$517 Million Budget Proposed

The Board of Education was given a proposed $517.6 million operating budget for the 2003-2004 school year, including $30 million in reductions from the current spending plan in order to make ends meet.

“This has been a very difficult and painful process. We had to deal with about a $30 million difference between the way we would have liked to budget and the revenue that was available,” said Richard Allen, Assistant Superintendent for Budget and Finance.

And the future is “fragile,” he added, given uncertainties about state funding, enrollment projections, and labor contracts that have not yet been closed.

Superintendent Jerry Wartgow said the proposed budget represents the many decisions already made by the Board – to streamline summer school, start tuition for some Early Childhood Education students, and increase class sizes at the secondary level. Of the $30 million cut to balance the budget, $8 million was reduced from central administration.
The entire proposed budget is posted on the district’s web site at http://budgetandfinance.dpsk12.org. With all funds, included, the entire 2003-2004 budget is $883.5 million.

The Board is inviting public comment at the June 5 (7 p.m.) public hearing – district staff, parents, and all community members may call 720-423-3211 by 4 p.m. on that day to sign up to speak. The Board plans final adoption of the budget June 19.

“While these are very challenging times for the district,” said Board President Elaine Gantz Berman, “we should not lose sight of the fact that we have made some excellent, excellent progress and we have every reason to believe that progress will continue.”

James Mejia Announces Resignation

Board member James Mejia “reluctantly” announced his resignation this week in order to take advantage of learning opportunities out of state. Mejia said he’ll be away from Denver for at least a year as a White House Fellow or in graduate school at Princeton or Harvard University.

Even though he’ll leave just four months prior to the end of his 48-month term, Mejia said it’s “very difficult” to leave the term unfinished “especially given all the momentum in the district.” But leaving at the end of the school year, he said, will give a new Board member a chance to learn the ropes during the summer break and then start with Board issues in August.

Board President Elaine Gantz Berman said the Board plans to appoint a new member June 26, the same day Mejia’s resignation becomes effective. She also spelled out the process the Board will use to make a selection.

Applications forms will be available by fax and e-mail; they will also be posted on the district’s web site. Call 720-423-3210 or e-mail board@dpsk12.org to request an application packet. Applications will be due Monday, June 2 by 1 p.m.
The Board plans to declare finalists a week or so following the application deadline. Those finalists will be asked to appear at a televised public forum, tentatively scheduled for the evening of June 18, and will also be interviewed individually by the Board. One candidate will be selected and that person will be sworn in June 26.

Board vice president Lucia Guzman outlined the “characteristics” being sought in a new member. Among them: a high level of respect for public education, the courage to make tough decisions and “the energy and time to give to public service.”

Speaking for the Board, Guzman also lauded Mejia’s “intelligence, insight, soul and spirit...We are delighted by your opportunities but saddened that this journey we have taken together will come to an end sooner than we thought.”

» Download the Application Form

Board Declares Positive Climate ‘High Priority’

At its meeting this week, the Board of Education approved a proclamation declaring that positive school and district climate is a high priority. The proclamation follows last month’s report from the Task Force on School and District Climate.

“We wanted to get this proclamation into place now so that we can begin our work in the fall to implement the recommendations of this committee,” said Superintendent Jerry Wartgow. “We’re working toward a climate of collaboration and mutual respect.”

The proclamation directs DPS staff and representatives of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA) to develop strategies and activities to support making climate in the district a model for others to emulate.

It also declares that a positive school climate and good teacher morale contribute to higher student achievement, and that it is the responsibility of DPS and the DCTA to work together to enhance morale and construct a positive school climate that supports improved job satisfaction and employee retention in the district.

In fall 2002 DPS and DCTA convened the Task Force on School and District Climate to analyze the factors that influence and impact school climate and teacher morale along with the resulting effects on student achievement.

The first report of the task force last month concluded that improving climate requires a commitment to the overriding principle that “climate is the responsibility of all.”

Kindergarten Enrollment Decision Set For May 29

At its meeting on Thursday, the Board of Education considered a modified plan to push back the eligibility date for students entering kindergarten. If the plan is approved at the May 29 meeting, younger children could enroll this fall at schools with enough space to accommodate them, but some schools could hold off a year if there isn’t enough space.

“Based on a lot of feedback from a lot of different people,” said Cheryl Caldwell, Director of Early Childhood Education, “we are now coming back with a plan that has a two-year phase in.”

