Graduation Rate Shows Progress; Dropout Rate Too

The 2001-2002 school year graduation rate for Denver Public Schools students climbed to 67.1 percent, according to data released this week. The latest rate is up from 64.5 percent in 2000-2001 and 62.9 percent in 1999-2000.

When all “completers” – those students who also complete a Graduate Equivalency Degree (GED) – are included, the rate is 73.5 percent.

Data also released today showed the district dropout rate dipped to 3.9 percent in 2001-2002 school year, marking the third straight year of progress. In 1998-1999, the dropout rate stood at 7.4 percent.

“Both the graduation rate and the dropout rate provide a picture for us of how our students are faring in high school – whether they are seeing the value of a high school diploma, if they are remaining engaged in our curriculum, and if they are being provided with the kinds of learning environments that are stimulating and challenging,” said Superintendent Jerry Wartgow. “While we need to acknowledge the progress made to date, we also all have to realize that we have a long way to go.”

Superintendent Wartgow said the district’s new literacy plan, being implemented this year, provides necessary support for high school students to keep on track with learning. The program’s two-period studio course for middle and high schools is designed to make sure that students are reading on grade level and are better equipped to handle the grade-level instructional content.

Superintendent Wartgow and the district’s four Area Superintendents cited a number of changes and improvements as helping to increase the graduation rate and lowering the dropout rate. Among them – strengthened high school counseling, more personalized education through small learning communities, parent-teacher contracts at some schools when students fall behind, writing labs, and strong alternative and GED programs.

Bruce Randolph Public Hearing Postponed To Dec. 5

The Board of Education last night agreed to postpone until Dec. 5 its plan to hold a public hearing at Bruce Randolph Middle School. The hearing had been scheduled for Nov. 7.

The Board is scheduled to hear nine charter school proposals Nov. 7 and wants to make sure the community has access to those presentations through Channel 22. As a result, the meeting that day will be held at the administration building, where the facilities exist to televise the hearing.

At the Nov. 7 hearing, the Board plans to co-host the 7 p.m. public hearing with the CDM Commission, a group studying potential changes to site-based management throughout DPS. Parents, teachers, community members, or anyone with an opinion on the Collaborative Decision-Making process is requested to sign up to speak at this public hearing (call 720-423-3210 by 4 p.m. on Nov. 7).

Lincoln Elementary Forwards Montessori Plan

Lincoln Elementary School has applied to the Board of Education for a redesign of its educational program. The plan calls for the inclusion of a Montessori approach alongside the established multi-age classrooms and vertical teaming to provide additional choices for families. Lincoln has experienced declining enrollment over the last ten years.

The Board of Education will hold a public hearing on the proposal on Nov. 7 and vote on it Nov. 21.
The Lincoln CDM, with the support of parents and community groups, developed the proposal, said Principal Daphne Hunter. The school held community forums and conducted surveys to assess community support for the new school design.

The proposal calls for a four-year phase-in of the Montessori program. The first year, there will be one Montessori primary class for three-, four- and five-year-old children. Three- and four-year-olds will attend half-day, and five-year-olds, the full day. The second year, one or two additional Montessori classrooms would be added for six-, seven- and eight-year-old students. The goal is to add 30 additional students each year. The first-year budget request from the district is $26,525, and the program should be in the black by the fourth year.

The school will use multi-age groupings – primary (ages 3-6); lower elementary I (ages 6-8); and upper elementary II (ages 9-12). The school will hire a Montessori coordinator and purchase materials for each classroom.

At the primary level, the Montessori program will require parents to financially support the cost of Montessori trained teachers and paraprofessionals. The Lincoln Montessori program tuition plan will follow the district choice lottery similar to the ones used at other district schools: 60 percent will pay full fee; 25 percent will pay partial fee; and 15 percent will pay a scholarship fee. Monthly tuition will be $375. Parents of five-year-olds will pay $250 per month for the extended day if they choose that option.

The proposal calls for students to be enrolled through the district choice process. Primary students will be enrolled based on the district application process.

“It is very exciting for a school that has the challenge of low enrollment to come up with this idea,” said Rev. Lucia Guzman.

“I am impressed by the broad support of the community,” Kevin Patterson said of the Lincoln proposal.
“The Montessori program will grow quickly, and I encourage you to begin to think immediately about how neighborhood school attendance will be brought into the mix,” said James Mejia.

Board member Sue Edwards said, “I know many families are making choices other than public schools. I am excited that this will serve the needs of a changing community.”

Several Board members expressed concerns that the program could be a victim of its own success, outgrowing the school and having more demand than capacity. Edwards suggested that down the road the district might want to look at a Montessori program in each quadrant of the city.

