AURORA — With the Aurora theater shooting still fresh in everyone’s minds, Aurora Public Schools Thursday announced a partnership with the city to provide students with hands-on experience as they prepare to enter the workforce.
“We are a community. We are a family,” Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan said during an event at Aurora Hills Middle School to formally kick off the new school year. “Working as partners we can all reap the rewards. This city is stronger than it was three weeks ago.”
The event began with a moment of silence to honor the victims of the Century Aurora 16 shooting that killed 12 people and injured 58 others.
City and APS officials signed the “Aurora Compact,” an agreement by both sides to work together to give students real work-life experiences in the city workforce and government. It also calls for entities to partner in programs and share facilities.
“The world is shrinking,” Aurora schools superintendent John Barry said. “We have to truly be competitive on a global scale.”
The school district and city have been working together on some things already, but Thursday’s agreement formalized and enhanced the partnership.
Kyle Johnson, who graduated from Gateway High School in 2012, told the crowd about his experiences in working with the city at a water treatment plant. He is on his way to Brigham Young University in a few weeks where he plans to major in chemistry.
“I was inspired, in part, by my work in water treatment,” Johnson said.
Earlier in the day, Barry rode on a school bus and served breakfast to students and staff at Sixth Avenue Elementary School.
“The beginning of school is something we always celebrate,” Barry said. “There is so much excitement.”
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175, cillescas@denverpost.com or
