Uncategorized Archives

Breaking Barriers: Language Justice and Mental Health in Denver Public Schools

Community Engagement | 01/29/2024

Pamela Kaspar Parent Advocate and Stand Fellow

Pamela Kaspar is an educator and mental health provider in DPS. She is a parent and Stand Advocacy fellow. In this blog, she shares why strengthening language justice to better support families and students in DPS will positively impact the mental well-being of students and families. Our team is currently working to ensure DPS educators have are trained in how to use and have access to interpretation and translations services to build strong partnerships with families. Sign our petition calling on the DPS board to strengthen Language Justice in DPS here.

In the diverse and vibrant Denver Public Schools (DPS) landscape, ensuring equity and promoting social justice are at the forefront of the educational agenda. One crucial aspect often overlooked is language justice, a key element in fostering an inclusive environment that supports the mental well-being of all families. Language justice is a practice to create inclusive and equitable spaces in schools so that families, students and staff can participate in the language they are most comfortable with. In my experience as a part of a team that provides social emotional and mental health supports for DPS students, I can clearly see the significance of strengthening language justice in DPS. It is critical to increase on-demand translation and interpretation services because it empowers mental health providers to better assist a broader spectrum of families.

Providing more on-demand translation and interpretation services in Denver Public Schools can be a game-changer. These services would provide mental health providers with the tools to bridge language gaps, fostering a more supportive and inclusive environment.

Diversity in DPS: A Strength and a Challenge

DPS prides itself on its diverse student population, representing a rich tapestry of cultures and languages. However, this diversity can pose challenges when it comes to effective communication, particularly in mental health support. Many families may face barriers due to language differences, hindering their student’s access to critical supports such as Individualize Education Plans and 504 plans, which support students with disabilities.

The Impact of Language Barriers on Mental Health – Language barriers can significantly impact mental health outcomes. Individuals who struggle to communicate in their preferred language may find it difficult to express their emotions, hindering the therapeutic process. This issue is particularly pronounced in a school setting, where children and families may be dealing with various stressors.

Trauma-Informed Approach to Language Justice – As a school district that is committed to a trauma-informed approach, it is crucial to recognize the potential trauma caused by language barriers. Feeling misunderstood or unable to communicate effectively can exacerbate existing traumas and create additional stress for students and their families.

Empowering Mental Health Providers – By prioritizing language justice, DPS would empower mental health providers to connect with families more deeply. When families can communicate comfortably in their preferred language, it enhances the therapeutic alliance and facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of their needs.

Building Trust and Breaking Stigmas – Language justice initiatives in DPS not only break down linguistic barriers but also contribute to building trust within the community. When families see that their language and cultural backgrounds are respected, it helps break down stigmas associated with seeking mental health support.

Denver Public Schools has a unique opportunity to lead the way in promoting language justice and, by extension, improving mental health outcomes for its diverse student population. Implementing on-demand translation services is a tangible and impactful step toward creating a more equitable and inclusive educational environment. By embracing language justice, DPS can ensure that every family, regardless of their linguistic background, has access to the mental health support they need to thrive.

It’s Colorado Gives Day!

Uncategorized | 12/5/2023

Stand for Children

Today is Colorado Gives Day, and on behalf of our team at Stand for Children Colorado, we would be honored to have your support. Will you give in support of Colorado’s kids with a gift to Stand?

Donate to Support Our work

Over the last year we’ve passed policies to increase equitable funding for Colorado students and diversify the educator workforce, co-championed the effort to expand universal preschool to more Colorado children, and hosted dozens of advocates for a Day at the Capitol. We have ambitious goals for our work together next year, and hope you will help support them with a gift of $25, $50, or $100.

DPS School Board Elections Are Here-How You Can Get Ready

Elections | 10/5/2023

Vallerie Bustamante Digital Organizing Manager

And we meet again, Denver Public Schools Board of Education elections!

There are about 89,000 students who attend DPS schools and each one of those students and their families deserve a representative that fights for their high-quality experience and education in Denver schools.

