Conservatively planning for $70 million in budget cuts

 Many of you may be hearing about the suggestions for reductions that have emerged from the district’s budget workgroups over the past few weeks. We are conservatively planning for $70 million in cuts over the next two years; a huge number that will mean the loss of jobs in every part of the district. The work of developing the reduction suggestions has been difficult – there just aren’t any easy solutions when the reduction target is this large.

More than 500 district positions could be eliminated over two years – that includes administrators, support staff and teachers. When you read the list of jobs that are being suggested for elimination, I’m sure you’ll have an emotional reaction because some of them are music teachers, teacher-librarians and classroom teachers. There are also central and school-based administrators, custodians and others who support the work that happens in the classroom. Please keep in mind that the $70 million reduction amount is a conservative estimate and we won’t know the full extent of the reductions until the state budget work is completed.

Throughout this process we are committed to keeping our focus on sustaining Jeffco’s excellence while balancing a budget that has been deeply impacted by the state’s financial crisis. My thanks to all of our parents who have served on the budget workgroups and to those parents who attended the budget meetings at your school. Every time we undertake this process, we learn – I have heard many helpful ideas from our community. In early 2012, members of the Jefferson County Board of Education will hold community budget forums, but in the meantime, please visit our website if you have budget-related comments. Thank you for caring for your children and supporting your schools – I hope you have a lovely holiday break.

Dr. Cindy Stevenson, Superintendent

Article from: Jefferson County "Chalk Talk, Friday, Dec. 9, 2011
Full Article HERE: http://jeffcoweb.jeffco.k12.co.us/communications/parent_news/archive/2011/December/2011.12.09.html

Dennison's Paint Day A HUGE Success!

On July 3rd, Jeffco stadium had a fourth of July celebration including a fireworks display at dusk. It was then a Dennison mother noticed how weathered and run down the outside temp buildings looked. The buildings clearly needed fresh paint, doors and siding not to mention a lot of needed improvements.

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Porches, ramp ways, and shutters all in desperate need of repair. From this day on research began. Private contractors were called, but no one took interest in donating paint. Home Depot in Lakewood was contacted and from the start they wanted to be involved. One phone call lead into months of planning and constant communication about the paint project and a possible grant.

Home depot not only took the time to looked at pictures of the buildings, they personally brought contractors out to Dennison to review what needed to be done. John Cahill (Store Manager) put the project in the hands of Duane Schissler (Project Manager) Duane truly wanted to go the extra mile for our school. Duane amazingly was able to get Glidden to donate paint and informed us of a grant available.

www.roofntherockies.com

Dennison is also receiving a $5,000 grant that will repair doors come spring 2012. Dennison also had several other local companies donate food and drinks for this amazing event. Volunteers from the Home Depot came out to Dennison on October 22nd and did just what they said and more. These volunteers scheduled time off unpaid to help our school. In this economy one would think where do these people come from? They all had it there hearts to make our school a better work place, learning institute, and a place to be proud of. Duane, so driven, also brought a local contracting company, Roof'n The Rockies to help better this project. These wonderful people repaired the siding, installed 3 custom benches and are coming back to replace old gutters at the school. How grateful we all are. Lets not forgot our devoted parents, staff, and students who showed up early Saturday morning to scrap, paint, and be apart of making miracles happen. 

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Many parents showed up before their little ones went off to soccer, dance, football, etc... Families worked hard on re-painted old playground equipment and basketball court. It looks great! Thank you for taking time to make this possible. It truly couldn't of happen without everyone's support. Who says an hour of time doesn't count. Look at the difference, you all made. (WATCH SLIDE SHOW BELOW) Maureen Curtiss, principle at Dennison had no idea what was to come. Thank you for all the extra time with paper work and meetings. Thank you for your hard work on the 22nd. The local companies who provided food and drinks: Chipotle (Union Blvd), Jimmy Johns (Union Blvd), King Soopers, (Alameda Pkwy) Nestle Water, and Starbucks (Alameda Pkwy)  our volunteers greatly appreciated the  food and drinks. Home Depot we thank you for all the improvements and the opportunity to show our children that getting involved and volunteering leaves a mark to be proud of. Give an hour, you'll receive so much more.
Photos: by Michele Montoya
*Click on photos to enlarge

Barnes & Noble Night is ALMOST HERE!

