Westsider Westsider 6-7-13
North Jeffco
POSTAL PATRON
June 7,2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
North Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 12, Issue 22
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School budget health on upswing Board president takes conservative stance looking forward By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com Jeffco students will spend more time in the classroom next year, and teachers’ salaries will be restored to 2010 levels under a new school district budget approved May 30. With a 4-1 vote, the Jefferson County Board of Education passed the 2013-2014 budget, which benefited from last year’s voter-approved mill levy override, and an increase in state revenues that will translate to greater district funding. The district’s shift in fortune is notable, considering that it wasn’t that long ago that it had planned on 2013-2014 expenditure reductions totaling $45 million — coupled with the loss of 600 jobs. But the new budget still falls short of full-funding status. “We’re not entirely out of the woods,” said Board President Lesley Dahlkemper “We’re behaving cautiously and conservatively as we move forward.” Dahlkemper, Jill Fellman, Robin Johnson and Paula Noonan voted in favor. The lone no vote came from Laura Boggs, who expressed concern afterward that the district would end up having to make more spending reductions down the road. Boggs unsuccessfully tried to amend the budget to allow for the hiring of more teacher-librarians, the elimination of bus fees, and fees associated with advanced placement classes. And, Noonan sought to reduce student outdoor lab fees as “one small way to help (parents) out and their children out.” However, the majority of the board’s members rejected those efforts. Miller said that it “would be wonderful” for the district to be able do everything it wants, but that “this is not the ideal world right now.” “If somebody can find a way to fund that, I’d love it,” she said. Highlights of the new budget – which will operate from July 1 through June of next year – include fewer early release days for students, from nine last year to
five for the coming school year. This means that students will receive about six to eight hours of more classroom time, compared to last year. School employees also benefit from the new budget. Teachers will work four additional days next school year. And, after having experienced a three percent pay cut over the last few years, all Jeffco employees will see their pay restored to 2010 levels. Also, employee furlough days will be eliminated from next year’s budget. Jeffco will receive more money from the state than it has in recent budget cycles. Thanks to improved revenues, the state, under the current School Finance Act, has legislated an overall increase in revenues to all schools for the first time since the 2009-2010 school year, according to budget documents. With that funding, the district will see its per-pupil funding reach $6,540, an increase over recent budgets. The total planned funding amount that the district has budgeted for the coming fiscal year is still about $48 million short of what was budgeted in the 20092010, according to budget information. The new budget includes funds collected from the $39 million mill levy override that voters approved last year. But that money will not equate to the creation of new programs or restoration of old cuts. Most of the funds from the override will go toward filling a $45 million budget gap that would have existed, had taxpayers not stepped in last year. The district, which is made up of about 86,000 students and makes up 10 percent of the state’s school funding, has lost more than $78 million from its general funding operating expenditure budget over the last four years. Superintendent Cindy Stevenson said before the meeting that the district still has funding problems, but that she is pleased with many aspects of the budget. “We’re holding steady,” she said. The budget does not take into account assumed bumps in revenue from Senate Bill 213, the Future School Finance Act. The bill, which overhauls the state’s school funding system, was recently signed by Gov. John Hickenlooper. However, voters must approve the tax increases associated with the bill before it takes effect.
Lupe Montez, a cook at The Original Chubby’s Mexican Restaurant in Thornton, prepares some chili cheese fries during the busy lunch hours. Another Chubby’s restaurant will open in the LaConte Shopping Center at 72nd Avenue and Federal Boulevard in Westminster this summer. Photo by Ashley Reimers
Chubby’s returns to Westminster By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews. com When it comes to feeding his customers, Julian Cordova doesn’t let anyone leave his restaurant hungry. As the owner of The Original Chubby’s in Thornton and Denver, Cordova doesn’t think of his customers as people paying a buck, but as his friends. “The best part of my job is dealing with the customers,” he said. “I love to talk to them and see how they are doing. I go to their weddings and funerals. They become like friends to me.” Soon Cordova will bring his Mexican food back to Westminster with the re-opening of The Original Chubby’s in the LaConte Shopping Center at 72nd Avenue
and Federal Boulevard. The restaurant was first opened in Westminster in 1993, but closed in 2005. The restaurant will open in the same exact building as before. “The owners of the shopping center called me and wanted to know if we wanted it back and I said, ‘Yes, let’s do it,’” Cordova said. “It’s a good spot and I already have people telling me they’re excited for me to come back.” Pat LaConte, owner the LaConte’s Shopping Center, is excited about the return of Chubby’s. He said the location has been updated in anticipation of Cordova’s return. “Chubby’s will be a wonderful addition to the center and to the city,” he said. “Julian will do a
great job. He’s just got it dialed in.” When it comes to cooking, Cordova learned everything he knows from his grandmother Stella Cordova, an experience he says he wouldn’t trade for anything. He was raised in the restaurant business and once he was old enough to work, Stella put her grandson to work. “I learned everything from cooking to cashiering. I managed her restaurant until I was able to get my own,” he said. “Having the experiences with my grandmother was beautiful. If I could do it all over again, I would.” Cordova plans to have the restaurant open in Westminster, at 7310 N. Federal Blvd., in a couple months. For more information, visit www.ilovechubbys.com.
Famous storm chasers lost in Oklahoma tornado By Clarke Reader
creader@ ourcoloradonews.com Famous storm chasers Tim Samaras, his son Paul, and Carl Young all died doing what they loved. The Samaras lived in Bennett and Young lived in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. The trio were killed by a tornado that struck El Reno, Okla., on May 31. The three men were among 13 whose
deaths were attributed to the storms that devastated parts of Oklahoma. Tim Samaras, 55, Paul Samarus, 24 and Young, 45, were chasing a severe, multivortex tornado that was headed toward Oklahoma City when it sharply changed direction. Tim was the founder of the tornado research project Twistex, based in Lakewood. “This is a devastating loss to the meteorological, research, and storm chasing com-
munities,” said Tony Laubach of Twistex in a statement on June 1. “I ask that you keep the families in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time. There is some comfort in knowing these men passed on doing what they loved.” Both Tim and Paul were subjects of the Discovery Channel series “Storm Chasers.” The Weather Channel released a statement about their loss on June 2. It stated,
“Many of us were fortunate to have worked with them and have great admiration for their work. They went in the field focused on collecting data to enable meteorologists to further the science.”
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