A year ago, the CoorsTek facility at 4414 Table Mountain Drive was a simple warehouse.

Today, it’s a training center.

And, in the coming months and years, CoorsTek leaders hope it’ll become a regional epicenter for advanced manufacturing workforce development.

On July 16, the company celebrated opening its new CoorsTek Academy Advanced Manufacturing Training Center with its industry and education partners, as well as state and local government officials.

The CoorsTek Academy started in 2021 to train internal hires and employees.

However, this new training center in northeastern Golden was made to be used by outside entities.

According to CoorsTek Workforce Development Manager Elizabeth Pittman, workforce development centers, local school districts, community colleges and other companies will use it to train people in universally applied manufacturing skills.

“This is really what opportunity looks like,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Pittman and other CoorsTek officials explained how the state-of-the-art facility will be ideal for advanced manufacturing personnel, covering everything from a half-day recertification course to a multiyear apprenticeship.

CoorsTek employees are also using the training center for apprenticeships, recertification and other endeavors.

In fact, Pittman said the first apprenticeship cohort — composed of six recent high school graduates from Jefferson and Denver counties — started on June 30 for an 18-month program.

The facility is composed of two training bays. One is specific to CoorsTek employees, with proprietary technology and machinery. The second is open to community colleges, workforce development centers and others, Pittman said.

Both feature innovative technologies, such as a forklift simulator, to help participants learn.

Opportunity Now Colorado

Last year, CoorsTek received a $4.5 million Opportunity Now Colorado grant to help establish the academy. From now until late 2026, the academy must serve at least 1,200 Coloradans as part of the grant requirements.

Polis said that overall, $55 million in Opportunity Now grants will help at least 20,000 Coloradans with job training and placement. The CoorsTek Academy’s training center specifically will be a major boost for the 6,000 companies that comprise Colorado’s advanced manufacturing sector, he said.

CoorsTek leaders thanked the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade and the Governor’s Office for investing in the training center, saying it will become a model for public-private collaboration.

Chief Executive Officer Michael Coors also anticipated it’d be a major asset to Colorado’s advanced manufacturing sector, and help boost local companies, employees and economic development.

Irma Lockridge, chief people & systems officer, encouraged Polis and other officials to check back on the training center in a year to see just how much it had grown and how significant of an impact it’s had.

Click through additional photos from the July 16 ribbon-cutting ceremony:

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Raptors have some of the most dangerous attributes in the animal kingdom.

Falcons can see a mouse’s whiskers across a football field.

Owls can fly without making a sound.

Golden eagles only weigh about 15 pounds, but they can hunt animals as large as deer, thanks to their immensely powerful and sharp talons.

On July 15, four types of raptors and their human caretakers revealed these attributes during the Golden Library’s Talon Talk.

Nature’s Educators hosted Talon Talk at multiple library branches throughout the week, as part of the Jeffco Public Library’s summer reading challenge.

Because a large crowd was expected, Golden Library staff moved the event to the courtyard behind City Hall. About 65 people attended, including some passersby who saw the raptors from the Clear Creek Trail and wanted to learn more about them.

Nature’s Educators, a nonprofit based in Florence, Colorado, is an educational wildlife program licensed by county, state, and federal agencies to care for non-releasable birds of prey, mammals, and herptiles for educational programs.

For instance, the four raptors at the July 15 Talon Talk had sustained major injuries or had been raised in captivity, Nature’s Educators program specialist Alex Olow explained.

Olow recommended that people do what they can to protect and promote raptors and other birds in their neighborhoods. He suggested building birdboxes that songbirds and even small raptors like kestrels can make a home in.

He also advised against letting housecats outside unsupervised, as they kill millions of birds every year, and against throwing food on the side of the road, as it attracts critters and subsequently attracts birds of prey.

Four feathery friends

Raptors are birds of prey characterized by their powerful eyesight and strong talons, he continued. Each species of raptor has its own unique characteristics, which Olow shared as volunteer Kade Rodenbeck presented a different raptor to the crowd.

The first one was a barn owl named Comet.

Barn owls can be found on every continent except Antarctica, Olow said. They have asymmetrical ears, giving them the best hearing of any animal. They can turn their heads 270 degrees, and their aerodynamic feathers allow for completely silent flight.

Barn owls are excellent pest control, as they can eat four mice a day. However, because of that, they’re at risk of consuming rodenticide, Olow said.

Barn owls are among the 13 owl species native to Colorado, but they’re typically not seen much in urban areas.

