Press Release

Cautious Approach On School Consolidation Proposal

Members of the Denver Board of Education told a packed community meeting in southeast Denver Monday night that the idea of consolidating three elementary schools into one facility will be carefully weighed.

"I think it will take longer than a couple of weeks to evaluate this situation," Board member Sue Edwards told the 250 people in attendance at the Cameron Community Church. "We are facing a budget crisis. We have to decide where the cuts are going to be."

Added Board of Education President Elaine Gantz Berman: "We realize this is a very, very serious decision....We are here to start hearing from all of you and take that in consideration."

Parents, teachers and neighbors in attendance argued strongly against the idea of consolidating Asbury, McKinley-Thatcher, and Rosedale elementary schools into one campus. That idea, a budget saving move that might generate a savings up $300,000, was initially proposed by district staff in mid-December as one of dozens of proposals to balance a budget that is $25 million short of revenue. Schools with lower enrollment such as Asbury (211 students, Kindergarten through grade five) McKinley-Thatcher (167 students) and Rosedale (185 students) elementary schools are typically less cost-effective to operate. Other small-enrollment schools around the district include Lincoln (168 students), Barrett (218 students), and Southmoor (213).

Consolidating three schools into one would generate savings primarily through reducing the number of principals and secretaries needed to manage a school. The ratio at which teachers are assigned to schools - a ratio based on the number of students in each school - would not be affected under this proposal. Class sizes would remain the same as the rest of the district.

The comments by Board members Monday night echoed concerns raised during a budget work session January 4. Then, Board members seemed cool to forcing anything prior to the 2001-2002 school year. But all agreed that a thorough examination is needed around the cost-effectiveness of the district's small schools.

Among other major budget questions being studied by the Board are:

• A look at the affordability of the district's magnet programs;
• An evaluation of class sizes across all grade levels;
• The use of all grants and mill levy money to support reading initiatives, particularly in elementary schools;
• The use of mill levy money to support tutorial programs in high schools;
• Schools use of mill levy money for paraprofessionals to support reading instruction and whether schools often convert paraprofessional allocations to full-time teachers;
• Alternative means of funding the summer school (now supported through the mill levy).

The magnet analysis will extend beyond the district-wide programs (such as Denison Montessori and the International Baccalaureate program at George Washington High School) that often require additional staff and transportation for support. The analysis will run to any program that requires resources beyond standard school funding, such as the Contemporary Learning Academy, Night School, or the Career Education Center.

The budget presented by Superintendent Bernadette Seick in December also calls for $7 million in new spending - the majority of it spending required to open three new elementary schools next school year.

The district's anticipated budget for the 2001-2002 school year is $451 million.

Income from Amendment 23 - the initiative approved by state voters to support public education - is projected to bring DPS about $3.1 million. That income has been included in the projected deficit for next school year.

The Board of Education is scheduled to discuss the budget proposal again at a work session on January 18. The Board is also scheduled that day to receive a report from the Citizens Budget Task Force, a committee organized by the Board in November to evaluate the district's budget issues.