Brighton Collegiate High School has agreed to a series of changes to address problems at the school, which has been embroiled in sex scandals and has struggled with student achievement.
The School District 27J board this week approved a plan developed by the charter school. According to the plan, Brighton Collegiate promises to:
• Add two members to its governing board for a total of seven; board members will get 15 hours of policy training.
• Demonstrate improvement in academic achievement over two assessment cycles in May and October and develop essential learning targets by Aug. 15.
• Form an accounting review team with members knowledgeable about charter schools to review the school.
• Offer more professional-development training for teachers and staff on standards-based instruction.
The school gained notoriety in the fall of 2006 when then-teacher Carrie McCandless was arrested on charges of sexual contact with one of her students. She was the wife of the school principal.
Also, the board president, David Mundy Sr., was convicted on charges that he failed to tell police about the McCandless incident.
In December, teacher Ralph Kelly was arrested on charges he had sex with a student in the school. He is no longer with the school, and his case is still in the courts.
Brighton Collegiate also has had problems teaching students, according to the Colorado Department of Education. The school earned a “low” rating in 2007 and showed significant academic decline.
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
