March 4, 2005
Gove Middle School To Close; Proposals To Close Baker, Rosedale Introduced
The Board of Education yesterday voted unanimously to close Gove Middle School at the end of this school year. Based on their home address, students next year will attend Hill, Morey or Smiley middle schools. All three neighboring schools have the capacity to enroll more students.
The recommendation comes because the state recently rated Gove as "unsatisfactory" after three consecutive years of "low" ratings and also because Gove’s enrollment is declining. Gove currently serves 241 students.
"When the Board of Education considers school closures, it is a very serious issue," said Board member Elaine Gantz Berman. "We do not take it lightly...We will work with the students, teachers and parents to make sure they find the right fit next year."
With the district’s $11.6 million gap in revenues and expenses for next year, the Board of Education has asked district staff to generate $1 million in savings through closing small schools.
To that end, district staff yesterday recommended closing Rosedale Elementary School and Baker Middle School at the end of this school year.
"It becomes a challenge in small schools to meet students’ needs with a shrinking budget and to hire enough teachers to offer a comprehensive educational program," said Wayne Eckerling, Assistant Superintendent for Research, Planning and Special Projects.
The Board is expected to make a decision on Thursday, April 7. Those who wish to give input to the Board prior to the decision may email the Board at board@dpsk12.org or sign up for the special public comment session at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 17. To sign up to speak, please call the Board office at 720-423-3210 by 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 16.
Rosedale Elementary School
Rosedale’s enrollment is declining, and only 109 neighborhood students attend the school. With just 134 early childhood education through fifth-grade students this year, Rosedale is the smallest elementary school in Denver. If the school closes, students would be reassigned to Asbury or McKinley-Thatcher elementary schools.
Rosedale will host a community meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 9 to discuss the future of the school.
Baker Middle School
The district had been considering phasing out Baker Middle School in the next two years, but Thursday’s recommendation changed the plan with regard to the timeline – and poised closing Baker entirely at the end of this year.
Baker’s enrollment is declining. With just 272 sixth- through eighth-grade students this year, Baker is the second smallest middle school in Denver. The smallest is Gove.
The district’s proposal is to reassign students to Grant and Horace Mann middle schools, but Assistant Superintendent Eckerling said the district is open to assigning all students to Horace Mann if that’s the community’s preference.
Baker principal Linda Torres said the school was making academic progress but said she understood the Board’s difficult budget dilemma. "The Baker staff is fully prepared to support our parents and students through a very difficult process," she said.
Baker will host a community meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 10 to discuss the future of the school.
Budget Impact
In the first year, closing Rosedale would save $250,000 and $300,000 each year following. In the first year, closing Baker would save $712,000 and $829,000 each year following.
Criteria For "Merging Attendance Areas"
The proposals to close Baker Middle School and Rosedale Elementary School include new, detailed criteria for merging attendance areas – and closing schools – throughout the school district.
A middle school could draw attention when:
- Enrollment in grades six through eight is less than 400 students
- There is "little likelihood" that the school in its current form will attract additional students from district schools or private schools
- Space is available in surrounding schools and reassignment options are reasonable
- There are reasonable potential opportunities for reuse of the school, once attendance areas have been merged
An elementary school could draw attention when, in addition to the last three bullet points above:
- Enrollment in kindergarten through fifth grade is less than 150 students
- Fewer than 75 students reside in the attendance area and attend the school
For both middle and elementary schools, other criteria such as academic achievement may also be considered.
Revitalization Yielding Change For Henry, Skinner And Remington
Changes are in the wind at Henry and Skinner middle schools and Remington Elementary School, thanks to revitalization efforts sparked by the 2003 mill levy initiatives.
The Board of Education this week was presented with progress updates from all three schools – out of 13 total schools involved in revitalization.
At Henry, the committee exploring revitalization has unanimously adopted the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program.
The adoption of IB Middle Years Program means Henry will start a block schedule with "every other day" classes, early release for students on Wednesdays to allow for staff development, stepped-up parental engagement, an expanded lunch room to compress the lunch schedule (currently six lunch periods) and increased community engagement and outreach.
"This was an excellent process," said parent Paul Alexander about the revitalization discussions. "This was very powerful – people speaking from their hearts...This is an exciting plan."
Several Board members lauded Henry’s thoughtful, in-depth process that led to the program choice. Said Board member Michelle Moss: "You all have demonstrated to the city how to do revitalization."
