When Ascent Classical Academy opens its doors to students Sept. 5, it will become the first new independent charter school to open in the Grand Valley since Mesa County Valley School District 51 became an exclusive authorizer in 2019.
Being an exclusive authorizer means that all charter schools hoping to move into the district’s boundaries have to go through the district first. In May 2022, the D51 Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution allowing Ascent to apply for a charter through the Colorado Charter School Institute (CSI), which was ultimately granted.
kAm%96C6 2C6 @?=J E9C66 492CE6C D49@@=D 😕 E96 vC2?5 ‘2==6J E92E 2C6 277:=:2E65 H:E9 s:DEC:4E d` — |6D2 ‘2==6J r@>>F?:EJ $49@@=[ x?56A6?56?46 p4256>J 2?5 yF?:A6C #:586 — D@ pD46?E AC6D6?ED 2 ?6H[ :?56A6?56?E D49@@= @AE:@? 😕 |6D2 r@F?EJ E92E 9@A6D E@ DE2?5 @? :ED @H? 2D 2? 2=E6C?2E:G6] w@H6G6C[ E96 D49@@= 😀 ?@E H:E9@FE :ED 4C:E:4D[ 6G6? 367@C6 E96 7:CDE 52J @7 4=2DD6D 7@C :ED vC2?5 yF?4E:@? 42>AFD]k^Am
kAmw@H H:== pD46?E r=2DD:42= p4256>J 7:E :?E@ E96 65F42E:@? =2?5D42A6 @7 E96 vC2?5 ‘2==6Jnk^Am
Ascent Classical Academy, a K-8 charter school opening in a former gun and archery range, starts its semester in less than two weeks, but students will be taking classes in portable classrooms until a portion of the school has been finished, seen on Aug. 25, 2023. School officials intended on the front entrance, stairs to the second floor and a few classrooms to be finished before the start of the year, but a long lead abatement due to the former school being a gun and archery range led to a delay on construction.
k9bmp$rt}%’$ p##x’p{k^9bm
kAmpD46?E r=2DD:42= p4256>J @776CD H92E :E 42==D “p>6C:42? 4=2DD:42= 65F42E:@?” E92E 7@4FD6D @? “56G6=@A:?8 E96 >:?5D[ 962CED 2?5 3@5:6D @7 J@F?8 A6@A=6 H9:=6 A2CE?6C:?8 H:E9 A2C6?ED]” tI64FE:G6 s:C64E@C s6C64 $9F=6C D2:5 E9:D 65F42E:@? :?4=F56D 2 566A F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7 E96 9:DE@CJ[ AC:?4:A=6D 2?5 :562=D @7 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D E@ AC6A2C6 E96> E@ 36 8@@5 4:E:K6?D]k^Am
kAm“xE’D F?7@CEF?2E6 E92E D@>6 A6@A=6 4@?D:56C 2?J 65F42E:@? E92E 92D H:E9DE@@5 E96 E6DE @7 E:>6 2?5 E92E AC@>@E6D p>6C:42 2D 8@@5 E@ 36 4@?EC@G6CD:2=[ 6G6? E9@F89 @FC DEF56?ED 2C6 566A=J :>>6CD65 😕 E96 492==6?86D @7 @FC A2DE E@ :?4=F56 E@A:4D =:<6 D=2G6CJ] *6E[ H6 2=D@ DEF5J 9@H @FC ?2E:@? 92D @G6C4@>6 492==6?86D[” $9F=6C D2:5]k^Am
kAm“(6 36=:6G6 E96 65F42E:@? 7@C E96 36DE 2>@?8 FD 😀 E96 36DE 65F42E:@? 7@C 2==] pD46?E r=2DD:42= H6=4@>6D 2?5 E2<6D D6C:@FD=J @FC 4@>>:E>6?E E@ D6CG6 6G6CJ 49:=5 H9@ 4@>6D E@ @FC D49@@= H:E9 2 8C62E 65F42E:@? 😕 E96 =:36C2= 2CED 2?5 D4:6?46D[ E@ AC6A2C6 E96> E@ =625 :?56A6?56?E[ AC@5F4E:G6 2?5 C6DA@?D:3=6 =:G6D[ C682C5=6DD @7 E96:C 324<8C@F?5 @C ?665]”k^Am
Construction is seen on Ascent Classical Academy, a K-8 charter school opening in the former Rocky Mountain Gun Club building, 545 31 Road. Because of a long lead abatement process, most of the students will be taught in portable classrooms.