The second raptor to make its Golden debut was Salvador the crested caracara.

The crested caracara is sometimes called the Mexican eagle, Olow said, despite not being an eagle. It shares some attributes with hawks and vultures, but the crested caracara is actually a type of falcon.

Salvador was hit by a car and had to have his wing amputated, Olow explained. Because of that, he has balance issues.

Crested caracaras are opportunistic hunters and often hunt on foot. They will eat carcasses and food in other birds’ nests, as well as live prey like insects, fish, small birds, rodents and more.

Next up was Sashimi, the turkey vulture.

Sashimi was found abandoned in a box. Olow said Nature’s Educators believe someone tried to keep Sashimi as a pet, found out that was illegal, and so abandoned him.

Turkey vultures are so called because of their turkey-like feet and red faces, but unlike actual turkeys. They are migratory, Olow said, and frequent Colorado between April and October.

Finally, Nature’s Educators saved the biggest raptor for last, as Gaia the golden eagle made her Golden debut.

Golden eagles are actually bigger than bald eagles, Olow explained. Gaia weighs 10 pounds with a 7-foot wingspan.

Like Salvador, Gaia was hit by a car, detaching a retina in her left eye. While she might be able to survive in the wild with such an injury, her caretakers tested her by releasing prey for her to catch. Gaia saw the prey well enough to attack it, but not well enough to kill it. So, she remains under human care.

Olow was unsure of Gaia’s age, saying she’s was an adult when she was found and has been in human care for eight years. Thus, she could be as old as 12. In the wild, golden eagles can live up to 30 years, but they can live longer in captivity.

Golden eagles are apex predators. They’ve been known to attack wolves, bighorn sheep and other large animals, with Olow saying of eagles like Gaia, “She will eat anything she can catch.”

Golden eagles are sometimes called serpentine eagles because they frequently hunt snakes. In fact, the Mexican flag depicts a golden eagle eating a snake, and the golden eagle is the national bird of Mexico and four other countries.

Color your world

Nature’s Educators has done other programs for the Jeffco Public Library branches before, as well as other library systems, cities and other entities along the Front Range.

For more information about natureseducators.org.

The Jeffco Public Library branches will be hosting other events as part of its Color Your World summer reading challenge, which runs through July 31.

For more information, visit jeffcolibrary.org.

Click through additional photos from the July 15 Talon Talk:

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If you’ve ever texted your child during lunch or counted on them to check in at some point during their day, Adams 12’s new cell phone policy might raise some questions and a few eyebrows. 

Starting this fall, students across all grade levels will face stricter rules regarding the use of phones, smartwatches and earbuds during the school day.

The policy, which took effect on July 1 and will be enforced when school starts in August, bans personal technology devices entirely during the school day, requiring them to be in either off or silent mode for elementary and middle school students.

High school students have a bit more wiggle room. They can use their phones during lunch, passing periods and open periods, but not during class.

District officials say the move is intended to help students focus and reduce disruptions, bullying, and other issues associated with device use in schools.

What students and families need to know

Students are not allowed to record or take photos of others without permission, use phones to cheat or harass someone or leave class to use their devices. Any action that disrupts or violates the district’s student code of conduct may result in disciplinary action.

First-time violations come with a warning. For parents, the third strike might mean an unexpected trip to school to retrieve a phone. After that, suspension is on the table, and students may lose the right to bring their devices altogether.

And don’t expect the district to track down a lost or stolen phone. Students are fully responsible for keeping their devices secure.

Why the change?

District officials said the updated policy was shaped by an extensive community survey conducted earlier this year, which drew nearly 12,000 responses from students, families and staff.

Eighty-one percent of respondents said phones are somewhat or very disruptive to student learning in the classroom, while 75 percent said cell phones contribute to bullying or threatening behavior during the school day. 

More than half (approximately 53 percent) reported that devices were also a problem during unstructured times, such as lunch and passing periods.

At the same time, many families expressed concern about limiting access to phones entirely. 

About 67 percent of survey participants said it was important for students to have access to their phones in the event of an emergency, and 60 percent opposed locking up phones in pouches or lockers.

Support for an all-day ban was strongest among elementary families, with 83 percent in favor. 

That number dropped to 67 percent for middle school students and 54 percent for high schoolers. Still, a majority (66 percent) supported keeping phones out of high school classrooms, even if they didn’t want a full-day ban.

