School principals in Denver would get more autonomy in spending for their schools under a budget plan being discussed by administrators.
Historically, administrators in Denver Public Schools have dictated the staffing levels at each school based on enrollment.
This school year, however, the district changed those rules, giving each school the money and letting principals make staffing decisions.
Now the district wants to broaden the discussion as to how much money each school should get, including decreasing the funding gap between elementary and high schools and giving more to schools that serve poorer populations and English-language learners.
“The key points here are really trying to give more autonomy and flexibility to schools,” said Tom Boasberg, chief operating officer. “Have the money be based on individual students and student needs.”
Thursday, Boasberg met with school board members to discuss the budget issues, specifically the inequity of per-pupil funding:
• Schools receive on average $4,700 per student, but some schools get as little as $3,600 per student and others get as much as $6,500 per student, depending on size, the populations they serve and other factors. Those figures do not include money spent for special education.
• Elementary school students receive 22 percent more per-pupil funds than high school students — a total of $900 per pupil. Much of that difference is because high schools tend not to get as much federal money for at-risk students and money generated from Denver’s mill levy is directed toward earlier grades.
“The biggest policy issues are should we be giving more money to high schools and should more money follow high-needs kids?” Boasberg asked the board.
The board will discuss the matter further at a work session Monday.
Metro Organizations for People — a community group focused on education in Denver — will meet with the board and administration Tuesday to urge the district to give proportionately more money to schools that serve English-language learners and to schools that serve poorer populations.
School board member Jeannie Kaplan said that could send a troubling message.
“I have concerns,” she said. “How do we keep those middle-class families?”
Boasberg said Denver has greater needs than other districts — with poorer students, more English-language learners and more students in special education than the state average — and fewer per-pupil dollars to pay for it because of pension obligations.
“We have to respond to all students in the district and be attractive to all students and families in the district,” he said.
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
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Denver Public Schools announced that an arts school in southwestern Denver will not open until the fall of 2009.
The district had planned to change Kuns miller Middle School into an arts school as part of its reform plans, but several milestones were not met and officials decided to hold off on opening the school.
The current seventh- and eight-grade students will continue to be served by Kunsmiller for the 2008-09 school year, officials said.
