APS board mulls changes to graduation requirements

AURORA | The Aurora Public Schools District Board of Education heard feedback from teachers, parents and district staff regarding proposed changes to graduation requirements during its meeting Dec. 14.

Ritter visits CCA

 Gov. Bill Ritter answers questions at a political science class Nov. 30 at the Community College of Aurora. Photo by Heather L. Smith/The Aurora Sentinel

It was a homecoming of sorts for Bill Ritter.

As the Colorado governor addressed the crowd of students, faculty and administrators gathered in a lecture room at the Community College of Aurora on Nov. 30, he started by summoning his roots. Ritter came as a guest lecturer during the final meeting of CCA’s “Current Political Issues” course, a new class taught by Matt Gianneschi, Ritter’s former education policy adviser.

Nuggets players lead clinic at Aurora Central

photo by Heather L. Smith/The Aurora Sentinel

Anthony Carter had just finished a grueling, three-hour practice; the Denver Nuggets guard was ready to call it a day.

But then he saw the 150 Aurora Public Schools students gathered in the gym on Nov. 30 at Aurora Central High School.

Carter joined teammates Renaldo Balkman, Sheldon Williams and Arron Afflalo to work on basketball drills with 150 students from 17 K-12 APS schools across the district. The four players joined former Nuggets Mark Randall, Walter Davis and Ervin Johnson for the event, which rewarded students for academic excellence in attendance, citizenship and scholarship.

John Barry named best superintendent in the state by CASE

.

file photo by Heather L. Smith/The Aurora Sentinel

In a week that's seen its fair share of controversy at the Aurora Public Schools district, Superintendent John Barry garnered an unprecedented honor from the Colorado Association of School Executives.

APS administration official says reversing 6th period would cost district more than $4 million

An administrative official at the Aurora Public Schools District says following an arbiter's ruling to overturn an added 6th period for high school teachers could cost the district upwards of $4 million and up to 90 positions.

Epic childhood study launched in Douglas County

Researchers from the Aurora-based University of Colorado School of Medicine and the Colorado School of Public Health helped make history yesterday.

Both institutions are partnering for the local recruitment phase of the National Children’s Study, a nationwide effort funded through the National Institute of Health. The study, which was formally launched this week, will last 25 years, encompass more than 105 sites across the country and will include an estimated 1000,000 children as participants.

APS Arbitration Update

It looks like the dustup between the Aurora Public Schools Board of Education and the teachers’ union regarding an added sixth period for high school teachers is far from over.

An administrative law judge has ruled that a measure finalized by the Aurora Public School district’s Board of Education earlier this year breaks the terms of district teachers’ contracts.