Board News
December 16, 2005
Board Considers Boundary And Enrollment Procedures For New K-8 Schools In Far Northeast Denver; Public Meetings Set For Jan. 10 And Jan. 11 To Discuss Plans
Two new schools are nearing completion in fast-growing far northeast Denver - one in Montbello, another in Green Valley Ranch - and this week the Denver Board of Education accepted on first reading proposals for how students will enroll in the schools, due to open for the 2006-2007 school year.
At the Green Valley Ranch Picadilly K-8 School (21601 E. 51st Place), the plan calls for a boundary area for students in grades K-5. Generally, the boundary would run from 48th Ave. on the south to Picadilly St. on the east and 56th Ave. on the north. Some portions of the boundary would run west through the highway corridor to DIA but there aren't many residences there now. For grades six through eight, students would enroll through the district's "Choice" process but students in grade five would be given the highest priority for enrollment in the upper grades.
A community meeting to discuss enrollment in the new Green Valley Picadilly K-8 School is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11 at Green Valley Elementary School, 4100 Jericho St.
At Montbello Village Place K-8 School (14250 E. Albrook Dr.), no boundary attendance zone would be set and students would enroll through the "Choice" process. The plan suggests that the new principal, to be appointed in January 2006, may work with the Chief Academic Officer to select a thematic program consistent with the Denver Plan to meet expressed school community desires.
A community meeting to discuss enrollment in the new Montbello Village Place K-8 School is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10 at Rachel B. Noel Middle School, 5290 Kittridge St.
The enrollment processes for Green Valley Picadilly and Montbello Village are scheduled for final approval by the Board at its meeting on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2006.
Complete information about the "Choice" enrollment process is available through the district's website. Look under "Parents and Students" for enrollment information on the district's main page, www.dpsk12.org
The current names for both schools, by the way, are place-holder names only. A committee will soon forward recommendations for permanent names to the Board of Education for these two schools and a third K-8, now known as "Stapleton II."
GREENWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WILL EXPAND TO K-8
Also at its meeting Thursday (Dec. 15), the Board approved a proposal that begins converting Greenwood Elementary School (5130 Durham Ct.) into a K-8 school with the 2006-2007 school year. Under the proposal, grade seven would be added in 2007-2008 and grade eight in 2008-2009. The plan initially was raised to the Board last school year.
2006-2007 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDARS
The Board of Education this week considered staff recommendations for the 2006-2007 traditional school year calendar and heard a report from the District School Improvement and Accountability Council (SIAC) on proposed school year calendars.
District SIAC conducted a survey of community members, school-based staff, and district administrators to collect feedback on the district calendar. Approximately 950 survey respondents participated. The SIAC report is online at http://board.dpsk12.org/siac/calendars.
The staff recommendations call for a traditional school year start date of Monday, Aug. 21, 2006. Staff recommendations for the 2006-2007 traditional school year calendar are online at http://www.dpsk12.org/calendars.
The Board is expected to vote on those recommendations on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2006.
Per the draft of The Denver Plan, staff currently is reviewing the 2006-2007 continuous-year calendar in the context of resources required and academic achievement. Staff is expected to present a draft 2006-2007 continuous-year calendar to the Board on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2006. Final adoption is expected by the end of January 2006.
BOARD NOTES
The Board this week also approved a labor agreement with the Denver Associated of Educational Office Professionals and the Association of Building, Grounds, and Warehouse Service Personnel.
Superintendent Michael Bennet and Rich Allen, Assistant Superintendent for Budget and Finance, also provided the Board of Education this week with a detailed presentation of the district's current financial condition. The report focused on ongoing structural issues such as slightly declining enrollment in the district's schools, increased enrollment in charter schools, ongoing needs to fund the district's pension system, and pressure to provide competitive salary increases that far outpace the district's revenue increases. Complete report details are posted under "Financial Condition" at the Budget and Finance website, http://budgetandfinance.dpsk12.org
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