An embattled Denver charter school will seek outside help to evaluate its finances, hiring practices and leadership.
Challenges, Choices and Images K-12 school in Montbello said it has contacted Denver firms and a former state official to help it draft hiring policies, conduct background checks on employees and review finances.
Principal Carolyn Jones said Wednesday that she hopes the plan will help sustain the school for years to come.
“It’s a start,” Jones said. “It’s not totally complete. We have to continue working on it. You have to keep tweaking it and moving forward and not resting.”
The school, whose contract is up for renewal with Denver Public Schools, has come under increasing scrutiny for hiring employees with criminal records and having questionable finances.
The district is investigating the school and has asked the Denver district attorney’s office to determine whether laws have been broken.
Before the recent allegations, the school board criticized CCI for low academic progress and, in February, demanded the school submit a plan to improve its academics, financial reporting and board governance.
The seven-page plan was submitted last week. It says the school would set up a review team that will meet for three years, consisting of Leon Lundie, assistant principal of Grandview High; Tracey Grant, principal of Fox Ridge Middle School; Delia Armstrong, a special-education expert; and Oscar Joseph, vice president at Community College of Denver.
The plan also states that:
• Former state Deputy Treasurer Dick Murphy will review the school’s finances.
• Mountain States Employers Council will review hiring policies and conduct annual background checks.
• Stonehill Consulting Group has been contacted to provide governance board training.
• Wilbur Miles will be the school’s new board president.
• Block schedules will be implemented for middle and high school students in reading, writing, math and science.
Principal Jones said William Brown, the assistant principal who was convicted in 2005 for having a crack pipe, will not be in that position next school year but will be with the school.
“He knows all the financing right now,” she said.
Jones said the school’s community, which is mostly African-American, is understanding.
Students and families have said they will return next year despite bad publicity, she said.
“This happens to people who have been oppressed,” she said. “They understand what a second chance means. They liken it to Jesus and the disciples. Maybe that’s a lesson I needed to learn.”
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
