February 18, 2004

Brown, Mitchell Schools Designated For Redesign

Superintendent Jerry Wartgow this week designated two elementary schools for redesign, starting a process that will lead to hiring a staff committed to a specific program at one school and issuing a broad call for proposals to provide a fresh start at another.

The two schools involved are Brown Elementary School (2550 Lowell Blvd.) and Mitchell Elementary School (1350 E. 33rd Ave.).

Brown Elementary School

Brown is preparing to implement the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme beginning with the 2005-2006 school year. The choice of IB was made through the revitalization process, now underway and in various stages at 13 schools with money generated with the 2003 mill levy election. Superintendent Wartgow said a "cohesive team" is needed to ensure success of the IB implementation. The redesign process allows a principal to assemble a staff of teachers that is committed to the planned IB program.

"I know we will emerge with a team at Brown that is organized around a common vision," he said, noting that the International Baccalaureate program requires teachers who are willing to seek full accreditation as IB teachers.

Superintendent Wartgow emphasized – in both cases – that the redesign decision is due to structure and design reasons and is not a reflection on the quality or competency of individual administrators or teachers.

All teachers currently at Brown will be eligible to apply for reconstituted positions or consider other openings across the district. Superintendent Wartgow also said a new principal would soon be appointed to lead the teacher staffing and program implementation processes. He thanked Mary Ann Baca, who has served as interim principal at Brown, for her strong leadership during the transition this year.

Mitchell Elementary School

At Mitchell Elementary School, said Wartgow, there have been "all sorts of innovations" put into the school but further "tinkering" isn’t enough to improve achievement. "I am committed to improving the academic rigor and student achievement levels at Mitchell Elementary School," he said. "An unsatisfactory rating is unacceptable to me, as I am sure it is to all of you. We can – and must – do better. It’s that simple."

Superintendent Wartgow said that a "wide net" will be cast in a search for new concepts for Mitchell. He said proposals would be welcome from non-profit groups, private providers, community organizations, educators from colleges and universities, teachers, principals, the philanthropic community and governmental agencies such as the state Department of Education and the City and County of Denver.

A formal "request for proposals" will be published and widely distributed next week. Opportunities for community review and questioning of finalists will be provided. A decision date of April 7 is being considered. District staff will recommend selection of the applicant that has the greatest likelihood of substantially improving student achievement. The Denver Board of Education will make the final determination.

The new concept or design for Mitchell’s program could begin with the 2005-2006 school year, said Superintendent Wartgow, but proposals beginning with the 2006-2007 school year will also be considered.

The DPS Department of Human Resources will work with the existing staff at Mitchell to discuss employment options within the district. When the Board determines the new programs, current Mitchell staff members have the option of applying to work with the new program in reconstituted positions or considering other opportunities across the district.

"There are so many great partners of Denver Public Schools," said Superintendent Wartgow. "I think this is a chance to demonstrate to the nation that...we are open to working with anybody, under any structure, to make this happen."

Superintendent Wartgow assured families that Mitchell Elementary School would continue to be their neighborhood school, serving students in the Early Childhood Education program (four-year-olds) through the sixth grade. Grades seven will be added in 2006-2007 and grade eight in 2007-2008.

Superintendent Wartgow said proposals for Bruce Randolph Middle School and Smith Elementary School – two other schools that received the same "unsatisfactory" ratings as Mitchell – will be forthcoming.

 

Superintendent Wartgow "Overwhelmed" With Response To Resignation Announcement

During his four years at the helm of Denver Public Schools, Superintendent Wartgow has set a standard for responsiveness by replying to every email, letter and telephone call within 24 hours.

For once, he said, that’s not possible.

"You’ve kind of got me on this one – I’m overwhelmed," said Superintendent Wartgow, who said he was swamped by a flood of messages following his Feb. 7 announcement that he will resign June 30. "I wish I could respond – the cards, the notes, the emails – but I look forward to seeing you in the coming months and thanking you personally," he said.

Superintendent Wartgow reiterated his belief that the "timing is right" for a smooth leadership transition. "We will not miss a beat. I know the Board of Education is working diligently to select a new superintendent and I’m entirely confident that the direction and exciting initiatives we have underway will continue to move forward."

 

Fairmont And Greenlee Will Expand To Grade 8; Other K-8s Considered

The Board of Education this week approved a plan to convert another two elementary schools – Fairmont and Greenlee elementary schools in northwest Denver – to K-8 schools beginning in 2005-2006.

The schools will add sixth grade in 2005-2006 and an additional grade each year thereafter. The district would provide transportation to Grant Middle School for those students who prefer to attend a traditional middle school.

The Board also considered proposals submitted by staff this week to expand Del Pueblo Elementary School to serve sixth, seventh and eighth grades and Swansea Elementary School to serve sixth grade. The Board is expected to make a decision about those proposals on Thursday, March 3.

Also next month, the Board will make a decision about a previously-submitted plan to expand Garden Place Elementary School to an ECE-8 configuration.

To sum up, the Board has voted to convert seven Denver elementary schools to K-8 schools beginning in August – Columbine, Fairmont, Gilpin, Greenlee, Harrington, Mitchell and Whittier. Another two elementary school expansions – Del Pueblo and Garden Place – are pending.

The decisions have come on the heels of a recent resolution that reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to expanding academic options for families within Denver Public Schools. It also comes as Cole Middle School – which serves students who matriculate from the five elementary schools – is being converted to a charter school under the state law that governs school accountability.

 

Restructuring Plan Required As Part of P.S. 1 Charter Renewal

The Denver Board of Education renewed P.S. 1 Charter School this week but asked for a restructuring plan and ongoing monitoring of the school’s plan to lift its rating from "unsatisfactory."

Board member Bruce Hoyt said the decision came down to asking a question – would the students be better served by dispersing to other schools or at a "reform-minded" P.S. 1?

"I think this is a real tough call for this Board, given the unsatisfactory rating," said Board member Hoyt. "But I have to temper that against some of the unique attributes of P.S. 1 and what I’ve seen as a real wake up call among the staff and students at P.S. 1, that they realize this (rating) is unacceptable....I think it’s worth renewing with some tight strings and if we don’t see some significant improvement...we could still move forward and pull the plug."

Board member Kevin Patterson said he did not think the academic results – or the plan to improve those results – justified a new charter. He cast the lone vote against the three-year renewal. (Board member Elaine Gantz Berman was absent.)

The resolution approved by the Board called on P.S. 1 to develop a satisfactory restructuring plan that includes one or more of the corrective actions consistent with the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Those actions include such steps as replacing all school staff relevant to the failure to make reasonable progress toward achieving the school’s educational achievement objectives.

The resolution also called for a progress report next October and annual reports thereafter.

Board president Les Woodward said he was "disturbed" by comments in many of the letters from P.S. 1 parents and students who took a stand against the state’s accountability system, which is based on scores on the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP). Many P.S. 1 students did not take the CSAP exams, which pulled down the state rating.

"Be accountable to yourselves for that achievement," Woodward told the assembled P.S. 1 community.

Four Charter Schools Renewed

The Board of Education this week approved the renewal of four charter schools

Board member Kevin Patterson cited the academic struggles at DATA in casting a vote against its renewal; all other charter renewals were approved unanimously.

The motion regarding DATA called for the school to develop a satisfactory restructuring plan that includes one or more of the corrective actions consistent with the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

 

Board Notes

In other action this week, the Board:

This page was last updated: Friday, February 18, 2005 at 10:20:37 AM

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