Melanie Asmar
Senior Reporter, Chalkbeat Colorado
Melanie Asmar has covered Denver Public Schools for Chalkbeat Colorado since 2015. Asmar previously worked at Westword newspaper in Denver and for a daily newspaper in New Hampshire, where she covered education. Follow her on Twitter at @MelanieAsmar.
DPS had previously refused to release the agreement, which says the district will pay Anderson $3,500 in exchange for agreeing not to sue over a 2021 investigation.
The latest teachers union endorsement helps define the race, which has been in flux due in part to candidates dropping out or jumping in later than usual.
Ballenger’s exit leaves three candidates vying for an at-large seat representing the entire city.
Anderson says he is entitled to reimbursement for legal expenses related to a 2021 investigation. The district won’t release the terms of the agreement.
Students as a whole met goals in math but not in reading. But the district mostly missed goals in both subjects for Black and Latinx students.
Not all students met all benchmarks, though one tutoring company was more successful than the other.
The Nov. 7 election is set to occur as gun violence around schools has heightened safety concerns in Denver Public Schools.
Slutzker said he believes it’s important for district decision-makers to listen to teachers. “They’re the experts,” he said.
The Cherry Creek School District built the new facility in Aurora with $19 million in voter-approved bond funding.
The state education department will choose a winner in October.
A majority of the students at Hallett are Black, and families say the environment that Principal Dominique Jefferson has created is affirming and joyful.
One proposal would spell out rules and a timeline for closing schools due to declining enrollment. Another would cap elementary school enrollment at 600 students.
Kurtz said he plans to leave DSST at the end of this school year.
Board President Xóchitl “Sochi” Gaytán said the limits are meant to respect the time of board members and Denver Public Schools staff.
Longtime volunteer and advocate Marlene De La Rosa running for northwest Denver seat on school board
De La Rosa will face incumbent Charmaine Lindsay and opponent Adam Slutzker to represent District 5 on the school board.
Dennis claims DPS fired him in retaliation for speaking to the media about safety concerns and then publicly disparaged him.
An attorney for fired principal Kurt Dennis disputes the findings and says he’s preparing to sue Denver Public Schools in federal court.
Hansen, who was running for an at-large seat, did not secure a key endorsement last week.
But, the number of schools and districts with good ratings remains lower than before the pandemic, mirroring state test data trends.
The Denver school board backed the superintendent’s decision to fire Kurt Dennis. The popular McAuliffe principal spoke out about safety concerns, then was accused of mistreating students.
Board VP Auon’tai Anderson and two other board members had requested the board vote to suspend its policy barring board members from working for DPS.
Lacy McDonald is a full-time volunteer at Lake Middle School, where his wife is principal. He’ll challenge incumbent Charmaine Lindsay for the school board seat.
With temperatures soaring into the high 90s, some Denver schools without air conditioning are curtailing their days during the first week of school.
Board Vice President Auon’tai Anderson said he’d like to take a job with DPS before his board term ends in November.
Declining enrollment is a persistent issue in Denver Public Schools — and more school closures could be coming.
Temperatures in Denver can reach the 90s in August and September.
But 2023 CMAS results also show worrying signs that many students are still struggling, and that recovery is uneven. Here’s everything you need to know.
When she was appointed more than a year ago, Lindsay said she wouldn’t run. But she has since changed her mind.
Hansen will face several opponents for the seat representing the entire city.
But tickets and arrests were lower overall after SROs were removed.