The principal at a school tabbed for closure next year will take over at the oft-troubled Cole in northeast Denver, Denver Public Schools officials said Tuesday. Julie Murgel, 36, is principal of Whiteman Elementaryone of eight DPS schools to close as part of the district’s reform plan. Cole has a history of problems — being labeled one of the worst schools in Colorado a few years ago and being closed by the state. A charter-school organization took over operations in 2004 but pulled out earlier this year — effectively closing the school again. DPS officials made reforming Cole part of the package, promising to open it in 2008 as a preschool through seventh grade.
“I’m excited,” said Murgel, who walked through the historic Cole building Tuesday night after the announcement. “I was just looking around, saying, wow, look what the community is entrusting me to do.”
