Commentary

Anyone who has been around the district for a number of years knows that DPS’ history of failed community engagement efforts is long and unfortunate. Let’s hope that is about to change. 

The selection of Dwight Jones as interim superintendent shows that the Denver school board decided, at least this once, to favor competence and experience over ideology.

Denver is but a microcosm of the dilemma facing Democrats across the country as they are the ones running most big-city school systems and, come Jan. 20, the executive branch of the federal government.

What we will offer when our first school launches is unlike any other school in Illinois or the nation: world-class career preparation coupled with rigorous academics. Our kids deserve no less. We are hoping our work will capture the attention of the incoming Biden administration. We believe our model has national potential.

An elected mayor calling for the board to abdicate its primary constitutional responsibility of hiring a superintendent and former school board members making accusations without evidence only serves to confirm the view of many stakeholders that they can’t count on elected officials to tell the truth or to do the right thing.

As former Denver Mayor Federico Peña and current Mayor Michael Hancock release a statement critical of the school board’s handling of Superintendent Susana Cordova, will the board learn its lesson and alter future behavior?

It is time to begin dismantling existing curriculum anchored in the overrepresentation of Eurocentric thought and perspective. Throughout history, prominent educators such as WEB DuBois, Carter G. Woodson, Paulo Freire and other philosophers of color developed ways for this kind of secondary and post-secondary education to be developed. 

A DSST at Noel Middle School parent and staff member describes how the school board’s decision Thursday to delay the high school damages a thriving community. And the divisive comments by a couple of board members rubbed salt in the wound.

The Denver school board’s focus on Black excellence is important, but looks two-faced when board members are ignoring the Black excellence at a Far Northeast Denver charter school.

There is no need to mince words: Remote learning has failed the children who need it most. Districts must pivot immediately or be held to account for their failure.