kAmpD46?E r=2DD:42= p4256>J vC2?5 yF?4E:@? w625>2DE6C r2C:DD2 sC2<6 56D4C:365 E96 4FCC:4F=F> 2D “C64@8?:K:?8 E96 :??2E6 9F>2?:EJ 😕 @FC J@F?8 A6@A=6 2?5 H2?E:?8 E@ 3F:=5 E92E FA 2?5 492==6?86 E96> E@ 42C6 23@FE E96:C 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 E96:C D@4:6EJ[ E@ 36 6?82865[ E@ 36 E9@F89E7F=]”k^Am
kAm“(6 H2?E DEF56?ED E@ 36 H6==\G6CD65 😕 9:DE@CJ 2?5 4F=EFC6 2?5 D4:6?46 2?5 2=D@ 92G6 2 566A F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7 H9@ H6 2C6 2D p>6C:42?D 2?5 9@H @FC 9:DE@CJ 92D F?7@=565 2?5 H92E H6’C6 :?96C:E:?8 D@ E92E H6 42? >@G6 7@CH2C5[” D96 D2:5] “~FC J@F?8 A6@A=6 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 :?96C:E:?8 E92E =6824J 2?5 >@G:?8 :E 7@CH2C5]”k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ sC2<6[ ba_\bb_ DEF56?ED 2C6 6?C@==65 7@C E9:D 72==] $96 2=D@ D2:5 E96 D49@@= 92D 9:C65 bd 724F=EJ 2?5 DE277[ ?@E:?8 E92E 2C@F?5 b_ @7 E9@D6 DE277 >6>36CD 2C6 7C@> E96 (6DE6C? $=@A6]k^Am
Larry Robinson / The Daily Sentinel
Ascent Classic Academy Headmaster Carissa Drake poses for a portrait inside the school while it still undergoes major construction on Aug. 25, 2023. The K-8 charter school is opening in a former gun and archery range and starts its semester in less than two weeks, but students will be taking classes in portable classrooms until a portion of the school has been finished. School officials intended on the front entrance, stairs to the second floor and a few classrooms to be finished before the start of the year, but a long lead abatement due to the former school being a gun and archery range led to a delay on construction.
kAmr92CE6C D49@@=D 😕 E96 DE2E6 2C6 2==@H65 E@ 9:C6 “9:89=J\BF2=:7:65” E62496CD C2E96C E92? =:46?D65 E62496CD 2D A2CE @7 2? 2FE@>2E:4 H2:G6C 7C@> E96 r@=@C25@ s6A2CE>6?E @7 t5F42E:@? WrstX] %@ >66E E9:D 56D:8?2E:@?[ 2 E62496C >FDE 92G6 2 4@==686 568C66 @C @E96C 56>@?DEC2E65 6IA6C:6?46 😕 E96 7:6=5 E96J’== 36 E6249:?8]k^Am
kAmsC2<6 56E2:=65 pD46?E’D AC@46DD 7@C 9:C:?8 E62496CD 7@C :ED vC2?5 yF?4E:@? 42>AFD]k^Am
kAm“(6 92G6 @FC 9@>6 @77:46 😕 v@=56? 2?5 E96J DE2CE65 E92E AC@46DD 7@C FD E9C@F89 4@>>F?:42E:@?[ >2C<6E:?8 2?5 25G6CE:D:?8 @7 E96 A@D:E:@?D 5FC:?8 E92E D@CE @7 8C@F?5\=6G6= A92D6 H96C6 H6 7:CDE DE2CE65 86EE:?8 :?E6C6DE 😕 E96 G2==6J 2?5 C6DA@?5:?8 E@ A2C6?ED’ C6BF6DED] (6 925 :?E6C6DE >66E:?8D 2?5 862C65 D@>6 @7 E9@D6 E@H2C5 E62496CD 2E 42C66C 72:CD 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ 6G6?ED H96C6 H6 925 E23=6D E@ 86E @FC ?2>6 @FE E96C6 H:E9 H9@ H6 2C6 2?5 H92E H6’C6 5@:?8] (6 DE2CE65 A@DE:?8 A@D:E:@?D 7@C E96 D49@@= 324< 😕 }@G6>36C @7 =2DE J62C[ >2J36 6G6? 62C=:6C E92? E92E[” sC2<6 D2:5]k^Am
Larry Robinson / The Daily Sentinel
Ascent Classical Academy, a K-8 charter school opening in a former gun and archery range, starts its semester in less than two weeks, but students will be taking classes in portable classrooms until a portion of the school has been finished, seen on Aug. 25, 2023. School officials intended on the front entrance, stairs to the second floor and a few classrooms to be finished before the start of the year, but a long lead abatement due to the former school being a gun and archery range led to a delay on construction.