I attended DPS schools my entire grade school career—from Kindergarten to my 12^th grade year. As a first-generation Mexican-American multilingual student, I struggled during the critical years of literacy instruction and self-identity. Obviously, learning a new language that was not spoken at home besides the random rap songs my older brother would listen to as he lived out his short-lived breakdancing career—was a definite hardship for my reading level and performance. In addition, my teachers did not look like me, did not experience a transition like the one I was in, and my heavy accent and typical trenzas hairstyle put a direct target on my back for bullying and impatience from teachers. Now, I am telling you a bit of my life story in an elections blog because I want you to know that the people who are elected ultimately have the power to change certain policies, training, and curriculum to cure unfortunate experiences such as the one mentioned above.

It truly is important to vote so you have a say on who will be advocating for students like me and those who experience other or bigger challenges.

So, yes. Voting is a tool for you to use to ensure we have great leaders listening to our stories and finding ways to improve or change things for future generations to come.

Alright, enough of the sappy part of this blog—let’s talk about the who, what, and how!

Who is currently on the DPS school board and who’s seat is up for election on November 7th?

Currently, there are seven board members and Director Auon’tai Anderson’s At-Large, Director Scott Baldermann’s District 1, and Director Charmaine Lindsay’s District 5 seat are up for election this November! The District 1 and District 5 maps can be found here. Everyone will be able to vote for the At-large seat because it represents all of Denver.

What are the roles and responsibilities of the DPS Board?

DPS Board members are responsible for:

Establishing a vision for the district
Hiring and/or firing the superintendent
Setting the yearly budget
Approving contracts for teachers and outside vendors
Expanding the district or closing schools

Who is currently running for the DPS school board seats?

Here is a list of folks running, according to their district.

District 1

District 5

At-Large

How can I find more information on the candidates?

You can find more information about their beliefs, values, and visions for the DPS community on their websites (linked above). Google their names and see if there is news coverage about them. Check out their social media accounts.

You can attend community candidate forums. Stand is co-hosting a town hall with several other organizations (TEN, Ednium, Faith Bridge, Our Turn, African Leadership Group) with the candidates for the DPS board on October 24^th from 5-7 pm at Hamilton Middle School. Please register so we know you are coming. Food and interpretation will be provided. We can also help with transportation to the event.

How do I find out if I am registered to vote for DPS School Board elections and how do I vote?

Here is how to find out which district you’re in and if you are registered to vote. You can also use this site to check your ballot status and find your polling location. Moved Recently? You can change your voter registration address here, too!

If your registration is current, your ballot will be mailed to you starting October 16^th and you can send your ballot back by mail or return it to one of the 24-hour ballot drop-off boxes located throughout the city. To find the nearest drop-off box visit Denver’s Clerk and Recorder website.

Ballots must be received by the Denver Elections Division by 7 p.m. on Election Day, November 7, 2023. If you choose to return your ballot by mail, send it back no later than October 31.

We hope you find this blog useful for your quest on voting in this year’s DPS School Board elections! Remember that your vote holds a lot of power that can help our future generations thrive, make sure you cast it!

Ask House Judiciary to Support an Evidence Based Solution to Make Communities Safer!

Uncategorized | 04/4/2023

Bri Buentello Government Affairs Director

The House Judiciary Committee is considering HB23-1249, Reduce Justice-involvement For Young Children, bipartisain legislation to end the prosecution of children 12 years and younger and empower alternative child-serving systems, including mental health, education, and child welfare agencies, to address the behavior, deliver treatment and family supports instead of prosecution.

Did you know that kids as young as 10 years old are subject to being arrested and prosecuted— most for child-like behavior or minor misbehavior? Children of color bear the brunt of Colorado’s reliance on prosecuting young children.

Research shows that addressing a child’s misbehavior through the justice system harms them AND is more expensive and less effective than alternative interventions. There are other reasons that it’s problematic to address a child’s misbehavior through the juvenile justice system, too:

It increases their chances of incarceration as an adult by up to 41%.
It decreases the chances of high school graduation by up to 39%.
1 out of every 4 incarcerated children between ages 10 to 12 are victims of violence while incarcerated.

there’s a better way…

Community-based programs outside the justice system are a safer, cheaper, and more effective way to get to the heart of family problems, trauma, or just a poorly thought-out decision by a child.