The change also aligns with a new state law. House Bill 25-1135 requires all public schools in Colorado, including charter schools and the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, to adopt and post a student communication device policy by July 1, 2026. 

At a minimum, each policy must outline when and where devices are prohibited and include any exceptions. Adams 12’s policy meets those requirements a full year ahead of schedule.

For many parents, the issue isn’t black and white. Some want fewer distractions but still expect their child to be reachable in an emergency. Others worry that uneven enforcement could lead to unnecessary discipline or inequity between classrooms and schools.

Some flexibility still exists

Students who need a phone or other device during the school day for health reasons, a disability or other specific academic support can request an exception. These requests must go through a formal process, either as part of an IEP or 504 plan, or by submitting a written request to school leadership.

District administrators and principals also have the authority to impose additional restrictions as needed.

As the new school year begins, parents are encouraged to review their school’s individual rules, discuss expectations with their students, and contact administrators with any concerns or special circumstances.

The post Phones off, eyes up: Adams 12’s new cell phone rules take effect appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

A new program aimed at increasing career opportunities in aerospace, aviation and more will be coming to Adams County’s Colorado Air and Spaceport, thanks to an agreement with the University of Denver.

The Spaceport and AltitudeX Aviation Group have signed a lease with the University of Denver to establish a Six Sigma Center of Excellence at CASP as a public-private partnership, according to a news release on July 11.

“This is a major win for Adams County, for Colorado, and for our entire community,” said Lynn Baca, Chair of the Adams County Board of Commissioners. “Efforts like this show youth across our county —and people of all ages, for that matter—that world-class career opportunities in aerospace, aviation, logistics, transportation, and more are happening right here in their backyard.” 

The AltitudeX Aviation Group is a private investment firm that focuses on creating investment opportunities in the aviation and aerospace sectors. That group signed a partnership with Adams County and the Spaceport in February.

Six Sigma is a business philosophy that aims to reduce defects and variation and enhance quality and efficiency. A Six Sigma Center of Excellence is a group established to guide the Six Sigma process.

In July 10 press release, Baca said the center will become a hub for aviation, aerospace, and logistics in the region. 

CASP will join DEN, Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW), Los Angeles World Airports (LAX), and Singapore’s Changi Airport (SIN) in the Six Sigma Center of Excellence program.

The DU campus location at CASP is meant to serve the Rocky Mountain region, focusing on education and workforce development to promote long-term economic growth. CASP aims to promote international education programs at the air and spaceport to attract more students to its campus for collaboration in research, innovation, and the aviation industry. 

“These types of thoughtful, inventive projects are exactly what AltitudeX hopes to be involved with in the future at CASP. And this is just the beginning,” said Jon Roitman, Chief Executive Officer of AltitudeX. “By joining forces with partners who accelerate innovation and expand opportunity, we can truly achieve extraordinary outcomes.”

“We are thrilled to work with CASP and Adams County to create a Center of Excellence that will set a new standard for quality and efficiency in the aviation and logistics sectors,” said Jack Buffington, Director of the Supply Chain Program at the University of Denver. “Six Sigma is the gold standard for world-class practices, and this center can become a catalyst for economic growth in Adams County and across Colorado.”

The Spaceport is located near major transportation hubs, including interstates, freight lines, commuter rail, and Denver International Airport, making it an ideal location for groups hoping to collaborate on space, air travel initiatives and to establish a transportation logistics hub.

“The Six Sigma Center of Excellence will not only transform how we operate at CASP but will also elevate our reputation as a leader in quality, safety, and innovation,” said Jeff Kloska, Director of CASP. “This project is a perfect example of how the public and private sectors can work together to build something bigger than any of us could do alone.” 

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Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser filed a lawsuit in coordination with more than 20 other states Monday against the Trump administration, accusing it of unlawfully freezing approximately $80 million in federal education funding intended for Colorado schools.

The freeze, announced June 30 by the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Department of Education, has thrown local school districts, including Jefferson County, Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Westminster Public Schools, Weld RE-8 and 27-J Schools, into disarray just weeks before the new academic year begins.

The lawsuit contends that the freeze violates the U.S. Constitution and multiple federal laws by blocking funds that Congress had already appropriated.

Weiser called the move “disruptive and reckless,” saying it forces school leaders to rework budgets, staffing and programming on the fly.

“I have heard directly from Colorado school superintendents how disruptive and reckless this arbitrary freeze of federal funding is to them,” Weiser said. “Schools deserve to be treated fairly, and this administration’s lack of regard for the impact of this lawless decision is appalling.”

