February 5, 2015 VOLU M E 1 49 | I S S UE 9 | 5 0 ¢
GoldenTranscript.net J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
Limited space fuels community concern As enrollment numbers rise, schools face over-capacity By Crystal Anderson
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com
Szabo sworn in
Libby Szabo signs in as Jefferson County Commissioner after Chief Judge Phil McNulty of the First Judicial District, right, swears in Szabo on Friday, Jan. 30. Photo by Amy Woodward
POSTAL ADDRESS
Lang Sias named new HD 27 rep Former SD19 Candidate replaces Szabo Staff Report
GOLDEN TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 0746-6382)
OFFICE: 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 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, 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210, Golden, CO 80401. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT GOLDEN, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 722 Washington Ave., Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. GE T SOCIAL WITH US
Republicans selected Lang Sias to serve as state representative for House District 27. The vacancy committee announced their pick on Saturday, Jan. 31. HD 27 was previously held by Republican Libby Szabo. She was recently named by a Jeffco vacancy committee appointed her to fill another vacancy on the Lang county’s Board of County Commissioners. “We were impressed by the number of quality candidates who stepped forward to fill this
of quality candidates who stepped forward to fill this important position.’ Denise Mund, House District 27 vacancy committee member important position,” said Denise Mund, House District 27 vacancy committee member in a written statement. “After an open process, we are confident that Lang will bring the experience and capabilities to do an outstanding job of representing the citizens of House District 27 in the state legislature.” Sias ran for senator in 2012 for Senate District 19. He is a former attorney and Navy fight-
er pilot and sat as the national veterans’ director for John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign. He currently serves on the board of Excel Academy charter schools. The vacancy committee received 11 applications to the fill the seat. Christine Jensen, current Arvada Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee chair, was also interviewed as a finalist.
Concern continues on Page 4
Kimball St. Roundabout begins Feb. 2 Staff Report
P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY
‘We were impressed by the number
With enrollment numbers on the rise, members of northwest Arvada are wondering where their kids are going to go to school next year. “We are starting to feel this influx that’s affecting our classes in different ways,” said Darcie Bolton Weiser, a parent of two children at Meiklejohn Elementary School. “I feel very lucky my kids’ class sizes are small right now, but who knows what’s going to happen with the numbers of kids we’re projected to get in.” Due to new housing developments cropping up across the district, several schools are seeing a rapid influx in enrollment. Current projections show the area may have a need for an additional 5,000 seats, something the area doesn’t have. For Arvada’s West Woods and Meiklejohn Elementary, this increase in students is causing schools to be near or over capacity. “I think the difference in Jefferson County is the district is so large, but you see these pockets of growth, and others where you see are at 60-70 percent capacity — but they’re nowhere where we need them to be,” said Jeffco Board of Education member, Jill Fellman. “If we can pick them up and move them we would, but we can’t.” The hardest hit area, which includes the Candelas, Five Parks, West Woods, Leyden Rock housing developments, extends north along Indiana Street from 70th Avenue to about 90th Street and serves approximately 1,500 students, a number that both schools are having to work creatively to manage. For West Woods, with 670 students currently enrolled, finding space in an already crowded building is a tricky task. According to Facilities Manager, Jason Walling, the school is seeing an influx of first-, fifth- and sixth-graders, with more than 100 students per grade level. Divided into three classrooms of 28-36 students, this increase leaves a lack of space for instruments, backpacks and coats, and small groups inside the classroom.
In August, City Council authorized the Heritage Road reconstruction project that includes a roundabout at Heritage Road and Kimball Avenue. On Monday, Feb. 2, the third
phase of the project began. Heritage Road from West 4th Avenue to Berthud Way will be closed to begin the phase of the project. During the phase of the project, there will be no through traffic on Heritage Road.
The road is expected to be closed through Monday, Feb. 9, weather permitting. A signed detour will direct traffic to use Highway 50 and 6th Avenue to access the neighborhood.
With five mobile classrooms in located to the west of the school, classes of 35-36 sixth-graders fit snugly, four to a table, inside each temporary building. Photo by Crystal Anderson.