Re: “So, start school later,” Sept. 8 Mike Rosen column; and “A later first day of school? Cool,” Sept. 12 editorial.
I’ve read several articles and editorials in The Denver Post lately on proposals to start the year for Denver Public School in September to avoid the August heat. Some claimed to know where the Denver Classroom Teachers Association stands on the issue without speaking to us, so I’m writing to clarify our position.
First, the safety of children and staff was a huge concern for us during the record high temperatures in August. We delivered cases of water to the Denver schools without air conditioning and got a real sense of the conditions for our students, teachers and staff.
I had a productive meeting about the heat problem with DPS Superintendent Tom Boasberg on Sept. 6. Together, we will research the advantages of a variety of solutions. Our goal is to get the data early enough to give the school board the necessary time to make any changes for the 2012-13 school year.
Contrary to some statements, DPS doesn’t start school in August to meet the teachers’ demands. Honestly, I don’t know where our thousands of members are on the issue, but we’re hopeful our upcoming research will tell us.
Even if DCTA wanted to keep school in August, we don’t have a say in the matter. The school schedule is determined by a vote of the local school board in every district.
Starting the school year after Labor Day is an option we will help DPS explore, and my hope is that we’ll arrive at a solution that best addresses the safety concerns of our students and their families.
Henry Roman is president of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association.
