Plan Would Restart 2 Denver Public Schools, Shut Down Another
DENVER (CBS4) - The Board of Education of Denver Public Schools will vote Thursday night on whether to approve a proposal that includes closing one troubled school and restarting two others.
Greenlee Elementary School, John Amesse Elementary School and Gilpin Montessori School are all struggling. A report shows they are Denver's three lowest performing public elementary schools.
DPS Superintendent Tom Boasberg is asking the school board to approve the plan, which would give principals at Greenlee and John Amessee the chance to submit new ideas for how to run their schools. They could then cut teachers they feel aren't fit for the job.
He says the schools would start anew, but not close so students wouldn't have to miss school during the transition.
"In these two schools over the last three or four years, the growth of kids really has lagged way behind what we've seen elsewhere in the district," Boasberg said.
Under the proposal, Gilpin Montessori would close. The district says enrollment has dropped too low for the school to succeed. Some parents of Gilpin students are petitioning to keep the school open.
At Greenlee, parents say they have seen positive changes at the school recently.
"I think there's been a big improvement since we got a new principal," Melissa McKissack said. "For the little bit of time he's been here he's done a lot."
"My grandkids come home, and they're learning. They are learning," Maria Rivera told CBS4.
Thursday night's meeting is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. and a public comment period that could get lengthy begins at 5:30 p.m.
