WEEK OF FEBRUARY 20, 2025
VOLUME 37| ISSUE 8
$2
Questions and answers about immigration law BY JENNIFER BROWN AND OLIVIA PRENTZEL THE COLORADO SUN
Questions are swirling about how the Trump administration’s new immigration policies will continue to affect Colorado, especially after federal agents went door to door in Denver and Aurora on Feb. 5 detaining an unknown number of people. Could an immigration enforcement operation like the 2006 raid of a Greeley meatpacking plant that resulted in 262 arrests happen again? Would hiding in a church to avoid deportation, like Jeanette Vizguerra did during the last Trump administration, work now? Here are answers to some major immigration questions. Can local law enforcement arrest someone for their immigration status?
Adams 14’s process of improving their rating involved several key steps, including increasing staff training and focusing on “holistic” child development. SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE
Adams 14 early learning centers shine • Page 9
• Vestas to lay off 200 employees
BY LONDON LYLE SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
• Page 3
•27J Schools moves online-only Dec. 1
3 5 8 11
LOCAL OBITUARIES LEGALS CLASSIFIED
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
LOCAL
BUSINESS
Colorado Shines has recognized the improvements of two of Adams 14’s early childhood education centers, Sanville Preschool Center and STARS Early Learning Center, with a Level 4 rating. The rating, which reflects an advanced commitment to quality instruction, programming and continuous improvement, is a significant increase from their previous Level 1 rating, which signified basic licensing requirements. The two preschools officially joined the Colorado Shines program in 2020, and the Level 4 certification is valid through June 30, 2030. “We are incredibly proud of this achievement, as it reflects our dedication to fostering high-quality early learning en-
vironments,” Adams 14 Superintendent Karla Loria said in a statement. “This recognition affirms our educators’ hard work and commitment to nurturing the development of our youngest learners.” The jump from Level 1 to Level 4, out of five possible levels in the Colorado Shines system, underscores the dedication and hard work of the district’s early childhood education team, said Luciana Stokley, principal and Early Childhood Education Coordinator for the district. “When I joined the program five years ago, we were at Level 1. This year, we finally had the time to get the necessary ratings and evaluations completed,” Stokley said. “Moving from a Level 1 to a Level 4 reflects the hard work the team puts in and their dedication to what we’re here for our students.” The process of improving
BRIEFS: PAGE 5 | OBITUARIES: PAGE 6 | LEGALS: PAGE 13
their rating involved several key steps, including increasing staff training and focusing on “holistic” child development. “One of our main priorities has been ensuring that all of our staff have the appropriate training and support to manage their many responsibilities,” Stokley said. Lead teachers at both centers are licensed educators, while paraprofessionals are group leader-qualified. Staff training goes beyond the basics of licensing compliance to focus on multiple developmental areas. “We make sure that all of our staff, whether certified or not certified, have the same background in how to support and teach not just literacy and math, but also physical, language and social-emotional development,” Stokley said. The district also celebrated the role that families play in early childhood education.
“Families played a huge role in helping us reach this milestone,” Stokley said. “Our preschool teachers and classroom teams maintain regular, consistent communication with families. They check in daily about how the day went at school, and how the morning was, on the way to school.” That kind of open communication makes a big difference, she said. Families are encouraged to play an active role in their child’s education, rather than just pick them up at the end of the day. They often are invited in to participate in classroom activities, and the district welcomes parent feedback on their experiences. This helps the centers continuously improve and adapt to their communities’ needs. SEE CHILDCARE, P16
No. Under Colorado law passed in 2019, local law enforcement officers are not allowed to make an arrest or detain a person based solely on their immigration status or an ICE request. They also are barred under state law from notifying ICE about the immigration status of someone in their custody. However, if law officers arrest someone who has an ICE detainer, they can notify ICE when that person is being released from custody. They cannot, however, detain people after their release in order to facilitate pickup by ICE. SEE ANSWERS, P8
2025
VOTING STARTS
MARCH 1!
COMMERCECITYSENTINEL.COM • A PUBLICATION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA