Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel

12/22/2025

News for Thornton High families: The district is moving to take a shopping center next to the school for expansion. Here's what's happening and why.

Adams 12 Five Star Schools is set to acquire a shopping center next to Thornton High School through eminent domain, after the owners declined offers above the property's appraised value.

12/15/2025

In case you missed it this week: Adams 12 voters just passed a $39 million tax increase for schools. Now lobbyists are warning that state budget problems could offset those gains.

What's at stake — and what happens next: https://www.northglenn-thorntonsentinel.com/news/state-budget-woes-could-undermine-adams-12s-new-tax-dollars/article_9a22da0b-e376-4d3d-82f7-2ecca7679bc1.htm

Despite recent voter support to increase funding for Adams 12 Five Star Schools, potential state-level funding cuts are now threatening these gains. A budget deficit of $840 million to $1 billion for next year is causing uncertainty.

12/11/2025

For two years, Adams 12 tried to buy the shopping center next to Thornton High School. The owners said no. Now the district is taking it anyway.

The school board voted this month to begin eminent domain proceedings for the 3-acre property. The district says it needs the land for parking, stormwater management, and a future career and technical education building.

The owners — a Colorado family that recently lost their patriarch and a Texas-based partnership — rejected two offers, including one for $4.55 million. They're not fighting the taking. They just want a court to decide what it's worth.

Here's what Thornton High families need to know ⬇️

Adams 12 Five Star Schools is set to acquire a shopping center next to Thornton High School through eminent domain, after the owners declined offers above the property's appraised value.

12/11/2025

For two years, Adams 12 tried to buy the shopping center next to Thornton High School. The owners said no. Now the district is taking it anyway.

The school board voted this month to begin eminent domain proceedings for the 3-acre property. The district says it needs the land for parking, stormwater management, and a future career and technical education building.

The owners — a Colorado family that recently lost their patriarch and a Texas-based partnership — rejected two offers, including one for $4.55 million. They're not fighting the taking. They just want a court to decide what it's worth.

Here's what Thornton High families need to know ⬇️

Adams 12 Five Star Schools is set to acquire a shopping center next to Thornton High School through eminent domain, after the owners declined offers above the property's appraised value.

12/09/2025

One number from this story that stopped me:

24.4% of Adams 12's K-3 students were identified as at-risk readers last year. That's more than 2,200 kids.

The state is considering cutting literacy screenings to every other year. That means some struggling readers could go a full school year before anyone catches the problem.

https://www.northglenn-thorntonsentinel.com/news/state-budget-woes-could-undermine-adams-12s-new-tax-dollars/article_9a22da0b-e376-4d3d-82f7-2ecca7679bc1.html

12/05/2025

Adams 12 voters just agreed to raise their own taxes by $39 million to help their schools.

Now state budget problems could wipe out those gains.

Lobbyists warned the school board this week that Colorado faces up to a $1 billion shortfall and that K-12 funding isn't guaranteed protection.

What's at stake? Teacher raises. Mental health workers. Career programs for teens. And early reading support for more than 2,200 young students who need it.

Full story: https://www.northglenn-thorntonsentinel.com/news/state-budget-woes-could-undermine-adams-12s-new-tax-dollars/article_9a22da0b-e376-4d3d-82f7-2ecca7679bc1.html

📍 If you voted yes on 5B, you'll want to read this

Despite recent voter support to increase funding for Adams 12 Five Star Schools, potential state-level funding cuts are now threatening these gains. A budget deficit of $840 million to $1 billion for next year is causing uncertainty.

11/20/2025

Adams 12 Five Star Schools is bringing hands-on career exploration to middle school students starting next fall.

Instead of waiting until high school when some students are already behind, sixth graders will soon have access to 3D printers, broadcasting equipment, and entrepreneurship programs.

'Middle school is a challenging time,' says Matt Schmidt, the district's executive director of secondary options and innovative programming, who spent 10 years as principal of an alternative high school.

