Board News
November 17, 2005
Theresa Pena Elected Board President; Two New Members Take Oath Of Office; Superintendent Bennet Presents Draft Of "The Denver Plan"
The Board of Education tonight elected Theresa Pena as its new president. In addition, the Board elected Bruce Hoyt as vice-president; Kevin Patterson as treasurer; and Jeanne Kaplan as secretary.
Prior to the vote, newly-elected Board members Jill Conrad and Jeanne Kaplan were sworn in to four-year terms alongside re-elected Board members Kevin Patterson and Michelle Moss. Board member Conrad serves as an at-large representative, Board member Kaplan represents District 3 in east-central Denver, Board member Moss represents District 2 in southwest Denver, and Board member Patterson represents District 4 in northeast Denver.
Also, the Board of Education:
- Approved a "Trust Agreement" for managing new money flowing to the teacher pay reform initiative, ProComp (Professional Compensation System for Teachers). The agreement is required under terms of the contract with the Denver Classroom Teachers Association and establishes a separate entity that will manage the $25 million annual revenue stream, designated solely for teacher salaries.
- Accepted a report from the Denver Public Schools Task Force on Early Education and School Readiness that recommends a major upgrade in services and programs to parents of young children as a key to closing the learning gap that is evident before students start kindergarten. A copy of the full report is posted on-line here: deesr.dpsk12.org
- Approved a resolution that spells out "Principles of Budgeting" for the district. The principles govern the scope, alignment, sustainability, standards for decision-making, compensation, calendar for decision-making, format, communication and administration of the budget.
- Approved a plan (with a vote of 6-1) for the grade configuration of Westerly Creek Elementary School and a new school being built nearby on the Stapleton redevelopment site. Beginning with the 2006-2007 school year, Westerly Creek will serve students from Early Childhood Education (for four year olds) through third grade and the new "Stapleton II" school (not yet officially named) will service grades four through eight. Board member Michelle Moss cast the dissenting vote.
- Approved a contract with Parent Pathways, Inc., the organization responsible for the operation of Florence Crittenton School, which services pregnant and parenting students.
The Board also heard a presentation of "The Denver Plan" by Superintendent Michael Bennet.
In presenting the 83-page document, Bennet pointed out that all of the changes being pondered are the result of many hours spent meeting with principals and teachers since the beginning of the school year. Chief Academic Officer Jaime Aquino and Happy Haynes, Assistant Superintendent for Community Partnerships, joined Bennet in the presentation.
The plan is a draft at this stage, said Bennet, and will now endure a two-month review process. Bennet encouraged all DPS stakeholders and community members to review the plan, which is online at thedenverplan.dpsk12.org and to e-mail comments and suggestions to thedenverplan@dpsk12.org.
"The Denver Plan" is built to achieve three main goals:
- Our children will learn from a highly skilled faculty in every school and will be empowered by robust professional development and real-time assessment data.
- Highly trained principals and assistant principals will serve as instructional leaders of the faculty in DPS schools.
- Collaboration among the Denver community and all DPS stakeholders will support a safe, orderly and enriching environment in every school and classroom.
Built into the plan are a dozens of detailed action steps. Among them, the plan proposes to:
- Replace Area Offices with an Instructional Support Team with new organizational areas of support such as high schools; middle schools and K-8's; low performing schools; and English Language Learners.
- Replace existing literacy and math coaches with humanities and math/science coaches.
- Reorganize the English Language Acquisition Department to ensure that focus is on both instructional and compliance issues.
- Focus the instructional day around literacy and math.
- Develop an Aspiring Principals Institute by 2007-2008.
- Develop a competitive performance-based pay system for principals.
There are many more steps. The plan envisions a major increase in the quality and quantity of professional development for principals and teachers. It proposes to keep all students on campus for lunch (although schools may apply for an exemption for eleventh and twelfth graders if a truancy-reduction plan is submitted and accepted). The plan calls for identifying struggling learners and establishing clear steps to bring them back to grade level, including mandatory summer school.
Science instruction would be strengthened at all grade levels and a Science Instructional Materials Center would be established. The plan calls for field tests of new curriculum in social studies, civics, geography, and U.S. History, among others. A new district-wide promotion and retention policy would be developed for students in the transition years (second, fifth and eighth grades).
The plan includes steps for establishing mentors for all students in need of positive adult influences, improving awareness of school options, and establishing a consistent district-wide grading policy. The plan also calls for a comprehensive marketing and recruitment strategy for the Department of Human Resources and an employee recognition program. The plan requires each school to work with its community to articulate an intentional school culture and many more steps.
"I really appreciate that you and your team have given us a plan - it's very ambitious with clear measurables and clear objectives," said Board president Pena.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Links to comprehensive reports about highlights featured in this edition of Board News are listed following the meeting agenda items at this link: board.dpsk12.org/meetings/agenda_archives/11-17-05/agenda.shtml
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