kAm“x 42>6 @?3@2C5 😕 y2?F2CJ 2?5 DE2CE65 E96 AC@46DD @7 >66E:?8 2?5 :?E6CG:6H:?8 2== D@CED @7 A6@A=6 H9@ H6C6 :?E6C6DE65 😕 H@C<:?8 2E E96 D49@@= 7C@> E62496CD 2?5 %p’D WE62496CD’ 2DD:DE2?EDX] %96J H6?E E9C@F89 2 AC6EEJ C:8@C@FD AC@46DD @7 G6EE:?8 7C@> E96:C 324<8C@F?5 😕 65F42E:@? 2?5 E96:C EC2:?:?8[ E@ E96:C 65F42E:@?2= 568C66D @3E2:?65 2?5 2== @7 E9@D6 E9:?8D[ E@ 9@H H6== A6@A=6 2=:8? H:E9 E96 >:DD:@? 2?5 G:D:@? @7 @FC D49@@=] (6 E2=< 2 =@E 23@FE E92E[ 36:?8 2 4=2DD:42= D49@@=] x E9:?< 6G6CJ DE277 >6>36C 925 E9C66 @C D@ :?E6CG:6HD H96C6 E96J 5:5 D2>A=6 =6DD@?D 2?5 >6E H:E9 G2C:@FD A6@A=6 @? @FC DE277] %92E’D 9@H H6 3F:=E @FC E62> 96C6]”k^Am
kAmsC2<6[ H9@ 92D 366? 😕 4=2DD:42= 65F42E:@? 7@C `d J62CD 2?5 >@G65 E@ vC2?5 yF?4E:@? 7C@> pC:K@?2 7@C 96C 4FCC6?E A@D:E:@?[ D2:5 pD46?E 3642>6 :?E6C6DE65 😕 vC2?5 yF?4E:@? 27E6C D@>6 =@42= A2C6?ED 6IAC6DD65 :?E6C6DE 😕 E96 24256>J @? D@4:2= >65:2[ 2? :?E6C6DE H9:49 D?@H32==65 :?E@ H92E sC2<6 42==65 “8C2DDC@@ED 677@CED” 3J A2C6?ED 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ >6>36CD E@ DAC625 :?E6C6DE 😕 E96 D49@@= 2?5 2CC2?86 7246\E@\7246 >66E:?8D H:E9 pD46?E @77:4:2=D]k^Am
kAmpD46?E r=2DD:42= p4256>J 😀 EF:E:@?\7C66] %96 D49@@=[ =:<6 @E96C 492CE6CD 😕 r@=@C25@ E92E @A6C2E6 :?56A6?56?E @7 D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED[ 😀 7F?565 E9C@F89 DE2E6 7F?5D[ A2CE:4F=2C=J !6C !FA:= #6G6?F6D W!!#X[ 7F?5D 56D:8?2E65 3J E96 DE2E6 {68:D=2EFC6 6249 J62C 7@C @A6C2E:?8 6IA6?D6D[ 42A:E2= C6D6CG6 2?5 C:D< :?DFC2?46] %92E 7F?5:?8 H:== 36 AC@G:565 E@ pD46?E E9C@F89 E96 r$x]k^Am
Ascent Classical Academy, a K-8 charter school opening in a former gun and archery range, starts its semester in less than two weeks, but students will be taking classes in portable classrooms until a portion of the school has been finished, seen on Aug. 25, 2023. School officials intended on the front entrance, stairs to the second floor and a few classrooms to be finished before the start of the year, but a long lead abatement due to the former school being a gun and archery range led to a delay on construction.
