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October 2, 2014 VOLU M E 6 9 | I S S UE 47 | 5 0 ¢
WestminsterWindow.com
A D A M S C O U N T Y A N D J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O A publication of
Voters to decide the future of Adams 12 students Two measures on the ballot addressing financial needs By Ashley Reimers
areimers@colorado communitymedia.com If now isn’t the time to invest in the education of Adams 12 students, then when? That’s the question district residents must answer as they decide whether to pass a pair of ballot issues that the school district says will improve classroom resources and teacher education, repair aging infrastructure and build more schools, and ensure students have the technology necessary to succeed in a rapidly changing digital world. “Our record of success at this point had been very strong,” said superintendent Chris Gdowski. “But we’re at a point in both facilities and operations that if we don’t get new money we’ll be capped out in terms of what we can give back to our students and parents.” On Nov. 4, voters will decide whether to pass ballot issue 3I, a $15 million mill levy override that would pour more money into classrooms, and ballot issue 3J, a $220 million bond that would allow for repair of old facilities and construction of much-needed new schools, among other projects. The Adams 12 school board unanimously supported both measures and the city of Westminster adopted a resolution supporting the measures. Now, a group of community members, parents and business people — the Citizens for Adams 12 Schools — has taken it upon themselves to educate the public about the
ballot measures and persuade district voters to support them. “Our district has been amazing with the resources they have, but at a certain point it’s not sustainable,” said Shannon Bird, manager for the Citizens for Adams 12 Schools campaign. “So now we as a community have to make it sustainable and support our schools and the future of our kids.” If 3I were to pass, the district could provide students and teachers with updated text books, technology and instructional materials and invest in curriculum. Teachers would also receive additional training and support to enhance student learning. And with new state standards on the way, Gdowski said the need is crucial. “If we don’t get these resources, we’ll keep limping along with a million-and-a-half dollar per year budget for text books and materials out of a $270 million budget, in a system that serves $40,000 kids,” he said. “It’s just not enough. We won’t be able to equip our teachers with that they need to do the best work they can to help our kid reach their best achievement.” Another outcome of 3I is the ability to retain teachers and also attract highly effective ones. As Adams 12 teachers begin to age out of the workforce into retirement, Gdowksi said being a competitive district for entry level positions is even more important. “There are people looking at us saying there are challenges in Douglas County and Jeffco, so we’re a pretty darn attractive destination,” he said. “But people are only willing to go so far in terms of compensation. So being competitive with salaries is something important if we want great, talented teachers in our system.”
ADAMS 12 COMMUNITY WALK Members of the Citizens for Adams 12 Schools campaign will be hosting a community walk on Oct. 11 to get the word out on 3I and 3J. Voters can visit www. yesforadams12schools.com for more information on the measures or contact campaign manager Shannon Bird at skbird@comcast.net or at 303-435-3480. Bird becomes excited when she thinks about how 3I would expand creative freedom for teachers and administrators. “If 3I passes, teachers can work with the kids instead of worrying about how to cope with the next budget cuts,” she said. The mill levy override — the property tax rate assessed to homes — would cost homeowners approximately $5.58 per month on a home valued at $100,000. Malisa Denke, also working on the Citizens for Adams 12 Schools campaign, compares the cost to a cup of coffee. Instead of buying that specialty coffee each month, she says spend the money on the future of Adams 12 students. As for the $220 million bond, tax payers won’t see an increase because of the district’s refinancing of current debt, low interest rates and previous debt being paid off. But bond dollars would make a major dent in the growth issues the district is facing. If 3J passes, two new K-8 schools would be built, one in the Anthem neighborhood in Broomfield and the other in the Lewis Pointe subdivision in north Thornton. A preschool would also be constructed.
The district also would be able to repair, maintain and replace leaking roofs, lowfunctioning heating and cooling systems and faulty plumbing. About $7 million from the bond would go towards equipping and preparing students for 21st Century learning by renovating and modernizing classrooms and building more workspace for career and technical education. If voters defeat 3J, Gdowksi worries the district will be left with unattractive crowding conditions. The district also would face either split sessions or year-round schooling, which Gdowksi says can create havoc for parents. “We could also have charter schools or private schools come in to deal with the space issues the district hasn’t been able to solve,” he said. “And I just feel like it’s our obligation and responsibility to take care of that need and not to have others come in and address it for us.” Charter schools within Adams 12 will also reap benefits from the measures. Charter schools will receive $850,000 from of the $15 million mill levy override and $8.6 million from the $220 million bond. Because the bond and mill levy override must be separate ballot issues, Bird and Denke want to make sure the community understands the benefits and importance of both. Bond dollars can only be used for infrastructure and the mill levy override money can only be spent on operational purposes. “We can’t use bond money to meet salary needs for teachers and we can’t use the mill levy override money for new schools,” Bird said. “So we need them both to pass to address all of the needs.”
POSTAL ADDRESS
Students oppose review of history course Protests occur at most Jeffco high schools By Crystal Anderson
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com
WESTMINSTER WINDOW
(ISSN 1072-1576) (USPS 455-250) OFFICE: 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Adams County, Colorado, the Westminster Window is published weekly on Thursday by MetroNorth Newspapers, 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210, Westminster, CO 80031. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT WESTMINSTER, 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
David Lombardi with his “grand-dog” Thunder, 7, after winning the prize for Biggest Dog during the pet parade at the Orchard Festival in Westminster.
A festival of fun
This year’s Orchard Festival on Saturday, Sept. 27, in Historic Westminster welcomed people to a day filled with sunshine and good fun. The day featured live music, dancing, food vendors, children’s activities and an extended beer garden offering craft brews from local breweries Kokopelli Beer Company and Westminster Brewing Company. Part of the event space was located in the newly renovated Rodeo Market Park, which includes a large lawn area, a small natural children’s play area and pedestrian enhancements. Attendees also had the opportunity to shop at over 50 vendor booths and pick up fresh produce at a farmers market.
PHOTOS BY ASHLEY REIMERS
Artist Stephanie Block works on a painting at the Rodeo Market Community Arts Center before turning her attention to painting henna tattoos on people during the Orchard Festival.
With several days worth of chants and placard waving, Jeffco high school students expressed opposition to oversight of the district’s AP U.S. History course. Students across Jeffco walked out of class to protest a resolution to review the Advanced Placement U.S. History (APUSH) curriculum for five days in a row. Students from 14 of the district’s 17 high schools took to sidewalks along major intersections waving posters in support of the AP U.S. History curriculum and characterized attempts to review it as censorship. The resolution, penned by Board Member Julie Williams, stated the curriculum should present positive aspects of the nation’s history, and not “encourage or condone civil disorder, social strife or disregard of the law.” The language of the resolution, along with contention surrounding recent compensation and performance decisions, prompted the Sept. 19 absence of more than 50 Jeffco teachers and closure of Conifer and Standley Lake high schools and ensuing protests. “I must not have explained myself clearly. I thought everyone, or at least everyone involved in education understood the huge debate and controversy surrounding the new APUSH,” Williams wrote in a Sept. 23 news release. “To be accused of censorship? Seriously? That is just ridiculous. I am advocating for just the opposite.” In a televised interview she gave with History continues on Page 5