In their words: Reaction to Jeffco schools facility plan - #lakewoodnews

"The school was built in 1973 to last for 10 years; 43 years later our building is in desperate need for maintenance and upgrades so that our students receive similar opportunities as those in surrounding schools that have been newly built." -- Colleen Owens, principal of Green Mountain High School in Lakewood

"Schools strengthen our neighborhoods and sense of community. When they close, it comes at a cost. If the school board does decide closures are necessary, they should move quickly to find another purpose for the vacated properties because shuttered schools offer no benefit to surrounding neighborhoods." -- Charley Able, Lakewood City Council Ward 1

"At this point, none of it is final, but it would accommodate our growth." -- Bridget Jones, principal of Bell Middle School in Golden

"I am very scared and sad for the plan to close Pleasant View. I think the kids are the ones that will suffer tremendously. Our school has worked really hard to customize the kids to a routine to help them succeed. The schools that they are going to send them to are amazing schools, but they cannot accommodate the needs of these children." -- Crystal Vockel, parent at Pleasant View Elementary in Golden

"Taking small children and putting them in the six-eight grade model is an issue for me, and they seem to be doing this without the forethought for what's going to happen downstream. I'd like to see them invest that $420 million into our elementary schools instead of expanding our middle schools and reconfiguring schools across the board." -- Tracey Cloud, Arvada parent.

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.comhttp://arvadapress.com/stories/In-their-words-Reaction-to-Jeffco-schools-facility-plan,212993?branding=15