The Board raised several questions about the proposal including: space availability; the impact of cost on accessibility to low-income families; running dual programs at Lincoln; and the need for additional district funding in a time of decreasing resources.

Les Woodward suggested that the school look to local residents and philanthropic organizations to provide needed funding.

“If you look at a cost-benefit analysis, by bringing in new students, the program will pay for itself quickly,” Board President Elaine Gantz Berman said.

School Design Policy Set

The Board of Education approved revisions to its policy on school design to streamline requirements. The details of the process will now be included in regulations rather than in Board policy.

When a school wishes to vary substantially from the educational programs established by the Board, they do so by school design. School design may include subject matter taught, programs and methods of instruction, assessments, use of staff, organization of the school year and day, and school-based rules. Under the new policy language, the superintendent will develop timelines and procedures for school design proposals.

The timeline for school design proposals is being moved up because the choice period for the 2003-04 school year is being moved up by two weeks. The first round (district demand) choice period will be Jan. 6-31, 2003. A complete schedule for the 2003-2004 school year proposals was published in the September 20 edition of Board News.

Sherry Eastlund And DPS Recognized As “Charter Friendly”

Board President Elaine Gantz Berman took a few minutes this week to recognize the work of Sherry Eastlund, who was honored recently at the annual conference of Colorado Charter Schools.

Eastlund was given the “district leadership award” – the first time the award has ever been granted – for her support and assistance with charter school relationships. Eastlund is project leader in the Charter Schools office.

“The fact that DPS is the first district to receive the award as a district that is friendly to charter schools – everything this award means is represented by Sherry,” said President Berman. “On behalf of the Board of Education and Superintendent, congratulations.”

Eastlund reported that the conference did compliment DPS “as a district that is supporting choices for kids throughout Denver.”

Denver Public Schools is home to 10 charter schools – and maybe more soon. In November, the Board will begin considering applications for nine more charters.

Conflict Of Interest Policy Revised

The Board of Education approved a revision to the policy on staff ethics/conflict of interest. The addition to the policy prohibits an employee of the district from hiring, supervising or evaluating any employee who is an immediate family member.

Immediate family members are defined as: spouse; children, stepchildren and their spouses; brothers and brothers-in-law; sisters and sisters-in-law; parents and parents-in-law; grandparents and grandparents-in-law; grandchildren and their spouses; and members of the immediate household.

Any familial relationship between employees within a department or school should be disclosed to the employee’s direct supervisor.

Board Notes...

In other action this week, the Board of Education:

Approved a 2.6 percent salary increase for the Facility Managers Association effective Sept. 1, 2002; an adjustment to compensation for unused sick leave; and a benefit allowance supplement of $40 per month, effective July 1, 2002.
Approved an agreement for donation of school sites for the Green Valley Ranch North Area with C&H Ranch Company LLC, HC Development and Management Services, Inc. and the City and County of Denver. Four sites are being donated – 40 acres for a high school, two 12-acre sites and one 9.5 acre site. Oakwood Homes is building 4,700 houses in the area.
Approved AR7 Hoover Desmond Architects for the construction of the Emily Griffith Opportunity School (EGOS) Aircraft Training Center. EGOS has long offered the only non-commercial course for training aircraft mechanics in the metropolitan area. Because of the Stapleton redevelopment, the training facility must leave the current site by June 30, 2003. The new facility will be built at DIA.
Approved on first reading revisions to the retirement policy. Under the proposed changes, any administrator, manager or supervisor who is eligible for retirement benefits and who by Feb. 15 notifies the Human Resources Department and submits to the Retirement Office an irrevocable retirement request effective June 30 (or an earlier date as approved by the appropriate Cabinet-level administrator) shall be eligible for a severance pay stipend equal to the amount negotiated with the Denver Classroom Teacher’s Association payable at the time of retirement.
Endorsed Gov. Owens’ proclamation of Colorado Paraeducators’ Week, Oct. 26 – Nov. 2. The proclamation acknowledges the unique contributions made by school paraprofessionals to support student learning.

Denver Public School
Board of Education

Elaine Gantz Berman, President
Lucia Guzman, Vice President
Sue Edwards, Secretary
Kevin Patterson, Treasurer
Michelle Moss, Board Member
James Mejia, Board Member at Large
Les Woodward, Board Member at Large

BoardNews is published after each Board Meeting. For a free subscription contact the DPS Public Information Office 900 Grant St., Room 402, Denver, CO 80203

Phone: 720-423-3414 • TTY/TTD: 720-423-3741 • Fax: 720-423-3413