kAm$9F=6C 2?5 sC2<6 3@E9 6>A92D:K65 E96 D49@@=’D C@=6 😕 AC@G:5:?8 2? 2=E6C?2E:G6 @AE:@? 7@C E96 4@>>F?:EJ[ 6DA64:2==J 2? @AE:@? E92E AC@>:D6D A2C6?ED E92E E96J’== 36 :?G@=G65]k^Am
kAm“~? E96 3:8\A:4EFC6 D42=6[ pD46?E 3C:?8D 2?@E96C 49@:46 E@ A2C6?ED 😕 E96 G2==6J 2?5 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ D6?5 E96:C <:5D E@ 2 9:89\BF2=:EJ[ C:8@C@FD 24256>:4 AC@8C2> E92E J@F 5@?’E 92G6 E@ A2J 7@C[” sC2<6 D2:5] “%@ >6[ @?6 @7 E96 8C62E6DE 36?67:ED @7 492CE6C D49@@=D 😀 E92E J@F 92G6 2 =@E @7 @AE:@?D 2?5 J@F 42? 92G6 5:776C6?E >@56=D 2?5 5:776C6?E 49@:46D E92E 7:E J@FC 72>:=J 2?5 J@FC 49:=5C6?] xE’D AF3=:4[ D@ :E D9@F=5 36 2446DD:3=6 E@ 2?J 72>:=J]”k^Am
k9bm$ttzx}v p!!#~’p{k^9bm
kAmpD46?E’D 2CC:G2= 5@6D ?@E 4@>6 H:E9@FE D@>6 4@?46C?D 7C@> 4@>>F?:EJ >6>36CD]k^Am
kAm%96 24256>J H2D 56?:65 3J E96 D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 😕 sFC2?8@ 2?5 x8?24:@ 😕 D@FE9H6DE r@=@C25@ =2DE J62C] pD46?E 2AA62=65 E96 sFC2?8@ $49@@= s:DEC:4E h\#’D 564:D:@? E@ 56?J E96:C 2AA=:42E:@? E@ @A6? 2 D49@@= 😕 E96 4@F?EJ[ 3FE E96 r@=@C25@ $E2E6 q@2C5 @7 t5F42E:@? 56?:65 E96 2AA62= 3J 2 c\b G@E6 😕 ~4E@36C] p44@C5:?8 E@ E96 sFC2?8@ w6C2=5[ $E2E6 q@2C5 >6>36C #636442 |4r=6==2? D2:5 E92E sFC2?8@’D D49@@= 5:DEC:4E 925 >256 2 DEC@?8 2C8F>6?E E92E pD46?E :D?’E “565:42E65 E@ 6BF:EJ 2?5 :?4=FD:@?[” 2>@?8 @E96C C62D@?D E96 5:DEC:4E 564:565 E@ 56?J pD46?E 2 A=246 😕 :ED 3@F?52C:6D]k^Am
Ascent Classical Academy, a K-8 charter school opening in a former gun and archery range, starts its semester in less than two weeks, but students will be taking classes in portable classrooms until a portion of the school has been finished, seen on Aug. 25, 2023. School officials intended on the front entrance, stairs to the second floor and a few classrooms to be finished before the start of the year, but a long lead abatement due to the former school being a gun and archery range led to a delay on construction.
