/ICS: Explorer Lt. Jacob Martin 1st place in Traffic Stops: Explorer Lt. Jacob Martin 2nd place in Haz-Mat/ICS: Explorer Sgt. Sol Atencio 2nd place in High Risk Entry: Explorer Justin Alvis 2nd Place in Suspicious Occurrence: Explorer Trevor Rademacher 2nd place in DUI Investigations: Explorer Sgt. Joshua Anderson 3rd place in High Risk Entry: Explorer Sgt. Joshua Anderson 4th place in Passive Resistance: Explorer Sgt. Joshua Anderson 5th place Death Investigations: Explorer Jack Zimmerman
By Jane Reuter
jreuter @coloradocommunitymedia.com Douglas County School District’s 201314 state test scores fell slightly in two of three categories, but remained higher than Colorado averages. Students who scored proficient or advanced in writing and reading scores on the Transitional Colorado Assessment Program decreased year-to-year by 2.34 and 1.38 percentage points respectively. Math scores stayed steady. The most recent scores in writing and reading were DCSD’s lowest in five years, but the decrease in both numbers between 2009-10 and 2013-14 was less than 1 percentage point. Despite the slight decline, the district’s 2013-14 scores were more than 11 percentage points above the state TCAP continues on Page 28