Denver November 2003 Election
Here's an in-depth piece on school board issues, 3A and 3B from the Rocky Mountain News [October 13, 2003, "Hickenlooper joins DPS ballot efforts"]. From the article, "DPS' proposed $310 million school bond issue would build two K-8 schools in the areas known as Green Valley Ranch and Montbello, as well as refinance construction of a third K-8 school there. It also would pay for land in nearby Stapleton, where a new high school would be built. Other projects to serve the growing district include classroom additions at two elementaries in southwest Denver and partial funding for buildings for two charter schools, the Denver School of Science and Technology, also known as High Tech High, and the Knowledge Is Power Program or KIPP, a nationally recognized charter using extended learning time to boost the performance of low-income students. In addition to new buildings, half of the bond issue would go toward infrastructure projects that admittedly 'aren't high-speed and sexy,' said Mike Langley, DPS' executive director of facilities management. That includes new boilers for more than 50 schools, interior paint jobs in 30 schools and new athletic fields - five synthetic, five natural - for 10 high schools. More than three dozen schools would have their outdated fire-detection systems replaced and 40 schools would get duct systems that stop the spread of smoke in case of fire, rather than disperse it inside the building. Security also would get a boost, with all schools being outfitted with cameras. High schools would receive at least 16 cameras each, middle schools would have a minimum of eight and elementaries at least four. All elementary schools also would gain electronic door access, allowing staff to see visitors outside and control entry. A new radio security system would allow DPS officers to talk directly to Denver police. The largest chunk of DPS' proposed $20 million tax hike for educational programs would put an art or music teacher at every elementary school."
The Rocky has a table listing some of the projects that will receive funding if 3A and 3B pass. Here's the DPS website with way more information than you'd ever want.
Here's an article from the Denver Post [October 13, 2003, "Schools hope bonds survive hard times"] about statewide school issues. Denver's 3A and 3B are mentioned.
Govenor Owens thinks that opponents of Referendum A are hypocritial is opposing the referred question, according to the Denver Post [October 13, 2003, "Owens: Ref. A foes hypocrites"]. Ouch. From the article, "Owens, Referendum A's biggest backer, likes to compare the water project vote to the successes of housing bonds while on the campaign stump. Those he accuses, however, call the comparison of the water and housing programs "ridiculous." His opponents say the differences are in the details of bonds that could be created by Referendum A on the statewide Nov. 4 ballot, and those administered by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority. Opponents say that unlike the program that would be created by Referendum A, CHFA has a proven, 25-year history in the bond market and built-in measures to assure financing and real-estate expertise as well as written safeguards against conflicts of interest."
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