Denver’s school board on Monday heard plans to create 18 schools in 2010 as well as a recommendation to close one troubled school at the end of this school year.
Amandla Charter Academy in northeast Denver was facing closure Monday by the board in a vote on whether to approve the school’s charter for the 2009-10 school year.
Denver Public Schools officials recommended the school board deny the charter, saying the school doesn’t have a sustainable business model and has not shown academic growth for its 450 students.
The school also has asked for at least $200,000 from DPS to help the program survive financially through May.
District officials say they are working with Amandla to help the school through this school year and will help students find schools next year if the board votes for closure.
“The important thing, at this point, is to work closely with the students, families and staff to have a successful transition next year,” said Superintendent Tom Boasberg.
Amandla is operating under a one-year contract with the district this year and had to deliver a charter application to continue next school year.
The school, which was formerly called Challenges, Choices and Images charter school, was accused last year of using public funds for a private enterprise, had the worst academic ranking in DPS and was forced by its financiers to change leadership.
A new board was brought in, as well as a new principal.
District officials were not impressed with Amandla’s charter application, saying it had holes in how the school would survive financially and how it would boost achievement.
In the past decade, only one school was successfully closed by a school board, in Jefferson County. But the district has promised to hold more schools accountable while supporting the creation of high-performing schools.
On Monday, groups presented summaries of 18 schools being proposed for 2010, including 13 charter and five district “performance” schools.
The proposals include:
• Denver Green School, a preschool through 12th-grade school that focuses environmentalism and community awareness.
• The Girls Athletic Leadership School, a sixth- through 12-grade school for girls.
• Denver Language School and Global Village Academy, two language-immersion K-8 schools focused on Spanish and Chinese.
• Global Outreach Academy, a dual language (Russian/English) K-8 school for the Russian community.
Presenters also included established charter organizations.
Starting in 2010, four sixth- through 12th-grade schools are being proposed — one a year for the next four years — by the Denver School of Science and Technology; two middle schools by West Denver Preparatory School, and a fifth- through eighth-grade school by the Knowledge is Power Program.
District officials will make recommendations before the board votes to approve the schools during June’s regular board meeting.