This bill will end the prosecution of children 12 years and younger and empower alternative child-serving systems, including mental health, education, and child welfare agencies, to address the behavior, deliver treatment and family supports instead of prosecution.

Tell policymakers you support HB23-1249 today!

Most of the time Students Need Services, Kindness, & Respect -Not Expulsion

Legislation | 03/2/2023

Lauren Kinney School Counselor and Stand Advocacy Fellow

High School Students With Teacher In Class Using Laptops Smiling

Today the House Education Committee heard HB23-1109, School Policies And Student Conduct. This is a bill that promotes restorative practices, ensures reduced legal system involvement, fosters fairness in a system that otherwise considers students guilty until proven innocent, and creates accountability for unregulated and untrained expulsion hearing officers. Lauren Kinney, school counselor and Stand Advocacy Fellow prepared testimony in support of HB23-1109 that was read during the hearing by government affairs director, Bri Buentello. Below are those remarks.

“My name is Lauren Kinney and I am asking you to support HB23-1109. As a high school counselor, I am forced to witness and triage the fallout of failed exclusionary discipline on practically a daily basis. The amount of time I spend responding to frustrated teachers, admin hell-bent on maintaining the status quo of zero-tolerance policies, exhausted parents, and students that are starved for connection and struggling to cope with the trauma of a pandemic.

Students need services, kindness, respect, and to be taught the Colorado Essential Skills (Empowered Individual, Communicator, Problem Solver, and Community Member). We have local and national data warning us for decades about the unintended consequences of even a single failed class or suspension on graduation rates and the likelihood of entering the criminal justice system.

We know that one suspension in ninth grade doubles the risk of failing classes and increases the risk of dropping out by 20% (Mallett, 2016).
Students that fail one or more classes during their freshman year only have a 14% likelihood of graduating on time with their peers (ASCA, 2019).

If you explore the Education Department’s Civil Rights Data Collection website, you will see that regardless of the county in Colorado, our marginalized students are disproportionately impacted by these antiquated systems. 

Our best, most obvious solution is to focus on Restorative Justice Practices focused on addressing the harm done to individual and community stakeholders while focusing heavily on the rehabilitation of the perpetrator. There is significant evidence that RJP can improve student misbehavior, minimize exclusionary discipline, reduce discipline gaps related to race and disabilities, and have a positive impact on the students’ and teachers’ perceptions of the safety and pro-social climate of the schools.

Because you all have the advantage of using your fully-formed adult brains, I urge you to consider the long-term unintended consequences of our children’s behaviors that their underdeveloped brains cannot.” 

We Cannot Accept an Education System that Funnels Students out of the Classroom and Into the Criminal System

Uncategorized | 03/2/2023

Tina Carroll Stand Advocacy Fellow, Educator, Parent and Community Leader

Today the House Education Committee heard HB23-1109, School Policies And Student Conduct. This is a bill that promotes restorative practices, ensures reduced legal system involvement, fosters fairness in a system that otherwise considers students guilty until proven innocent, and creates accountability for unregulated and untrained expulsion hearing officers. Tina Carroll, educator, parent, and Stand Advocacy Fellow prepared testimony in support of HB23-1109 that was read during the hearing by parent organizer, Natalie Perez. Below are those remarks.

“Hello, my name is Tina Carroll and I have a third-grade student that attends school in Jefferson County. I am an educator who also serves as a conduct and community standards officer. As a parent, educator, and servant leader in the community, I believe HB23-1109 closely aligns and has the potential to be the change we need to see in our schools and communities. The biggest component of this bill that resonates with me is the responsibility and pertinent role of the hearing officer. It is truly unimageable that we have individuals deciding our children’s future who are not trained in trauma, conflict resolution, cultural competency and familiar with milestones in children development. Although this is not an exhaustive list, it is clear that we are allowing our students to enter into an education system at a disadvantage. If we don’t make the change now to have skillful and well-versed advocates making informed decisions for our students and their families than we are accepting a system that funnels students out of the classroom and into the juvenile and criminal legal system.  

It is no secret that racial and ethnic minorities and children with disabilities are disproportionately represented in our legal system and in our classrooms. And to continue operating in a system where hearing officers are permitted to take a more punitive approach, instead of a responsive one is disheartening and a casualty in our education system.  

