‘What they’re doing is not fair’: DPS students, families frustrated over proposed school closures

DENVER — In less than a week, the Denver Public Schools Board of Education will vote on a plan to close seven schools and merge three others.

DPS Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero has stressed these cuts are needed due to declining enrollment in the district. 

Monday night, the board will hold a meeting for the public to weigh in on the closure plans. Many parents and community members are planning to turn out, ready to take their frustrations over being left in the dark so long over the closures straight to the district. 

Frustrations have been running high for many in DPS since Marrero unveiled his list of schools to close earlier this month.   

RELATED: DPS Superintendent explains plan to close 7 schools, restructure 3 others

On Friday, students from multiple schools walked out of class and to the DPS administration building, calling on the board to save their schools. 

“We’re saying no. We’re standing up for ourselves. We want our school to stay in business because of how good it is. And we don’t want that to stop,” said Thomas “Buddy” Wannamaker, a student at Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design. 

Students like Wannamaker are frustrated to see DSISD on the superintendent’s plan to close schools. 

“They gotta know that what they’re doing is not fair, it’s not just,” Wannamaker said. “They’re not looking into the deeper picture. They’re just saying, ‘Oh they’re spending too much money,’ and not seeing why, like what’s actually happening.” 

“I wish I could say that I was surprised. Unfortunately, many parents and teachers and past teachers kind of expected this to happen at some point,” DSISD parent and collaborative school committee chair Chelsey Moore said. 

Moore said she knows the school’s enrollment is low.  But she and other parents believe that enrollment is low because of leadership at the school. 

“What DPS isn’t listening to is the fact that for years, we have been looking at our leadership at this school and the leadership has caused a much more significant declining enrollment,” said Courtney Baros, parent of a DSISD sophomore. “Last year we had an exodus of all these incredible teachers and that also had students leave as well. So it’s not just birth rate and declining student enrollment.”

In documents sent to 9NEWS, there are letters from families switching schools and teachers citing that leadership for why they were leaving the school. Those documents show they were sent to DPS leaders months ago. 

“I feel like our kids are paying the price for inaction and poor leadership on the part of the school and on the part of DPS,” said Meredith Sale, parent of a DSISD sophomore. 

Parents said that’s making this situation all the more frustrating, because they feel this school is unique, serving many neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ students.

“This is the right place for my kids and a lot of other kids. And unfortunately, DPS doesn’t see that value right now. So we’re going to see if we can get them to see that value,” Baros said. 

“And it would really be an incredible disservice to them to allow this safe space to fall to the wayside,” Moore said. 

Many in the DSISD community hope Friday’s walkout gets the district’s attention, and just maybe, helps save their school. 

“I still have two years of high school left. I want to enjoy those in a place where I already feel like I’m home,” Wannamaker said. 

9NEWS reached out to DPS about issues raised about the leadership at DSISD. A spokesperson for the district said human resources rules prevent them from getting into specifics about the situation, but confirmed they’ve engaged with staff and parents about the concerns. 

DPS sent this statement to 9NEWS about Friday’s school walkouts: 

Denver Public Schools supports the rights of our students to protest in a safe and respectful manner. The DPS Department of Climate and Safety has provided a safe environment for the students to walk to the Emily Griffith Campus and buses were provided to students and staff to take them back to their schools.

The Board of Education has been listening to students, staff, families and the community through numerous engagement opportunities this week. There will be another opportunity for public comment on Monday, Nov. 18, beginning at 4:30 p.m. The Board will vote on the recommendation on Thursday, Nov. 21.