Nov. 4, 2024

Tomorrow, Nov. 5, Denver voters will join Americans across the country in going to polls to vote! One very important item on the ballot this year is a Bond initiative for Denver Public Schools. If passed, this Bond would yield $975 million for DPS without raising taxes for Denver voters. To learn more about the Bond package visit ourwordourbonddps.org.

A common question heard from the community about the Bond vote is, “How do I know DPS will spend the Bond money as it has promised?” The answer is, each Bond passed by Denver voters has a Bond Oversight Committee. This committee is a group of community members appointed by the superintendent to monitor and advise the school district in the effective, efficient and appropriate use of bond funds. 

Responsibilities of the Bond Oversight Committee include:

• Oversight and review of bond construction projects to ensure that they align with what was approved by voters and the school board.

• Committee chairs working with district staff to provide reports to committee members on the spending and progress of the bond.

• Representing the work of the committee within the community.

• Reviewing and advising on DPS recommendations for the use of Bond premium dollars.

• Reviewing DPS recommendations for project changes.

This committee ensures that the bond proposal that the Board of Education approved and Denver voters passed, is delivered. To learn more about the Bond Oversight Committee, visit ourwordourbonddps.org/2020-boc.

At the Thursday, Nov. 7 Board of Education Meeting, Superintendent Dr. Marrero will be delivering his recommendation on how DPS should move forward with regard to declining enrollment. The Board understands what a difficult time this can be as many on the Board have experienced school closures firsthand. This morning, Dr. Marrero shared this letter to the community addressing the difficulty of the coming month. The Board echoes his sentiment and acknowledges the uncertainty and heightened emotions many of us may be feeling. 

As Dr. Marrero said, “I understand that this news will be impactful for the DPS community but especially for our students and families. During this time, it’s essential that we take care of ourselves and each other. Please remember that your well-being is a priority and it’s okay to lean on your community and reach out for support.”

We are proud of the DPS team for ensuring that we are addressing the challenges of declining enrollment head on to ensure that Every Learner Thrives, every teacher and leader is supported and our resources are used to create better opportunities for all of Denver’s students.

The following information was shared with the DPS community on Friday via a Denver Schools Thrive Initiative Memo. If you have not already, please read this information to get a more detailed understanding of how the district is managing this change.

Timeline

• Nov. 7, 2024: Recommendation presented to the Board of Education.

• Nov. 11-15, 2024: Board Engagement: The Board of Education will hold engagement meetings and will hold a special public comment meeting at each of the schools recommended for closure and consolidation. These meetings are opportunities for staff and families who are a part of these school communities to be heard by the Board and to share their input on how the Board can hold the Superintendent accountable to the community. The specific meeting dates and times will be released on Nov. 8. 

• Nov 18-21, 2024: Superintendent Engagement: The Superintendent will hold engagement meetings at each of the schools recommended for closure and consolidation. These meetings are opportunities for staff and families to hear directly from the Superintendent about why their school was included as part of the recommendation for closure or consolidation. Staff and families will also learn about what support their school community can expect from the district during this time of transition. The specific meeting dates and times will be released on Nov. 8

• Nov. 18, 2024: Public Comment. In order to hear from as many voices as possible, only individuals who have not previously signed up and spoken to the Board at one of the Special Public Comment meetings at an impacted school will be allowed to sign up to speak at this meeting.

• Nov. 21, 2024: Board vote.

• December 2024-August 2025: Supporting school communities through change.

Feedback from Our Community

Community members from across the district provided thoughtful feedback at regional engagement meetings in September and October 2024. After holding six engagement meetings in the Southeast, Central, Northwest, Southwest and Far Northeast regions of the district, as well as a virtual meeting, we heard from over 700 attendees.

This synopsis breaks down feedback received from all meetings into 10 themes, including:

1. Transparency

2. Community Engagement

3. Communication

4. Equity

5. School Transitions

6. Timeline of Process

7. Trust and Accountability

8. Impact on Community and Culture

9. Impact on Teachers and Staff

10. Hope for the Future

The Regional Meeting Feedback Synopsis is available in the eight most common languages on the Denver Schools Thrive Initiative webpage. Additionally, notes from each meeting were captured and are available on the Denver Schools Thrive Initiative webpage. For more information, access the slide deck that was presented at each meeting.

Approach to the Recommendation 

Superintendent Dr. Marrero and his team presented on how they are taking the guidance from EL 18 and using it to create his recommendation. This Framework incorporates lessons learned, guardrails from the Board, and is rooted in our values and our commitments to Denver’s students and families.

Values Statements: Our commitments to students and families 

• Academics & Programs: Every student attends a school that provides safe and welcoming learning environments, with high-quality instruction and programs to meet the needs of every learner.

• Neighborhood Schools: Families across all Denver communities have access to a well-resourced neighborhood school close to home.

• Facilities: All students will learn in top-quality school buildings.

• Enrollment Stability: Schools will be adjusted to maintain steady enrollment aligned with Denver’s future population changes. 

• Long-term Support: The district will ensure that key systems like transportation and essential services are in place to keep schools running smoothly for the long term.

Equity Guardrails: Our commitments to eliminating the predictability of outcomes based on demographic factors

• Ensuring well-rounded educational experiences for all students with a focus on meeting the needs of our diverse learners. 

• Expanding access to quality programs and schools regardless of zip code.

• Financial investment to ensure high-quality programming across our schools.

Essential Data: Operational data and broader educational environment and community factors

• Facility utilization

• Facility condition and planned upgrades

• Family Choice patterns

• Proximity to other schools

• School demographics

• School enrollment trends (historic, current, and future projections)

• School performance

• Special programming (Bilingual programming, Center programs, Gifted & Talented)

• Sub-regional enrollment trends

Visit the Denver Schools Thrive Initiative webpage to learn more.

• Provide direct feedback to the Board of Education through this form.

• To sign up for the Board of Education Newsletter, complete this form. Previous editions will be posted on the Board of Education Newsletter Archive.