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If education is an essential function of our society, close behind the medical profession even during a pandemic, then why are so many public schools closed to in-person learning? That’s the provocative question Mike Miles posed during a recent talk. Listen to it here.

Denver’s seven-member board of education has posted on its website a lengthy letter urging parents not to enroll their children in so-called pandemic pods because doing so could “exacerbate academic and opportunity gaps among our children.”

Records obtained through a Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) request show that of the 20 Denver elementary schools where parent fundraising brought in the most money, 18 had student populations that were at least two-thirds white. Those schools brought in on average $439,940 per school over the past three years.

It became clear Monday that Denver Public Schools budget cuts are gong to reach into every corner of the district.

The Denver teachers union is pressuring the school board to rush a vote that could gut innovation schools, prompting more than 40 innovation school leaders to urge a focus instead on the needs of children and their families until the COVID-19 crisis passes.

Boardhawk is an independent service dedicated to community-based commentary and advocacy-focused coverage of Denver Public Schools and its recently reconfigured Board of Education.

A Denver school board resolution that could have effectively gutted the plans that drive innovation schools has been shelved until later this year, after an outcry from some principals prompted the board sponsor to reopen a dialogue on the issue.

A broad-based coalition of community groups and schools want a committee pondering changes to DPS’ school rating system to hit pause until the pandemic abates.

Note: This piece originally appeared in Colorado Politics. After it was published, the Day of Action was postponed because of Coronavirus concerns, and subsequently DPS and other districts shut down as part of Coronavirus mitigation efforts.