Latest news with #CherryCreek
CBS News
2 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Cherry Creek North residents want Denver neighborhood removed from improvement district conversations
In July, CBS Colorado reported on the potential for a Cherry Creek General Improvement District, and received several emails from concerned Cherry Creek North residents saying they want their Denver neighborhood removed from the conversation. "Neither of these postcards say on here, we're going to tax you for this, anything that you want on this, you're going to be paying for," said Dana Busch as she showed mailers regarding the GID that she felt lacked important information about the project. Residents invited CBS Colorado over for a conversation. What was originally supposed to be with three people quickly turned into a dozen. "We didn't even publicize this, so I can only imagine how many people would have shown up had we publicized this," said Busch. The neighbors coming together with a common goal. "Our group is advocating to have our residential area pulled out," said Busch. When asked if the group knows if any of their neighbors in Cherry Creek North are in support of the potential GID, Busch responded "zero." Residents Wayne New and Greg Jenkins added that they haven't met anyone, either. As it stands, the proposed improvement district would include Cherry Creek Shopping Center, Cherry Creek North, Cherry Creek East and a triangle just south of the area. "Each area should have the right to decide whether they want to be part of this larger project or not," said Busch. "We do not need this, and yet, when you look at this map, we're making up about two thirds of the dollar of the residential cost." The group believes Cherry Creek North doesn't need or want the GID and shouldn't be looped in with other nearby neighborhoods. They even created a website called to help their cause. A greater concern they say, is that they could be footing the bill for projects outside their area. "We're just really concerned, not only that our residents don't have a strong voice about what's happening with their tax money, how is it really going to make an improvement that makes a difference for our quality of life?" said Wayne New, who previously represented the area as a Denver City Councilman. City Councilwoman Amanda Sawyer represents the area and hired a consultant to look into the concept. They surveyed neighbors and found 65% were not interested in exploring a GID for Cherry Creek. Despite those results, the plan is moving forward. "They want to spend more of our taxpayer money on something that we've already said no to," said Greg Jenkins. The next phase puts residents into working groups to brainstorm ideas about what a GID could entail. Nearly all dozen of the residents present for the conversation said they signed up to lead a working group, while only one said she heard back. "We've always had a voice in our neighborhood," said New. "All of a sudden, now an advisory board, almost like a bureaucratic organization, is being developed over all of us, and whether we'll have a voice again, as strongly we had in the past, we don't know. So, it's a big, big concern to all of us." When CBS Colorado spoke with Councilwoman Sawyer about the project, she was adamant that if residents ultimately don't want this GID, then they won't move forward with a petition or work to get it on the ballot. Four community meetings are planned in September to talk about the potential improvement district.
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Colorado district no longer recognizing valedictorians, Cherry Creek Schools calls it inconsistent and outdated
Students in Cherry Creek Schools head back to class on Monday, but beginning with the graduating class of 2026, the district will no longer recognize valedictorians and students won't be given the title. The district says it's an outdated and inconsistent process, but some former and current students don't agree. Valedictorian is a title given to the highest-performing student in the class. Often, the valedictorian also delivers a speech at graduation. Jennifer Tejawijaya will be a senior this year at Cherokee Trail High School. She's part of the first graduation class impacted and recalls when she learned about the district's decision. "I just remember being really confused, like sitting and thinking about how it kind of just shelters students from failure," said Jennifer. She's also an aspiring valedictorian who won't get the chance to aim for the title. "That's a goal that I've had for myself, even if I get the title or if I don't, but not like knowing that I don't get the recognition that other people have gotten for years before me is a little frustrating," said Tejawijaya. In a statement from the district, they say they found inconsistencies among schools in the numbers of valedictorians and qualifications for valedictorians. Only five of the eight high schools consistently named valedictorians, and Cherry Creek High School didn't have one for the last 30 years or more. Christopher Gimelshteyn and Chukwudi Nwobodo both just graduated several months ago with the valedictorian honor from Cherokee Trail. The two were among several valedictorians named at the high school last year, and part of the last class to do so. "I always knew that I was on track for it because of how my grades looked and just knowing that there was something there to recognize that at the end of the journey was just a little extra point of motivation," said Nwobodo. "Having that in my future, something that was a possibility, I think, motivated me to continue trying as hard as I could," said Gimelshteyn. "It was definitely an exciting realization that if I put the work in, this could be beneficial to earn." The district's statement went on to say: "Combined with the fact that fewer college admissions offices consider class rank when evaluating potential candidates, it was determined that this outdated practice did not align with our Core Values of teaching all students, rather than ranking and sorting them. We remain dedicated to assessing students on what they know and supporting them as they pursue their Pathway of Purpose." However, Gimelshteyn believes the honor is important when applying to hyper-competitive colleges. "Having that title, I think, is really like a good indicator to colleges that you're, you know, willing to work hard," said Gimelshteyn. "It shows that you're a good candidate." "I feel like it does matter, even if the title itself isn't something that they look at. Having the GPA required to get the award is something that is important to colleges. So, if there's not a reason for students to try and achieve that, then there may be less opportunities for them," said Nwobodo. In 2022, a letter sent to parents from the district's high school principals read: "While we continue to find ways to decrease the angst so many students face on a day-to-day basis, this is one more way we can take away unnecessary pressure." "I think we had a community of helping each other. I really don't think that there was at any point us trying to push each other down or get ahead of each other," Gimelshteyn. "It was a way that we can all lift each other up to help each other more." The district has now removed class ranks. Schools instead will recognize other accomplishments and other honors like grade point average and advanced placement classes. "How I view it is just robbing people of recognition for what they've done up to that point," said Nwobodo. "I also feel like having the valedictorian award, there is an extra factor for motivating them to continue to excel in the path that they've chosen." "Being able to take away the title of valedictorian shows people that, oh, if you're not valedictorian, then you failed, and I think that's completely incorrect," said Tejawijaya. "As I've gone through high school, I've still strived for that GPA and that ranking of being number one out of however many students. But I realize, we won't get the same recognition as they did, even if we put in the same amount of work." CBS Colorado also reached out to local universities and colleges regarding the impact of being a valedictorian when submitting college applications. In a statement from Healther Daniels, CSU Executive Director of Admissions: "We consider a wide range of factors when reviewing applications. Our goal is to assess each student's potential for success at the University by looking at their academic record, coursework, extracurricular involvement, and more. While being named Valedictorian is a notable achievement, it is not a specific factor in our admissions decisions. CSU is deeply committed to removing barriers to higher education and simplifying what can sometimes feel like a complex application process. As part of our land-grant mission, we remain focused on expanding access to a world-class education for all students with the talent and desire to attend college. To further support this commitment, CSU offers free applications every day for students who currently live in Colorado or attend school in the state — waiving the application fee entirely."
CBS News
26-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Denver's Cherry Creek neighborhood could be next to establish general improvement district
Another Denver neighborhood is hoping to take it upon itself to address community issues. There are currently five general improvement districts in Denver, with more potentially on the horizon, including Cherry Creek. Regardless of the neighborhood, more and more Denverites are seeking services beyond what the city offers. Councilwoman Amanda Sawyer spearheaded the efforts to gauge interest in a special district in Cherry Creek based on feedback she received from constituents "I started kind of looking into how I could get them what they say they want. Right?" Sawyer told CBS Colorado. "And that is kind of where I came to this tool." There are four buckets of interest collected so far. "The first one is community safety," Sawyer said. In addition to things such as Flock cameras and better lighting, residents have said they want help with the parking situation, neighborhood advocacy and beautification. "Whether that looks like snow removal or whether that looks like flowerpots on a corner, I don't know that's for the residents to kind of decide what they want to do," Sawyer said. The proposed general improvement district would include the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, Cherry Creek North, Cherry Creek East and a triangle just south of the area. Based on initial survey results, there is enough interest in the concept to move forward with creating a final plan. But whether that plan goes to a vote will remain up to residents. "If the residents don't want to do this at the end of the day, then, I don't think we do this," Sawyer said. "It's certainly way too expensive to go to petition and gather signatures and go to a TABOR election for something that residents don't want." Cherry Creek North already has a business improvement district, but those businesses would not be a part of and pay into both improvement districts. A final plan is expected to be formulated by residents and presented for feedback at the beginning of the New Year. How the GID would be funded is also up to residents, who are already saying they're not interested in a tax hike. "What we're not going to do is do this as a property tax," Sawyer said. "We're going to do this in a different way because I think we've heard from the community that that uncertainty is something they're uncomfortable with."
