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Education

  • Former board members voice concern about open governance with newly elected members

    Several former Jeffco school board members attended last Thursday’s meeting and signed up for public comment, including Jon DeStefano, Judy Pierce, Dave Thomas, Debby Oberbeck, Sue Marinelli and Rick Rush.

    Former board member and president Dave DiGiacomo spoke for all the former members. DiGiacomo served on the board from 1991 to 1999.

    “We care deeply for the students, teachers, staff and administrators of this district,” DiGiacomo said. “We have become concerned with the actions of our newly elected school board members.”

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  • School district plans ‘classroom dashboard’

    Jeffco Public Schools announced plans to move forward with equipping teachers with a “classroom dashboard” to access student data at last Thursday’s school board meeting.

    To the relief of many Jeffco parents, the plans didn’t include the words “inBloom” or “cloud.”

    Since 2012, the school district has been planning a classroom dashboard for teachers, who use numerous systems and access large amounts of student data daily.

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  • School board discusses process for hiring superintendent

    The Jeffco school board envisions a lengthy and deliberate process to replace retiring Superintendent Cindy Stevenson.

    At last Thursday’s study session, the board discussed the process for selecting a new leader for Colorado’s second largest school district. It will take six weeks just to find the professional search firm that will identify top candidates for the job.

    Stevenson announced her retirement in November, shortly after three new members were elected to the board; her last day will be June 30.

     

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  • STUDENT PROFILES: Dakota Ridge junior always looking for opportunities to bring smiles, support to others

    Teachers and parents challenge students to engage in opportunities of community outreach in the belief that education extends beyond the mastery of content and accomplishment in athletics or activities. Working toward positive contributions as citizens in the community, students should experience an education that promotes empathy for one another as well as exemplary academic achievement.

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  • Kerr to chair state Senate’s Education Committee

    Jeffco will retain its voice on the state Senate’s Education Committee, but now that voice will be at the panel’s helm. 

    State Sen. Andy Kerr, D-District 22, has been named chairman of the Senate Education Committee for the 2014 legislative session. Kerr served as a member of the committee during the 2013 legislative session. 

    Kerr takes over for former state senator Evie Hudak, who resigned Nov. 27 in the face of a potential recall election over her support of new gun regulations.

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  • Choice enrollment for Jeffco parents begins in January

    Jeffco parents who wish to enroll a child in a district school other than their neighborhood school can take advantage of the choice enrollment process next month.

    The first period of enrollment begins Jan. 8 and closes Jan. 24. A second enrollment period is offered from Feb. 19 to Aug. 30.

    “The second period is offered for parents who missed the first round or maybe just moved into the county,” said Melissa Reeves, spokeswoman for Jeffco Public Schools.

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  • New school board majority votes to hire law firm

    In a decision that brought boos from the audience, the Jeffco school board’s new majority voted Thursday night to hire an attorney to represent the board — not the school district — with little time for discussion and many unanswered questions.

    Board members Lesley Dahlkemper and Jill Fellman said after the meeting that they dissented not because they oppose the board having its own attorney, but because they objected to the way the motion was introduced and voted on.

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  • Five bottle bombs found in South Jeffco over two days

    Five bottle bombs were found in South Jeffco on Jan. 2 and 3, the Sheriff’s Office reported.

    Four of the bombs, also referred to as “overpressure devices,” were discovered Friday at Easton Park off West Coal Mine Avenue, near Dakota Ridge High School, by Jeffco parks employees. All four of the bombs at Easton had been detonated.

    The fifth bomb was discovered in the parking lot between The Edge Ice Arena and The Ridge Recreation Center on Thursday, Jan. 2. That bomb was inert, said sheriff’s spokesman Mark Techmeyer.

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  • Group prays for new board members

    A small group gathered last Friday to pray for the three newest members of the Jeffco Board of Education. 

    Newly elected board members Julie Williams and Ken Witt received prayer from the eight people who attended. John Newkirk appeared briefly to thank everyone who showed up but left because of a scheduling conflict.

    “We appreciate the faith community reaching out to us and inviting us here tonight,” Witt said. “We support our faith-based community, and we are a part of it.”

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  • More public comment planned at beginning of school board meetings

    Jeffco Public Schools’ new board is putting its stamp on how meetings are run.

    During the Dec. 11 meeting, the board voted unanimously to change the public-comment portion of meetings and the structure of the consent agenda, which contains routine district matters that are approved by the board in one vote.

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