*DENNISON'S BARNES & NOBLE VOUCHER*

"Jeffco Budget Cuts and how they will Affect you"

Parents, students try to save outdoor lab

JEFFERSON COUNTY - Tylin Stiller looks around the Mount Evans Outdoor Lab School and appreciates the experience. She doesn't want to be among the last to go through the historic program. "All of your classes are outside and it's almost like a new classroom and a new learning experience," Stiller, a sixth grader from Evergreen Middle School, said.

Two weeks ago, Jefferson County School Board President Dave Thomas announced a series of proposed cuts due to a reduction in funding from the state. The suspension of the outdoor lab schools at Mount Evans and Windy Peak is on the list aimed at saving the district approximately $900,000 each year.

How the budget cuts will affect Jeffco schools

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 By Elle Brunsdale

Superintendent of Jeffco schools, Cindy Stevenson - Elle Brunsdale
The Jefferson County Public School System is the largest in the Colorado, with 155 schools, 12,000 employees, and 84,000 students (about 10% of all students in the state). While Superintendent Cindy Stevenson said that the Jeffco School district was already planning to cut $26 million from the 2011-2012 budget based on its 5 year budget plan, she said that after the governor’s proposal, Jeffco Schools are now facing $10 million more in reductions.

Jeffco latest to announce cuts

Written by Nancy Mitchell on Mar 11th, 2011. | Copyright © EdNewsColorado.org

Jeffco School Board President Dave Thomas and Superintendent Cindy Stevenson at Friday's press conference.

GOLDEN – Colorado’s largest school district announced plans Friday to close two schools, cut all employees’ pay by 3 percent and trim two days from the school year in the face of nearly $40 million in cuts for 2011-12.
Jefferson County Public Schools’ budget proposal also includes charging students to ride school buses, reducing graduation requirements by a single credit and suspending a popular outdoor lab program that’s been a rite of passage for sixth-graders since 1962.
A total of 212 jobs will be cut across the district, including more than 100 teachers, but district leaders said most of that will come from normal attrition, not re-hiring temporary employees and leaving positions vacant.

• Go straight to details of the budget proposal.
• Watch video of Friday’s press conference.
• Read the district’s FAQ and timeline on the proposal.
• Visit the district website to provide feedback.

“The impacts are deep,” Jeffco school board president Dave Thomas said at a morning news conference. “I am really profoundly saddened that we have to do these closures. However, we had very few choices and none of them were pleasant.”

Dennison Elementary earns 2nd Blue Ribbon Award

Alex McNa | December 9, 2010 | 0 Comments

Six Colorado schools were recently awarded the U.S. Department of Education’s prestigious Blue Ribbon Award. These schools represent outstanding academic achievement in Colorado and across the nation and share this honor with only 304 schools nationwide. These schools are symbols of high achievement and set the bar for academic progress and achievement as well, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
This year’s Blue Ribbon schools in Colorado are: Colorado Springs Christian Middle School, Colorado Springs; Dennison Elementary School, Lakewood; Douglas Elementary School, Boulder; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School, Colorado Springs; Orchard Avenue Elementary School, Grand Junction; and Pine Grove Elementary School, Parker.

Dennison Elementary School, a charter school, is the only Colorado school that has received the Blue Ribbon Award twice, both times for sustaining high achievement over time. The last time the received the award was in 2003. Earlier this week, EdNewsParent had a chance to drop by Dennison to meet with Principal Kathleen Krieger and a couple of teachers to get an inside look at what has made this school so successful over the years. (In the interest of full disclosure, the author is a Dennison alumnus). Watch this short video.

Dennison Community Support Fund Apex Night

Blue Ribbon winners not once, but Twice!