Key Communique

Within the past two weeks, three school shootings have resulted in the tragic deaths of innocent students and a principal. In response, Jeffco Public Schools has heightened and strengthened security in more than 150 schools.

On Thursday, Sept. 28, the Jeffco Public Schools Board of Education approved $2.1 million to fund a card access and video surveillance project. The card access project provides electronic control of doors at all schools, while the video surveillance project will supply high schools with cameras. The funding comes from the voter approved bond proceeds in the 2005-2010 Capital Improvement Program. Offers to support schools by donated video systems are appreciated; however, proposals must first be reviewed by community superintendents for compatibility, integration and support purposes.

The district is also providing additional one-time funding for paraprofessionals and overtime for campus supervisors to increase adult supervision in our schools. All elementary and middle schools are receiving funding to provide approximately five additional paraprofessional hours per day for four weeks. High schools will receive funding to provide overtime for campus supervisors and district-wide schools with senior high level classes will receive campus supervisor overtime funds. The district is researching additional funding.

Perhaps the most important safeguard is alert and caring people…staff, students, parents and community. Security awareness is being emphasized throughout the district; families are also encouraged to discuss these important issues. Awareness and teamwork will help make schools safer.

Listen to Dr. Cindy Stevenson's nationally broadcast radio interview (School Violence Drops, Despite Shocking Crimes).
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Jeffco Public Schools continues to work to meet the federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. A total of 128 schools in Jeffco Public Schools met 100 percent of the targets for 2006, according to data recently released by the Colorado Department of Education.

“Our students, teachers and staff have worked very hard to increase learning and improve scores. We are committed to meeting the Adequate Yearly Progress targets and will continue to work toward those goals,” said Superintendent Cindy Stevenson.

NCLB, signed into law by President Bush in January 2002, requires states to set target goals based on 2001-02 and 2002-03 student achievement data.

Under NCLB, AYP is used to report student progress on the state's reading and math tests. By the 2013-2014 school year, all students in Colorado are required to be successful on these tests, according to NCLB.

Each year, schools receive a report from the state that shows AYP status. The report includes students' scores for the entire school. The report also breaks students' scores into different subgroups, including race/ethnicity, students with disabilities, Limited English Proficiency and economically disadvantaged. NCLB works on an "all or nothing" scale. If just one of the targets is not met by just one subgroup, the school or district does not meet AYP.
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Board of Education comes out against four ballot initiatives

At its October 5, 2006 business meeting, the Jeffco Public Schools Board of Education passed resolutions opposing a statute and three constitutional measures that will appear on this year's state ballot. The Board has come out against, and is urging voters to defeat, Referendum J and Amendments 38, 39 and 44, all of which are on the November 7, 2006 ballot.

Amendment 38, a citizen initiative, expands the ability of citizens to propose and challenge laws at all levels of state and local governments, including school districts. The Board of Education opposes this proposed constitutional amendment because, according to the Board, it weakens representative government and invites abuse of the petition process.

In addition to the Jeffco Public Schools Board of Education, other organizations opposing the proposal are the Colorado Association of School Boards, the Colorado Association of Realtors, the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, the Colorado Bar Association and the Metro Mayors Caucus. Other organizations that have announced their opposition include the Jefferson Economic Council, the West Chamber of Commerce , the Colorado and Jefferson County Association of Realtors and the Colorado Municipal League. The state's two largest newspapers, the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News, have editorials opposing the proposed amendment.

Amendment 39, a proposed constitutional amendment promoted by an out-of-state organization, requires each school district in Colorado to spend at least 65 percent of its operational expenditures on classroom instruction. As with Referendum J, the Board stated its opposition against Amendment 39 because, according to the Board, it imposes a “one size fits all” solution and has an arbitrary formula that has no relationship to the operation of Jeffco Public Schools.

Other organizations coming out against Amendment 39 are the Colorado AFL /CIO, Colorado Association of School Boards, the Colorado Association of School Executives, the Colorado Education Association, the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police and the Colorado League of Charters Schools. The Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News have both published editorials opposing the proposal.

Amendment 44, placed on the ballot by citizen initiative, proposes to allow adults 21 years or older to possess up to one ounce of marijuana. Additionally, the proposal would allow adults to give up to one ounce of marijuana to other individuals 15 years or older. The Board is opposed to this constitutional amendment because of the potentially detrimental impact the measure will have on the health, safety and well being of young people, and especially the students of Jeffco Public Schools.

Opposing Amendment 44 are the Colorado Education Association, the Colorado Parent Teacher Association, the Colorado Association of School Executives, the County Sheriffs of Colorado , the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, the Colorado Drug Free Schools Coalition and the County Sheriffs of Colorado . The Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post have also issued editorials opposing Amendment 44.

Referendum J, a statuary request referred by the Colorado General Assembly, is a proposed ballot measure on classroom spending requirements. The Board cites its opposition because, according to the Board, it imposes a “one size fits all” solution on the state and eliminates the flexibility of the Board of Education to make decisions about appropriate allocation of district funds on the needs of the community. Many of the organizations against Amendment 39 are opposing Referendum J as well. The Rocky Mountain News has opined against the referendum, while the Denver Post says “voters should turn down” the proposal.

As elected officials, the Jeffco Public Schools Board of Education is allowed, under Colorado law, to take positions on issues that affect the school district. The Colorado Association of School Boards has also issued resolutions against Referendum J and Amendments 38 and 39.
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District to break ground for new Golden High School

Jeffco Public Schools will host a groundbreaking ceremony 4 p.m., Monday, October 23, 2006 for the new Golden High School. The groundbreaking, open to the public, will take place in the rear of the current school (701 24th Street in Golden). In the event of bad weather, the ceremony will be held in the school gym.

The new $33 million Golden High School , replaces the existing and outdated facility originally constructed in 1955. The district determined that the cost to replace the original school was more cost efficient than renovating the existing facility. The new school, located on the same site, will accommodate up to 1,450 students (fall 2006 enrollment is 1,310) and include more than 500 on-site parking spots. The design includes energy and cost efficient features throughout the 187,639 square foot facility. The two-level school is designed in a U-shape around a courtyard with existing mature trees, echoing the courtyard of the existing school. The school will also include decorative friezes and gifts from classes dating back 80 years in the new commons area.

Construction for the new school will affect onsite parking. As a temporary measure during the construction, the district and the City of Golden reached an agreement to allow students and staff limited parking off campus. Through a number of community meetings and City Council hearings, a plan was jointly approved to allow parking in permitted areas of neighborhoods immediately surrounding the school.

The architect for the new school is AR7 HooverDesmond Architects and the general contractor is Nunn Construction.

The new Golden High School will be open for classes by August 2008 with all work completed by November 2008. The project, funded from bonds approved by voters in 2004, is on-time and on-budget.
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The Board of Education holds study/dialogue sessions (Seminar Room, 4th floor) and business meetings (Board Room, 5th floor) at the Educational Services Center, 1829 Denver West Drive, Bldg #27, Golden, unless otherwise noted.