Education

Bargaining representatives from the teachers union and the Jeffco school board will enter mediation, after the board failed to meet the union’s request for a contract extension.

After declaring an impasse April 7, the Jeffco Education Association told the board in a letter that only a multi-year contract extension would bring teachers back to negotiations. 

At first, it’s the costumes on the so-called wax figures at the Colorado Characters Wax Museum at Wilmot Elementary that draw people in.

The wax figures — really fourth-graders portraying figures from Colorado history — are dressed in elaborate dresses and hats and old-fashioned suits to portray characters whose names are familiar to Coloradans: Emily Griffith, Baby Doe Tabor, Molly Brown, Thomas Cunningham Bergen and Dwight Potter Wilmot.

Being a collaborator and understanding Jeffco’s diverse school district were just two qualities mentioned during community sessions held to gather input on the hiring of a school superintendent.

Ray and Associates facilitated 35 meetings last week with parents, teachers, students, business leaders and faith organizations to understand the priorities of the district’s stakeholders.

Last month, the Jeffco school board hired Ray and Associates to conduct the search for a new superintendent after former superintendent Cindy Stevenson departed Feb. 21.

Two Evergreen students tested their architectural mettle when they helped solve structural engineering problems during a remodel at the STEM School and Academy in Highlands Ranch.

Evergreen resident Barry Himmelman, owner of Himmelman Construction Inc. in Lakewood, won the bid on the $3.3 million, 30,000-square-foot remodel project at the charter school. Since Himmelman likes to involve building users in his projects, he asked teachers at the school if students could help solve some design problems.