Denver’s school board met for the third straight day Monday to determine how to fill the void left by Superintendent Michael Bennet’s appointment last week to the U.S. Senate.
No decision has been reached on who will lead Denver Public Schools. A public announcement is not expected before Wednesday, when board members are scheduled to meet again.
Board president Theresa Peña said Monday the board continues to deliberate on “options and process.”
The decision hinges on whether the board will appoint a superintendent from within or open a search for a successor, she said.
“We have to be deliberate and thoughtful and make the right decision,” Peña said. “We are hopeful that we will have a decision on which option we hope to pursue by the end of the week.”
Bennet named after search
The district conducted a national search that took four months after Superintendent Jerry Wartgow announced his resignation. Bennet was appointed to the post.
Thursday, Bennet is expected to make his final address to DPS principals at the Colorado Convention Center in a regularly scheduled monthly workshop for school leaders.
Teachers, who returned to work Monday for two days of professional development before students return, are discussing last week’s events and wondering who will take the helm.
“I want someone who is experienced as an urban schools superintendent,” said Liz Fant, a math teacher at West High School. “I respect having knowledge about the financial end of everything, but knowing what is good for schools is absolutely necessary to be able to raise achievement.”
East High Principal John Youngquist gathered teachers together for a brief roundtable discussion of the events — “cognizant that it was on everyone’s minds and letting us process it together,” said science teacher Margaret Bobb.
“It’s OK to have a businessman as superintendent if you have a strong chief who is academically inclined,” Bobb said.
Educational leadership
Jennifer Warren, a language teacher at John F. Kennedy High School, said she hopes for a superintendent that better reflects the district’s diverse population.
Manual High School principal Rob Stein said he hopes the board picks Tom Boasberg, DPS’s chief operating officer. He was an executive at Level 3 Communication when he was hired in 2007 to help get the district’s finances in order.
“I think that we have learned around the country that there are a lot of good models for superintendents who are nontraditional,” he said. “We need educational leadership alongside business leadership.”
Kim Ursetta, president of the teachers union, said she hopes for a leader who will collaborate with the union.
“We don’t want to see a 180-degree change,” she said. “Our teachers and administrators have worked close together to shape the Denver Plan and we want to turn that plan into action.”
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
