School District 27J officially grew by 1,120 pk-12 students this school year, and will continue to average 1,000 plus students for the next 12 years as it has done for the last 6 years.

An interesting fact about our community is that we have a large number families and young children. It is estimated that over 80% of our growth for the next several years is already living in our community. This means that 27J will need to build a new elementary school every year, a new middle school every three years and a new high school every five years; even if new construction were to stop today.

The Superintendent, with the support of the Board of Education, has structured the debt repayment of the proposed schools withNOTAX RATE INCREASE. The growth of our commercial and industrial properties, which is taxed at four times the rate of residential properties, generates enough tax revenue to pay for the proposed new schools. Growth is paying its way, which allows the district to stay on a four year construction cycle. The School District's Growth Management Department, the envy of many other districts, has delivered 18 out of 18 construction projects on time and on budget. Growth provides the district with the ability to actively recruit the highest qualified and most motivated Teachers and Principals.

The School District showed the most improvement of all Adams County school districts in the latest series of CSAP tests. And School District 27J will be at the top in academic performance of Adams County school districts, as measured by Colorado Department of Education, CSAP weighted-index score when released in December of this year. This is the result of teachers, parents and students working together with the support of our community.

This accomplishment is even more impressive when one considers that School District 27J is lowest funded school district in Adams County. Some of our neighboring schools districts receive 24% more per student funds, largely due to their community support of mill levy overrides. It is now appropriate for our community to invest in gifted and talented programs, an International Baccalaureate program, fully fund the Avid program, increase technology and decrease the drop-out rate with a mill levy override of our own. Even with the increased funding from the proposed temporary (expires in 12 years) mil levy override School District 27J would still operate on less per child funding than the other four school districts in Adams County.

There is a time to say YES to the investment of education in our community, and School District 27J has earned the right to respectfully ask for your support of 3A and 3B. The district has been fiscally conservative with the construction of new schools, and has produced more academic achievement for the dollar than any other school district in Adams County. Our school district will continue to achieve more, but needs your support to take our district to the next level.

Step aside Jeffco, School District 27J IS ON THE MOVE.

Respectfully Submitted,

Todd Cordrey

27J School Board President