• Board votes on ballot measure
• Board candidates announced
• Fall groundbreakings and dedications
• Celebration of Excellence
• Second Wind Walk
• Board of Education Meetings

Thomas Weimer
Former Assistant Secretary of the Interior
Golden High School Alumnus

The Bright Stars program recognizes Jeffco
Public Schools' graduates who have gone on to distinguished careers or have accomplished a significant achievement. If you have a Bright Star you would like to nominate, please e-mail Communications Services.

Jeffco Board of Education votes for measure on the November ballot

The Jefferson County Board of Education has voted to put a measure on the November ballot that will ask voters to repeal a portion of a mill levy authorization approved in 1999. This is a housekeeping action that will not have any financial impact on voters.

The 1999 mill levy allowed the Jeffco Public School district to earn $35.8 million over the course of four years for increasing student achievement. That money went directly into the classroom and has been reflected in increased student achievement scores, according to Jeffco Public Schools Superintendent Cindy Stevenson.

“Unfortunately, the mechanics of that ballot measure do not apply today because the state-required tests of our students have changed dramatically in eight years,” said Stevenson. The 1999 mill levy language was tied to specific student achievement on the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP). However, the current measurement standards make the 1999 mill levy language obsolete.

In 1999, the district gave approximately 50,000 student exams in eight different categories with an overall score of 53.2 percent. Today, Jeffco administers over 168,000 exams covering 31 tests with an overall score of 64 percent. “We are proud of what we have accomplished and continue to accomplish every day in classrooms throughout Jeffco. Our scores and overall student achievement are increasing, but there is no additional financial gain available through the 1999 mill levy authorization,” said Stevenson.

What questions do you have about the ballot question?

Board of Education candidates announced

Three candidates met the August deadline and have formally declared their intention to run for the Jeffco Public Schools Board of Education. Jefferson County voters will elect two of the five school board seats on Nov. 6. The candidates must live in their specific director district, but Jefferson County voters elect board members at large. The Board of Education is the policy-making body of the school district. The Board is composed of five members, elected to alternating four-year terms. Board members receive no pay; they give freely of their time to serve the community. The Board of Education election will be conducted by mail ballot as part of the November election.

Those officially approved are:

Dave Thomas
Dave graduated from Golden High School and is a Jefferson County native. He and his wife Shirley have two children who have graduated from Jeffco Schools and one who is still attending. Dave works for the Colorado District Attorneys' Council, having previously served as the Jefferson County District Attorney. His board experience includes:Colorado Dept. of Public Safety, Jeffco Action Center, Victim Outreach Information, Juvenile Services Planning Committee and the Community Corrections Board. Dave's emphasis is on increasing the graduation rate and truancy prevention.

Jane Barnes
A native of Indiana, Jane received her bachelor's degree from Goucher College and then pursued courses toward a Master's in Anatomy and Physiology and Non-profit Management. She and her husband, Ben of 27 years, have four children who all attended Jeffco Schools. Jane has experience serving on the following boards: D'evelyn Junior/Senior High School Steering Committee, District Budget Workgroups and Operating Expenses Review Committee. Jane works with health, wellness and senior programs at St. Anthony's Hospital. Her focus has been on maintaining objectivity, demanding the facts and then making decisions that benefit children, and community support for the district.

Jeff Braa
As a lifetime resident of Jefferson County, Jeff attended Alameda articulation schools and received his bachelor's degree from Metro State College. His wife, Cherie of 23 years, is an elementary teacher and their two children also attended Jeffco Schools. Jeff works in information technology and has served on the following boards: Homeowners Association, Board of Directors, PTA. His focus is on keeping local schools strong to keep property values strong and being a team player with the community to keep education moving in the right direction.

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Jeffco Public Schools currently has completed 138 school construction projects and has 68 projects under construction and 34 projects in the design phase. All projects are part of the 2005-2010 Capital Improvement Program and funded from the 2004 $328.5 million bond. There are 102 projects remaining to be started in the program.

This month, Fairmount and Hackberry Hill Elementary Schools celebrated re-dedication ceremonies with extensive renovations to each school. Lakewood High School will celebrate a new facility on Tuesday, October 2 at 7 pm. while Dakota Ridge High School kicks off a groundbreaking for an $8 million building addition on Tuesday, October 23 at 5 p.m.

A monthly comprehensive fact sheet summarizes all major construction projects and is included as an attachment to the Key Communique. To keep accurately informed, and to help inform others, please download and print the September District Construction Update fact sheet.

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Don't forget to RSVP for the third annual Key Communicator's Celebration of Excellence event to be held on Tuesday, October 16 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. (Education Center, Board Room, 5th Floor).

This reception is the district's way to say thanks to our Key Communicators and to celebrate the accomplishments of students, teachers, staff and our Jefferson County community. This wonderful evening includes individual and group represention of the best of the best in academics, athletics, arts, teachers, staff and community service. The event will again provide student entertainment and demonstrations.

RSVP

Second Wind Fund Walk/Run/Ride

The Second Wind Fund, a fund of The Jefferson Foundation, has set Sunday, September 23, 2007 as the date for its annual Walk/Run/Ride. The signature community event is now in its 6th year, having become the largest youth suicide prevention event in the nation, with 1,900 in attendance last year.

Presented by Front Range Bank and St. Mary’s Land & Exploration Company, this year’s event begins at Green Mountain High School (GMHS), 13175 W. Green Mountain Drive in Lakewood, and finishes at Green Mountain Presbyterian Church (GMPC), Alameda Parkway at Mississippi. It includes a one-mile walk on the Green Mountain High School flat track, and a 3-mile walk, run, or ride through the Green Mountain neighborhood. Shuttles will run between the two adjacent venues.

• Entry fee: $25 for adults and $10 for students, and includes a free t-shirt, entertainment, massages, and community Barbeque lunch.
• Prizes to all those who raise $100 or more in pledges, and major prizes, including a trip for two to Hawaii, will be given to the top pledge-earner of $5,000 or more.
• Free concerts by Tempa & the Tantrums and Rare Vintage, as well as free children’s activities.
• The event also includes a memorial white dove release, corporate sponsors’ tables, information about suicide prevention, a gourmet ice cream truck, and much more.
• Speakers will include Lakewood Mayor Steve Burkolder and Jeffco Schools Superintendent Dr. Cindy Stevenson.
• Kara Factor, a Junior at Lakewood High School, developed the powerful image for this year’s Second Wind Walk/Run/Ride. The title of Kara’s photo is ‘I Hold in My Hands’ and the hands spell out "LIVE" in American sign language.

In 2002, Second Wind was established as one church’s response to teen suicide, the second leading cause of death for Colorado’s youth. The program has since grown through donations, grants, and fundraisers and has been able to fund counseling for close to 700 students through the state, most in the Denver metro area. Within the past school year, Second Wind has provided counseling to youth in every school district, from elementary through high school, in metro Denver.

"The community’s response has been extraordinary," said Jeff Lamontagne, Executive Director of Second Wind. "Second Wind has garnered the support of the faith community, businesses, and civic organizations. Our event is truly a whole community’s response to teen suicide." For more information contact Jeff Lamontagne at 303-988-2645.

Upcoming Board of Education meetings

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.