WEEK OF MARCH 20, 2025
VOLUME 37| ISSUE 12
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Lunar Outpost’s moon mission goes sideway Spacecraft carrying MAPP rover lands on its side, preventing deployment BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
to $62,000 per year, making Adams 14 one of the top-paying districts in Colorado. Another big step forward is the district’s sustainability efforts. Adams 14 introduced 14 electric school buses, which will save about $1 million each year on fuel and maintenance while reducing pollution. Despite all of their wins, Adams 14 faces challenges. Chronic absenteeism is a major problem, with student attendance dropping by 4% since November. Loría said this could be due to national immigration policies that have made some families uncertain about school attendance. “Since the election in November, we have struggled to keep our attendance rates at the level they were before,” Loría said. “And in just a one-month period, our rate has fallen as much as 4% in some schools.”
Arvada-based company Lunar Outpost’s attempt at making history by landing the first-ever commercial rover on the moon hit a snag upon arrival, as the spacecraft carrying the rover landed on its side, making it impossible for the rover to be deployed. Lunar Outpost’s MAPP rover was carried by Intuitive Machine’s Athena Spacecraft, which landed about 5 degrees from the Lunar South Pole on March 6 after launching on the SpaceX Falcon 9 on Feb. 26. After the touchdown, however, there were some technical challenges. Caroline Cammarano, a member of Lunar Outpost’s communication’s team, said that although the rover survived the journey to the moon, it was unable to drive on the lunar surface due to the Athena’s landing orientation. “Our Lunar Voyage 1 MAPP rover successfully made it to the Moon, collected data from the lunar surface and in transit, and proved MAPP was ready to drive!” Cammarano said. “Intuitive Machines landing on its side prevented MAPP’s deployment. “Our data paints a clear picture that MAPP survived the landing attempt and would have driven on the lunar surface and achieved our mission objectives had it been given the opportunity,” Cammarano continued. Teams are able to communicate with the machine, said Steve Altemus, CEO of Intuitive Machines, which provided the Athena spacecraft. “We’ll just have to do the reconstruction and figure out exactly what is the attitude and location, and then we will get on with the rest of the mission,” he said at a NASA press conference.
SEE REPORTS, P5
SEE OUTPOST, P7
Superintendent Karla Loría fist-bumps a soon-to-be graduate at Adams 14’s State of the District event. PHOTO BY JACKIE RAMIREZ/ADAMS 14
• Vestas to lay off 200 employees •27J Schools moves online-only Dec. 1
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BUSINESS LOCAL
Commerce City schools back, superintendent reports Adams 14 celebrates successes, addresses challenges at State of the District event
BY LONDON LYLE SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
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LOCAL OBITUARIES LEGALS CLASSIFIED
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
The Adams 14 School District’s annual State of the District theme was “Climbing the Giants,” and they have certainly summited some metaphorical peaks. Superintendent Karla Loría hailed the district’s accomplishments during the March 7 event and demonstrated that, working together, the district has the potential to overcome their obstacles as well. “We are now moving among the best, not just in recognition but in action,” Loría said. “Climbing the giants means we do not climb alone. We must be bold, aspire to be better, motivate each other, and work as a team to support one another.” This year, Adams 14 reached its highest four-year graduation rate since 2002, increasing by nearly 12% since pre-COVID
times. More students are also earning the Seal of Biliteracy, which recognizes students who are fluent in two or more languages. In 2024, 20 students earned the seal, and in 2025, that number is expected to rise to 30. Monaco Elementary was honored as a Bright Spot by the Colorado Department of Education, and the district’s early learning centers, Sanville and STARS, recently received a high Level 4 rating from Colorado Shines. The district also secured $123 million through a bond and mill levy override, the first voter-approved mill levy measure since 1996, more than a decade before today’s high school seniors were even born. The money will go toward building a new junior high school, improving school safety and increasing teacher salaries. The starting salary for teachers has now increased
OBITUARIES: PAGE 8 | CLASSIFIEDS: PAGE 12 | LEGALS: PAGE 14
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