Herald 1
Highlands Ranch
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 27, Issue 2
November 28, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourhighlandsranchnews.com
HRCA fees will increase in 2014 Annual assessments are set for largest hike in 10 years By Ryan Boldrey
rboldrey@ourcoloradonews.com
A crowd protested the disruption of SkyView Academy’s Christmas holiday toy drive program outside the school Nov. 20. Photo by Jane Reuter
Toy drive sparks controversy Charter school cuts ties with evangelical Christian group By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com While upset Christian parents and students rallied in support of SkyView Academy’s holiday gift drive, the school’s principal admitted the charter school erred in its relationship with the evangelical Christian program. The public charter school halted its part in the annual event after the American Humanist Association (AHA) challenged its legality at a parent’s behest. Principal Mike Munier wrote in a private
email copied to 9News reporter Kyle Clark that “the best attorneys in the land” said the school had “an indefensible case due to a mistake on our part.” The public school’s participation in a Christian proselytizing organization, Operation Christmas Child, runs counter to the constitutional separation of church and state. The controversy originated when a SkyView parent contacted the AHA about the school’s alleged promotion of student participation in the program. An AHA attorney notified the Highlands Ranch K-12 charter school that it “must immediately suspend its unconstitutional participation in Operation Christmas Child.” Humanists of Colorado president Kim-
berly Saviano said the AHA does not get involved in such cases unless it is asked to do so. “We’re being characterized as wanting to step on kittens and trying to cancel Christmas, and that’s not the case at all,” she said. “The separation of church and state is something we have to be vigilant about all the time. “I know their hearts are in the right place. They want to see kids that otherwise wouldn’t get gifts get them. It’s just the fact it’s just not meant for an in-school program.” Operation Christmas Child/ Samaritan’s Purse, led by evangelist Billy Rally continues on Page 14
School board president says goodbye VP urges unity at first meeting since fiery election By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com Outgoing Douglas County School Board President John Carson gave a lengthy farewell speech during the Nov. 19 board meeting. Carson quoted several notable figures, assured community members their voices would be heard and said the district is stronger for the education reforms introduced during his tenure. Carson, elected to the board in 2005 and named its president in 2009, received a partial standing ovation after his nearly-18-minute address, and was praised for his efforts from a parent and charter school principal later in the meeting. In the first meeting following the highstakes Nov. 5 board election, Vice President Kevin Larsen followed Carson’s final message with a speech about one-fourth as long, which was identified on the agenda as a “unity speech.” Larsen is expected to take the term-limited Carson’s spot as
Outgoing Douglas County School Board President John Carson gives his farewell speech. Photo by Jane Reuter president when new board members are sworn in, likely during the Dec. 3 meeting. A few community members also expressed unhappiness with the election results during the meeting, and their hope the board will adopt a more inclusive phi-
losophy. One teacher announced her resignation at the meeting. Both Carson and Larsen recognized the intensity of the recent school board election, during which four Republicanendorsed, reform-friendly candidates defeated four candidates supported by several community groups. “But now the election is over and it is time for all parties to work together for the benefit of students and teachers and parents,” Carson said. “To those who disagree with certain programs … you will find the hand of friendship extended.” Carson praised the district for leading the nation in parental choice programs, including online, home school and charter school programs, as well as the legally challenged voucher program. “I believe in my heart one day soon that program will blossom and become a model for public education,” he said. “If American democracy and capitalism are to shine brightly and continue as an example in the world, our students must be the best educated in the world. In my view, Board continues on Page 14
The Highlands Ranch Community Association board of directors approved the largest assessment increase in 10 years this past week, following a pair of overwhelmingly supportive votes from the community’s delegate body. The annual fees paid by residents who pay both recreation and administrative assessments will jump from $508 to $540 in 2014, while those who pay only administrative fees will see a jump from $21 to $48, bringing it back to just shy of where it was in 2012 when they paid $51. The increase will help to make up for much of the cost-cutting that the organization has undertaken the last few years — a combined $4.11 million between the administrative and recreation funds, according to HRCA controller Harry Daughters — as well as cover the rising cost of health insurance, and initiate a $250,000 capital improvement fund to pay for projects that are part of the five-year plan. The $5 increase on the recreation side passed easily with a lot vote of 16,766 to 6,993. An extra step was required to raise the administrative assessments, however, as despite 15,550 lot votes supporting it and only 7,936 opposed, the community declarations dictate that 67 percent of all lots, or 20,135 of the total 30,050, must support a change in assessments greater than 120 percent. HRCA director and finance committee chairman Jeff Suntken explained to delegates at the start of the Nov. 19 meeting that if the admin budget did not get that support, the combined assessments would either be raised to what the consumer price index dictated, $617.02, if no budget was adopted, or the board could choose to impose a supplemental administrative assessment that would reset the base assessment for 2013 from $21 to $48, without raising any fees for residents until 2014. Following the choice of the latter, lessexpensive route, the board is now required to draft a letter to residents, at a cost of $12,500, and have it in the mail by Dec. 1 to provide a 30-day notice before the assessment adjustment goes into effect Dec. 31. Responding to the idea that assessments could remain the same and no increase was necessary, Suntken stated that “the organization would be crippled” if that were the case and that they “need to start saving for the future.” “This board is looking to the future,” he said. “We have been maintaining our facilities beautifully. When things need to be taken care of we take care of them, but Fees continues on Page 8
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