Editor’s note: The following statement from EDUCATE Denver was intended for the February 6 Denver school board public comment session. However, due to the board’s strict new limitations on public comment, the author was unable to secure a speaking slot.
Later this month, the Denver school board will consider a revision to EL-18, the district’s school closure and consolidation policy, to impose a three-year moratorium on any additional school closures or consolidations beyond those already approved this year. While well-intentioned, EDUCATE Denver does not support this revision.
Our coalition believes that the primary responsibility of this district is to provide students with access to well-resourced programs – those staffed and equipped to meet the unique needs of each learner. Because enrollment and associated resources are dynamic, a moratorium would inhibit your ability to act nimbly and responsibly on behalf of students.
Second, we face great uncertainty around funding at the state and federal level and expected, persistent decline in enrollment. Together, these conditions heighten the significance of adaptability.
Next, EDUCATE Denver believes it’s important to see how this year’s closures and consolidations play out. The policy was revised recently to define closure criteria and at present, school communities are in the midst of what we hope will be net positive transitions. Let’s allow the dust to settle before continuing to modify policy language.
Finally, board governance and policy decisions should be evidence-based and for the greater good. Difficult decisions are often emotional, and we ask the board to be disciplined in stewarding resources for all students.
EDUCATE Denver appreciates the difficulty of managing a portfolio of schools that provides students with the quality programming that they deserve. However, we cannot ignore that the programmatic shortcomings of under-enrolled schools stifle opportunities for success.
The complexity of this challenge demands that you retain your decision-making flexibility and NOT hamstring your ability to close schools when that is a best and necessary strategy for both fiscal responsibility and positive student outcomes.
