As time goes on in Jefferson County, enrollment patterns continue to change and school buildings continue to get older.
"A majority of our buildings are between 40 and 45 years old," Dan McMinimee, JeffCo Schools Superintendent, said.
Thursday night, McMinimee and his staff will present to the Jefferson County School Board the Facilities Master Plan which proposes to close at least eight schools and reshuffle attendance lines. The schools presented for possible closure are all elementary schools: Glennon Heights, Pleasant View, Patterson, Campbell, Little, Kullerstrand, Stober, and Long View.
The hope is that by making the use of buildings more efficient, the district can save money. That money can be used in the classroom or to repair problems at older buildings.
"This is purely from the number standpoint of efficiency of use of our facilities," McMinimee said.
The plan also includes restructuring grade configurations in elementary and middle schools around the district.
"The way that we've managed growth is by placing portables at our elementary schools. We have an issue at our middle schools in that their utilization is about 71 percent," McMinimee said. "So, part of the plan is talking about can we reconfigure and have K-5s and 6-8s and better use our facilities and get rid of some of those portables."
Kristin Hill is a parent within the Governor's Ranch Elementary School community. She is concerned that the current proposal would shift Governor's Ranch students from Columbine High School to Dakota Ridge High School to balance out enrollment.
"We had planned our whole family around them being Columbine Rebels," Hill said. "It feels like the district is thinking about changing who our family would be and that's a really big deal for us."
Principal Colleen Owens runs Green Mountain High School in Lakewood.
"Way back in 1973 then they built Green Mountain High School, they built it to last 10 years," Owens said.
Forty three years later, Owens says the foundation has shifted and she has water problems all around the building.
"So, it is a challenge. We have a lot of leaky roofs and things like that," Owens said.
This plan would implement improvements at Green Mountain, while saving the district money, Owens said.
"Making sure we can pay teachers, making sure that we have the best resources in helping us with technology," Owens said. "In my opinion, this is one of the best things -- this is 17 years for me in the district -- one of the best things I've seen our district do with a comprehensive really thoughtful plan of looking at the district."
Hill understands the need for change, but she disagrees with the proposal to move Governor's Ranch students into the Dakota Ridge articulation area.
"For us, we don't feel like the transportation issues, the money they may save in transportation is going to be a big enough benefit," Hill said.
The plan will be presented Thursday night and a series of public hearings would begin on April 23 through June 9.
9 a.m. to 11 p.m. - Saturday, April 23 - Dakota Ridge High School.
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Wednesday, April 27 - North Arvada Middle School
8 a.m. to 10 a.m. - Wednesday, May 4 - Conifer High School
5 p.m. to 7 p.m. - Wednesday, May 4 - Green Mountain High School
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Tuesday, May 31 - Ralston Valley High School
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Wednesday, June 1 - Pomona High School
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. - Saturday, June 4 - Stevens Elementary
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Saturday, June 4 - Arvada West High School
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Monday, June 6 - Golden High School
8 a.m. to 10 a.m. - Wednesday, June 8 - Bear Creek High School
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Wednesday, June 8 - Wheat Ridge High School
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Thursday, June 9 - Stein at O'Connell School
A school board vote would likely follow with possible changes to the proposal based on public input.
If you want to find out more about the proposal, click here: http://www.boarddocs.com/co/jeffco/Board.nsf/Public.