Six schools will launch programs in 2026, part of a district-wide expansion funded by November's mill levy override and the 2024 bond.

Read more: https://www.northglenn-thorntonsentinel.com/news/adams-12-brings-career-and-tech-training-to-middle-school/article_5293e80c-e0f5-4ec8-974a-a6adaad8a851.html

What do you think - is middle school too early for career exploration, or right on time?

Adams 12 Five Star Schools to launch $2.3 million middle school CTE programs for hands-on learning and career exploration. Initiative aimed at preventing students from falling behind in core subjects and engaging them early on.

11/10/2025

The 27J Schools board unanimously extended Superintendent Will Pierce's contract through 2028, citing his strong leadership and collaborative approach, even as they marked him non-compliant in three of 12 evaluation areas.

The 27J Schools board extends Superintendent Will Pierce's contract through 2028, highlighting his strong leadership with some concerns in graduation rates and academic tracking.

11/06/2025

🚨 BREAKING: Adams 12 Measure 5B appears headed for approval

The $39.42 million mill levy override is leading 52.5% to 47.5% as of 2:30 p.m. Wednesday—a stunning 20-point swing from last year's 15-point defeat.

"The passage of 5B is not only a huge win for our students, it's a win for our community," Superintendent Chris Gdowski said.

The funding provides teacher raises, school security, mental health workers and smaller class sizes.

Final results expected in coming days.

Full story:

Adams 12 Five Star Schools' Measure 5B, which seeks a permanent $39.42 million property tax increase to fund teacher salaries and school programs, appeared headed for approval Wednesday afternoon. As

11/05/2025

🗳️ Adams 12 Measure 5B Update

Preliminary results show Adams 12 Five Star Schools' Measure 5B with 52.2% support as of Wednesday morning, a dramatic shift from last year's 15-point defeat.

If results hold, the $39.42 million mill levy override would fund:

$13M for teacher salary increases
$5M for support staff raises
Mental health workers and school security
Smaller class sizes for 6th and 9th graders

The close margin means the final outcome may not be known for days as remaining ballots are counted.

Adams 12 Five Star Schools' Measure 5B, which seeks a permanent $39.42 million property tax increase to fund teacher salaries and school programs, remained too close to call Wednesday morning.

11/05/2025

BREAKING: Adams 12 school tax measure too close to call.

As of 9:30 p.m., Measure 5B holds a narrow lead with 51.8% support and 48.2% opposed. The $39.42 million property tax increase would fund teacher raises, support staff and school programs.

This is a dramatic shift from last year when voters rejected a similar measure 57.7% to 42.3%.

The close margin means we likely won't know final results for days as remaining ballots are counted.

What's at stake: If it passes, Adams 12 can give teachers a raise and reduce class sizes. If it fails, the district faces potential layoffs and program cuts.

Stay tuned for updates as more ballots are counted.

https://www.northglenn-thorntonsentinel.com/news/adams-12-school-tax-measure-5b-looks-too-close-to-call/article_4a15bbb1-6754-4a75-85be-f6a60a89c286.html

10/27/2025

Chris Gdowski's journey came full circle when he was named Colorado's 2026 Superintendent of the Year. The Thornton High School graduate now leads the district that shaped him.

Under his 16-year leadership, Adams 12 has seen Hispanic graduation rates soar and students earn over 1,000 career certificates in a single year. But the celebration is bittersweet. The district just cut 150 positions and faces a $272 million funding gap.

"I am angry and sad that we have to make these decisions because for decades our state has failed to prioritize education funding," Gdowski said.

A $39.42 million mill levy override on November's ballot could help. Without it, Gdowski warns, more cuts are coming.

Chris Gdowski, a product of Adams 12 schools, wins Colorado's 2026 Superintendent of the Year award. Significant academic achievements under his leadership, including improved graduation rates and test scores.