Westminster 11-14-2013
November 14, 2013
50 cents
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
Adams County and Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 69, Issue 2
SEASOn EnDS On SAD nOTE
On Nov. 7 Standley Lake High School hosted the 7th annual Empty Bowl project event to raise money for Arvada Community Food Bank. Photo by Austin American-Statesman
Mountain Range head coach Bryan Davey consoles senior Emilio Aguilar after losing to Cherokee Trail Nov. 8 at Legacy Stadium in Aurora. Mountain Range’s first ever appearance in the playoffs ended when it lost to No. 6 Cherokee Trail in the second round of the 5A Football State Tournament Nov. 8 at Legacy Stadium in Aurora. Photo by Kate Ferraro
Stevenson announces retirement Jeffco superintendent stepping down after 12 years By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com There were few dry eyes and even fewer empty seats inside a packed Jefferson County school board meeting on Nov. 7, as supporters of Superintendent Cindy Stevenson showed up to hear the district’s longtime superintendent announce her retirement. “The past 12 years have been the best years of my life,” said Stevenson, often wiping away tears, while announcing that she would retire on June 30, when her contract expires. “This is an exceptional school district and it’s been my honor to lead an amazing staff of talented people.” Stevenson received a standing ovation at the conclusion of her remarks. Stevenson, who was appointed to her position in 2002, will retire as Jefferson County Public Schools’ longest-serving superintendent. A product of the school district that she has led for more than 12 years, Stevenson has worked as a teacher, a principal, or as a member of the superintendent’s office during a span of four decades. School board member Jill Fellman recalled meeting Stevenson for the first time in 1989, when Stevenson taught at Arvada’s Little Elementary School and Fellman was a first-year teacher at Moore Middle School. POSTAL ADDRESS
Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Cindy Stevenson speaks in support of a school finance act tax hike during an Aug. 15 rally at Lakewood’s Green Mountain High School. File photo “I just kept thinking when I was that first-year teacher, ‘I want to be like Cindy Stevenson,” Fellman said after the board meeting. Stevenson was named the 2010 Colorado Superintendent of the Year, and was a finalist for the national award that year. Jeffco students have consistently scored above the state average in proficiency test scores during Stevenson’s tenure. And she was an instrumental campaigner for mill levy overrides that Jeffco voters support-
ed in 2010, which allowed the district to stop the financial bleeding that was taking place during the economic downturn. “Her absence will be felt across the district,” said Patti DeLorenzo, a principal at Lakewood’s Devinny Elementary School. “As hard as it may be, administrators will continue to work toward your vision.” But not everything has been sunny for Stevenson as of late. She was a key supporter of Amendment 66, the school finance tax hike that voters flatly rejected on Nov. 5. And Stevenson took a lot of heat from parents for her support of a company with whom the district was to partner with to store student information as part of a data Printed on recycled newsprint. Please dashboard — inBloom, a Georgia-based recycle this copy. nonprofit that has been the subject of national controversy over privacy and security concerns. After an outcry from parents, Stevenson Stevenson continues on Page 2
Bowls bring in donations to feed the hungry By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com The Empty Bowls Project is an international grassroots effort to fight hunger, and for the past seven years, the students and staff of Standley Lake High School have done their part to help feed people in need in their community. The project was created by The Imagine Render Group and according to the project website, www.emptybowls.net, the basic premise is simple: potters, craftspeople, educators and others work with the community to create handcrafted bowls. For SLHS’s participation, students made clay bowls and then sold them during an open house on Nov. 7 for a suggested donation of $5 each. All of the event proceeds were then donated to the Arvada Community Food Bank. “Standley Lake High School and surrounding elementary and middle schools wanted to bring awareness to the issues of hunger affecting our community,” said SLHS art teacher and event organizer Carolyn Valter. “Over 30,000 children die in our world each day of malnourishment diseases. This is one way we can come together and help those who are hungry.” Valter said as teachers, the Empty Bowls Project is a great opportunity to teach students about art, compassion, sharing and collaboration. She said the students involved are always very excited to help others. Some involved are actually the ones who need the food bank assistance, she added. “One of the best parts about being involved in the Empty Bowls Project is the chance to bring everyone together: parents, teachers and students,” she said. “The best part is the collective power that one bowl can make a huge difference for a hungry child in our community. And it’s a great opportunity for students to service their community and to learn the importance of giving.” About 80 hand-crafted bowls were made by high school students and another 170 were created by elementary and middle school students. Although the event is over, teachers and staff will continue to buy bowls for about a week. Walters said in years past, $1,200 to $1,400 was collected annually and donated to the Arvada Food Bank.