EDUCATION

longer exist, there is a grieving process.”

She continued that the work does not end when a school closes, but will continue with support for both students and sta as they transition to new schools.

Later, Dorland also spoke to the district’s plan for “High School Reimagined.” According to her, the plan is a “vision of what knowledge, skills and experience we want our high school graduates to have.” ese perspectives included: Superintendent Dorland; Josh Shellard, principal of Green Mountain High School; Kimmy Van, a student at Green Mountain High School; Matt Sweeney, dean of workforce services at Red Rocks Community College; and Kylie Parks, Director of Talent Pipeline

After Dorland’s presentation, there was a panel discussing education in Arvada, particularly focusing on education’s relationship with business. Hosted by Sara Swanson, director of policy at Colorado Succeeds, the panel featured a wide variety of perspectives on education.

Development, Arvada Chamber of Commerce.

Swanson began the panel asking about what the greatest successes and challenges facing education were right now. Van said that as a student the “variety of classes and ability for students to take initiative in their own learning” was a success in education, while schools still struggled with “lack of empathy for mental health (struggles).”

Sweeney added that in higher education, schools have trouble nding and retaining talented teachers. “We have a challenge nding talent,” he said. “We don’t have the funding to nd talent.”

From a business perspective, Parks said that one of the successes is that “everyone knows there is a need for change. It’s getting there which is the challenge.” e panel shifted gears, talking about business’s involvement with education, particularly in making sure students are ready for their careers. Van weighed in, saying, “One internship can lead you to what you love or steer you away from what you don’t.”

Parks added that for career readiness, “business and education are a two-way street. (Businesses) have to step up and get more involved. We can’t expect education to do it all alone.”