March 26, 2015 VOLU M E 9 1 | I S SUE 32
LakewoodSentinel.com A publication of
J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
Tax donations fund nonprofits Arvada family benefits from Checkoff Colorado By Crystal Anderson
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com For Isabella Billyard, 11, a weekend retreat in the mountains at Roundup River Ranch with her family allows her time to be a kid and to socialize with other kids who share in her disability. “I look forward to meeting other kids who have the same disability that I do,” said Isabella, who was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 8. “It’s kind of different for everyone but we still get to do the same things, even if we’re different in some sort of way.” Over the past two years, the Billyards, a family of four, have been able to go to Roundup River Ranch, a camp for children with serious illnesses, free of charge — something they wouldn’t have been able to
do without the help of Checkoff Colorado. “We are 100 percent funded through donations, individual grants and special events,” said Katie Santambrogio, Roundup’s director of development and marketing. “Now with Checkoff, we see this as being a really great advantage to spread awareness and build our revenue sources.” A grassroots awareness campaign, Checkoff helps educate and encourage citizens to donate to certain charitable organizations, like Roundup River Ranch, that they may not have heard of before. By seeking donations throughout tax season, Checkoff has raised more than $30 million since its inception in 1977, and more than $1.4 million in 2014 alone. “I think there’s a lot of families who don’t know that they can donate in that way or that it affects people in their area,” Billyard said. In total, eight funds were selected by the state legislature to be a part of the 2015 Tax continues on Page 25
While hanging out at camp last September, Isabella Eddings-Billyard and her siblings, Dillon Billyard and Madelyn Eddings-Billyard spend some time making crafts. Courtesy photo
Committees approve constructiondefects reforms
OVERCROWDING BRINGS CHANGES
Bills portrayed as ways to boost condos By Amy Woodward
awoodward@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Overcrowding at Stein Elementary was the catalyst for a new plan approved by the Jeffco School Board to merge Alameda High School and O’Connell Middle School and move Stein Elementary to the O’Connell building. The plan will be implemented over the summer. Photos by Clarke Reader
Alameda-area students being shifted
Jeffco decision affects three Lakewood schools By Clarke Reader
creader@colorado communitymedia.com A plan to address the overcrowding at Stein Elementary means the closure of O’Connell Middle School and the relocation of its students to Alameda High School. The plan was approved by the Jeffco Schools Board of Education on Feb. 19, and implementation is already getting started. The $1.1 million plan will combine Alameda’s International Baccalaureate (IB) program with O’Connell’s IB Middle Years program, in addition to addressing Stein’s overcrowding, which principal Samantha Salazar estimates is around 164 percent capacity.
Stein Elementary is estimated to currently be at 164 percent capacity. “This started because of a faculty discussion we had because of the situation here,” she said. “O’Connell is significantly below capacity and we thought it was a possibility to reduce overcrowding.” The approved plan was the result of several meetings with the
community, which allowed parents and neighbors to voice their opinion on the changes. “When we were first asked to look at this, there was some trepidation,” said Susie Van Scoyk,
Senate committees last week approved two pieces of legislation dedicated to reforming the state’s construction-defects laws. Proponents looking to reform the laws have argued that lessening the rigid process between homeowners seeking arbitration with home builders over construction defects will increase HOW YOUR SENATORS VOTED the production of condos and CHERI JAHN, D- WheatRidge, Yes townhomes. Opponents TIM NEVILLE, R-Jefferson County, Yes argue that any LINDA NEWELL, D-Littleton, excused reform may pre-
vent a homeLAURA WOODS, R-Arvada, Yes owner from resolving construction defects related to their home. Lakewood Mayor Bob Murphy reported that no condos have been built in Lakewood since 2006. After the state failed to address construction-defects reforms in the 2014 legislative session, Lakewood developed and passed its own construction-defects ordinance. “If by any chance the state doesn’t do something there will be a lot of dominos that fall,” Murphy said in regard to other Colorado cities that may pass their own ordinances if the state fails to address the issue again this year. Senate Bill 91: The bill would decrease the statute of limitation for a homeowner to sue a builder, architect, contractor, or builder vendor, engineer, or inspector performing or furnishing the design, planning, supervision, inspection, construction, or observation of construction of any improvement to real property from eight years to four years. Sponsors of the bill made amendments that reduced the time from eight years to six years and took out the bill’s application to multi-family units Passed with amendments: 3-2 Senate Bill 177: “The Arbitration Bill” concerns homeowners’ associations and prerequisites that are needed before pursuing resolution disputes associated with construction defects.
Students continues on Page 25 Reforms continues on Page 25