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January 22, 2015 VOLU M E 2 | I SS UE 24 | F R E E
CastlePinesNewsPress.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
WHAT’S INSIDE
New dependencies: Are we addicted to social media and technology? See Page 2
High-tech facilities: South metro libraries are more than books these days. See Page 16
School board member Judi Reynolds talks with community members during a March 2014 Board Unplugged meeting at Cimarron Middle School. Some say communication has been a problem between the school district and parents. File photo Title-driven: Vision-impaired wrestler ready to take final step in senior season. See Page 21
Perspectives vary on information flow The difference between fact and spin in the school district depends on whom you ask
P O W E R E D
By Jane Reuter B Y
ShopLocal Colorado.com F IND AL L OF OU R ADV ERTIS ER S O NL INE
P L E AS E S UPPORT OUR LOCAL ADVE RTI SER S FOR T HE I R CONTR IBUTION TO K EE PI NG OU R C OMMUNIT Y CONNECTED
jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com The longest-standing objectors to the Douglas County School District’s education reform efforts repeat the same concerns now that they did from the start: The board of education and top administrators are too focused on their efforts to set a national model, and not focused enough on constituents’ concerns. Parent Laura Mutton has spent hours researching DCSD data, releasing her findings on her Strong Schools Coalition website after she said district officials ignored her efforts to communicate with them. “Our board is entitled to their vision of education, but when they are not accountable to it, that is Voice continues on Page 13
County justice center opens medical unit Expansion also includes better staff parking
G ET SOCIAL WITH US
By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com
P LE AS E R ECYCLE T HIS COPY
Undersheriff Holly Nicholson-Kluth and Sheriff Tony Spurlock tour the new medical unit at the Robert A. Christensen Justice Center. Courtesy photo
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has opened a new eight-bed medical unit at the Robert A. Christensen Justice Center, due to what had been a lack of space needed to treat special populations and mental-health patients. The new unit has already begun treating inmates and signals the completion of the justice center expansion project. The total cost of the project was $25 million, and it was completed on time and on budget. It was funded by the justice center sales tax that was approved by voters in 1995 and extended in 2007. “The vision and commitment to better serve our citizens, employees, judges and inmate population while also increasing Med unit continues on Page 13