Brighton Standard Blade

05/09/2026

If 27J asked voters for a future bond, how should the district prioritize these needs?
We've been reporting on the swimming pool as part of a broader funding question. Where would you rank these?or four areas.

We've been reporting on the swimming pool as one piece of a bigger funding question. Where would you rank these?

1️⃣ Building maintenance for aging schools
2️⃣ Student transportation
3️⃣ Technology infrastructure
4️⃣ Replacing the swimming pool

Drop your top priority in the comments. Read the swimming pool story here: https://www.thebrightonblade.com/news/replacement-of-27j-swim-pool-could-cost-tens-of-millions/article_83ce3137-f638-4924-88e3-08bf1084886b.html

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05/07/2026

Correction and update on our 27J swim pool story

A correction has been added to our May 7 story on the potential cost of replacing the 27J Swimming Pool.

The original story reported that the pool is used only by the district's combined boys and girls swim team — information that came from Chief Operations Officer Terry Lucero's comments at the April 22 Board of Education meeting. That picture was incomplete.

Brighton High School head girls swim coach Lesley Shewmaker, who has coached at the pool for eight years, told the Blade the facility is also used year-round by the Brighton Bullfrogs club swim team, Monday through Friday evenings; by a group of 27J employees who swim Tuesday and Thursday mornings; and by the Boy Scouts a few times a year for merit badge qualifications.

A follow-up story is in the works that will broaden the picture further, including additional voices from the swim community and a closer look at the pool's history and condition.

Thank you to the readers who pushed back. The reporting is better for it.
https://www.thebrightonblade.com/news/replacement-of-27j-swim-pool-could-cost-tens-of-millions/article_83ce3137-f638-4924-88e3-08bf1084886b.html

05/07/2026

The 27J Swimming Pool was built in 1972. That makes it older than the personal computer, the internet and the cell phone.

27J's chief operations officer told the school board last month that replacing it would cost about $30 million, calling the figure a general industry estimate. The pool serves about 60 to 100 students each year as members of the district's only swim team.

Most other Front Range districts don't own a competition pool. Some rent time at city rec centers. Adams 12 partnered with the City of Thornton. Jeffco partnered with Arvada.

What's your take. Is replacing the pool worth a future bond ask, or should 27J look at sharing one?

Tag a parent who'd want to weigh in: https://www.thebrightonblade.com/news/replacement-of-27j-swim-pool-could-cost-tens-of-millions/article_83ce3137-f638-4924-88e3-08bf1084886b.html

Want education news from 27J and across the Front Range in your inbox each week? Subscribe to Class Notes: https://cotlns-newsletter-education.beehiiv.com/

The 27J Swimming Pool, built in 1972, serves only the district swim team and is no longer used for physical education. Replacement costs could reach $30 million, likely requiring a bond election, though the district currently spends minimal funds on maintenance and patches.

04/30/2026

Westminster’s Earth Day showcases environmental efforts.
Adams County cities showcase efforts to preserve local environment

Plenty of families descended at the Westminster City Park Recreation Center on Saturday for a variety of events celebrating Earth Day. There was a chance to ride and drive an

04/27/2026

Brighton’s Team Big Boom takes off for Washington D.C.
Three eighth graders from Brighton’s Vikan Middle School will take their rocket to the nation’s capital this May – an honor usually reserved for high schoolers.

Three eighth graders from Brighton’s Vikan Middle School will take their rocket to the nation’s capital this May – an honor usually reserved for high schoolers.

04/21/2026

Brighton readers, the countdown is on! ⏰

It’s time to celebrate the people, places and businesses that make our community shine. The ✨ Best of the Best ✨ contest is back, and this year it’s all about YOU 🫵 having your say.

From your favorite local spots to the everyday heroes who make a difference, this is your chance to recognize what stands out. We’re bringing back the original format you know and love to spotlight the very best in our community.

🗓️ Voting runs April 15 – May 20.
📱 Cast your vote once per day, per device.

Don’t miss your chance to help crown this year’s winners — chosen by you, for you. Let’s celebrate what makes our community awesome! 🏆

❗Vote here: https://coloradocommunitymedia.secondstreetapp.com/Brighton-Best-of-the-Best-2026/

04/20/2026

In case you missed it this week — Janine Runfola, a 27J mom, went to the school board with a question she said she couldn't get answered: is my child's READ plan actually being followed?

State data shows only 32% of 27J students in grades 3–8 are reading at grade level. And state READ Act funding ends after 3rd grade — leaving districts to cover older students on their own.

District staff agree the system is inconsistent. They're redesigning the plan. No timeline yet.

Full story for the Sunday-night read:

Parents express concerns about implementation of READ plans at School District 27J, as data reveals falling reading levels and a lack of confidence in the system.

04/18/2026

For any 27J parent heading into the weekend wondering whether your kid's READ plan is actually working:
→ Ask the teacher — in writing — to walk through the plan and explain when and how each intervention is happening.
→ Request a meeting with the principal or the school's intervention team.
→ Ask for your child's FASTBridge screening data. The state says you're entitled to "regular, ongoing updates."

More on where 27J's system falls short and what's being redesigned: https://www.thebrightonblade.com/news/are-27j-reading-plans-reaching-struggling-students/article_37806fce-921e-4168-8ca7-9670a79e80ed.html
Save this to read after bedtime. Share with a neighbor in your district.

04/17/2026

Brighton baseball lighting up 5A/4A
Rocky Mountain league.
The Brighton Bulldogs have quickly become a team to circle on opponents' baseball schedules in 2026, led by a rowdy and hungry group of seniors looking to make their last mark. Brighton is 11-4 and 6-0 in the tough 5A/4A Rocky Mountain League.

The Brighton Bulldogs have quickly become a team to circle on opponents’ baseball schedules in 2026, led by a rowdy and hungry group of seniors looking to make their last mark. Brighton is 11-4 and 6-0 in the tough 5A/4A Rocky Mountain League.

04/16/2026

✨ You’re invited to the 10th Annual Colorado Holistic Fair! ✨

Make your way to the Adams County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall on April 18 and 19 to reconnect with your favorite readers, explore crystal vendors, experience healing bodywork and make meaningful new soul connections within the community.

Come discover something magical!🔮

Find all the details here: https://holistic-fairs.com/colorado-fair/colorado-fair-information

04/16/2026

CHSAA to enshrine 7 new Hall of Fame inductees this month.
The membership in the Colorado High School Activities Association’s Hall of Fame will increase by seven. The ceremony is set for Wednesday, April 22, at the Douglas County School District's Legacy Campus in Parker.

The membership in the Colorado High School Activities Association’s Hall of Fame will increase by seven. The ceremony is set for Wednesday, April 22, at the Douglas County School District's Legacy Campus in Parker.