Marrero is a polarizing figure, beloved by some and disliked by others. Extending his contract before an election that could shift the board’s position on his tenure would be a brazen move to tie a new board’s hands, making it difficult/expensive to remove him
For many years, DPS has boasted stellar scores among its more affluent, white, and Asian students. Why the district has struggled more than other urban school systems to transfer that success to the students who need it most remains a puzzle that needs solving.
DPS’ NAEP boasts tell less than half the story Read More »
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 »
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.
Boardhawk is launching a biweekly podcast in January. Here is an introductory episode, where we introduce ourselves and describe what our listeners can expect
Welcome to the inaugural Boardhawk podcast Read More »
A year after an election that brought in three new Denver school board members, some Denverites are frustrated that little, if anything has changed. Here are some places to look for hopeful signs while we await the November 2025 election.
A year in, new Denver school board members’ impact has been incremental Read More »
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.
It is true that DPS students and subgroups of students (low-income students and kids of color) outpaced the state on growth measures in many areas. But at the rate that many DPS students are growing, they will never reach grade-level proficiency. That has profound implications for their futures, and is hardly cause for celebration.
DPS spins test results, but truth is plain to see Read More »
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.”
Marrero’s $100,000 corner office: Long live the hierarchy! Read More »
This fall’s superintendent evaluation will be a waste of everyone’s time. But it’s not too soon to start searching for a reputable, national organization to conduct a 360 evaluation of Superintendent Alex Marrero.
New DPS board members must push for a real, external evaluation of Marrero Read More »
