West Woods/Meiklejohn School Overcrowding

West Arvada school overcrowding

With all of the new development around West Arvada the school system is filling to capacity quickly and projected to fly past capacity very soon.  As a resident of West Woods and parent of West Woods Elementary school kids I have been paying close attention to the situation. As a Real Estate Broker in the area I know that a large portion of people move to West Woods because of the excellent school system and reputation.  Any depletion of that reputation could have consequences on the housing market.   Last fall Superintendent McMinimee came to West Woods to discuss the issue with the community. At the meeting he laid out numerous options to deal with the growth as listed here:

Recommendations with Minimal Capital Investment

• Grade Configurations
• Flexibility, Impact on Utilization

• Temporary Classrooms
• Busing changes
• Boundary Changes
• Year Round School
• Split Sessions
• Repurpose Existing Facilities
• Function Change e.g. School to Support Type Facility or Community Use
• School Type / Program or Curriculum Change
• Facility Share
• Neighborhood & Charter

Charter & Option Recommendations with Capital Investment• Additions
• Replacement/Consolidations
• New Buildings
• GradeReconfigurationsw/Additions • MajorRenovations

 The projections of student growth are pretty concerning as indicated in the graph below.

Over winter break 5 temps were installed on the front lawn of West Woods Elementary.   The reality of the school overcrowding is now very apparent and real.   I was not aware of any updates on how the district planned to take to deal with overcrowding so I contacted Superintendent McMinimee.  Here is his response as to what Jeffco is doing to handle the current overcrowding situation

1. The temps are leased on a year to year basis with a renewal option for 2016 and 2017. They will be removed when the West Woods enrollment issue is under control.

2. Jeffco plans on building a new k-6 or K-8 school in Candela's to break ground in 2016 and open for the 2017 school year.

3.  Doral Academy, a charter school is scheduled to open in the old Zerger Elementary with the intent of moving to Candela's in 2017.

4. Mr. McMinimee has asked the board to reconsider finishing Sierra phase two, which would give the area an additional 250 seats in the fall of 2017

That is a brief summary of the steps being taken to elevate the West Arvada school overcrowding.   As I come across updates I will follow up to this post.  If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me.

Thank you,
Adam Browning
West Woods Realty
Adam@westwoodsrealty.com
303-913-2326

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