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November 13, 2014 VOLU M E 1 1 3 | I S S UE 2 | 7 5 ¢
DouglasCountyNewsPress.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
Drone store lands: A new business opens in Castle Rock. See Page 2
In-depth coverage: A long look at the Nov. 4 election. See Pages 12-17 From left, DU student Ryder Bruce acts as a broker for Castle View High School freshmen Clay Van Ornum, Nadia Joel and Nico Rome during the Nov. 7 Stock Market Challenge at DU. Photo by Jane Reuter
Youths invest in the future Douglas County students take the Stock Market Challenge
‘Mark Mothersbaugh: Myopia’: Exhibit featured at the Museum of Contemporary Art. See Page 18
By Jane Reuter
jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com Up-tempo pop music blasted through the University of Denver’s Cable Center, adding to the excitement as numbers raced across a massive screen. High school students pondered the constantly changing information, the expressions on their faces at times gravely thoughtful and at others lit with excitement. This year’s Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge drew 1,229 students from 42 Colorado schools for two mornings of frenzied, simulated stock market trading.
Each team participating in the Nov. 6 and 7 events started with $500,000 of mock stock funds invested in multiple fictitious companies. The event condensed two months of trading into an hour, with each trading day lasting 60 seconds. Mountain Vista High School’s Team 1 came in third overall during the two-day event, behind teams from Boulder and Monarch high schools. The Highlands Ranch students grew their portfolio by 123 percent to more than $1.1 million. The fast-paced learning environment requires students work together efficiently. Adding to the excitement and confusion, adult event leaders infrequently left a news announcement reflecting fictitious world events and developments on each table, occurrences to which students react as stock prices fluctuate. “I’m still kind of confused,” admitted Lone Tree
resident Lexie Quail, a student at Valor Christian. “But it’s very interesting. I’m thinking of a career in accounting or finance.” “It’s a really good experience (for getting) to know the business world,” said Valor classmate Michael Herring, also of Lone Tree. “I’m excited.” The 11th annual event was at maximum capacity, said Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain spokeswoman Kim McGrigg. “The financial world is growing so much, and companies are leaving so much of the decisionmaking up to the individual,” she said. “This kind of education is imperative. You also need to know about the stock market even for understanding the world economy.” Other Douglas County teams included Castle View, Douglas County High, Highlands Ranch, Ponderosa, Rock Canyon and STEM high schools.
POSTAL ADDRESS
Students opt out of tests
NEWS-PRESS
OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
Seniors statewide balk at taking lengthy new assessment
PHONE: 303-566-4100
By Jane Reuter
(ISSN 1067-425X) (USPS 567-060)
A legal newspaper of general circulation in Englewood, Colorado, and the towns of Castle Rock, Parker and Larkspur, the NewsPress is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media and additional mailing offices. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. G E T SO CIAL WITH U S
jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Budget continues on Page 10
CMAS continues on Page 7
A major part of the proposed 2015 budget for the Town of Castle Rock, there is $34.6 million budgeted for the continued construction of the North Meadows Extension. The new road, scheduled to open in 2016, will provide another access point to U.S. Highway 85 and I-25 for commuters on the west side of town. File photo
Town budget includes big projects Spending plan includes $67 million for capital improvements By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com
P L EA SE RECYC L E T H I S C OPY
Since there are no new property taxes, the owner of a $300,000 house still would pay about $40, or up to 2.29 percent of their total property tax bill. The only proposed cost increase is an additional 82 cents per household on monthly water bills. “This is a capital-intensive budget, which has been the case for the town for many years because we are doing so many major capital projects or completing many major capital projects,” Town Manager Mark Stevens said.
High school seniors throughout Colorado refused to participate Nov. 5 and 6 in a statemandated test. Many school leaders, parents and students hope the expected low participation rate sends a clear message about what they believe is excessive standardized testing. “People don’t always listen to educators, but they do listen to parents and students,” Cherry Creek School District spokeswoman Tustin Amole said. “This may be very helpful in letting policy makers know how parents and students feel.” A state education official said the student response likely will result in significant discussion. The first week in November was the beginning of three weeks of state-issued social studies and science tests for high school seniors called the Colorado Measures of Academic Success. Colorado students in fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth grades underwent CMAS testing in spring 2014. The online test is a partial replacement
The proposed 2015 budget for the Town of Castle Rock calls for no tax increases for homeowners. Big projects this coming year include Legacy Water, the North Meadows Extension and the new Philip S. Miller Park.