Funding pulled with one day’s notice

Each year, the U.S. Department of Education distributes grants by July 1 so states and districts can budget for services that support students and educators.

The funds typically cover programming for English learners, migrant students, after-school and summer learning, teacher training, technology access and school climate initiatives.

Until this year, the money had arrived on schedule.

This summer, state agencies received notice just one day before the new fiscal year that the Department would not be obligating any funds for these programs, despite previously approving state plans.

A June 30 email from the Department stated that decisions had not yet been made concerning submissions and awards for the upcoming academic year due to “a review of the programs’ consistency with, among other things, the President’s priorities.”

According to the lawsuit, this eleventh-hour notification left states without time to address what it calls “a momentous fiscal vacuum.”

The complaint describes the freeze as “unlawful, arbitrary and capricious, and unconstitutional,” and states that the Department of Education and OMB have no authority to withhold the congressionally appropriated formula funds for discretionary review.

Local districts scramble to respond

The fallout has been immediate.

Jefferson County Public Schools estimates a $3 million shortfall directly tied to the freeze. Programs supporting multilingual learners, professional development for educators and community engagement are now at risk. Because of federal supplanting rules, the district cannot legally use general fund dollars to fill the gap, even if funding is eventually released.

Adams 12 Five Star Schools also faces budget uncertainty, but Superintendent Chris Gdowski said that, based on careful budget planning, families and staff will not see disruptions this year.

However, he warned that if the federal government does not release the funds soon or cuts them again next year, the district may not be able to sustain the affected programs long term.

According to reporting from KUNC, summer youth enrichment programs offered by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver rely on nearly $1 million in federal funding now threatened by the freeze. 

Weld RE-8, a smaller district serving Fort Lupton and surrounding communities, is bracing for the possibility of reducing support staff and postponing student services. 

In 27-J Schools, Superintendent Will Pierce said the district is using contingency funds for the 2025-2026 school year but will have to make adjustments if the funds remain unavailable long-term.

Constitutional clash over spending authority

Weiser emphasized that only Congress has the authority to decide how federal money is spent. The lawsuit claims the Trump administration overstepped by holding back education funds that Congress had already approved and the President had signed into law.

At stake, Weiser said, is not just the money, but the principle that education budgets shouldn’t be used as political leverage.

According to the complaint, the Constitution gives Congress, not the President, the power to control spending. The lawsuit argues that the administration is ignoring its legal obligations by refusing to release money that has already been allocated.

“Yet that is exactly what Defendants are attempting to do here,” the lawsuit states.

Weiser is co-leading the lawsuit with attorneys general from California, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The attorneys general of more than a dozen other states, along with the governors of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, have joined the legal challenge.

Broader impact extends to red states

While the lawsuit was filed by states led by Democratic governors, the impact of the funding freeze is especially severe in Republican-leaning states. Red states are, on average, more dependent on federal education dollars than blue states.

They receive roughly 17% of their public school funding from federal sources, compared to just 11% in states that voted for President Harris. The freeze affects critical programs, including Title I-C for migrant education, Title II-A for professional development, Title III-A for English-learner services and Title IV programs for academic enrichment and after-school activities.

Rural districts in red states are among the hardest hit, with Mississippi, South Dakota, and Arkansas receiving over 22% of their education funding from federal sources.

States like Wyoming and Alabama have already warned of potential teacher layoffs and program cuts. The situation underscores a growing contradiction between political rhetoric about federal overreach and the practical reliance many red states have on federal dollars.

Schools urge swift resolution 

Some districts say they’ll face impossible choices before the first bell rings. The 2025–26 school year begins in a matter of weeks, and many schools are preparing contingency plans in case the funding isn’t restored.

“Our schools need stability and support,” Weiser said. “Instead, they’re being forced to undo months of planning because of a decision that is both unlawful and indifferent to the needs of our students.”

The lawsuit also highlights how essential programs from English learner services to teacher training to adult education and reentry programs are now at risk. 

“The abrupt freeze is wreaking havoc on key teacher training programs as well as programs that make school more accessible to children with special learning needs,” the complaint states.

A hearing date has not yet been scheduled, but the coalition is asking the court to declare the freeze unlawful and block any attempt to withhold or delay the funding.

The post Colorado sues Trump administration over $80M freeze in school funding appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

Thousands of Jeffco students could lose access to language support, counseling and community-based services this school year after the U.S. Department of Education froze key federal funding streams with little warning. 

