Denver’s school board — wrestling with how to get along and function — spent an evening Monday working with facilitators from a state school board organization to figure out its core beliefs and theory of action.
In the end, fractures remain on the seven-member board, which added three new members after November’s election — even after this $600 session with facilitators from the Colorado Association of School Boards and last month’s $2,400 work with a marriage therapist.
At least two board members think the district is moving ahead with its own agenda without regard to public input and want the district to engage the community more before making big decisions.
Their opinions manifested in a 5-2 vote to support Colorado’s bid for a slice of $4.3 billion in federal dollars being offered to states in the Race to the Top education incentive fund.
Board members Andrea Merida and Arturo Jimenez voted against the resolution supporting Colorado’s bid for education dollars, saying the public was not given the opportunity to comment on the resolution before the vote.
“We have already set a policy for public comment,” Merida said. “We can’t change horses midstream. If the public decides they don’t want to chime in, then so be it. We can’t say a few e-mails counts for public comment.”
Denver Public Schools Superintendent Tom Boasberg said the 5-2 vote still shows DPS supports the state’s effort. Colorado officials are seeking buy-in from all of Colorado’s 178 districts, which will be included in the application to be delivered by Jan. 19.
Denver stands to receive the most money of any Colorado district because it has more at-risk students — a higher number of impoverished kids — than anyone else.
“There is a very strong desire on the part of the state that we lead,” Boasberg said. “Other people are looking at us and following our lead.”
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
