A strong arts curriculum is desirable, but in Denver Public Schools, it shouldn’t take priority over student achievement.
The district can boost its budget by keeping students from dropping out or transferring.
And DPS administrators should evaluate whether to scale back money spent on sports programs – from transportation expenses to coaches’ salaries – that doesn’t positively affect student-athletes’ grades and graduation rates.
Christine Johnson, one of three finalists vying for the job of DPS superintendent, shared those and other ideas with the media and the public Tuesday as she campaigned for the job being vacated by outgoing Superintendent Jerry Wartgow later this month.
In a community forum Tuesday, the 52-year-old president of the Community College of Denver fielded questions – some in Spanish – about the district’s high dropout rate, educating immigrants and raising achievement.
The two other superintendent finalists – Michael Bennet, chief of staff for Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, and Pat Harvey, superintendent of the St. Paul (Minn.) Public Schools – will hold forums today and Thursday, respectively.
At Tuesday’s forum, Karla, a 16-year-old Abraham Lincoln High School student who asked that her full name not to be used, asked Johnson whether she would support allowing undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition fees to go to college, instead of the more costly out-of-state fees.
Johnson said her philosophy is to support education for immigrants and that CCD has raised private dollars to help immigrants pay for college.
Johnson also said that finding ways to keep students from dropping out or transferring to other districts will help the DPS budget because state funding is based on enrollment.
If chosen, Johnson said, she would evaluate each position in the central administration office to see whether it is needed, and hold cabinet meetings in schools.
Johnson said she would also launch “senior executive seminars” in which principals would be mentored by members of the business community.