The decision puts approximately $3 million in planned programming at risk, district leaders said.

Superintendent Tracy Dorland and the Jefferson County school board called the move “late and unexpected,” warning that the district had already budgeted the funds for professional development, English learner support, student engagement and family outreach.

“Failure to release these funds creates significant impacts on our student programming at a time when Jeffco is already drawing on reserves and preparing for substantial reductions in FY 27,” a district spokesperson said.

Because of federal supplanting rules, the district is legally barred from using its general fund to fill the gap, even if the federal funding is restored later.

A district already under strain

Even before the freeze, the district was grappling with a $60 million structural deficit heading into the 2025–26 school year. Despite closing 21 schools and making $20 million in cuts since 2021, the district still faces mounting cost pressures tied to inflation, compensation increases and growing special education needs.

Enrollment declines are expected to further impact funding, with a projected loss of 800 students per year in both 2026–27 and 2027–28. Because Colorado ties K–12 funding to student count, that drop will lead to additional revenue loss and potential staffing reductions.

Colorado ranks 43rd in the nation for per-pupil education funding, a reality that leaves districts like Jeffco especially vulnerable to sudden shifts in federal support.

Core student supports now at risk

The programs impacted by the freeze are central to Jeffco’s efforts to support its diverse and increasingly high-needs student population. 

In an internal message to staff obtained by the Colorado Trust for Local News, Dorland said the now-frozen funding had been budgeted to cover educator coaching, English as a Second Language and newcomer services, dropout prevention, truancy interventions and community outreach programs.

Dorland called the situation “deeply challenging,” noting in the email that the frozen funds had been budgeted for “essential student services and educator support.” 

“If the funds are not released in the next month, we will be forced to reduce or eliminate some programming that was budgeted and planned for this year,” she said.

Jeffco currently serves more than 4,700 English learners, about 6.4% of its total enrollment, according to data from the Colorado Department of Education.

Dorland noted that the district is seeing an increase in newcomer students, many of whom face language barriers and require both academic and emotional support to thrive. 

The Title III funds now frozen are intended to help districts meet those needs.

Title I funding, which is used to support schools with high poverty rates, is not affected by the freeze. 

But the complementary services funded through Titles II, III, and IV are now in jeopardy, which undermines Jeffco’s capacity to provide wraparound supports that help keep students in school and engaged.

“We are also seeking community partners to help fill critical service gaps, especially for the students and families who rely most on these important services,” Dorland said.

Advocacy and uncertainty

In her message to staff, Dorland described the funding freeze as “a deeply challenging situation that we did not create and cannot fully control,” but said Jeffco was taking action on multiple fronts.

The district is actively advocating for the immediate release of the funds. 

Dorland and the board of education added their names to the Joint Statement From Colorado Education Stakeholders on Withholding of Federal Funds, calling on the U.S. Department of Education to immediately release these congressionally appropriated funds and provide clear, public guidance to state and local education systems.

At the same time, district leaders are reviewing 2025 carryover funds and evaluating the feasibility of continuing some programs temporarily. 

Staffing decisions will follow established collective bargaining agreements, with impacted employees prioritized for reassignment wherever possible.

“Above all, we remain focused on protecting the student experience and minimizing disruption wherever possible,” Dorland said.

With the school year weeks away and no clear federal guidance, Jeffco faces tough choices, district leaders said. They are urging families and community partners to stay informed and, where possible, help advocate for the release of the frozen funds.

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Leaders at the Rock House in Idaho Springs want to remind parents about free activities and meals on Wednesdays throughout the summer.

The non-profit organization, at 542 Hwy 103, serves kids hot meals and provides entertainment from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesdays until the start of school.

“We make tie-dye shirts, we do karaoke, archery, rafting and more throughout the summer months,” Rock Director Cheryl Holmberg said.

A mission statement on the group’s website sums up the goals of the organization.

“The mission of the Clear Creek Rock House is to provide our teens a safe, supervised place where they can recreate and receive life skills training from caring adults. The Rock House does this through mentoring, tutoring, after-school programs and events.”

A recent donation of food from the Flatirons Community Church group spread out across the counters ensured there’s plenty to go around for local kids for the remainder of the summer, according to Holmberg.

The group is supported through funds from the county, businesses and donations from individuals, Holmberg said.

“It’s a fun, safe place where they’re supervised by adults,” she concluded. 

