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Talks eye grievance panels, teacher schedules Next negotiations set for first Monday in May By Crystal Anderson
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com In their April 20 meeting, negotiators for the Jefferson County School District and the Jefferson County Education Association furthered discussions around grievance committee structures and teacher sched-
ules. “Collaboration at both the district and the school level is going to become a cornerstone for the new framework of this agreement,” said Jim Branum, a member of the district’s negotiating team. “Hopefully, an evolution in behavior throughout the district where people are coming together as
respected professionals to work out differences in the best interests of students.” The conversations centered around finding a solid, streamlined and collaborative grievances process for teachers, principals and school and district staff that allows for all parties to find and feel comfortable with a resolution. Along with that, the sides disagreed on how those committees should be structured, as well as how teacher schedules should be laid out. The district advocated for a minimalistic approach, while union representatives wanted more detail
to be written into the contract. “There has to be clear expectations and clear parameters around some of the scheduling so everybody’s on the same page, so it doesn’t create these gray areas,” said Barb Aswege, a North Arvada Middle School seventh- and eighth-grade social studies teacher and union negotiator. Negotiations will continue through May. The next meeting will be 4-8 p.m. on Monday, May 4, at the Jefferson County Education Center, 1829 Denver West Drive, Golden.
LOCALLY FOUNDED AND STILL GROWING Natural grocers, formerly known as Vitamin Cottage, was founded in Golden in 1955 as a door-to-door business. Today, the grocery and vitamin retailer has stores across the western United States in nearly 100 locations, including stores in Golden, Wheat Ridge, Lakewood, Arvada and Westminster. The company’s health and ecology ethos extends to the checkout line, where the store uses no paper or plastic bags and the receipts are Bisphenol A (carbon-based synthetic compound) -free.
Student volunteers from Bell Middle School stand with members of the Golden City Council to commemorate Earth Day in Vanover Park. The students planted five trees in the park, courtesy of Natural Grocers. Photo by Glenn Wallace
POSTAL ADDRESS
New trees planted for Earth Day Natural Grocers and students from Bell Middle add to Vanover Park By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@colorado communitymedia.com
GOLDEN TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 0746-6382)
OFFICE: 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401
Golden grew a little greener this Earth Day, thanks to a team-up between some of the city’s youth, and a local business. Natural Grocers, which was founded in Golden 60 years ago, sponsored the tree planting, paying for five new trees to be added to Vanover Park, at the corner of Ford Street and Water Street. Students from the
Interact Club at Bell Middle School volunteered to do much of the digging, in assisting the city’s Parks and Recreation department in the planting. It was the fourth year in a row that Bell students had volunteered their time to add trees to the city. On hand for the ceremony was Heather Isely, the executive vice president for Natural Grocers, and no stranger to the city, having graduated Golden High School, and attended Bell Middle herself. Her parents founded the company, then known as Vitamin Cottage, in Golden 60 years earlier. “This is really where they got their start,” Isely said. “I’m so happy to be able to come back home to do this.”
According to Isely, good nutrition, and being environmentally conscious has always gone hand-in-hand with her family’s company. “I spent my childhood planting trees with my dad,” she said. The Earth Day ceremony was also attended by Mayor Marjorie Sloan The Interact Club, a nationwide youth program created by Rotary Club, worked fast digging out the dirt and rocks needed to plant the five different birch trees in Vanover’s green turf. About 20 of the club’s total 45 members participated in the event. “I just think it’s great our city has such awesome kids,” city councilwoman Marcie Miller said.
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. G ET SOCI AL WITH US
P LE A S E R ECYC L E T H I S C O PY
Fond farewell to Hodgden Dog park proponent stepping down from parks board Staff Report After serving 21 years on the Golden Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Jerry Hodgden celebrated his last Board meeting on April 21, with a piece of cake decorated with a tree, bike and a dog. The cake was a thank-you cake from Golden staff for years of dedication to Golden Parks and Recreation. Pete Gotseff and Stephanie Sung are two additional long-time members of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board who, like Hodgden, are term-limited and attended their last meeting as board members on April 21. Hodgden started on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board in 1994, drawn to the
Board as an opportunity to encourage the City to build dog parks. An avid dog walker in town, Jerry built two dog parks during his early years on the Board. “I joined the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board at the perfect time, the City had funding to build some amazing projects which have made the community the destination it is today for recreation. I have fond memories building a great infrastructure including Fossil Trace Golf Club, the Splash Aquatic Park and the Clear Creek Whitewater Course to name a few. The last few years we had to tighten the belt, so we modified the way we do business, maintained our infrastructure, were open minded and progressive. It is a special, unique and rare accomplishment to have an Accredited Parks and Recreation Department and Gold Medal winning operation,” Jerry said in a city statement. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is one of 13 volunteer advisory boards and com-
mittees representing City of Golden residents. Established in 1982 to encourage community involvement, board members are appointed by City Council. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board makes suggestions about policies and procedures, fees and charges, acceptance of park land, design of parks and other projects. Jerry plans to continue to make a difference in parks by visiting the Jefferson County’s Open Space Advisory Committee, the Colorado State Parks and Wildlife Commission, and serving on the Golden Landmark’s Association, to keep active and do what he loves. “I’m very proud of all that we have accomplished in Golden, enjoyed working with my fellow Board members and Parks and Recreation Department staff,” Jerry said. “I would encourage my fellow citizen’s to visit the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and share your thoughts and hopes for the future of parks and recreation in Golden.”