Currently, children must turn five years old on or before Sept. 15 to enter kindergarten. The new policy would let children enroll in kindergarten if they turn five on or before Nov. 15.

Denver Public Schools would roll out the new policy to allow for school-by-school flexibility, creating three groups of schools. The first group includes schools that could readily accommodate more children this fall.

The second group includes schools that would start a waiting list for students turning five between Sept. 16 and Nov. 15. Those schools would decide in August, based on demand, whether they could accommodate more children this year.

A third group of schools would implement the policy a year from now – for the 2004-2005 school year – because space simply wouldn’t be available this fall.

Parallel adjustments would be made for first-graders and early childhood education students turning six and four respectively on or before Nov. 15.

There would be no change in status for Choice students who already have been accepted to a school this fall.

Next Steps
Under the revised proposal, each school principal will work with the Area Superintendent to determine by Thursday, May 29 which option works best.

Public comment by letter to the Board of Education and by email to cheryl_caldwell@dpsk12.org is being sought on the revised proposal. The main DPS web page, www.dpsk12.org, will provide ongoing information, channels for providing public comment, and (if the plan is approved) details about implementation.

If the Board approves the change, a list of the schools in each of the three groups will be available Friday, May 30.

Student ‘Millionaires’ Enrich Board Meeting

The Board of Education this week celebrated the district’s first year of the Million Words Campaign, which fashioned approximately 13,000 “millionaires” – students who read one million words – as part of the literacy plan initiated this year.

Marrama and Kaiser elementary schools and Hamilton Middle School took home top honors – and giant trophies – for having the most students who reached the million-word mark.

Based on an April count, Marrama Elementary School had 474 million-word readers, more than 95 percent of its population; Kaiser Elementary School had 326 million-word readers, 93 percent of its population; and Hamilton Middle School had 328 million-word readers, almost 33 percent of its population.

The trophies will be on display at the schools next year and will travel to the succeeding winners a year from now. The Board meeting also featured a colorful display of schools’ Million Words Campaign pennants.

Lakota Language ‘Like Music’

Bringing to life the indigenous Lakota language, two East High School students spoke to Board members on Thursday in the language that represents their heritage. “To hear you kids speak in Lakota is like music,” said Board member James Mejia.

The students are taking American Indian courses at East High School – courses that should be continued and expanded to include American Indian literature, according the American Indian Education Advisory Council (AIEAC).

“I do truly believe that DPS reaches out to American Indian students,” said AIEAC chair Sara Howell.

The recommendation came during a review of the council’s 2002-2003 goals, which included improving communications with the Board of Education and Superintendent and having a staff member from the Office of Community Relations represented on the council.

Other areas of focus for the council this year included: coordinating activities in the American Indian Focus Schools through the DPS Indian Education Program and collaborating with Indian organizations in the metropolitan area to enhance the educational, social and cultural services to Indian students.

Next year, in addition to sustaining and expanding current programs and activities, AIEAC hopes to recruit parents from each of the American Indian Focus Schools to serve on the council.

Board Notes...

In other action this week, the Board of Education:

Approved two principal appointments – Greta Martinez at Slavens School and Bethany Hamilton at Denison Montessori.
Approved a motion that eliminates retiree life insurance benefits for all active DPS employees who will retire after December 31, 2005. If plans proceed to merge the DPS Retirement System with the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA), active DPS employees who enroll in one of PERA’s life insurance plans will have the ability to continue to purchase their life insurance coverage through PERA after they retire.
Approved a new contract for the Denver School of Science and Technology Charter School.
Approved an agreement with the City and County of Denver to collaborate on construction and maintenance of a bike trail in southeast Denver that will run near Holm Elementary School. The project includes park and trail improvements along with a new $50,000 playground for the school.
Approved a construction contract for landscaping at Rachel B. Noel Middle School.
Recognized IKON Athletes of the Year Nicole Howard, (Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School), and Ian Kane, (Hamilton Middle School). Nicole played basketball, soccer and ran cross-country; Ian played flag football, floor hockey, basketball and wrestled. Each year, one middle school girl and boy are honored for their outstanding sportsmanship in the Denver Nuggets/Colorado Avalanche Middle School Prep League. The award recognizes leadership on and off the playing fields, scholastic achievement, and citizenship at school and in the community.

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