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Historians know that Daniel F. Carmichael filed the first official plat for what would become known as Brighton, Colorado on Feb. 16, 1881. Most agree that he was responsible for picking that name.

History Detective Robin Kring said the big question is why he picked that name.

“One of the tales you’ll hear is that his wife, Alice Evans Carmichael, named the city Brighton after the town where she grew up, but there are different accounts of this,” Kring said. “One story takes place in her hometown of Brighton Beach, New York, and another is set in Brighton, Massachusetts.”

Historians are not even sure that his wife was responsible for the name. Kring notes that his wife, Alice Evans Carmichael is often confused with his sister, Alice Carmichael Skeel.

“Meanwhile, I was sleuthing—going through all this, double-checking my facts, and doing research. It turns out that sometimes a clerical error occurs in a historical document, resulting from a misplaced comma,” Kring said.

Digging in

It’s the kind of historical question that Kring really enjoys.

Kring moved to Brighton in 2001, where she met Pat Reither, the city historian. Kring said Reither told her she lived on the property of Daniel Carmichael, and that the same property was home to a large house called the Carmichael mansion. 

“That particular mansion was used as the first county courthouse for Adams County, and in the basement was the first county jail, which then burned down,” Kring said. 

Kring said Reither persuaded her to join the Brighton Historic Preservation Commission. 

“I was in the position and served two separate terms. I like everything historical, and it’s what attracted me to the field of history. Of course, I don’t want to see history disappear, especially with buildings — we’ve lost some good ones,” Kring said. 

“Later, I joined the Cultural Arts Commission, which was my connection. I also wrote the background histories for the mural of Historic Brighton, painted by Hans Joseph Geist at Founder Plaza, and the mural “Brighton’s Women of Inspiration,” painted by Frank Garza on the H&R Block building on Main Street. I also volunteered for Adams County, the City of Brighton, and the Fort Lupton Museums

Kring’s 35-year-plus career includes authoring more than 10 books and over 100 magazine articles on various subjects. Her latest book, “A Stroll Through Elwood: Brighton’s Stories Told in Stone,” demonstrates her diverse writing skills. 

Brighton’s roots 

Kring said Carmichael was a railroad worker and turned developer who would buy property and then resell it to developers. He operated out of Denver and purchased the first land here in Brighton in 1879. 

He had quite a life, even before he came to Colorado.

“Carmichael was at Gettysburg during the Civil War; he served twice because he was young,” she said. “He contracted typhoid fever and nearly died. They sent him home to his mother, but when he returned, he fought again at Gettysburg and later at Elmira, where he guarded Confederate prisoners. His last rank was Major, and he was always called Major.”

Kring said Carmichael built an opera house, and it was the largest in the north at the time, until it burned down.

“He also had a business building on the Bridge Street called the Carmichael Building.  They had his name up, but they took (the building) down when they opened South Main Street so people could go straight through to South Main.”

Today, Carmichael Park, located near Brighton’s City Hall, is named after Daniel. 

Naming names

Kring said the most common tale told about naming the city claims that his wife, Alice, named the city Brighton after the town where she grew up, something she has been unable to confirm. 

“I’ve reviewed the old Brighton Blade newspapers and then researched Adams County records,” Kring said. “They had some records from before Brighton had its newspapers. However, Alice’s obituary is missing, a sometimes referenced source, I’m unsure if it ever existed.

If his wife was responsible, it’s unlikely the name came from her birthplace since it’s likely she was born in Lancaster, Pa.

It’s also possible that it was a marketing ploy by Daniel Carmichael. When Carmichael was developing the region, he wanted people to escape the dust and grime of the city in Denver and come to a beautiful prairie and resort in Brighton, Colorado. Historian named Dr. Gene E. Hamaker has suggested that his wife Alice might have told her husband the name based on a trip she took to Brighton Beach, New York, Kring said. 

It’s also possible that his sister, named Brighton, not his wife, and historians mixed the two up.

“To date, there is no single record of who and why Carmichael named Brighton,” Kring said. “On the maps, the name began to change to Brighton two years before the first plat filing by Carmichael in 1881, because the town name had to be recorded in the plat filing. But the post office was called Brighton, the Fulton Ditch.”

If it was named for another city, she doesn’t know which one, but she’s continuing to research.

“The mystery remains unsolved because it could also be a common name,” Kring said. “There are 26 cities in the U.S. named Brighton and 43 places worldwide called Brighton, but I’m going to find out,” Kring said. 