At Skinner Middle School, the revitalization process will lead to full implementation of the district’s Studio Literacy and Connected Math programs, continued professional development of the district’s Secondary Teaching and Learning Project, development of accelerated options in selected content areas and implementation of AVID (Achievement Via Individual Determination) programming.
Skinner will also launch Integrated Arts and Artistic Focus Areas, with every Skinner teacher and administrator engaged in the Young Audiences "Aesthetic Arts Institute." Through other programs such as the Chicago Arts Partnership in Education and the "Arts-4-Learning" web-based arts integration unit, students will be able to focus their interest in the arts in one or more areas such as vocal and instrumental music, theater, dance, visual art and creative writing.
"I believe that arts education can benefit students where it’s not measured on a standardized test – problem solving skills, attitude, engagement and feelings of self worth," said Skinner teacher Jamie True.
The Core Knowledge Program is headed to Remington Elementary School. "Core Knowledge is a rigorous content-driven program which builds on vocabulary," said the report to the Board. The curriculum "allows for the creation of a common language through shared information and terminology...The educational goal is literacy for all students."
The proposal cites the Core Knowledge Program’s flexibility to use curriculum units developed by the district’s La Alma de la Raza Project, which includes 75 multicultural, relevant units.
"Core Knowledge has some qualities that would build and strengthen academic achievement," said Northwest Assistant Area Superintendent Pat Salazar.
The Remington proposal also includes development of a "professional learning community," steps to improve the teaching and learning process and improvement of the school’s climate and safety.
Under the proposal, Remington would also adopt mandatory uniforms for students.
All three revitalization efforts tap funds made available through the $20 million mill levy proposal approved by voters in November 2003. School revitalization was one of six reform initiatives in the mill levy package.
A special public hearing has been scheduled to hear comments on the three proposals for 6 p.m. Thursday, March 17. An April 7 decision date is anticipated.
Garden Place Elementary Expansion Approved
The Board of Education approved a plan this week to convert an eighth elementary school to a K-8 school beginning in August. Garden Place Elementary School in northeast Denver will add sixth grade this fall and an additional grade each year thereafter.
The district will provide transportation to Smiley Middle School for those Garden Place students who prefer to attend a traditional middle school.
Already this year, the Board has approved converting five northeast Denver elementary schools and another two northwest Denver elementary schools to K-8 schools beginning in 2005-2006 (Columbine, Fairmont, Gilpin, Greenlee, Harrington, Mitchell and Whittier elementary schools).
The Board also is considering proposals 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 17.
The decisions to expand elementary schools 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 five northeast Denver elementary schools – is being converted to a charter school under the state law that governs school accountability.
Mitchell Redesign Interest Brewing
Wayne Eckerling, Assistant Superintendent for Research, Planning and Special Projects, told the Board this week that proposals for the redesign of Mitchell Elementary School are likely.
"I’ve talked to a number of people who are very interested," said Eckerling. "It’s a very exciting time to see people step forth."
The district issued a broad Request for Proposals on February 24, soliciting ideas from individuals or groups to operate Mitchell beginning with the 2005-2006 school year (or soon thereafter) to improve student achievement.
"The district is very open and flexible in working with the community," said Eckerling, in developing ideas. The deadline for proposals is March 18.
Superintendent Jerry Wartgow assured a group of parents that the community would have ample time to review all serious proposals and to be involved in the selection process.
There are also two other schools currently ranked unsatisfactory by the state accountability system. Superintendent Wartgow said the Board could expect a proposal for Bruce Randolph Middle School on March 17. The Board also heard a detailed proposal for continued implementation for reform, based on an arts infusion approach, at Smith Elementary School.
Suzanne Loughran Appointed Principal Of Brown Elementary School
Superintendent Jerry Wartgow announced the appointment of Suzanne Loughran, an award-winning principal from the Cherry Creek School District, as principal of Brown Elementary School (2550 Lowell Blvd.).
The announcement comes one week after Superintendent Wartgow announced that Brown will undergo redesign, a process that entails the establishment of a new staff at the school. Brown is preparing to implement the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme beginning with the 2005-2006 school year.
"I believe that Suzanne Loughran has all the skills and experience necessary to assemble a sterling staff at Brown that will offer a high-quality and high-expectations learning environment to the northwest Denver community," said Superintendent Wartgow.
Loughran is finishing her tenth year as principal of Cottonwood Creek Elementary School in the Cherry Creek School District. At Cottonwood Creek, Loughran designed and implemented a school-based strategic planning process, collaboratively developed and implemented a site-based shared decision-making model and for five years in row (2000-2004) earned the John Irwin School of Excellence Award.