March 18, 2005

Randolph Middle School Redesign Plan Spelled Out

Major changes are coming to Bruce Randolph Middle School.

Superintendent Jerry Wartgow announced earlier this week that he has designated the school for redesign. At the same time, he named Morey Middle School principal Kristin Waters as the new principal to lead the reforms at Randolph, which he called an "urgent priority."

Changes planned for Bruce Randolph Middle School include full implementation of the district’s literacy and math programs, comprehensive professional development for staff, early implementation of the district’s new system for compensating teachers, and expansion of the school’s grade configuration to serve students through high school (6-12). In addition, the school will report directly to the Superintendent.

"When I challenged our secondary school principals to forward suggestions for improving struggling schools, I encouraged them to think outside the box," said Superintendent Wartgow. "Kristin Waters stepped forward with a bold plan and she also agreed to take a risk and see these changes through.

"The Secondary Reform Commission urged that our most talented leaders work with our most impacted schools and this is just that kind of match," Wartgow added. "I am very excited about the tremendous potential with this leader and these reform ideas. As I have said before, we can and must do better."

At the Board meeting this week, principal Waters and two core staff members presented key elements of the proposal. The plan emphasized consistency throughout – in instruction, grading, assessment, discipline, and expectations.

"That is an amazing proposal," said Board member Elaine Gantz Berman.

"This really is district reform in action," echoed Board member Kevin Patterson.

"Thank you for being so bold," said Board member Lucia Guzman.

Under redesign, all teachers currently at Bruce Randolph Middle School will be eligible to apply to work with the new program. Teachers are also eligible to consider other openings across the district.

Superintendent Wartgow recently announced similar redesign efforts at Brown and Mitchell elementary schools and at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School. The school redesign process is spelled out in the contract with the Denver Classroom Teachers Association.

At the same time, 13 schools are undergoing a revitalization process, fueled by resources – $2.5 million each year – provided by voters in the November 2003 mill levy election. The revitalization process is giving schools the opportunity to boost achievement and re-engage communities in their neighborhood schools.

The revitalization and redesign processes are overlapping in two schools – Brown Elementary School and Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School.

"We are in a unique time with a unique opportunity to make changes," said Superintendent Wartgow. "On one hand, state and federal accountability systems expect better academic results, creating a high-pressure situation that demands our attention. I know the greater Denver Public Schools community also believes that many of our schools can do much, much better. On the other hand, voters in Denver gave us a tremendous gift – approval of the 2003 mill levy package and the resources to make necessary changes. It’s now incumbent on us to step up and use the tools at our disposal, giving schools every chance to make a difference for students."

Superintendent Wartgow added that "every school’s situation is unique and deserves a customized approach."

Superintendent Wartgow said a decision would be announced soon about the selection process and timeline for a new Morey principal.

 

MLK Middle School "On Its Way"

Superintendent Jerry Wartgow earlier this month designated Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School for redesign and simultaneously reappointed principal Michael Gaither to lead the process of hiring a staff committed to the new program.

"We are on our way, and I am committed to Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School," principal Michael Gaither told Board members on Thursday. "Right now, MLK is rated low, but I believe that if we look at instructional practices with committed teachers, we can move achievement."

Under redesign, all teachers currently at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School will be eligible to apply for reconstituted positions if they are interested in working collaboratively with principal Gaither and the community to develop the new program. They are also eligible to consider other openings across the district. The school will continue to operate as a neighborhood school. (The school redesign process is spelled out in the contract with the Denver Classroom Teachers Association.)

The redesign approach was recommended by the school’s revitalization committee, principal Gaither and Northeast Area Superintendent Carla Santorno.

The committee is exploring a few concepts such as the Core Knowledge curriculum, a new discipline policy, a new school-year calendar, and a new grade configuration – perhaps grades six through 12.

Since January, the committee has met five times and held two community meetings, the most recent one attracting 300 parents and community members. Additional community meetings are planned before a proposal to boost student achievement and attract students back to the school is submitted to the Board.

Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School is one of 13 schools in the district that is going through a revitalization process funded by the 2003 mill levy initiative.

 

Del Pueblo, Swansea Elementary School Expansions Approved

The Board of Education this week approved a plan to convert Del Pueblo Elementary School to a K-8 school beginning in 2005-2006 and to add sixth grade to Swansea Elementary School.

Del Pueblo is the ninth elementary school expansion approved this year in an effort to offer more educational choices to families. Del Pueblo will add sixth grade this fall and an additional grade each year thereafter. The district will provide transportation to Grant Middle School for those students who prefer a traditional middle school.

Swansea Elementary School’s fifth-grade students are assigned to Bruce Randolph Middle School, which has been rated unsatisfactory for two consecutive years. Two other elementary schools that feed into Randolph were converted to K-8 schools to provide more choice in the neighborhood. Based on capacity limitations, Swansea will add sixth grade next year and will consider creating other options for seventh and eighth grades.

 

Community College Might Move Into Cole

District staff proposed to the Board of Education on Thursday a plan for the Community College of Denver (CCD) and the new middle school program – KIPP: Cole College Prep – to share the Cole Middle School building, infusing more secondary options into the neighborhood.

The proposal is to relocate the CCD east campus from its current location at 35th and Franklin streets to the first floor of Cole, keeping CCD’s extended learning campus in the neighborhood and expanding course offerings for secondary and postsecondary students.

Because the new campus would be close to three small high schools at the Manual Educational Complex, the expectation is that more high school students in northeast Denver would access the expanded offerings.

The middle school program and the community college would share the building’s common spaces – the auditorium, community room, lobby corridors and custodial rooms. CCD’s lease of 20,000 square feet (or 13 percent of the building) would bring $80,000 per year to the district.

 

Two Firms Will Be Interviewed For Superintendent Search To Replace Jerry Wartgow

The Board of Education narrowed to two its list of search firms under active consideration.

Two firms will be interviewed Wednesday, March 23. They are:

Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates was hired by the Board of Education four years ago, during the search process that led to the current superintendent, Jerry Wartgow. The company is based in Glenview, Ill.

"HYA takes pride in having been given the privilege to assist school districts throughout the United States in over 400 national executive searches," says the proposal. "HYA is the most experienced and widely used school search consulting firm in the nation."

Heidrick & Struggles "is the premier executive search firm for over 50 years," says the proposal. The firm has "extensive experience recruiting senior administrators for educational organizations and school districts similar to Denver Public Schools." The firm’s corporate offices are in Chicago.

Ten search firms submitted proposals to the Board of Education.

The interviews with the two finalist firms are scheduled for Wednesday, March 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. That meeting is scheduled to include a decision on which firm to hire. Later that same day, the Board has scheduled a meeting from 5 to 10 p.m. to begin work with the search firm.

DPS Superintendent Jerry Wartgow in February announced his resignation, effective June 30.

 

Special Meetings Set For March 24

The Board of Education will hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 24 to take action on the proposed revitalization plans for Henry and Skinner middle schools and Remington Elementary School.

The Board also will hold a special public comment session at 6 p.m. that same day to hear input about the redesign processes underway at Bruce Randolph and Martin Luther King Jr. middle schools and Mitchell Elementary School. To address the Board that evening, call the Board office by 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 23 to sign up to speak or email input to board@dpsk12.org.

 

Board Notes

In other action this week, the Board approved construction contracts with:

 

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This page was last updated: Friday, March 18, 2005 at 12:09:34 PM

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