Members of the house, today I ask that you vote yes on this bill and take a stand for all children in the state of Colorado and mandate that we use best practices, by making sure that all hearing officers are subject matter experts, have ongoing trainings, and adequate resources for effective life changing outcomes and behavior modifications that will keep our children in the classrooms where they belong. ”

Action Alert: Contact the House Education Committee and ask them to Support HB23-1109

Legislation | 03/2/2023

Bri Buentello Government Affairs Director

Hundreds of Colorado students are expelled from schools every year for low-level nonviolent conduct or based on mere allegations. This disproportionately impacts children of color and students with disabilities.

The House Education Committee will soon consider HB23-1109, School Policies And Student Conduct. This is a bill that promotes restorative practices, ensures reduced legal system involvement, fosters fairness in a system that otherwise considers students guilty until proven innocent, and creates accountability for unregulated and untrained expulsion hearing officers.

Email the house education committee

Expelling students exposes them to a greater likelihood of delinquency or criminal system involvement and is therefore more expensive and less effective than keeping students in school.

We need you to weigh in please! Will you email Members of the House Education Committee today and ask them to support HB23-1109?

Your Voter Guide: State Board of Education Members

Elections | 10/27/2022

Kate Dando Doran

Here’s your guide to voting for education champions for the State Board of Education this November in four easy steps!

1.) Learn more about the State Board.

Visit the State Board of Education’s website.
Check out our blog with an overview of some of the things the state board is responsible for (think oversee the Dept. of Education, appoint our commissioner, distribute millions in grant dollars and update state standards for what students should know and be able to do each year).

2.) Decide what’s important to you in a candidate!

Do you want to elect someone that has experience in education? Is it important that your candidate talks about mental health supports for students?

3.) Research the candidates!

Visit their websites, check out their Twitter feeds, and Google their name to see recent news coverage.
Pull information from organizations you trust to see who they have endorsed. Stand Colorado’s endorsements are here.
Hear from the candidates directly! Chalkbeat Colorado recently asked each candidate the same nine questions and you can read their responses here.

4. VOTE! Be sure to complete your ENTIRE ballot and vote all the way through, including the At-Large candidate for State Board of Education.

You’ve got this! Your ballot needs to be dropped off by 7pm Tuesday, November 8 but no need to wait – you can drop it in a secure ballot drop box as soon as you are done voting.

This Month at the DPS Board

Uncategorized | 06/7/2022

Stand for Children

Welcome to the June edition of “This Month at the DPS Board”, a monthly newsletter sharing information about the Denver Public Schools (DPS) Board of Education.

Our goal is simple: to share what is happening at school board meetings so you can engage with the board and the district even if you cannot attend hours of meetings every month.

Note: The DPS Board of Directors is off for the month of July so we will resume our coverage following the August meetings.

Work Session – June 2, 2022

LGBTQ+ History Presentation

In honor of Pride Month, two DPS high school students presented an overview of LGBTQ+ history and the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusion in DPS curriculums and schools.

DMLK Student Presentation: African American Library

Students from DMLK spoke about their trip to Washington D.C. and shared reflections on their experience and asked the district to commit to ensuring thorough inclusion of African American history in DPS schools by upholding and ensuring implementation of the Know Justice Know Peace Resolution.

Declining Enrollment Committee Presentation and Discussion

Superintendent Marrero and district staff presented an update on the district’s Declining Enrollment Advisory Committee work. First, the presentation covered the impact that declining enrollment has on students, teachers, and leaders in DPS such as insufficient opportunities for student interventions, teachers teaching multiple grade levels, lack of mental health/student supports, staff turnover and cutting programs. The Committee’s recommendations for criteria to identify schools for potential consolidation are outlined below.

Declining Enrollment Advisory Committee Recommendations

The Committee proposed three criteria for identifying Elementary and Middle Schools that are potential candidates for consolidation. Any school identified by one or more of these criteria is considered a potential candidate for consolidation.

Criteria 1: Identify District-run schools with critically low enrollment

Criteria 1 identifies District schools with critically low enrollment that are unable to provide quality programming without budget assistance or external sources of funding. Any District Elementary or Middle School with fewer than 215 students (not including ECE students) is considered a potential candidate for consolidation with neighboring schools.

