Community members charged with renewing Manual High School finalized recommendations Tuesday night on what the school should look, sound and feel like when it reopens with a freshman class in the fall of 2007.
The Manual High School Community Council approved of staying with a traditional, comprehensive format rather than reopening Manual as a career-focused school.
The council also voted to keep Manual at grades 9-12, after discussing the option of opening it up to sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders.
The council is expected to present a final report, which will include guiding principles the new Manual should follow and what attributes should be considered in hiring a principal to lead in the school’s rebirth, to the Denver Public Schools board Nov. 16.
“We laid the foundation for the school, established a concrete mission,” said council member Angel Gutierrez, executive director of YouthBiz. “It was an authentic process, but it shows the district and the community will dictate what this school will look like.”
In February, the school board voted to close Manual for a year because of low academic scores and falling enrollment.
Superintendent Michael Bennet showed how serious he is about the community partnership when the search for Manual’s next principal started Tuesday with a posting that listed attributes the council had set.
The council is asking for a visionary leader who operates on the belief that all students can reach high levels of academic achievement.
Bennet appointed the council to study and make recommendations, and members have canvassed the country looking at exemplary high schools.
The council, composed of more than 30 community leaders, parents, former students and alums, began discussions for the new Manual in July.
In previous meetings, the council agreed on three guiding principles:
Building an “intentional culture” anchored by high expectations by and for all and a central focus on mission.
Teaching and learning that involves a rigorous and comprehensive instruction, including advanced placement, college prep and honors courses.
Support in the form of academics such as study groups, peer tutoring and mentoring in addition to summer programs and computer Internet access for all. There would also be time during the day for teachers to meet with students and a Saturday academy.
“We need to build a school to fit them (the students), not build a school and then try to fit them into it,” council member Tim Harp, a former Manual principal and athletic director, said during the meeting.
Gutierrez said: “Laying the groundwork for a great school, this was the easy part. The hard work is about to begin – now we as a community need to be engaged with what happens at that school.”
Staff writer Manny Gonzales can be reached at 303-954-1537 or mgonzales@denverpost.com.
