With its opening date set for summer, major work has now been completed on the Daniel C. Vallez Family Education Center at the site of the former Perl Mack Community Center just east of 72nd and Pecos. Last week, the operations team walked district leaders and some members of the Board of Education through the building.
The center will meet the needs of students and their families in the community with services ranging from language support to general health care. Vallez, who worked as both an assistant principal and principal in the district, was also passionate about family services and ran the “VOICES” program for the district before retiring in 2010. This video profiles Vallez and his impact on the students and families of Westminster Public Schools.
Vallez was also good friends with Ted Chavez, a long-time WPS bus driver and trainer who died unexpectedly earlier this spring. Like Vallez, Chavez took a special interest in helping students and families in difficult situations. In honor of his dedication to the families in the district, the large community room in the center will be named after Chavez.
