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December 25, 2014 VOLU M E 1 1 3 | I S S UE 8 | 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
ROCKIN’ THE HOLIDAYS
Extra gifts: Journey Church helps parents at an area elementary school enhance their Christmas. See Page 7
Cowboy artist: Colorado man has his water colors featured at a Denver show. See Page 13
Top athletes: Who tops the list as our best players on offense and defense? See Page 15 Ponderosa High School’s saxophone quartet, from left, Zach MacKay, Alexandra Dailey, Sam Geivett and Jamie Cavanagh, played holiday music for audience members before the Dec. 11 Douglas County Board of Education meeting in Castle Rock. Photo by Jane Reuter
POSTAL ADDRESS
Alternative water projects get updated WISE should flow by 2017, Box Elder later By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com
NEWS-PRESS
(ISSN 1067-425X) (USPS 567-060) OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 PHONE: 303-566-4100 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
P L EA SE RECYC L E T H I S C OPY
The pieces continue to fall into place for Castle Rock’s major alternative water projects Together, the WISE Water incentive and the Box Elder project represent a quarter of the town’s future water. As 2014 winds down, several more steps have been taken to bring renewable water to Castle Rock by the projected date of June 2017. First, several key infrastructure components have been settled for the WISE project, including the permitting for changes to the Rueter-Hess Reservoir, an alignment study for future pipeline infrastructure to west of the reservoir, and the receiving of bids for a Ridgegate pipeline and pump station. According Castle Rock water resources manager Matt Benak, the permitting of Rueter-Hess allows the town to store its WISE supplies in the reservoir at times when Castle Rock won’t be able to or doesn’t need to take water directly. The completed pipeline alignment study for the west side of the reservoir means that Castle Rock will have future options for moving WISE water from the reservoir in Parker down to the town. Benak said bids have been received for the Ridgegate pipeline and pump station. “This is a key piece of infrastructure Water continues on Page 9
Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen talks to parents and teachers during a Dec. 16 meeting at Buffalo Ridge Elementary in Castle Pines. Principal Sarah McAfee resigned amid controversy Dec. 12. Photo by Jane Reuter
Buffalo Ridge principal resigns Departure occurs after more than year of conflict By Jane Reuter
jreuter@colorado communitymedia.com Capping months of increasing conflict and less than a week after an initial tense parent meeting with Douglas County School District administrators, Buffalo Ridge Elementary Principal Sarah McAfee has resigned. Several parents expressed relief at the news announced during a Dec. 16 community meeting at the school, and they hope the school can rebuild from staff losses and low morale they attribute to the principal. McAfee took the lead at Buffalo Ridge in July 2013.
About 30 staff members have left the Castle Pines school since August 2013. Most recently,, fourth-grade teacher Mike Mizones resigned in mid-October. “I think Mrs. McAfee did us a favor (by resigning),” said parent Polly Shanahan. “I think it really does allow the community as a whole to have a burden lifted off them. “I feel like we’re going to be able to regroup as a community and hopefully get our school back — the way it has been in the past and should be.” District leaders at the Dec. 16 meeting gave conflicting reasons for McAfee’s decision. McAfee could not be reached for comment. “This was completely her decision,” Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen told the approximately 60 parents and teachers gathered in
the school’s library. “She has decided she would like to instead take care of her baby and focus on some things like that, and this is something she’s probably just not interested in moving forward with.” McAfee is pregnant and had planned to take maternity leave in early 2015. Ted Knight, DCSD’s assistant superintendent of elementary education, said McAfee shared with him the “final straw” in her decision. “She did send out a pretty heartfelt holiday greeting to the staff,” he said. “That got forwarded on to some parents that used it to personally attack her. That was her decision, to say, ‘This is not a place I want to be.’ “It is becoming tougher and Principal continues on Page 9