Criteria 2: Proactively Identifying District-run Schools with Declining Enrollment

Criteria 2 proactively identifies District schools that are declining in enrollment before they enter a state of critically low enrollment. Any District Elementary or Middle School with fewer than 275 students and projecting an approximately 8-10% reduction over the next 2 years is considered a potential candidate for consolidation with neighboring schools.

Criteria 3: Financially Insolvent Charter Schools

Criteria 3 identifies Charter schools that are failing to remain financially solvent. Any Charter Elementary or Middle school that is not financially solvent for two or more years and identified as “High Risk” according to their Financial Performance Framework (FPF) and the Enrollment sub-section to be considered.

Equity Guardrails

If a school is identified as a potential candidate for consolidation, it then moves to the next phase where all three equity guardrails must be satisfied. Additionally, a community-centered process for designing healthy consolidation plan must be in place.

Equity Guardrails:

Ensuring Appropriate Programming for Students with Unique Needs
Providing Access
Promoting Equity

The Committee also made recommendations for implementation

Preserving programming
Considering consolidation radius
Identifying adequate facilities

Providing clarity of timelines
Honoring school choice and retaining families in DPS

The board discussed the proposal identifying questions and concerns including the consideration of charter partner engagement, academic considerations, and plans to communicate with the DPS community.

Community Engagement Planning

Director Quattlebaum and Director Baldermann presented an overview of the proposed Community Engagement Governance Policy which aims to ensure the Denver Public Schools Board of Directors has a sustainable connection to the community in alignment with district Board Policies.

The board is expected to vote on whether to adopt the policy by the end of the summer.

Updates/Presentation of Healthy Start Times Committee Work & Discussion

In April 2021, the DPS Board of Education passed the Healthy Start Times Resolution stating that all middle schools and high schools (district-managed and charters) start no earlier than 8:20 a.m. each school day to support healthy sleep habits in adolescents. Multiple studies have demonstrated the benefits of changing to a later school start time including better academic outcomes, better attendance rates, higher graduation rates, less depression, and fewer car crashes.

The Committee began community engagement in October 2021 to collect information on opportunities, concerns, and support needed. The committee collected feedback from 12,000 community members, primarily via survey. New Healthy Start Times were shared in May 2022 to “allow ample time for families to plan for 23-24 School Choice”. The current focus is on school specific mitigation and implementation planning and the Committee will continue to collect leader feedback and support highly impacted stakeholders.

Transportation Impact of Healthy Start Times

Schools that will have full transportation cuts beginning 2023-2024 include Denison Montessori, Denver Language School, Polaris, STRIVE- Sunnyside.

Denver School of the Arts will only receive service to the Far Northeast region.

Morey Middle School will maintain Highly Gifted and Talented transportation services in the Southwest, Central, and Far Northeast regions and will maintain general education and special education routing as well.

Shuttle service will not be impacted. Schools not serviced by DPS transportation will be able to select bell times for the 23/24 Choice window.

District 5 Vacancy Discussion

Board members discussed priorities for selecting the candidate for the district 5 vacancy including a commitment to equity, Black Excellence plans and the Know Justice Know Peace resolution. Additionally, board members stated a desire for the candidate to demonstrate a willingness to collaborate to implement policy governance and to build a relationship with Dr. Marrero and district staff.

The board discussed individual candidates and shared strengths and concerns about each.

Focus on Achievement – June 6, 2022

Strategic Regional Analysis

Staff presented the Strategic Regional Analysis (SRA), which represents what is happening across the district in terms of enrollment and school capacity. Overall, enrollment is forecast to continue to decline through 2026 and likely to continue beyond. This year’s SRA includes census data, which is unique. This decline in enrollment started in 2014 and has continued due to “slowing birth rates” and increasing housing costs leading to smaller household size. These factors lead to smaller elementary enrollment and then declines at the middle and high school levels as those students move through the system. According to the SRA, a growing proportion of DPS students are white, while the percentage of Hispanic students has steadily declined. The percentage of Black and other minority students has remained steady. Any growth expected is in the northern part of Central Park and the DIA Gateway area.

