Governor’s Award For . . .
‘Most Improved School District’

At a news conference at the state Capitol Thursday, Gov. Bill Owens unveiled a simple white banner and handed it to Denver Public Schools Superintendent Jerry Wartgow.

“Winner – Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award – 2002.”

Said Owens: “The men and women of Denver Public Schools have shown us that real improvement is possible in a major urban school system. Instead of looking for excuses after last year’s report, they accepted the challenge and pushed for change. Their efforts clearly paid off.”

In fact, results of the School Accountability Reports showed that schools in Denver improved at twice the rate of schools statewide.

“It’s just the first step on a long, long journey,” Superintendent Wartgow told the Board of Education during the work session at Bruce Randolph Middle School, where this week’s Board meeting was held. “I hope this will give us a boost to review our resolve. This will give us buoyancy. This will demonstrate that this can be done.”

While acknowledging that some schools have lost ground, Superintendent Wartgow encouraged district staff to “take time to celebrate and recognize” the strides that are apparent.

In Denver Public Schools this year, 40 schools were recognized for “significant improvement” or “improvement” during the 2001-2002 school year. (This is the first year improvement ratings are being given in addition to the overall academic performance ratings.)

Of the 21 schools that received “unsatisfactory” academic performance ratings in DPS last year, 15 improved to the “low” category.

Four middle schools and all five high schools ranked “unsatisfactory” on last year’s School Accountability Reports (SAR) moved up to “low.”

At the elementary school level, six of the 11 elementary schools ranked “unsatisfactory” last year also improved. The sixth school, Valverde Elementary School, was added late in the day Thursday by the state Department of Education. The department said Spanish-language versions of the tests had been omitted from some calculations.

And Denver Public Schools this year added two more “excellent” schools – Denver School of the Arts high school and Slavens Elementary School. They join Bromwell, Southmoor and Crofton elementary schools with “excellent” ratings. Crofton was also recognized for “significant improvement.”

Superintendent Wartgow noted that the district’s extensive literacy program was launched at the beginning of the current school year and that the yield from its extended focus on reading and writing instruction won’t be evident until next year’s CSAP and SAR reports.

This year’s results, said Superintendent Wartgow, reflect “major strides and the hard work of teachers, administrators, and students. It’s more than ample proof that our goals are reachable. Many, many schools that maintained their same accountability rating were noted for significant improvement and this cannot be overlooked – they are heading in the right direction. Their effort needs to be celebrated.”

This information was later corrected by the Colorado Department of Education. Click here for the update.

 

Three Charters Approved

Denver Big Picture High School, Life Skills Center of Denver, Northeast Academy

The Board of Education this week approved three new charter schools – including the first ever for far northeast Denver.
Each approval is subject to conditions and negotiations with the district but all three are gearing up for the 2003-2004 school year and will, if they come to fruition, increase the choices for parents.

Among the three is Northeast Academy, which is seeking a location for the school in the Montbello neighborhood of far northeast Denver. Planned as a school that will offer Core Knowledge curriculum, Northeast Academy will open with 150 students in kindergarten through fifth grade in 2003-2004 and add one grade per year until the school serves students through the eighth- grade.

The charter intends to offer a “research-based, challenging and content-rich curriculum.” Northeast Academy plans small class sizes, a character education program and school uniforms. Parent involvement will be strongly encouraged.

The Denver Big Picture High School plans to launch at the Urban League of Denver, 5900 E. 39th Ave.

Big Picture High School will serve students in grades nine through 12, but will start with students in grades nine and ten next school year and add one additional grade level in 2004 and 2005. The school will begin with 60 students and build to a total enrollment of 120.

The concept for Big Picture is based on a school in Rhode Island that promotes personalized instruction to reach at-risk students. Students must set learning goals and demonstrate proficiency in five separate areas each quarter: Communications, Quantitative Analysis, Empirical Reasoning, Social Perspectives and Personal Qualities.

The Life Skills Center of Denver is being asked by the Board in its approval to “secure a location acceptable to the school district” that is “accessible to the students the school intends to serve.” Organizers are eyeing a location near central Denver.

This charter is designed to serve as a safety net for high school dropouts, serving students who have not found success in a traditional educational setting. The school envisions an individualized, self-paced, computer-based, and tuition-free educational experience, complemented by a life skills and vocational training component.

One stipulation of the charter approval is that the enrollment be limited to students who have dropped out of school for at least four months and are at least 16 years of age.

Applications for Cole and Clayton Neighborhood Learning Centers, Compass Academy Charter School, Summit Academy Charter School, and Walsingham Academy were all rejected for a wide variety of reasons. Board member Kevin Patterson encouraged the organizers of Cole and Clayton Neighborhood Learning Center, who had asked for a decision on their plan postponed, to reapply in the next charter application cycle.

State Board’s Gully Stanford Honored

“He’s beyond the Energizer Bunny as we all know,” said Superintendent Jerry Wartgow about outgoing state Board of Education member Gully Stanford, whose term representing the First Congressional District ends in January. Gully is known for his tireless schedule of community and neighborhood meetings.

“We are just so very grateful for everything you have done throughout your career but especially for Denver Public Schools,” said Wartgow.

“Gully has been there every step of the way as we have fought many, many serious battles and we have won those battles because of Gully’s leadership,” said Board of Education President Elaine Gantz Berman. Among Gully’s campaigns, Berman mentioned Gully’s support of Amendment 23, which boosted funding for K-12 education statewide, and for his work improving the quality of School Accountability Reports.

In response, Gully gave an energetic speech promoting the need for a “balance” and “synergy” to education that includes arts and music.

Gully returned praise to DPS staff. “Everyone of you have been an inspiration to me in the little things I’ve been able to do on the state Board of Education,” he said.

Intoning poet W.B. Yeats at the end, the Dublin native Gully closed with the classic couplet: “Think where man’s glory most begins and ends/And say my glory was I had such friends.”

 

Board Notes...

In other action this week, the Board of Education:

• Authorized the district to provide school bus transportation to Rachel Noel Middle School within the 2.5-mile walk distance that is usually applied at the middle school level.
• Approved a construction contract for Wilderness Construction to complete the renovation of Dora Moore Elementary School.
• Approved Xcel Energy’s proposal for lighting upgrades through the district. The scope of work includes all fluorescent and exit lighting in 59 schools and the gym lighting in 31 schools. This will complete the conversion to energy efficient lighting throughout the district. At no cost to the district, the program is expected to save $500,000 each year. Work should be complete in May 2003.
• Approved the negotiation of a Transport Gas Contract with Kerr McGee Energy Services Corp.
• Approved a grant application to the Rose Community Foundation for $220,000 to support a Coordinated Comprehensive School Health Program.
  
  

 

 

 

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