kAm“!@=:E:4D >2<6D 6IA2?5:?8 A2C6?E 49@:46 >@C6 5:77:4F=E[ D:?46 3J 5672F=E 😕 r@=@C25@[ D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 2C6 E96 6I4=FD:G6 82E6<66A6CD E@ H9:49 :?56A6?56?E=J CF?[ 492CE6C D49@@=D 2C6 2G2:=23=6 E@ 72>:=:6D 😕 E96 4@>>F?:EJ[” $9F=6C D2:5] “r92CE6C D49@@=D[ 6DA64:2==J @?6D =:<6 pD46?E r=2DD:42= p4256>:6D E92E H:== F=E:>2E6=J 6?C@== 23@FE `[___ DEF56?ED 😕 8C256D z\`a[ 2C6 D66? 2D 4@>A6E:E:@? E92E D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 5@?’E H2?E] xE 😀 2? F?7@CEF?2E6 C62=:EJ E92E pD46?E r=2DD:42= 92D D66? D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED[ H:E9 E96:C E62496C F?:@?D 2=D@ 😕 @AA@D:E:@?[ ?@E 2==@H @FC D49@@=D 6G6? 😕 E96 7246 @7 @G6CH96=>:?8 56>2?5]”k^Am
kAm(9:=6 pD46?E H2D ?@E 5:C64E=J 2AAC@G65 3J E96 sd` q@2C5 @7 t5F42E:@? 2?5 H2D D:>A=J C6=62D65 3J E96 3@2C5 E@ 2AA=J E9C@F89 E96 r$x[ $9F=6C DE:== 6IAC6DD65 8C2E:EF56 E@H2C5 E96 3@2C5 7@C 8:G:?8 E96 24256>J E96 @AE:@?]k^Am
kAm“(6 C6>2:? 8C2E67F= E@ E96 |6D2 r@F?EJ ‘2==6J $49@@= s:DEC:4E q@2C5 @7 t5F42E:@? 7@C DFAA@CE:?8 A2C6?ED 2?5 2==@H:?8 @FC 42>AFD 😕 vC2?5 yF?4E:@? E@ H@C< H:E9 E96 DE2E6 492CE6C D49@@= 2FE9@C:K6C[ E96 r92CE6C $49@@= x?DE:EFE6[ H:E9 H9@> H6 92G6 @E96C 492CE6C D49@@=D[” 96 D2:5] “%9:D D9@HD E96:C 4@>>:E>6?E E@ 72>:=:6D 92G:?8 E96 36DE @AE:@?D 2G2:=23=6 7@C E96:C 49:=5C6?[ 2?5 H6 H:== 36 DEC@?8 4@>>F?:EJ A2CE?6CD E@ D6CG6 E96 49:=5C6? @7 E96 vC2?5 ‘2==6J]”k^Am
kAmsd` q@2C5 !C6D:56?E p?5C62 w2:EK E@=5 %96 s2:=J $6?E:?6= E92E D96 H2?ED E96 4@>>F?:EJ E@ F?56CDE2?5 E92E E96 3@2C5’D 564:D:@? E@ C6=62D6 pD46?E E@ E96 r$x H2D?’E 2 564:D:@? >256 @FE @7 D:5:?8 H:E9 492CE6C D49@@=D]k^Am
Larry Robinson / The Daily Sentinel
Ascent Classical Academy, a k-8 charter school opening in a former gun and archery range, starts their semester in less than two weeks, but students will be taking classes in portable classrooms until a portion of the school has been finished, seen on Aug. 25, 2023. School officials intended on the front entrance, stairs to the second floor and a few classrooms to be finished before the start of the year, but a long lead abatement due to the former school being a gun and archery range led to a delay on construction.