For more information, email Kring at brightonhistorydetective@gmail.com or visit her page at www.facebook.com/BrightonHistoryDetective

The post Historian seeks to understand the source of Brighton’s name appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

After more than a decade of stops, starts and shifting market conditions, Adams 12 Five Star Schools is moving forward with the $9 million sale of 13.5 acres of surplus land just south of the district’s Educational Support Center in Thornton.

The buyer, McWhinney Real Estate Services, is expected to develop the site into a mixed-use project consistent with the City of Thornton’s vision for the Eastlake light rail corridor. 

Though the deal won’t close until at least early 2027, district leaders and board members said the agreement represents a significant step forward and a long-overdue resolution to what Board Member Courtney Potter described as a “land sale debacle.”

“This land piece has been an ongoing thing as far as my tenure on the board,” said Board President Lori Goldstein during the board’s June 4 meeting. “I’m glad that we have reached a potential agreement with somebody that will develop it into something that will benefit the community.”

Decade of interest

Vice President Amira Assad-Lucas echoed that sentiment, noting the off-and-on nature of the deal and her hope that the land will “finally be put to good use.”

The parcel, located just south of the district’s Educational Support Center and across from RTD’s Eastlake/124th Station, has long been seen as a prime candidate for transit-oriented development.

According to Superintendent Chris Gdowski, district and city officials have explored potential uses for the land for more than a decade.

“There was quite a bit of interest… probably more than 10 years ago,” Gdowski said. “The hope was that you would serve both residents of that area and people commuting to and from (the station) — with some residential, retail, maybe restaurants or coffee shops — a mixed-use development that could really be an economic asset to the region.”

But turning that vision into a deal has been far from simple.

A long and complicated road

The district first went under contract in June 2017 with Century Homes for $5.3 million. The agreement spanned three years but ultimately fell through in June 2020, despite multiple extensions. Adams 12 retained $90,000 in earnest money from the failed sale.

Later that year, the district entered into a second agreement with a group called Koelbel for $5.5 million. That deal also collapsed in 2021, largely due to uncertainty over water availability in the area. 

In the meantime, the district continued to reassess its potential uses for the land. Gdowski said they considered constructing a central kitchen and food warehouse there, but after extensive analysis, the district determined that building the facility elsewhere would be more cost-effective.

“We studied it really intensely within the last year,” Gdowski said. “And we concluded that it would be more costly to build (the kitchen) in this location than where we’re planning to do it. We agree with the city that using it for a school purpose isn’t the best use at this time.”

With that decision made and real estate values on the rise, the district began searching for another buyer that aligned with Thornton’s development goals and offered a price that reflected the property’s appreciated market value.

A new deal

McWhinney Real Estate Services emerged as the buyer this spring with a $9 million offer, a notable jump from the district’s previous contracts. 

The proceeds will serve as a cushion as the district launches its $830 million bond-funded construction program.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty about tariffs and what that might mean in terms of completing our projects,” Gdowski said. “There’s also labor uncertainty, with immigration enforcement potentially reducing the labor supply in construction. Having $9 million that would help us hedge against inflationary costs for the bond program would be helpful.”

If construction costs remain stable, the district may redirect the funds toward other capital needs that didn’t make the final bond package, including items such as HVAC replacements or new buses.

Board members praised staff and real estate professionals for their due diligence in vetting the offer. 

“Everyone really worked hard to get us the most accurate information and be as transparent as possible,” said Potter. “I’m really glad to see that we can finally move forward and close this chapter.”

The post Adams 12 approves $9M sale of surplus land near Eastlake Station appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

On a sunny summer afternoon in Brighton, Will Pierce leaned back in his chair and began speaking about the district he leads with an easy smile and a clear sense of purpose. 

“I think we might be the district that can actually do this thing,” he said.

Pierce is referring to the ambitious and systemic goal of transforming public education so that it works for every student, particularly those who have been historically left behind due to poverty, language barriers or other challenges.

It’s the word “every” that stands out to him, and it’s grounded in the district’s mission statement: “27J Schools, in partnership with parents and community, empowers every student today to take control of their future tomorrow.”

“When you say ‘every student,’ it raises the bar,” Pierce said. “It forces us to ask who might be left out and what gaps we still need to close.”

The district uses the mission as a kind of strategic tension and a standard to evaluate whether its practices and outcomes align with its core purpose. 

