The audience in Denver Public Schools’ board room erupted in cheers Monday as the board narrowly approved two schools’ bids for greater autonomy.
Manual High School and Montclair Elementary became the first Colorado schools to seek “innovation status” under a law introduced last year by state Senate President Peter Groff.
The vote means school leaders will go before the state board of education Thursday to further pursue their innovation status — allowing them freedoms from certain state laws, such as teacher tenure. Staff at both schools have already given their approval.
“It gives us more latitude,” said Manual principal Rob Stein. “Now we can implement (reforms) without the constraints — whether it’s staffing, curriculum or procedural guidelines — that get in the way.”
The vote was 4-3. Those opposed said the proposals were pushed through too quickly without giving the board time to study the complicated ideas.
DPS Superintendent Tom Boasberg called the vote worthy of “a day of celebration.”
Also on Monday, DPS officials announced proposals to open 36 schools in 2010, including 25 charter schools. Now, backers of the schools must produce proposals that look at all facets of each school, including the educational program, leadership, experience in serving the type of population in DPS, long-term financial plans and recruitment of teachers. The district is hosting an eight-week course on how to craft a proposal.
Ultimately, the board will decide which schools can move forward.
Making the biggest splash was the Denver School of Science and Technology — a charter school in Stapleton — that wants to open four high schools over the next five years.
The first school would serve sixth- through 12th-graders. It would be in a complex planned for the Green Valley Ranch area in northeast Denver.
“We think we can play a supportive role in helping DPS transform public education for Denver’s deserving young people,” said Bill Kurtz, head of the school.
Kurtz said the new school would collaborate with the University of Colorado Denver and UCD’s Health Sciences Center at the Fitzsimons campus to offer internships and health-sciences electives.
“It would create a seamless path to becoming a medical doctor or nursing career,” he said. “It changes the entire picture for kids in poverty.”
Other schools proposed as part of the district’s new-schools process include two middle schools by the successful West Denver Preparatory Charter School, a middle school by the Knowledge Is Power Program charter- school program and a language school by Brian Weber of the Stapleton Foundation.
National Heritage Academies is proposing two schools as Edison Learning. Other proposals include a Girls Athletic Leadership School, the Denver Green School and the Barack Obama International Academy of Denver.
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
