August 27, 2015
Inside: Jeffco Schools Quarterly
VOLU ME 32 | ISSU E 9 | 50 ¢
WheatRidgeTranscript.com 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
Weed report for Wheat Ridge
CARNATION FEST A HIT
Police say underage use for all drugs up 20 percent
Union, board face decisions that could open door to strike
By Nick Evans Special to the Transcript Wheat Ridge Police Chief Dan Brennan hosted a presentation on the effects of marijuana and how it impacts the community. “If you look at the 2013-2014 year, there were 49 (underage) incidents involving marijuana possession. This year, the number went up to 59,” Chief Brennan said. Marijuana was not the only vice to see a distribution increase in schools. The statistic confirmed alcohol violations in public schools had a slightly larger number than last year. In total, the number Weed continues on Page 3
By Crystal Anderson canderson@coloradocommunitymedia.com
People waiting outside the tent for a sold out Zoppe Italian Family Circus show Aug. 16 at the 45th annual Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival. This year’s festival, held at Anderson Park, added another day to the line-up and new entertainment offerings, including higher-profile musical acts and more kid-friendly fare. Photo by Nick Evans
City has fun with pro challenge POSTAL ADDRESS
Locals enjoy more than just bike race By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com
WHEAT RIDGE TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 1089-9197)
OFFICE: 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Wheat Ridge Transcript is published weekly on Thursday by Mile High Newspapers, 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210, Golden, CO 80401. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT GOLDEN, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 722 Washington Ave., Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legals: Fri. 11 a.m. Classifieds: Mon. 5 p.m.
PL E ASE RECYCLE
Teachers, district at crucial moment
Quinn Roman, 6, and Luna Clingman, 5, are entrepreneurs. And seeing all the excitement around the USA Pro Challenge in 2014, the young Goldenites wanted to set up a lemonade stand this year. “It was all Quinn’s idea,” her dad, Steve Karp, said. “And here we are.” The Roman and Clingman families were only a few of the thousands of people who came to Golden to witness the big race. Golden was the host city for Stage 3 of the inaugural women’s race and Stage 7 for the men’s race, and thousands of people crowded the streets to catch some of the action live and in-person. “The crowds were just unbelievable,” said Stage 3 Best Young Rider Abigail Mickey. “I wasn’t surprised that Golden came together like that. It’s a great community.” Once the men raced out of Golden on their way to downtown Denver, people Challenge continues on Page 4
Young entrepreneurs Quinn Roman, 6, on left, and Luna Clingman, 5, sell lemonade, chips and water to spectators at the USA Pro Challenge Aug. 23. The day was fun, the girls of Golden said, especially because “you get to watch a lot of racers go by.” Photo by Christy Steadman
Georgia Grenolds, 8, of Lakewood sports her Two Angels Foundation jersey and shows off her USA Pro Challenge award that she received as a participant in the foundation’s Kids Adaptive Dash, which took place Aug. 23. The kids got to ride their bikes at the official starting line that the pro cyclists used, just after the pros had departed. Photo by Christy Steadman
This week is a momentous one within the Jefferson County School District, which could end up with a relatively stable school year, or an impending teacher strike. Through a series of meetings, teachers in the union are deciding whether or not to ratify a 10-month collective bargaining agreement. If they do, the board of education must then either accept or reject the agreement. Their decisions will directly impact the 46-year relationship the union has had with the district, the jobs of more than 5,000 teachers and Jeffco’s 86,000 students. Teacher contract ratification For the past four decades, the Jefferson County Education Association and the Jefferson County School District have come together to create a collective bargaining agreement, serving as a guideline for teachers and administration. However, a new board majority elected in 2013 has fought with the union over many issues. That majority — of Ken Witt, Julie Newkirk and John Williams — is facing a recall election, which has the union’s blessing. This year, negotiators met over the past five months for more than 150 hours to craft a new collective bargaining agreement. On Aug. 6, both parties signed a tentative agreement to accept the document, which has now gone to the union’s full membership for approval. Several teachers said accepting the proposed contract was the right thing to do, but they were disappointed in the 10-month length of the agreement, which is far shorter than a traditional multi-year agreement. “JCEA members should ratify — it gives us protection while we stand by the parents and community during the recall” of the board majority, said Colleen Keefe, a teacher at West Woods Elementary School in Arvada. “WNW (Julie Williams, John Newkirk and Ken Witt) will commit political suicide if they do not ratify the CBA themselves, and there isn’t enough Koch money to buy commercials to do that damage control.” The union’s voting deadline was 8 a.m. Aug. 26, after the newspaper went to press. (For coverage on the decision, go to coloradocommunitymedia.com.) Should the agreement be rejected, union representatives said they would request negotiating teams reconvene to create a new contract the membership could accept. Once accepted by the union, the contract will go to the board of education for approval during its Aug. 27 meeting, the first board meeting of the school year. Teachers continues on Page 9