1-Color
February 20, 2014
50 cents Adams County and Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 69, Issue 15 A publication of
westminsterwindow.com
Art students earn high marks in art contest By Ashley Reimers
areimers@coloradocommunitymedia.com When Jessica LaMere came to Pinnacle Charter School nine years ago, a high school art program was nonexistent. But now, the program she created is thriving and expanding, allowing students to flourish in their artistic abilities. “Our program is now expanding, which is amazing,” she said. “We have a second art teacher who is part time, but will be full time next year so that’s really awesome. It’s really nice to have two teachers because we can offer more to the kids.” Four Pinnacle High School students’ talents were recently honored in the Scholastic Art Contest, which provides students across the nation the opportunity to showcase their artwork and earn college scholarships. Senior Karina Yapor and junior Lizzeth Guiterezz were both Gold Key winners and seniors Antonio Saavedra and Tiffany Garcia were both Silver Key winners. Yapor’s piece called “She’s an Angel,” which is a portrait of her German Shepard, earned her a $20,000 college scholarship. The news left her speechless. “I was shocked when I found out I had won, I didn’t really know what it meant,” Yapor said. “I was excited to just win something. I was jumping around and almost fell down my stairs.” Creating art is an escape for both Yapor and Guiterezz. They use the opportunity to draw or paint as their outlet into another
world, one all their own. Guiterezz said she’s not sure of her plans after high school, but does know art will always be in her life. For Yapor, she’s hoping to be an art teacher or illustrator, or both. “I am going to Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design for sure,” she said. “I really want to be an art teacher because Ms. LaMere really inspires me and a lot of people say that when I help them, I make it a lot easier for them.” LaMere couldn’t be more proud of her students. She says the best part of her job is working with students who have a passion for art and are driven to turn that passion into a career. She works with students to build their portfolios and helps them create a plan of attack after high school. “I really get a lot of fulfillment out of helping the students who want to go to art school because that’s what I did,” she said. “Actually getting the kids hooked on art school and to believe in art as a career choice, is probably one of the best parts of my job.” The pieces done by the Pinnacle students will be on display at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design in Lakewood until Feb. 26 in the Philip J. Steele Gallery and the Rotunda Pavilion. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. In early May Pinnacle High School will host their own art show in the halls on the first floor of the school. For more information, contact LaMere at jlamere@pinnaclecsi.org.
Dog Days of winter
Pinnacle High School Senior Karina Yapor works on a portrait of Miley Cyrus. Yapor recently won the Gold Key award and a $20,000 college scholarship through the Scholastic Art Contest. Photo by Ashley Reimers
Superintendents to express concerns in state education funding By Ashley Reimers
areimers@coloradocommunity media.com
Some dogs enjoy the warmer temperatures on Saturday taking a quick dip in the melting pond at the Westminster Hills dog park. The 60-degree weather welcomed many dogs and their owners for a day of exercise and fun at the park. Photo by Ashley Reimers POSTAL ADDRESS
Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.
Superintendents from around the state showed a united front last week presenting a letter to the governor and legislature to take notice of state funding provided to school districts. The letter was signed by 167 of 178 Colorado superintendents calling upon the Colorado General Assembly and Governor John Hickenlooper to begin the buying down the $1 billion negative factor imposed on public education since 2009 and urging the state to not impose any new unfunded mandates upon the state’s school districts. The letter was delivered on Feb. 10 to the state capitol and proposes that the “legislature restore $275 million of recurring funds to public schools, in addition to the governor’s proposed increase. A significant portion of the $275 million would be used to reduce the ‘negative factor’. The negative factor was the mechanism used to reduce funding allocated to public schools; we believe it is the mechanism that should be used to restore funding.” In 2000, Amendment 23 was passed to ensure per pupil funding would increase each year by the rate of inflation. The rate of per pupil funding for each district is determined by factors, including district size and number of “at-risk” students. According to greateducation.org, a statewide, nonpartisan, grassroots organization focused on improving education in Colorado, starting in 2009, in order to make across-the-board cuts from all districts, the legislature added a new “budget stabilization” or “negative factor” to the School Finance Act formula. In effect, the legislature now decides how much it wants to spend on school finance, and then adjusts the negative factor to meet that funding target. Adams County superintendents who signed the letter included Chris Gdowski of Adams 12, Charlotte Ciancio of Mapleton, Pam Swanson of District 50, Pat Sanchez of
Adams 14 and Chris Fielder of 27J. In the Adams 12 district, the impact of the negative factor this year is $51.4 million less in funding. A $200 million reduction in the negative factor would mean about a $10 million increase in total program funding for the district. “The Five Star District has seen reduced funding over the past few years totaling more than $100 million,” Gdowski said. “We’re collectively calling for funding to be restored, local flexibility to invest dollars in areas we know will best benefit the unique needs of our students and an end to onesize-fits-all unfunded mandates.” For Ciancio, the letter is an effort to “take a stand for the children in the school districts across Colorado.” The negative factor for Mapleton this year is $10.6 million. Ciancio said it’s important for our legislatures to know districts can no longer provide students the services they deserve. “Mapleton’s students are heavily impacted by the effects of poverty and we have a large population learning English as a second language,” she said. “The resources needed to support these students are much greater. We must address these disparities and inequities. We need to reinvest in our kids in this state.” For District 50, the negative factor causes a loss of about $13 million every year. Swanson said she fully supports the letter and believes it’s a good starting point, but would like to see a higher priority placed on more funding for “at risk” students. “I am working with like-minded superintendents and lawmakers to make sure our perspective is well represented at the capitol,” she said. At the end of the letter, the superintendents requested an opportunity to meet with state executives and legislative leaders to share knowledge and experience about meaningful education policy to address the needs of the students in Colorado. To view the entire letter, visit www.adams12.org.