Magaña is the executive principal of Grant Beacon and Kepner Beacon middle schools. If elected, he’d resign from that position due to conflict of interest rules.

“I feel like this isn’t coming from a crime and punishment lens,” school board President Carrie Olson said.

Youngquist said he is supportive of the decision to launch an investigation and is “confident that my name will be cleared.”

Marrero calls the strategy the School Transformation Process, and said it’s meant to avoid state intervention in persistently low-rated schools.

Ten schools are set to close or partially close next month due to declining enrollment. The proposal would have halted any further school closures until 2029.

Colorado lawmakers set aside more funding for schools starting in 2026. They also passed bills related to mental health, Black history, and free school meals.

Colorado stands to lose about $8 million in federal grant money and nearly 300 AmeriCorps members, many of whom work in schools or with youth.

The union blasted DPS for declaring an impasse during Teacher Appreciation Week.

Superintendent Alex Marrero accused Youngquist in a letter of ‘policy violations, racial insensitivity, and unethical conduct,’ among other allegations.

Board members also changed Marrero’s contract to eliminate performance bonuses, which the teachers union has criticized.