February 5, 2015 VOLU M E 9 1 | I S SUE 25
LakewoodSentinel.com A publication of
J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
Readying for round two Jeffco board finalizes negotiations protocol By Crystal Anderson
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com Heading into the 2015-2016 negotiation season, the Jeffco Board of Education said they’re starting with a fresh perspective, and hope to smoothly negotiate a new agreement with the county’s teacher union, the Jefferson County Education Association (JCEA). “It is my hope that we can start with a
clean sheet of paper that we put our best thinking forward,” said Board President, Ken Witt. “We have to start all considerations from our first priority, our mandate is to educate Jeffco students.” In 2014 negotiations between the JCEA and the district broke down, leading to mediation, which also failed to produce agreement between the two parties. For the first time in at least 45 years, the district and the teachers union had to call in a federal fact finder to evaluate the dispute. In September, the fact finder issued a report and suggested a resolution that the board later rejected in a 3-2 vote. Following that decision, the board approved a $18 million compensation increase for teachers
and district workers that included provisions the JCEA had not agreed to. This year the full JCEA contract is up for negotiations, including all articles and memorandums of understandings (MOUs). Both parties are agreeing to bargain in open sessions through an interest based bargaining (IBB) process, a joint problem-solving method of negotiations. “I was really happy to hear about interest based bargaining and moving in that directions because I think that’s been a very positive direction for the school district,” said Board Member Lesley Dahlkemper. “It makes a whole lot of sense ... It really puts on the table what’s in the best interest of kids, how do we support staff, and what
does that look like overall as a district.” Along with interest based bargaining, the board also stressed a need to have the negotiations streamed and planned for both evenings and weekends to allow all members of the community to observe the proceedings. “We should manage all negotiations from the priorities of having an effective teacher in every classroom, that we recognize and reward great teachers and that we allocate our resources efficiently to maximize academic achievement of Jeffco students,” Witt said. No specific dates have been set, but according to the JCEA contract, the process must begin in March.
Gateway to growth Metro West looks to build family housing on Alameda By Clarke Reader
creader@colorado communitymedia.com
Visitors attend the opening of “How She Sees It” — the Athena Project’s first art show of 2015. The show takes a look at the world through women’s eyes. Photos by Clarke Reader
Athena rising Arts group kicks-off festival at 40 West By Clarke Reader
creader@colorado communitymedia.com As the Greek goddess of the arts, Athena was the source of artistic inspiration and growth. The Athena Project, which has the same aims for female artists in the metro Denver area, is celebrating another year of growth in women’s artistic accomplishments with a two-week-long exhibit at a local gallery. “How She Sees It” opened Jan. 28 at 40 West Arts’ gallery, 1560 Teller St., and will be on display until Feb. 7. “These works look at the world through the female eye,” said Angela Astle, executive director of the Athena Project. “The exhibition was curated by Janice Schindler, an artist whose work we came at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design. We really liked what she had to say and our continuing collaboration with her led to this show.” A real need exists for arts that give voice to women, according to Natalie Osborne, an intern at Athena Project from Bennington College in Vermont. “Statistics show women are still vastly underrepresented in the arts,” she said. “It’s so important that this is happening — it’s important for Denver and for women.”
“How She Sees It” takes a look at the world through woman’s eyes and features artists like Lydia Riegle. The show also serves as an informal kick-off for its annual arts festival, which features the world premiere of the play, “Harm’s Way,” workshops of new plays, and female musicians, dancers and visual artists. “I think this is the year we’re really starting to expand,” she said. “Theater is our bread and butter but each year we grow in a different area, and this year those areas are music and fashion.” To herald the growth in fashion, Athena is hosting a pop-up art and fashion boutique from 5:30-8 p.m. on Feb. 6 at the 40
West gallery. Featured designers are Salwa Owens and Caroline Smith. Admission is free and both art and fashion designs and accessories will be available for sale. Twenty percent of all sales will benefit the Athena Project. “Angela has done a lot of work with the Edge and it’s part of our philosophy to partner and collaborate with other arts groups,” said Bill Marino, chair of 40 West. “We want to help artists any way we can.” For more information call 303-2190882 or visit www.athenaprojectfestival. org.
Metro West Housing Solutions is at it again. The organization that brought affordable art space with Lamar Station Crossing — and is currently bringing the Belmar experience to seniors with CityScape Belmar — now looks to invest in the Alameda corridor with its latest project. Metro West is planning to purchase 5800 W. Alameda Ave. (the former Martischang property) and develop it into multifamily housing that will revitalize the area. The organization held a small meeting on Jan. 27 to share the first information about the project. Tami Fischer, executive director and CEO of Metro West, said the project is still in the beginning stages. The group will be applying for the necessary state and federal low income housing tax credits to fund the project. “We are under contract to purchase the property and we don’t want to just build housing — we are the property managers and supporters of resident services,” she said. “We are very excited about the transformation that can happen here.” Brendalee Connors, chief asset management officer with MWHS, led the presentation and said the group aims to buy the office tower and building adjacent to it for the project. The New American School on the property and new Red Rocks Church will both remain where they are. “We want to create a mixed-income residential apartment community and when we renovate the two buildings, will have around 155 apartments,” Connors said. She discussed the initial funding plans, which will rely on several sources including tax credits, loans and grants. The estimated cost of the project is $31,880,609 and the value of the state credit allocation Metro West will ask for is around $6.7 million. The annual allocation will be around $1.5 million and total over six years will be around $9.3 million. “We will be applying for the first round of funding in the coming weeks and if we receive it, we hope to start construction nine to twelve months later,” Connors said. “We’re expecting construction to be a 13 to 14 month process, which means we would open in early 2017.” Several members of the Alameda Gateway Community Association were on hand Growth continues on Page 13