kAmw2:EK D2:5 E96 >@G6 H2D E96 D49@@= 3@2C5 4@>>:EE:?8 E@ H92E D96 D2:5 😀 E96 5:DEC:4E’D ?665 E@ 24<?@H=6586 2?5 C6DA64E A2C6?ED’ 56D:C6 7@C @AE:@?D 😕 E96:C 49:=5C6?’D 65F42E:@?[ 6G6? :7 D@>6 @AE:@?D 4@F=5 36 D66? 2D 4@>A6E:E:@? 7@C s:DEC:4E d`] $96 D2:5 E96 5:DEC:4E 92D D66? 6G:56?46 7@C :ED6=7 E92E E96C6’D 8C@H:?8 :?E6C6DE 😕 65F42E:@?2= 2=E6C?2E:G6D E92E A2C6?ED 92G6 E96 C:89E E@ 6IA=@C6]k^Am
kAm“x7 H6 H2?E E@ =@@< 2E Ws:DEC:4E d`X >28?6E D49@@=D =:<6 sxp WsF2= x>>6CD@? p4256>JX @C }6H t>6CD@?[ E9@D6 EJA:42==J 92G6 H2:E:?8 =:DED[ 2?5 E9@D6 24E G6CJ D:>:=2C E@ 2 492CE6C D49@@= 😕 E92E E96J 92G6 2 =@EE6CJ[ E96C6’D ?@ 3FD:?8 E@ E9@D6 D49@@=D] x7 J@F D66 H96C6 E96C6’D H2:E:?8 =:DED[ E92E’D H92E A2C6?ED 2C6 H2?E:?8[” w2:EK D2:5]k^Am
kAm“q642FD6 H6 92G6 564=:?:?8 6?C@==>6?E[ x 5@?’E <?@H H96C6 E96 3@2C5 H:== 36 2E 😕 E96 7FEFC6 H:E9 E9@D6 <:?5D @7 E9:?8D — H6 92G6 E@ H6:89 6G6CJE9:?8 — 3FE x E9:?<[ 2D 72C 2D 2AA62=:?8 E@ A2C6?ED[ H6 ?665 E@ <?@H H92E E96J’C6 :?E6C6DE65 :?] x7 J@F =@@< 2E E96 C:8@C @7 sxp 2?5 E96 C:8@C @7 t>6CD@?[ :7 J@F =@@< 2E E96 492CE6C D49@@=D H:E9 H92E6G6C E96:C A6528@8J :D[ 6G6? E@ E96 A@:?E E92E D@>6 92G6 F?:7@C>D[ :E D66>D E92E E96C6’D 2 56D:C6 — ?@E 7@C 2== A2C6?ED — 7@C E9@D6 @AE:@?D]”k^Am
Photos by Larry Robinson/The Daily Sentinel
Ascent Classical Academy, a K-8 charter school opening in a former gun and archery range, starts its semester on Sept. 5, but students will be taking classes in portable classrooms, below, until a portion of the school has been finished. School officials hoped to have a few classrooms to be finished before the start of the year, but a long lead abatement forced construction to be delayed. Ascent Headmaster Carissa Drake, bottom left, is excited the school gives parents in the Grand Valley another option in their student’s education. Ascent offers what it calls “American classical education.”
k9bmu~#|t# v&} r{&qk^9bm
kAmp?@E96C 4@?46C? C2:D65 3J D@>6 4@>>F?:EJ >6>36CD 92D 366? E96 D49@@=’D =@42E:@?] u@C E9:D D49@@= J62C[ 7:CDE 2?5 D64@?5\8C256CD H:== 36 E2F89E 2E r=:7E@? r9C:DE:2? r9FC49[ 3FE 2== @E96C DEF56?ED 7C@> E96 E9:C5 E9C@F89 6:89E9 8C256D H:== 36 E2F89E 2E E96 D49@@=’D @77:4:2= 42>AFD 2E dcd b` #@25 — 7@C>6C=J E96 #@4<J |@F?E2:? vF? r=F3[ 2? :?5@@C D9@@E:?8 C2?86]k^Am
kAm$@>6 92G6 6IAC6DD65 4@?46C?D 23@FE A@E6?E:2= =625 4@?E2>:?2E:@? 😕 E96 3F:=5:?8 7C@> :ED A2DE 2D 2 D9@@E:?8 4=F3] pD46?E AF3=:D965 E96 C6DF=ED @7 :ED =625 232E6>6?E E6DE:?8[ A6C7@C>65 3J s6?G6C\32D65 6?8:?66C:?8 4@?DF=E2?E ‘6CE6I r@>A2?:6D[ @? :ED H63D:E6 pF8] “[ H:E9 E96 C6A@CE :?4=F5:?8 C6DF=ED 7C@> E96 368:??:?8 @7 E96 C6>65:2E:@? H@C<[ :?E6C:> D2>A=6D 2?5 7:?2= D2>A=6D] %96 D49@@= D2:5 E92E E96 =625 =6G6=D 😕 E96 3F:=5:?8 2C6 “H6== 36=@H 7656C2= DE2?52C5D” 2?5 E92E E96 724:=:EJ 92D 366? C6>65:2E65]k^Am
kAm’6CE6I r@>A2?:6D’ C6>65:2E:@? H@C< 3682? |2J ae] |@C6 H@C< H2D 5@?6 yF?6 `[ yF?6 e[ yF?6 `c[ yF?6 a`[ yF?6 ae[ yF=J e 2?5 yF=J `c 367@C6 HC2AA:?8 FA yF=J ac] %9:D H@C< :?4=F565 D@:= D2>A=6D 2=@?8 H:E9 E96 6?E:C6EJ @7 E96 :?E6C:@C]k^Am
Photos by Larry Robinson/The Daily Sentinel
Ascent Classical Academy’s first day of classes is Sept. 5 and students in grades 3 through 8 will be taught in portable classrooms on the schools campus, 545 31 Road. Students in kindergarten through second grade will be taught at Clifton Christian Church. Ascent’s main campus is the former home of the Rocky Mountain Gun Club, an indoor shooting range, left. Lead abatement at the facility throughout the summer resulted in delayed construction of the classrooms for Ascent, right. Some community members have expressed concerns about potential lead contamination in the building from its past as a shooting club.
