The principal of Montbello High School is thinking big by going small, proposing to divide the school into three learning academies – a move he says will better prepare graduates for college, careers and other academic pursuits.
Antwan Wilson, principal at Montbello, plans to create a Ninth Grade Academy, a Technological Innovation Magnet and an Early College Magnet. Unlike other schools with specialty programs, Wilson said, Montbello would remain one school with one principal.
Wilson told Denver Public Schools board members Monday night that the programs will help retain students in danger of dropping out and create relationships necessary to engage young people in their education.
Montbello has consistently ranked “low” in state testing, but Wilson said his proposal is about more than just improving test scores.
“Where I come from, it’s expected that you graduate and go to college,” he said.
Wilson is asking for a $650,000 School Innovation grant to be used over five years. Schools with clear plans for reform can apply for the grant, which comes from a levy approved by Denver voters in 2003. Wilson also hopes to receive a federal grant for $800,000.
“It’s a major amount of money from the mill levy,” said board member Lucia Guzman. “But it’s really essential if we are committed to the Commission on Secondary School Reform’s report.”
The commission has pointed to the advantages of small schools and called for greater freedom among principals to choose curricula and programming.
Board members also discussed budget cuts and graduation requirements.
Proposed graduation requirements, which could be in effect as early as 2010, would require students to take four years of math. When board member Jeanne Kaplan questioned if that was necessary for all students, Kevin Patterson countered that trigonometry is required for many public-works jobs with the city.
DPS staff also presented $7.5 million in proposed budget cuts from the district’s administration costs. The cuts would trim 46 full-time jobs from building maintenance and some high-level positions like assistant superintendent.
The district anticipates a $16.4 million deficit for the fall, which is largely the result of dropping enrollment and larger payments to the teachers’ pension fund.
Staff writer Joel Grostephan can be reached at jgrostephan@denverpost.com.
