WESTMINSTER 12.27.12 December 27, 2012
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
Adams County and Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 68, Issue 10
Mill levy override suggested for D50 By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com Looking to the future of the school district, the Adams County School District 50 fiscal oversight committee suggested the school board consider a mill levy override for next November’s election. The suggestion was made during the Dec. 4 study session. Committee member Bill Christopher said after the board had to reach into the reserve fund and pull out $4.4 million to bal-
ance the 2012-13 budget, the mill levy override option is something the board needs to think about. “We have done bond refinancing, which helps, but we have to think about the future,” he said. “The mill levy increase is an important step that needs to be done in the next couple of years. And it’s something the school board has to decide whether they want to embrace it.” District 50 receives most of its funding from the state, but due to the recession, Christopher said the mill levy override
could make a big difference for the district, especially with the new STEM school set to open next fall and improved test scores. He said now is the time to keep the momentum going. “It’s important to get a head start on the process to allow the community to have enough time to decide whether or not they support the increase,” he said. “There needs to be time for citizens to get informed on the increase and to raise some money for the campaign before next year’s ballot.” The school board has not committed to
the mill levy override election. It will hear more from the fiscal oversight committee in January before any decisions are made. District 50 voters will already be headed to the polls in November when two seats on the board open up — board president Marilyn Flachman, who is term limited, and Sharon Whitehair, who is not term limited and can run again. “The committee believes a mill levy override is inevitable and need to pursued by the district, if not in 2013, then soon after,” Christopher said.
Murder of 10-year-old shakes the community Compiled by Ashley Reimers and Darin Moriki It was a year of ups and downs in Westminster and Adams County. From new construction in the area, to budget cuts, to a murder that shook the north metro area, in no particular order here are the top 10 stories of 2012:
Adams 12 Budget cuts
The Adams 12 Five Star Schools Board of Education cut $12 million to balance the 2012-13 budget, resulting in the loss of about 60 full-time employee positions, including at least 51 cuts to certified teacher positions. The plan also called for a $6.8 million reduction in compensation for employees through options such as furlough days and increased contributions to the school district’s retirement system.
TOP TEN
Abduction and murder of Jessica Ridgeway
On Oct. 5, 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway disappeared while walking to school in Westminster. Days later her body was found in the Pattridge Park Open Space area in Arvada. Police later received a call from the mother of 17-year-old Austin Sigg leading Ridgeway police to his arrest. Sigg is now facing 19 charges, including four counts of first-degree murder. He is being tried as an adult, and if convicted, could face up to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 22.
District 50 moves up in accreditation
Adams County School District 50 moved up from a turnaround district to a priority improvement
Westminster Police officer T.C. Cunningham talks with another officer while blocking off an intersection at West 102nd Avenue and North Moore Court Oct. 24. Officials were search the home of Austin Sigg in connection to the Jessica Ridgeway murder. Photo by Andy Carpenean district after an increase in its performance indicators. Two years ago District 50 was labeled as a turnaround district, with seven of the district’s 18 schools in the turnaround category. The district now has three years to move from the priority improvement category into either the improvement or accredited level.
U.S. Highway 36 express-lanes project
Construction on the U.S. Highway 36 express-lanes project began in August and is set to be completed by December 2014. The $312 million project between Federal Boulevard and 88th Avenue Street in Louisville/ Superior will build an express lane in each direction of Highway 36. The lanes will accommodate high-occupancy vehicles, bus rapid transit and tolled singleoccupancy vehicles.
Westminster Station
POSTAL ADDRESS
Commuter-rail transit is on its
Teachers and supporters hold up signs while protesting at a Adams County School District 12 school board meeting. way to Westminster. The project is part of the Regional Transportation District’s FasTracks Northwest Rail Line corridor project. It includes construction of a Westminster Station, which will
be surrounded by 135 acres for future development. The first 6.2-mile segment from Union Station to south Westminster, at 71st Avenue and Lowell Boulevard, is already funded through the Eagle P3 project and
is set for completion by 2016.
Standley Lake sexting scandal
Two Standley Lake High School students were charged Top Ten continues on Page 3
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