Press Release - September 19, 2023
Contact: Nan Baumbusch
EDUCATE Denver Staff Director
info@educatedenver.org | 303-501-7287
EDUCATE Denver Response to Public Comment Limitation by the Denver Public Schools Board of Education
EDUCATE Denver, a coalition of civic leaders who support DPS students, states strong disapproval with the Board of Education’s recent decision to restrict monthly public comment opportunities to two hours. While long-standing policy allows the Board of Education to establish such a restriction, boards dating back decades have shown a tradition of respect to constituents by resisting limits and allowing all who desire to express feedback to do so. This board’s move to limit communication is a reaction to overwhelming public sentiment around unpopular decisions. It is a clear violation of responsibility, as elected leaders, to be available for public feedback and to co-create solutions with the community.
“All of us elected to represent Denver citizens have a duty to hear public concerns, field community suggestions, and be available to those whom we represent,” said Sen. James Coleman, EDUCATE Denver co-chair. “Any move by the Board to insulate themselves from the public goes against the principle of elected leadership. A closed door can’t be trusted and lack of communication, all too often, leads to misunderstanding or resentment surrounding decisions that affect schools, kids and their futures.”
The two hour restriction is said to be temporary – a limit that will rule until a new policy, with a similar limit, is drafted and adopted.
“Isn’t it ironic that public comment was limited, without any conversation on the topic?” said Rosemary Rodriguez, EDUCATE Denver co-chair. “Any time lost by restricting what is now the only formal, monthly opportunity to speak to board members directly, should be replaced by increased opportunity to access the board. Importantly, any new policy must be community-centered in its flexibility, timing, and convenience for DPS families.”
As community leaders focused on the progress of DPS and its students, EDUCATE Denver expects the Board to model open, transparent governance. Instead, we see, again, the opposite. The coalition is concerned with a pattern of poor community engagement by this Board of Education. The following activities evidence this trend:
Surrounding the shootings in/near East High School, the Board of Education conducted closed door meetings, which were later deemed illegal and deserving of public observation.
Earlier this year, the Board of Education tried to ban Brandon Pryor from attendance at future board meetings; Pryor is a vocal critic of Board members and their decisions.
Recently, a Board of Education member elected to serve in 2017 acknowledged, “We are not yet good at getting out into the community in a consistent way so that people have access to us.”
Twice this year, the Board of Education ignored contracts negotiated with Innovation Zones, making decisions that, per contract terms, should have been made in collaboration with Zone representatives.
Last fall, the board enabled a school closure process that involved several meetings absent board members and left families with limited data and limited time to understand the rationale behind these very difficult decisions.
The Board of Education sets the direction and tone for the entire school district as its governing body. Denver residents care about how the board operates and expect professional leadership. In this case, professional leadership means being widely and easily available to Denver families who care deeply about students and who deserve to provide input into decisions that influence youth opportunity. EDUCATE Denver asserts that any revised board policy must give rise to full community participation on behalf of DPS students.
About EDUCATE Denver
EDUCATE Denver is a civic coalition for DPS students. The organization includes over 35 civic leaders in business, philanthropy, public policy, faith-based, and community organizations who understand that high-quality education and a thriving city go hand in hand. EDUCATE Denver seeks to empower civic leaders throughout our city with the knowledge and tools they need to advocate for the high-quality education our DPS students deserve.
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Nan Baumbusch at 303-501-7287 or email info@educatedenver.org.