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Denver Public Colleges has spent $22.6 million in voter-approved bond {dollars} over the previous 4 years on faculties that district officers at the moment are contemplating closing or downsizing, in keeping with data obtained by Chalkbeat in an open information request.
That greenback quantity solely contains building initiatives distinctive to the ten faculty buildings that may be closed or partially closed if the Denver faculty board votes sure Thursday on a proposal by Superintendent Alex Marrero to shutter seven faculties and shrink three extra resulting from declining enrollment. It doesn’t embody districtwide initiatives.
Of the ten faculties, 5 are positioned in standalone buildings that may grow to be vacant. About $4.6 million of the $22.6 million in bond cash was spent at these 5 faculties. The remainder was spent on shared buildings that may proceed to serve college students. It’s unclear how a lot was spent within the elements of the buildings occupied by faculties that might shut.
The funding got here from a $795 million bond measure authorised by Denver voters in 2020. Bonds are like loans taken out by faculty districts to fund one-time building initiatives. They’re funded by native property taxes, which is why they want voter approval.
In an announcement, Denver Public Colleges stated it doesn’t plan to promote any faculty buildings which can be closed. As a substitute, officers would work with the neighborhood to seek out future makes use of for the buildings.
Lots of the renovations funded by the bond {dollars} had been to improve mechanical programs and make the buildings accessible to individuals with disabilities — each of which might be crucial for any future reuse of the buildings, the district stated in its assertion.
Marrero’s advice requires closing Castro Elementary, Columbian Elementary, Denver Faculty of Innovation and Sustainable Design, Worldwide Academy of Denver at Harrington, Palmer Elementary, Schmitt Elementary, and West Center Faculty. DSISD and West Center Faculty presently share buildings with different faculties.
Marrero additionally proposed eradicating some grades from Kunsmiller Artistic Arts Academy, Dora Moore ECE-8 Faculty, and Denver Middle for Worldwide Research. These buildings would keep open however might host fewer college students if the proposal is authorised.
The proposed closures are supposed to handle declining enrollment in some Denver faculties. For instance, the enrollment at Castro Elementary has gone from 357 college students in 2019-20 to 237 college students this faculty yr, which places the constructing at 38% full, in keeping with the district.
College students, dad and mom, and lecturers have pushed again on the proposal because it was introduced earlier this month. At public conferences, a number of have questioned why Denver Public Colleges would shut down faculties when it simply spent voter-approved tax {dollars} to renovate them.
“The playground we simply constructed on this constructing we’re about to shut. The carpet we simply put on this room after we’re about to shut. Why are we spending cash on that?” Palmer fifth grade trainer Alice Martin requested district officers final week. She was pointing on the carpet within the library, the place lecturers had been gathered for a gathering concerning the proposal.
At West Center Faculty, college students spoke concerning the faculty’s new soccer area. At Schmitt Elementary, a dad or mum requested concerning the not too long ago put in elevator. Lecturers at a number of faculties famous that their buildings have air con, which another Denver faculties nonetheless lack.
Board member Xóchitl “Sochi” Gaytán advised Schmitt dad and mom and lecturers that so long as college students are within the buildings, even in the interim, it’s vital that the areas are good.
“It’s vital the kids strolling into this constructing are strolling into clear, secure, and exquisite environments to have that high quality studying,” she stated.
The district has budgeted one other $5.3 million in 2020 bond cash nonetheless to be spent on the 10 faculty buildings, in keeping with information from the open information request. If the college board votes to shut or partially shut these faculties, a district spokesperson stated essential upkeep initiatives could be accomplished however different initiatives might not.
District officers have stated Denver Public Colleges wants to shut faculties as a result of it doesn’t come up with the money for to offer sturdy programming at faculties with low enrollment. Denver funds its faculties per pupil, and fewer college students means much less funding for small faculties.
Dad and mom have additionally requested why the district can’t use bond cash to maintain small faculties open, particularly since Denver voters authorised one other bond measure earlier this month. At $975 million, the 2024 bond was larger than the $795 million measure authorised in 2020 that’s funding the present initiatives.
“I voted in assist of the bond,” Palmer Elementary dad or mum Stef Flores advised faculty board members Monday at a public remark session. “I would like the district to be well-funded. Please use this windfall to rebudget and make use of inventive options.”
However bond cash can’t be used to function faculties. Bond {dollars} can solely be used to pay for building prices, together with renovations, repairs, and constructing model new faculties.
The 2024 bond cash will likely be used to put in air con on the 29 Denver faculties that don’t have it; improve faculty security programs, highschool athletic services, and center and highschool theater areas; construct profession and technical schooling lecture rooms; purchase extra faculty buses; and extra.
The cash can even be used to construct a brand new elementary faculty in far northeast Denver, one of many solely areas of town that’s seeing a rise in pupil inhabitants.
Melanie Asmar is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Colorado. Contact Melanie at masmar@chalkbeat.org.