Multilingual Education District-Wide Advisory Committee (MLE-DAC)

The Multilingual Education District-wide Advisory Committee (MLE DAC) meets monthly and provides a forum for parents whose children speak a language other than English to learn how DPS is supporting their children and other multilingual learners. Multilingual councils should exist at the school level as well. There are 205 languages spoken throughout DPS. The top eight most spoken languages are provided interpretation services as standard practice and interpretation is available in other languages as requested.

Superintendent Update: DPS Thrives

Dr. Marrero presented an update on the strategic plan, which is being called DPS Thrives and is framed as a roadmap. The process of developing the roadmap has been done in three phases: phase one was the listening and learning tour, phase two was engagement with the transition team to develop recommendations, and phase three is developing the next “strategic roadmap.” The goal is to finalize this roadmap by early summer 2022. The updated mission statement for DPS is informed by their equity statement and is as follows:

Educational equity is our collective responsibility. We prepare students for career, college, and life. We create conditions and partnerships where students, families and team members belong and thrive.

Emergency Procedures Communications

Staff presented emergency or crisis situation communication protocols. There are three communications protocols that are used depending on the situation and timing.

School Board Meeting – June 9, 2022

The board honored Director Reverend Brad Laurvick’s as it was his last meeting as part of the board. A resolution to select a replacement was voted on and Charmaine Lindsay was selected to fill the District 5 vacancy.

Executive Limitations 12 Revisions

Revisions for Executive Limitation (EL) 12 were read. EL 12 allows for more flexibility for innovation schools and their contracts. There was discussion about the viability of passing this revision, but the board voted to hold discussion and the 2nd reading until the next board meeting on June 16.

Consent Agenda

The board voted to deny three charter school applications, STEM, 5280, and RAAD. STEM was denied prior to public comment but 5280 and RAAD were held for after public comment. 5280 was denied because of questions around “viability” and even though the board agreed that RAAD’s arts programing is needed in the district, they voted to deny the school with the suggestion to add this type of programing to an already existing district school.

Board Retreat – June 16, 2022

Community Engagement

The board stated a commitment to ensure a variety of voices are heard in decision making, explain to the community their role as board members and opportunities for the board to hear concerns. Board members shared ideas about ways to incorporate this work including holding recurring community meetings or visiting schools.

Public Comment Discussion

The board considered a draft proposal around changing where monthly public comment occurs (GP.15). If passed, these changes would go into effect for the September board meeting. Currently, public comment happens during the monthly board meeting and the board is working to adjust the timing, so they have a gap between public comment and voting during the board meeting.

This proposal would shift public comment to the Monday prior to the monthly board meeting. It was suggested during the retreat that the “Focus on Achievement” meeting be renamed to be called “Public Comment and Progress Monitoring” meeting. Public comment would still take place in person (with access to free parking) and virtually to allow individuals to determine what works best for them. Board members also discussed how to remove barriers for students to engage. They are considering allowing students to submit a recorded public comment for board members to watch prior to the meeting.

Special Board Meeting – June 16, 2022

The board voted to approve the EL 12 Revision, closing the board’s 2021-2022 fiscal year.

The board is officially off for the month of July and will reconvene for the new year in August.

Engage with the Board

Do you want to let the board know your thoughts on any of these topics? You can sign up for public comment and speak directly to the board about what matters to you. You can sign up here.

This Month at the DPS Board

Uncategorized | 06/3/2022

Welcome to the May edition of “This Month at the DPS Board”, a monthly newsletter sharing information about the Denver Public Schools (DPS) Board of Education.

Our goal is simple: to share what is happening at school board meetings so you can engage with the board and the district even if you cannot attend hours of meetings every month.

Work Session – May 5, 2022

Budget Proposal

Staff presented a draft budget for next year. The board will be asked to vote on the budget on June 9th and the budget must be adopted by June 30th. The goal of this budget is to align to the district’s “Ends Policies” which include equity, teaching and learning, student and staff well-being, health and safety, post-graduation and global citizenship, and climate action.

Superintendent Update

Superintendent Marrero outlined how the $9 million in savings due to the central office reorganization would be used.

Black Excellence Plans Update

The board received an update on the history and progress of Black Excellence Plans in DPS.

