A community meeting about the future of Boulder’s Columbine Elementary veered off course last month with comments aimed at the school’s Latino population, prompting the Boulder Valley School District to change the way it solicits public comments.
“Some of the people there were hurt and offended by some of the things said,” said district spokeswoman Susan Cousins. The district will now use a 20-person task force to gather opinions from the Columbine neighborhood, teachers and administrators over how the school culture and programs should look in the future.
“The intent is to involve the entire community in the discussion,” Cousins said.
Cousins — who attended the Sept. 24 “visioning” meeting — said some of the 50 or 60 who attended asked about the immigration status of Columbine students and whether the current population of the school reflects the true demographics of the neighborhood.
About 83 percent of Columbine’s 360 students are Latino and 88 percent are receiving free or reduced-cost lunches, according to the district. Almost 80 percent of Columbine students areEnglish-language learners.
The school draws students from a large area, including the neighborhood, which is largely composed of single-family homes.
“Most of the participants at the meeting brought their own concerns and agendas to the meeting,” Cousins said. “And a large number of people who came to the meeting weren’t able to make good progress toward the goals of the meeting, which was the future of Columbine.”
Neighbor Peggy Bashline said the comments made by some at the meeting have been blown out of proportion.
“Our questions just could not be answered because (the district) just wanted to stick with certain topics related to the building,” Bashline said. “There was nothing racist said at the meeting.”
Someone interpreted “one half of a question the wrong way,” Bashline said, declining further comment.
Columbine, constructed in 1956, will be rebuilt as part of the district’s $296 million bond issue passed in 2006. Columbine will receive more than $8 million under the bond issue and another $4.1 million from the sale of Washington Elementary.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
