The state board of education on Wednesday voted unanimously — and with little discussion — to approve innovation status for three future Denver Public Schools in the far northeast region.
But they said the law allowing schools to operate autonomously within a district may need clarification.
“I don’t believe the intent was to prohibit new schools,” board member Angelika Schroeder said. “I think the law maybe needs to be clarified.”
The Innovation Schools Act, passed in 2008, allows schools to apply for special status that, among other things, allows them to opt out of union rules and regulations. It requires that a majority of the staff, administrators and the parents in the school accountability committee support the status change. A majority of staff must OK waiving union rules.
The Denver Classroom Teachers Association sent a letter to the board opposing innovation status for Noel Arts School, Denver Center for International Studies at Ford and Denver Center for International Studies at Montbello. All three schools are under development and are considered key elements of the controversial turnaround plan for the far northeast region.
“Rushing new schools into innovation status without the consent of employees who haven’t even begun employment in these schools neither fulfills the spirit nor the letter of the law,” wrote DCTA president Henry Roman.
The union has been contemplating legal action since last week, when the DPS board approved the innovation application on a 4-3 vote.
Seven DPS schools already have innovation status, including the Denver Green School, which also gained the status before the school opened.
Noemi Donoso, DPS chief of innovation and reform, said applicants to the three schools were made aware from the beginning that the schools were seeking innovation status.
Yesenia Robles: 303-954-1372 or yrobles@denverpost.com