Budget Advisory Committee Meeting – May 9, 2022

The committee reviewed the proposed budget and school funding. They shared some of the revenue sources for the district such as state funding, enrollment, and this year, stimulus funding. This year’s upcoming budget is tied to the board’s “Ends Statements” as they move forward to align with the superintendent’s strategic plan.

School Board Meeting – May 19, 2022

Most of the meeting was spent in discussion about the Superintendent’s reasonable interpretation (RI) of the “Ends Statements.” They eventually decided to vote to pass the 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th RI but set aside the 2nd to vote during June’s board meeting. After public comment, the board went into executive session and returned to vote on the non-renewal list. One of the teachers was removed from the list and even though that educator will not return to their previous position, they may remain with DPS.

Special School Board Meeting – May 26, 2022

District Five Vacancy Interviews

The board interviewed the candidates to fill the District Five vacancy during the meeting and heard public comment on the candidates as well. The board asked Adeel Khan, Julie Bañuelos, Charmaine Lindsay, and Leonard Darnell to respond to the same set of questions during their time before the board and then board members asked specific questions to candidates as time allowed. Read more about the candidates in Chalkbeat. June 9th will be Director Laurvick’s last day and the board will appoint the new director then.

Finance and Audit (FAC) – May 31, 2022

Citizen Member Application Process and Timeline

The Finance and Audit Committee is planning to add two “citizen members” to serve two-year terms. The application is now open through July 31, 2022. The application for citizen members can be found here.

Request for Contract Approvals for Board Consent Agenda

District staff presented requests for board approval on a variety of benefits and insurance contracts and construction budgets for building improvements, including:

Benefits Contracts Over One Million Dollars
Sunlife Contract
DPS Insurance Renewals
Architectural Services for Thomas Jefferson High School Project
Ceylon E-8 Project
Ford Elementary School Electrical Project
Glenbrook Greenhouse Project
Irrigation Bundle Project
Kunsmiller/Johnson Project
Rishel Cooling/MEP Project
Smedley Elementary Classroom Cooling Project
Air Filters, Fire Alarm Systems, Elevator Services, and Fire Sprinkler Systems

Grants Report

District staff presented grant reports for April and May 2022. They highlighted grants awarded to Early Childhood Education (ECE) programming in DPS to support facility costs, wages and salaries, financial relief to families by waiving tuition, and retention efforts to retain ECE professionals.

Purchasing Report

District staff presented purchasing report of contracts below $1,000,000 for April and May 2022.

Q3 Financials

District staff presented the Q3 financial report for board review.

Full and Final Settlement

District staff presented information related to settlement for the board’s review. The district anticipates reaching a confidential settlement this summer regarding claims related to grants received in the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years.

Engage with the Board

Do you want to let the board know your thoughts on any of these topics? You can sign up for public comment and speak directly to the board about what matters to you. You can sign up here.

En español

Bienvenidos a la edición de mayo de “Este mes en la Junta de DPS”, un boletín mensual que comparte información sobre la Junta de Educación de las Escuelas Públicas de Denver (DPS).

Nuestro objetivo es simple: compartir lo que está sucediendo en las reuniones de la junta escolar para que usted pueda participar con la junta y el distrito, incluso si no puede asistir a horas de reuniones cada mes.

Sesión de trabajo – 5 de mayo de 2022

Proyecto de presupuesto

El personal presentó un proyecto de presupuesto para el próximo año. Se pedirá a la junta que vote sobre el presupuesto el 9 de junio y el presupuesto debe ser adoptado antes del 30 de junio. El objetivo de este presupuesto es alinearse con las “Políticas de Fines” del distrito que incluyen la equidad, la enseñanza y el aprendizaje, el bienestar de los estudiantes y el personal, la salud y la seguridad, la ciudadanía global y después de la graduación, y la acción climática.

Actualización del Superintendente

El Superintendente Marrero describió cómo se utilizarán los 9 millones de dólares en ahorros gracias a la reorganización de la oficina central.

Actualización de los Planes de Excelencia Afroamericana

La junta recibió una actualización sobre la historia y el progreso de los Planes de Excelencia Afroamericana en DPS.

