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January 15, 2015 VOLU M E 7 | I SS UE 3 | 5 0 ¢
BrightonBanner.com
A D A M S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O A publication of
Charter school celebrates anniversary Plans include a new high school By Ashley Reimers
areimers@colorado communitymedia.com Students, parents and staff recently celebrated 20 years of education and success at Stargate School in Thornton. The Dec. 9 event brought back past students and highlighted the accomplishments made in the past two decades. “My experience at Stargate’s been different than any other school,” said Reese Kelly, a Stargate eighth-grader and student body president. “It’s very unique. I like it because it’s a smaller school and I get more one-onone time with the teachers.” Stargate is a charter school within the Adams 12 Five Star School District. The school provides programs specifically designed to meet the needs of intellectually gifted students. Cochran said a “gifted” student doesn’t just mean he or she is a high achiever or scores high on test. It could also mean the student has affective needs like social and emotional needs. “Gifted kids learn differently, so we have to teach them through a hands-on meth-
Past Stargate School students take a moment to pose for the camera during the school’s 20th anniversary celebration Dec. 9. Courtesy photo od,” he said. “Our students all have a different way of learning so we try to meet their needs by providing many levels of learning. We have eight levels of learning for math and language arts so kids can go into a classroom that meets their needs.” Currently Stargate is a kindergarten through eighth-grade school, but starting this fall, the school will be expanding to
include high school grades. Stargate will be adding a new grade each year beginning with ninth grade this fall, which will be housed out of rental space at a Metro State campus at 120th Avenue and Grant Street. A secondary Stargate campus is being built at 144th Avenue and Washington street to eventually accommodate grades sixth through 12th, which will open in Au-
gust 2016. Cochran said the desire to build a high school came out of the need to provide a learning environment that can meet their students’ needs after eighth grade. “About 45 percent of our students leave the Adams 12 district for high school,” he said. “We realized there wasn’t’ a great place for gifted kids to go to high school and we thought we could do a good job. Now our kids will be able to go to classes in high school based on their ability, not their grade.” At build-out the new campus will accommodate 975 students, 600 of them being high school students. The high school will offer a full range of athletics and extracurricular activities. Cochran said each student will also experience the adroit program, which is designed to support the social, emotional, creative and gifted needs of the students. “The emphasis of adroit, which is an adjective meaning clever or skillful in using the hands or minds, includes a four-year relationship with a counselor, passion projects, online courses and gifted discussion groups,” he said. “Students will also have the opportunity to be involved in internships and have college planning help and career preparation so that by the time they graduate, they have a plan for their future.” For more information on Stargate School, visit www.stargateschool.org.
Legislature eyes pocketbooks Talk is bipartisan, but reality may differ By Ivan Moreno and Kristen Wyatt Associated Press
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BRIGHTON BANNER (USPS 290)
OFFICE: 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Adams County, Colorado, the Brighton Banner is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210, Westminster, CO 80031. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT BRIGHTON, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. G ET SOCIAL WITH US
P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY
The Colorado General Assembly opened for business under newly divided management Jan. 7, setting up conflicts on economic issues that both parties have identified as key priorities this session. Democrats retained control in the House and the governor’s office, but Republicans took command of the state Senate for the first time in a decade, gaining a one-vote majority. In their opening remarks, newly selected leaders in the House and Senate promised to work together while outlining slightly different paths toward similar goals. Minority chamber leaders, however, took stances that are
sure to place the Republicans and Democrats at odds. The newly selected Senate president, Bill Cadman, made it clear that the GOP would push for tax cuts and workforce development programs. The Colorado Springs Republican also said his party would block any attempts to keep refunds due taxpayers from a projected budget surplus. House Speaker Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, the first Democratic woman in state history to hold the position, made a call for job training initiatives aimed toward the middle class. “Because when the middle class grows and thrives,’’ the Boulder County Democrat said, “all of Colorado benefits.’’ Hullinghorst also said legislators should be “standing up for small businesses.’’ The minority leaders then drew
Legislature continues on Page 13
Outgoing Democratic Colorado House Speaker Rep. Mark Ferrandino, left, hands the gavel to incoming Democratic Colorado House Speaker Rep. Dickey Lee Hullinghorst during the opening session of the 2015 Colorado Legislature, at the Capitol in Denver on Jan. 7, 2015. Photo by AP
Road closed for bridge construction By Ashley Reimers
areimers@colorado communitymedia.com Parts of 64th Avenue in Adams County are now closed as Denver Transit Partners continues construction on the Northwest Rail Line, a 6.2 mile segment from Union Station to Westminster at 71st Avenue and Lowell Boulevard. Drivers will see the closure between Beach Street and 64th Place for one year due to the construction of a new bridge that will travel over the railroad tracks. The existing roadway will be demolished and removed as well as the installation of additional drainage measures including gutters and inlets. After the bridge is complete, 64th Avenue will be reconstructed and repaved. “The 64th Avenue closure allows Denver Transit Partners to
A car drives down 64th Avenue in Adams County days before the Jan. 12 road closure, which will last one year to accommodate the construction of a bridge. The project is part of the Northwest Rail Line. Photo by Ashley Reimers complete the construction work in a shorter timeframe than if there were staggered closures,” said Laura Rinker, project communications manager for Denver Transit
Partners. “This allows us to maintain the schedule for opening of the Northwest Rail Line in 2016.” Parts of Clear Creek Trail and Little Dry Creek Trail in the area
will also be closed to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Rinker said once the bridge is completed, trains will no longer be required to sound their horn at 64th Avenue, reducing noise in the area. “The grade separated rail road crossing will improve safety and travel times for motorists when it is completed, and the 10-foot pedestrian walkways will improve pedestrian safety,” she said. “The closure is the safest option for pedestrians, motorists and our workers during this construction work.” During the closure traffic will be directed to use I-76 or 72nd Avenue. Kevin Flynn, public information manager for the RTD FasTracks project, said access to all business in the area will be maintained. Road continues on Page 13