Chronicle Parker
PARKER 2.21.13
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 11, Issue 17
BIG CHEERS
February 22, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourparkernews.com
Union suing school district Legal claims focus on hiring, sick-leave bank By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com
Enthusiastic participants in the Legend Titans Cheer and Pom Mini Camp perform during halftime of the girls basketball game Feb. 15 at Legend High School. About 50 kids were taught three cheers by Titan cheerleaders and dancers. The camp, which is offered twice a year, raises money to help pay for the high school teams’ competitions. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen
Broker is a Cornerstone of Parker Mitch Trevey receives prestigious award from chamber of commerce By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@ourcoloradonews.com The Parker Chamber of Commerce honored a business leader who literally helped shape the town as it exists today. Mitch Trevey, a prominent land and commercial property broker in Parker, was presented with the chamber’s 2013 Cornerstone Award, an honor bestowed to those who show commitment to helping pioneer and nurture the growth and development of Parker, and who demonstrate a high level of civic and professional involvement in the community. The tone of Trevey’s acceptance speech was both optimistic and gracious as hundreds of Douglas County officials looked on during a ceremony Feb. 19 in the Great Hall at The Wildlife Experience. During a video presentation before the 16th annual Cornerstone Award was handed over, a line of colleagues praised Trevey for his fairness and integrity. Stevan Strain, a longtime Parker resident and owner of the Warhorse Inn, described Trevey as a “self-motivated” worker who jumped into Parker like a “man possessed.” Trevey moved from Arizona and established a food distribution company before selling that business in 1999 to start his Stroh Ranch-based brokerage. Frank Gray, president of the Castle Rock Economic Development Council, took the stage to present the award, but first took the opportunity to highlight Trevey’s personal qualities, including his sense of duty to his church, as well as his wife and two children. That sense of duty, according to those present, extends to Parker, where he has served as president of both the chamber of commerce and the now-defunct Parker Economic Development Council. Jamie
The Douglas County Federation of Teachers filed two lawsuits Feb. 15 against the Douglas County School District on claims related to teacher hiring and the teachers’ sick-leave bank. School board President John Carson, in a statement issued by the school district, called the lawsuits frivolous. A news release from the teachers’ union says the school district “illegally refused to consider teachers for job openings after their positions had been eliminated,” and asked the district to reimburse teachers for sick-leave days donated to a sick-leave bank that the district reportedly terminated. The district’s longstanding collective bargaining agreement with the teachers’ union, under which such issues were outlined, expired in 2012 after more than 100 hours of fruitless negotiation. “This is about treating teachers fairly and professionally and acting within the law,” union President Brenda Smith said. “The school district is set on demonizing teachers, disregarding the importance of experience, and ‘nickel and diming’ them instead of focusing on our children succeeding in the classroom.” As evidence of its support for teachers, Union continues on Page 15
Financial news good for schools District unveils planned budget bumps after five years of cuts By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com
Mitch Trevey, the recipient of the Parker Chamber of Commerce’s 2013 Cornerstone Award, speaks during the annual award luncheon Feb. 19 about his devotion to Parker. Photo by Chris Michlewicz LaRue, director of Douglas County Libraries, said Trevey is not only a savvy businessman, but a “community pillar” who faces every challenge with a well-thought-out plan of action. Trevey is also known for two other things: his love of working out and the land development signs that decorate dozens of intersection corners throughout Parker. He joked about the signs during his speech, saying his high level of exposure is sometimes met with eggs and bullet holes. Trevey said he is used to honoring others, and as expected, turned the tables by lauding a town that has enabled him to live and work in the same place. “Parker is the cornerstone,” he said. Trevey says there is “an economic development tide that is alive and well” and con-
gratulated chamber President Dan Rodriguez for exceeding Trevey’s previous record of 600-plus members. He said in addition to the town and chamber, the private sector is a key component to the town’s future success. Trevey alluded to a rift that formed between the town and local developers and said the sides should “bury our differences” and work collectively. He also suggested creating a new economic development council to supplement the work being done by the Town of Parker. Previous winners of the Cornerstone Award include Jim Nicholson, Dean Salisbury, Dennis Niewoehner, Dale Farmer, Frank Jaeger, Mike May, Stevan Strain, Jim Marshall, Dan Qualman, Jim Anest and Jack Hilbert.
The Douglas County School District’s chief financial officer was doing verbal cartwheels of excitement as she announced happy financial news to the school board Feb. 19. Bonnie Betz’s upbeat projections come after five years of budget cuts. For the 201314 academic year, no cuts are planned, and state-provided funding will increase $200 per student. Teachers also will get a 2 percent pay increase, according to Betz, though only half of that increase is permanent. While Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen said she’s optimistic DCSD will award more money to teachers as revenues come into sharper focus, the additional 1 percent is a one-time bump effective only for the 2013-14 academic year. Budget continues on Page 15
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