Reunión del Comité Asesor del Presupuesto – 9 de mayo de 2022

El comité revisó el presupuesto propuesto y la financiación de las escuelas. Ellos compartieron algunas de las fuentes de ingresos para el distrito, tales como la financiación estatal, la inscripción, y este año, la financiación de estímulo. El próximo presupuesto de este año está vinculado a las “Declaraciones de fines” de la junta mientras avanzan para alinearse con el plan estratégico del superintendente.

Reunión de la Junta Escolar – 19 de mayo de 2022

La mayor parte de la reunión se dedicó a la discusión sobre la interpretación razonable (RI) del Superintendente de las “Declaraciones de Fines”. Finalmente decidieron votar para aprobar la 1ra, 3ra, 4ta y 5ta RI pero dejaron de lado la 2da para votar durante la reunión de la junta de junio. Después de los comentarios del público, la junta entró en sesión ejecutiva y volvió a votar la lista de no renovación. Uno de los maestros fue removido de la lista y aunque ese educador no regresará a su posición anterior, puede permanecer con DPS.

Reunión especial de la Junta Escolar – 26 de mayo de 2022

Entrevistas para la posición vacante del Distrito Cinco

La junta entrevistó a los candidatos para llenar la posición vacante del Distrito Cinco durante la reunión y escuchó los comentarios del público sobre los candidatos también. La junta pidió a Adeel Khan, Julie Bañuelos, Charmaine Lindsay y Leonard Darnell que respondieran al mismo conjunto de preguntas durante su tiempo ante la junta y luego los miembros de la junta pidieron preguntas específicas a los candidatos según el tiempo disponible. Lea más sobre los candidatos en Chalkbeat. El 9 de junio será el último día del director Laurvick y la junta nombrará entonces al nuevo director.

Finanzas y Auditoría (FAC) – 31 de mayo de 2022

Proceso de solicitud de miembros ciudadanos y calendario

El Comité de Finanzas y Auditoría está planeando agregar dos “miembros ciudadanos” para servir términos de dos años. La solicitud está abierta hasta el 31 de julio de 2022. La solicitud para los miembros ciudadanos se puede encontrar aquí.

Solicitud de aprobación de contratos para la Agenda de Consentimiento de la Junta

El personal del distrito presentó solicitudes para la aprobación de la junta en una variedad de beneficios y contratos de seguros y presupuestos de construcción para las mejoras del edificio, incluyendo:

Contratos de beneficios de más de un millón de dólares
Contrato de Sunlife
Renovación de seguros de DPS
Servicios de arquitectura para el proyecto de la escuela secundaria Thomas Jefferson

Proyecto Ceylon E-8
Proyecto eléctrico de la escuela primaria Ford
Proyecto del invernadero de Glenbrook
Proyecto de paquete de irrigación
Proyecto Kunsmiller/Johnson

Proyecto de ventilación/MEP de Rishel
Proyecto de ventilación de las aulas de la escuela primaria Smedley
Filtros de aire, sistemas de alarma contra incendios, servicios de ascensores y sistemas de rociadores contra incendios

Reporte de Subvenciones

El personal del distrito presentó los reportes de subvenciones de abril y mayo de 2022. Destacaron las subvenciones concedidas a la programación de Educación Infantil (ECE) en DPS para apoyar los costos de las instalaciones, los salarios y los sueldos, el alivio financiero a las familias mediante la exención de la matrícula, y los esfuerzos de retención para retener a los profesionales de ECE.

Reporte de compras

El personal del distrito presentó el reporte de compras de contratos por debajo de $1,000,000 para abril y mayo de 2022.

Finanzas del tercer trimestre

El personal del distrito presentó el reporte financiero del tercer trimestre para la revisión de la junta.

Liquidación completa y final

El personal del distrito presentó información relacionada con la liquidación para la revisión de la junta. El distrito anticipa llegar a un acuerdo confidencial este verano con respecto a las reclamaciones relacionadas con las subvenciones recibidas en los años escolares 2015-2016 y 2016-2017.

Involucrarse con la Junta

Quiere comunicar a la junta su opinión sobre alguno de estos temas? Puede inscribirse para hacer comentarios públicos y hablar directamente con la junta sobre lo que le importa. Puede inscribirse aquí.