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