The SUNI Ed Committee is pleased to announce our success in working with Denver Public Schools Board of Education! We thank our board members for taking into consideration our concerns to Keep Smedley Elementary ! Below, is the resolution the board will be voting on this evening. The district will comprise a stakeholder working group to bring all parties involved- including Sunnyside United Neighbors, Inc together to find a long term, workable solution. Although, we would have like to see additional language in the resolution regarding; seeking permanent location options outside of Northwest Denver for DMHS and no permanent/physical alterations to the Smedley building unless it were to serve an elementary school! We think the resolution is a good compromise and step in the right direction. The DPS BOE President has assured us we will dive into the details when the working group begins the process. Thank you Sunnyside for all your support! Although our work is not yet done we look forward to keeping you in the loop! ******RESOLUTION ****** WHEREAS, on June 21, 2012, the Board of Education unanimously approved as part of the 2012 Call for New Quality Schools process a school design for Denver Montessori Junior/Senior High School to serve as a secondary school opportunity paired with the district’s Montessori elementary schools; WHEREAS, on June 21, 2012, the Board of Education unanimously approved a campus sharing to begin in the 2013-14 school year for Denver Public Montessori Junior/Senior High School and Gilpin Elementary School on the Gilpin campus; WHEREAS, as Denver Montessori Junior/Senior High School adds grade levels and increases enrollment, it will need a larger facility to meet its long-term needs; WHEREAS, Denver Montessori Junior/Senior High School is an open enrollment school providing shuttle transportation for its students from across Denver; WHEREAS, the Board of Education and Denver Public Schools believe that campus sharing, when implemented according to best practice, will allow for the provision of more new and higher performing school options in Denver; WHEREAS, District staff is committed to reviewing all location options to identify a long-term location for Denver Montessori Junior/Senior High School; WHEREAS, the Smedley facility in Northwest Denver houses Denver Online High School, and for the 2014-15 school year, Valdez Elementary School; WHEREAS, Valdez Elementary School will move back to its permanent location at the end of the 2014-15 school year when improvements are completed at the Valdez facility, leaving much of the Smedley facility vacant; WHEREAS, Denver Public Schools and Sunnyside United Neighbors, Inc. (SUNI) are interested in working together to develop a long-term plan for early childhood programs, elementary, middle and high schools that provide a variety of school model options and access to high quality school programs for families in the Trevista school boundary; NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that: Denver Montessori Junior/Senior High School will be located at the Smedley facility at 4250 Shoshone Street, for the 2015-16 school year; AND District staff will convene a working group to study enrollment and diversity in Northwest Denver neighborhoods near the Horace Mann and Smedley facilities, with the goal being high quality schools at Trevista and in the Trevista boundary that are socioeconomically diverse. The working group will include families from schools and neighborhoods in the area, including the leadership of Trevista, Denver Montessori Junior/Senior High School, Denver Online High School; current parents from Trevista and Denver Montessori Junior/Senior High School (or prospective parents of Denver Montessori Junior/Senior High School); representation from Sunnyside United Neighbors, Inc. (SUNI); Columbian school community and North High campus community; particularly from traditionally under-represented communities; AND Should there be a better placement in Northwest Denver determined for Denver Public Montessori Junior/Senior High School for the 2016-17 school year and beyond, if the working group develops a plan that addresses the needs of both Denver Public Montessori Junior/Senior High School and a long term plan for high quality schools at all levels in the Smedley area, or if enrollment conditions change in the area, then the Board of Education will re-evaluate this placement decision.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 21:09:37 +0000
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