Denver’s teachers union endorsed three candidates in November’s school-board election but not the board’s incumbent president and vice president.
The move is the latest in the growing conflict between the Denver Classroom Teachers Association and the district, which are embroiled in a contract dispute.
Union president Kim Ursetta said Wednesday that the three candidates who have earned the union nod “best matched what our values, are and that includes listening to teachers.”
A union endorsement provides candidates with campaign contributions and support from the organization, which represents about 3,000 educators.
Ten candidates are running for three seats on the seven-member board, which is the policymaking body for Denver Public Schools.
The two incumbents are board president Theresa Peña and vice president Bruce Hoyt.
In the at-large position, the union supports challenger John McBride over Peña and Rita Montero.
In the District 1 seat, which covers southeast Denver, the union has endorsed challenger Larry Botnick over Hoyt and Frank Deserino.
And in the District 5 seat, which covers northwest Denver and is the only open position, the union endorsed Ray Gutierrez over Tony Curcio, Arturo Jimenez and José Silva. The seat is being vacated by Lucia Guzman.
Peña and Hoyt could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
The Nov. 6 election will come a month after the district unveils its school closure list. The campaign is occurring as the union is battling the district over a contract for its teachers.
The district says it must close as many as 40 schools that are poorly attended and low performing to save money and improve academic achievement.
The union and the district have been wrestling over a contract since spring. A federal mediator was called in last month but pulled out when both sides could not reach an agreement.
The district is offering a 3.6 percent cost-of-living increase, while the union is seeking a 4.47 percent raise.
District officials say their offer plus the yearly step increases that eligible teachers receive amount to an average increase of 6.2 percent.
The union also wants improved health benefits and more time for teachers to implement the district’s reforms.
Ursetta said all candidates were questioned and interviewed about their stances, and the leadership chose the three based on their answers.
“We are excited about their fresh ideas and their willingness to listen to teachers,” she said. “We can’t allow the status quo in this distinct. There needs to be radical change.”
Two weeks ago the union released a document called “Promoting School Success” that outlines ways teachers believe the district could be improved – including changing the discipline policy, ending the advancement of children who have not mastered certain academic skills, and improving the connection between teachers and parents.
A week later, the district unveiled a new proposal on how to change the discipline policy.
Ursetta said teachers were not involved in the creation of the district’s discipline proposal.
Tony Lewis, executive director of the Donnell-Kay Foundation – a private education advocacy group – said he believes the union’s endorsements were based on fear.
“The bigger underlying issue is all of this change is absolutely terrifying to the union,” he said. “This also may be a little of them saying, ‘You aren’t supporting our increase, we’re not supporting you.’ And, ‘You aren’t involving us in the reform, so we aren’t supporting you.”‘
Staff writer Jeremy P. Meyer can be reached at 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com.
