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Alan Gottlieb

A Denver school board meeting.

The Denver school board’s Dec. 12 executive session was legal? Not so fast!

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The Denver school board “blatantly violated” the Colorado Open Meetings law on Dec. 12 by not specifically publishing in its official meeting notice that the executive session discussion focused on board member John Youngquist’s request for reimbursement for penalties levied against him by the state pension fund, Colorado’s top media lawyer Steve Zansberg said Sunday. The notice language was far more general, depriving the public of information it was entitled to know, Zansberg said.

The Denver school board’s Dec. 12 executive session was legal? Not so fast! Read More »

Boardhawk Podcast episode 1: The John Youngquist flap and revamped superintendent evaluation criteria

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In this episode, Alan Gottlieb and Alexis Menocal-Harrigan discuss the controversy over board member John Youngquist’s accusations of an illegal executive session and the upcoming attempt to reprimand or even censure him by three board members. We also discuss the revamped evaluation criteria for Superintendent Alex Marrero.

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A Greek-style building with "DPS" written on the front.

Former superintendents Bennet and Boasberg make an affirmative case for their Denver reforms

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As political winds shifted over the past five years, critics, including board and district leadership,  have pummeled Bennet and Boasberg, calling them, among other things, white supremacists and enablers of racist and oppressive systems. Both men are politically astute, and have chosen not to address those insults directly. This white paper as their oblique way of refuting those unjust and hyperbolic critiques.

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Marrero’s $100,000 corner office: Long live the hierarchy!

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Consider the message sent by spending almost $100,000 to deconstruct the egalitarian philosophy that drove Denver Public Schools management for more than a decade. The superintendent’s corner office with a bank of windows looking over downtown and the soundproofing all but scream: ”Stay away. I have no time for the likes of you. And what happens behind that door is none of your damned business.”

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Manage like an ostrich: Marrero eliminates principal feedback on his leadership

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In years past, school leaders could rate Marrero and other senior leaders on a series of Likert Scale questions. For example: “Overall is an effective leader.” “Is a person whom I trust.” “Models the DPS values.” “Is reflective, open to and grows from feedback.” That opportunity has vanished into thin air.

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