We have little doubt that 2008 legislation detailing how Colorado schools could gain autonomy and create innovative programs was meant to cover new schools.
Yet, that’s what the Denver teachers union seems to be arguing, as it has objected to so-called innovation status for three new public schools in northeast Denver.
The irony is that the union didn’t have these concerns about new schools gaining similar status when their proposals to be freed of rules were up for approval on two previous occasions. The hypocrisy is not only unattractive, it also undermines their argument.
The issue arose last week as Denver Public Schools asked the State Board of Education for permission to opt out of certain state statutes and regulations for three schools.
The Denver Classroom Teachers Association opposed innovation status for Noel Arts School, Denver Center for International Studies at Ford, and Denver Center for International Studies at Montbello.
The 2008 legislation was intended to allow innovation schools to have maximum flexibility to meet the needs of their students and communities. The flexibility might be seen in curriculum or length of the school day. If approved for innovation status, they also may waive provisions of the collective bargaining agreement with an affirmative vote from 60 percent of teachers.
This is where the controversy arises.
DPS says there is no staff at new schools, so there can be no vote. However, teacher applicants for these popular jobs are made fully aware of the waivers before they’re offered a job.
DPS argues, and persuasively so, that it means 100 percent of the staff is on board with the waivers.
Yet, the 2008 legislation is silent on the matter of new schools. They certainly weren’t excluded, but they weren’t mentioned, either.
This wasn’t a problem for the union when it wanted similar freedoms for its teacher-run Denver Green School and the Math and Science Leadership Academy.
Nevertheless, the union is threatening a lawsuit on these innovation schools. Their obstruction is getting tiresome.
The easiest way to address the matter would be to run a bill during the next legislative session specifically including new schools in the law, putting an end to this brouhaha.
