Growth forces aggresive approach to building

Starting in 2001 and running for five years, an aggressive building policy will be instituted based on committee recommendations. Seven new elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school and nine renovation and expansion projects are planned in those five years.

Four elementary schools and one high school/middle school are under construction. All but one are being paid for by a 1997 election approved bond issue.

Meadow View Elementary (school No. 30) will have a capacity of 700 students. The school is at 3700 Butterfield Crossing Drive in The Meadows subdivision in Castle Rock.

Scheduled to open in August, Meadow View will provide enrollment relief to South Street and Castle Rock elementary schools. Red Hawk residents’ children will continue to attend South. The new school’s principal will be Steve Herzog.

Arrowwood Elementary (school No. 31), 10345 Arrowwood in Highlands Ranch, also will have a capacity of 700 students. When the 51,676-square-foot school opens in August, it is expected to relieve Sand Creek, Cougar Run and Summit View elementary schools. The principal will be Darlene Dougherty.

Elementary school No. 32 is just being started in the Bradbury Ranch subdivision in Parker. When it opens in 2001, it will give relief to Cherokee Trail and Pine Grove elementary schools. Like its twin elementary schools, No. 30 and No. 31, it also will have a 700-student capacity. David Ray will leave his principal position at Coyote Creek to take over No. 32.

Elementary school No. 22 also is scheduled for 2001 completion. In the Kentley Hills subdivision of Highlands Ranch, the school will be one mile west of Summit View Elementary and will ease crowding there.

This school is being paid for with contributions from the Douglas County Trust Fund Foundation and revenue from the sale of premium bonds. Scott Mengel, who has 14 years experience in the Cherry Creek School District and recently in Kanai Peninsula, Alaska, will be the new principal. This is another clone to the other new elementary schools.

Another elementary school is needed in the area, but a bond issue will have to be passed to raise funds for it.

The prototype design of ThunderRidge and Chaparral high schools is being used for high school/middle school No. 6 in Highlands Ranch. The 206,000-square-foot building is scheduled to open in August 2001.

It will contain middle school and high school students. The capacity is 2,000 students.

Jay Engeln from William J. Palmer High School in Colorado Springs will be the principal of the high school. Kara Shepher, principal from Castle Rock Middle School, will be the middle school principal.

When a new middle school is built in 2003, the two schools will separate.

Douglas County also has several charter schools that are supported by the state and private tuition. Some of them too are undergoing growth and have buildings under construction.

Core Knowledge Charter School plans to move into a larger building this summer. The school will be 26,000 square feet.

It was financed by tax-exempt bond sales. The school has 320 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Susie Miller, who was the assistant principal at South Elementary, will be the principal at the new location.

DCS Montessori Charter School is scheduled to open a new building in September in Castle Pines. It will consolidate pupils from its Castle Rock and west Highlands Ranch schools into the one facility. The capacity will be 500 in preschool through sixth grade.

The school used the Douglas County School District’s prototype design with a few modifications.