“We want the mission to continue to be more true now than it was before, both in the outcomes that we achieve and in the practices that we see in our classrooms every day,” Pierce said.

To help guide that alignment, 27J revised its core values into what Pierce calls the district’s four pillars: Believe, Integrity, All In and Compassion. 

He describes the pillars as more than words. Rather, they are a daily standard for how the district operates and what it expects from students, staff and leadership alike.

Acknowledging that “believe” sounds like “believe in Santa,” Pierce clarified it’s more than that.

“Believe means seeing the potential in every student, and seeing every person as capable,” he said. “If you’re going to say you believe in something, then you also need the integrity to hold up a mirror and ask, ‘Are we actually doing it?'”

Budget strategy and hard truths

Despite the district’s ambitions, Pierce holds no illusions about the scale of the challenge. 

“Even with the additional funding brought by the mill levy override that voters approved in 2022, we’re still about $800 per student below the state average. Multiply that by 25,000 students, and the funding gap becomes clear,” Pierce said.

This spring, the district approved a five-year budget that includes a planned drawdown of the general fund reserve. That plan helps leaders clearly explain the stakes to the public.

“If we don’t bring in more revenue, we will have to make cuts. Our community deserves to know that ahead of time,” Pierce said.

Pierce emphasized the importance of transparency and realism, without resorting to excuses. 

“Leaders sometimes say, ‘We’re broke,’ but once you start using that language, it becomes an excuse not to be excellent. And students don’t care about excuses.”

That same mindset is shaping the district’s response to a recent federal funding freeze affecting several key grants. The status of whether those grants will come through is unclear, but they are currently on hold.

“We’re looking at just under a million dollars at risk,” he said. “Thankfully, we had contingency funds to carry us through this year. But beyond that, we’ll need to adjust.”

But his biggest concern involves a potential cut to Medicaid reimbursements tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. He said he called the Governor’s office to express concern about the potential impact of such a cut on special education services across the district.

“That one is different. It’s over $5 million and directly impacts special education services. That would be devastating. These are real kids, with real needs, who rely on those supports.”

Doing the most with what’s available

While many districts used pandemic relief funds to expand tutoring and summer programs, 27J prioritized its classrooms.

“We’re a district that has to focus on core instruction,” Pierce said. “We don’t have the resources for extras, so we focus on making every minute of classroom time matter.”

Each grade level and content area has clear learning goals, not just in reading and math, but also in science, social studies and career readiness.

He emphasized the need for innovation, even when it challenges outdated accountability systems.

“We have dashboards and internal measures to track growth,” he said. “But if you’re only focused on the state test, you’re going to stay the same. And we need to move forward.”

One publicly available dashboard reflects the outcomes families care about most: safety, connection and engagement.

“When we asked parents what mattered most, no one said ‘test scores.’ They said, ‘I want my child to feel seen. I want them to like school. I want them to want to go.'”

Relationships matter

That same student-first mindset guides how 27J addresses chronic absenteeism, which occurs when students are absent for more than 10% of the school year.

“We don’t focus on chasing kids down for attendance. We focus on understanding why they’re not showing up,” Pierce said. “Do they feel safe? Do they think someone cares that they’re there? That’s what we’re trying to address.”

Instead of punishment, the district prioritizes trust, family outreach and a stronger school culture.

“We removed cell phones during the school day so students would engage more with each other. And we’re working to make school more engaging, so kids want to be there.”

A district that does what it says

According to Pierce, what sets 27J apart is its commitment to follow through.

“We’re not promoting a vision we can’t deliver. We’re doing the work first,” he said. “I’ve worked in places where the words didn’t match the actions. That’s not how we lead here.”

The district continues to evolve with its growing student population and shifting identity.

“We used to be a small agricultural district. Even as we’ve grown, we’ve tried to keep that close-knit, family feel and that culture of care.”

“Think about a kindergartner walking into school for the first time. Maybe they don’t speak English yet, or maybe they’ve never had a book read to them. They’re already starting behind. And if we’re not careful, that student gets labeled,” Pierce said. “Teachers may start to see them as less capable, and the student starts to believe it, too.”

Such early labeling can shape a student’s trajectory, leading to lowered expectations, missed opportunities and diminished confidence. Educators and leaders across 27J are working to disrupt that cycle.

Pierce believes 27J can change that.

“We’re starting to see it. Kids are beginning to believe in themselves, and teachers are believing in them, too. That’s the work. And if any district can do it, I think it’s us.”

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