Students, parents organize to keep school open

JEFFERSON COUNTY - Mary Steinmeyer and about 20 others braved the elements Saturday to try to let people know Ken Caryl Middle School is in danger of closing.

"We need people to come to the meeting and just as importantly, go online and send an email about their concerns," said Steinmeyer, parent.

The Jefferson County School District needs to cut up to $40 million over the next several years. The state's largest district is looking at cost savings including closing buildings and re-configuring schools.

Jeffco School's Facilities Usage Committee is holding public hearings to gather input on the 19 pages of different proposals on the table.

One proposal includes closing Ken Caryl Middle School, which has been open for nearly 40 years. Steinmeyer says that option doesn't make sense since they just spent millions of dollars to renovate the building within the past five years.

But, Superintendent Dr. Cindy Stevenson said, earlier this week, the district has to make tough choices in light of the budget problems.

Part of our responsibility in this entire process is what's going to be good for 85,000 children," Stevenson said on Wednesday. "Every school is going to be emotional."

Other proposals involving the Ken Caryl area include the reconfiguration of two elementary schools.

"I will lose my pre-school, lose my elementary school and lose my middle school," said Steinmeyer. "That's too much for one community to bear."

Other schools slated for possible closure are O'Connell Middle School and Carmody Middle School in Lakewood. The Facilities Usage Committee will hold a public hearing 6:00 p.m., Monday night, at Summit Ridge Middle School near the Ken Caryl Area. Another hearing will be 6:00 p.m., Wednesday at Pomona High School in Arvada.

The school board is expected to vote in January.