Over opposition from the teachers union, the Denver Public Schools Board of Education voted 4-3 Thursday night to approve innovation status for three more future schools in the far northeast.
The union argues that innovation status, which can include opting out of union rules and regulations, is illegal for future schools because those schools don’t yet have staffs that can vote to approve any such waiver of rules. Nevertheless, the board voted to grant innovation status to Collegiate Prep Academy, High Tech Early College and Denver Center for 21st Century Learning at Wyman.
“We just have to figure out how were going to seek legal action now,” said Henry Roman, president of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association.
The State Board of Education voted unanimously a week ago — and with little discussion — to approve the innovation status DPS had granted for three other future schools in the same region: Noel Arts School, Denver Center for International Studies at Ford, and Denver Center for International Studies at Montbello.
At the time, state board members noted the law might need some clarification but stated the intent of the law was not to exclude new schools.
The state board will also have to approve innovation for the three schools DPS approved Thursday. Yesenia Robles, The Denver Post