kAm%96 C6A@CE 4@?4=F565 H:E9 E96 7@==@H:?8 DE2E6>6?E 7C@> ‘6CE6I r@>A2?:6D E@ pD46?Eik^Am
kAm“%96 :?E6?E @7 E96 AC@;64E H2D E@ C6>@G6 E96 =625\:?\5FDE 4@?E2>:?2E:@? 7C@> E9C@F89@FE E96 724:=:EJ 😕 244@C52?46 H:E9 E96 w&s W&?:E65 $E2E6D s6A2CE>6?E @7 w@FD:?8 2?5 &C32? s6G6=@A>6?EX 2?5 rs!wt Wr@=@C25@ s6A2CE>6?E @7 !F3=:4 w62=E9 U2>Aj t?G:C@?>6?EX #68F=2E:@? `h =625 4=62C2?46 DE2?52C5D] pD :E 😀 ?@E 762D:3=6 E@ D2>A=6 2== 2C62D @7 2== DFC7246D[ E96 H:A6 D2>A=:?8 DEC2E68J FE:=:K65 3J ‘6CE6I 5@6D ?@E AC@G:56 7@C ?@C 6?DFC6 E92E 2== DFC7246D H:E9:? 2 DF3;64E AC@A6CEJ F?56C8@ H:A6 D2>A=:?8j E9FD[ E96 A@DD:3:=:EJ 6I:DED E92E =625\:?\5FDE 4@?46?EC2E:@?D @? DFC7246 =@42E:@?D ?@E D2>A=65 5FC:?8 2? 2DD6DD>6?E >2J 36 😕 6I46DD @7 w&s 2?5^@C rs!wt #68F=2E:@? `h 4=62?FA DE2?52C5D]k^Am
kAm“p G:DF2= :?DA64E:@? 2?5 =:>:E65 H:A6 D2>A=:?8 H2D A6C7@C>65 H:E9:? 2 4@?E2:?>6?E 2C62 F?E:= C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 D2>A=6D H:E9:? E92E 2C62 56>@?DEC2E65 4@>A=:2?46 H:E9 w&s 4=62?FA DE2?52C5D] %96 6IE6C:@C H:A6 D2>A=6D 2?5 6IE6C:@C D@:= D2>A=6D H6C6 2== 36=@H C64@8?:K65 6IE6C:@C =625\:?\5FDE DFC7246 DE2?52C5D 2?5 =625\:?\D@:= DE2?52C5D] %9FD[ ‘6CE6I 92D ?@ 7FCE96C C64@>>6?52E:@?D 7@C E96 DF3;64E AC@A6CEJ]”k^Am
kAm%@ =62C? >@C6 23@FE pD46?EUCDBF@jD =625 232E6>6?E AC@46DD 2?5 E@ 2446DD E96 ‘6CE6I r@>A2?:6D C6A@CE[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^JGc5EGgeQmE:?JFC=]4@>^JGc5EGgek^2m]k^Am
