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Tag: douglas county schools

  • Douglas County Schools breaks ground on new elementary school to serve growing Lone Tree community

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    LONE TREE, Colo. — Douglas County Schools broke ground Wednesday on Elementary School 50 in Lone Tree’s RidgeGate Development, addressing the needs of a rapidly growing area on the east side of Interstate 25.

    The new school is set to open next fall, serving 750 students in grades pre-K through 5th grade.

    Wes Olis, a father of two young boys, has been watching the development unfold around his neighborhood.

    Anaya Salcedo, Denver7 Photojournalist

    Wes Olis, future Elementary School 50 parent

    “The construction, the school, everything that’s coming up here…this is the side to be on now,” Olis said.

    For families like his, the new school addresses the current gap in neighborhood amenities.

    The school construction became possible after voters passed a bond in 2024 that allowed the district to build two new schools, with Elementary School 50 being one of them.

    LONE TREE NEW SCHOOL.jpg

    Anaya Salcedo, Denver7 Photojournalist

    Superintendent Erin Kane explained that the growth in Lone Tree contrasts with enrollment trends in other parts of Douglas County.

    “We have the right number of schools… in all the wrong places,” Kane said during the groundbreaking ceremony.

    ERIN KANE.jpg

    Anaya Salcedo, Denver7 Photojournalist

    Erin Kane, DCSD Superintendent

    That challenge led the Douglas County School Board to vote last April to consolidate six Highlands Ranch elementary schools into three, addressing declining enrollment in that aging part of the county.

    But back in Lone Tree, Kane said Elementary School 50 represents the district’s solution for growing areas experiencing the opposite problem.

    “We can avoid having kids on buses for long periods of times to go to other communities,” Kane said.

    For families in the RidgeGate development, the school means convenience and connection to their neighborhood.

    “Having something locally, having something close, now the bus stop doesn’t have to be where you pick them up from, it’s actually where they go home to,” Olis said.

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    Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Claire Lavezzorio

    Denver7’s Claire Lavezzorio covers topics that have an impact across Colorado, but specializes in reporting on stories in the military and veteran communities. If you’d like to get in touch with Claire, fill out the form below to send her an email.

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    Claire Lavezzorio

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  • Denver Public Schools $975 million bond would fund improvements for performing arts

    Denver Public Schools $975 million bond would fund improvements for performing arts

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    DENVER — Denver Public Schools is hoping voters will pass a $975 million bond to fund projects throughout the district, including putting air conditioning in the 29 schools that still don’t have it. But one group of students is especially excited about what the bond could mean for performing arts.

    Northfield High School and DSST-Conservatory Green High School share the Paul Sandoval Campus in northeast Denver. They also share a stage with a cafeteria. Their “cafetorium” has been used for everything from plays, to concerts, to speaking events. Vice President Kamala Harris even gave a climate change speech there in 2023.

    Climate activist and band student Amelia Fernadez-Rodriguez hopes future events will have a more formal space.

    “In the case that an historic event happens again, we want to have a formal auditorium to be pared for that,” Fernadez-Rodriguez said.

    The DPS 2024 bond includes $43 million for middle and high school auditorium upgrades, including a brand new $18 million auditorium on the Paul Sandoval campus.

    Where the bond money comes from explained in the video player below:

    Schools asking voters for billions of dollars to make facility improvements

    Many of the performing arts students from Northfield have been campaigning for the bond, setting up booths and passing out fliers to the community.

    Senior Sophia Brown said it’s been an educational experience in itself.

    Denver Public Schools

    “I didn’t know that there were so many schools that didn’t have air conditioning, that needed fire safety upgrades, electrical upgrades, so this has definitely been an opportunity for us to understand the vast amount of things DPS needs in order to educates students,” Brown said.

    While students like Brown will graduate before the auditorium is completed, they’re excited for what it will mean for future students. Sophomore Yaya Rodriguez said it means so much more than just the opportunity to perform.

    “As a freshman, it was really amazing to have open arms and lots of people just being kind and lovely to me and all the other freshmen that were coming in,” Rodriguez said.

    Continued coverage:

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    Nicole Brady

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