Prominent members of Denver’s African-American community called Monday for a superintendent who has proven school experience and can help underachieving students excel.
A group of black leaders expressed concern Monday at a news briefing about the large achievement gap between white and African-American students in Denver Public Schools.
“Without passing judgment, we think that it ought to be a top priority to get someone with education leadership credentials into the job,” said Lawrence Borom, who is on the Black Education Advisory Council for DPS.
“We’re not going to have students go into world-class colleges and universities … if they can’t read,” Borom said. “Declining CSAP test scores of black students are a problem that must command the immediate and urgent attention of the Denver Board of Education.”
The board is in the process of selecting a replacement for Superintendent Jerry Wartgow, who is leaving June 30.
Though the news conference was held on DPS property, no DPS officials attended.
Honi Artis was there with her 8-year-old daughter, Nia Smallwood, who goes to the charter school Highline Academy. Artis said she pulled Smallwood out of her neighborhood DPS elementary school because class sizes were too big.
“I think they need to think about where they balance the budget,” Artis said.
Alice Langley, president of the Urban League Guild, said she hopes drawing attention to these problems will encourage the board to work with the community to improve the school.
“It has to be collaborative,” she said. “It’s (the achievement gap) not even a gap anymore, it’s an ocean.”
