News Release
June 30, 2006
Solicitation For Manual High School Renewal Process Partners Continues
Today, the Manual High School Advisory Committee announced it is continuing the solicitation and interview process for partners in the Manual renewal project. This pursuit to secure partners in the renewal process continues following the cessation of negotiations among the District and the Community College of Denver (CCD) and the American Institutes for Research (AIR). "Although formal negotiations have ended, CCD feels strongly about assisting the District where possible," said CCD President Christine Johnson.
The Advisory Committee, co-chaired by Councilwoman Elbra Wedgeworth and Board President Theresa Pena, said that reopening the search is essential in order to secure the team that will best serve the community and the Manual redesign process.
"Our commitment is to provide an excellent school for the students and families in the Manual neighborhood, and we will keep searching until we find the best and most appropriate team to fulfill the needs of this community. Manual's future students deserve nothing less," stated Councilwoman Wedgeworth.
The Committee is inviting back selected individuals who had responded to the initial Request for Qualifications (RFQ), as well as soliciting other potential partners who have the necessary skills to fulfill remaining project needs. Candidates will be interviewed next week, and the Committee expects to recommend a final team to the Superintendent and Board of Education.
"We are committed to putting together a team that can provide a strong, authentic community process that allows all Manual stakeholders an opportunity to weigh in on the future of the school," said Cynthia Gallegos, an Advisory member. "We will continue to use and integrate the community feedback we have received through this process to help guide our final decisions."
On February 16, 2006, the Denver Public School (DPS) Board voted to temporarily close Manual High School for a year because of low academic performance, low enrollment, and high attrition rates. Manual will reopen in the fall of 2007 with a 9th grade class, and will add one grade level each of the next three years.
The Superintendent and School Board are committed to creating a premier Manual High School that reflects the needs and priorities of the northeast Denver community and enhances the broader educational landscape of DPS.
For more information, contact Kim Knous Dolan at 720-273-8993.