At a Westerly Creek meeting, DPS explains “tweaks” to SUN’s recommendations for Stapleton elementary boundaries—but almost all attendees at the meeting expressed strong opposition to the proposal—calling them major changes to Stapleton’s open choice policy, not tweaks.
DPS called their changes “tweaks” to SUN’s recommendations for Stapleton elementary boundaries—but almost all attendees at the Westerly Creek meeting on Wednesday night expressed strong opposition to the proposal—calling them major changes to Stapleton’s open choice policy, not tweaks.
Based on 71% approval from the community survey, SUN recommended that 25% of seats at each school be given to students who live in a proximity zone around the school (after priorities for siblings, current ECE students, and children of school staff). DPS, however, proposed that 50% be given priority within the proximity zone, with that number rising by 10% each year until it reaches 100%.
This Power Point slide shows the difference between the SUN recommendations and the DPS changes (highlighted in red).
The numerous attendees who spoke up felt that system will result in fixed boundaries over time—and that’s a complete turnaround from the current choice system all Stapleton residents now have. Supt. Boasberg responded that residents have a priority for the school in their zone, but they will not be obligated to attend it and that a number of families want to attend the closest school (though that sentiment wasn’t expressed by those at the Westerly Creek meeting).
Topher-Lewis asks Superintendent Boasberg for a pause before the upcoming Board vote to talk about other options.
DPS also proposed that Stapleton residents south of I-70 have priority for the south schools and residents north of I-70 would have priority for north schools. At the High Tech meeting, numerous speakers expressed their unhappiness with that proposal, saying they would effectively have only one school choice since south Stapleton residents would fill the south Stapleton schools.
After the meeting at Westerly Creek, Supt. Boasberg said he heard the message that the community supports a pause and wants further discussion.
However, DPS also announced that the ONLY opportunity for public input to this proposal to the DPS Board is scheduled for Monday night, November 18. To speak at the meeting you must call 720-423-3210 by 5pm Sunday, Nov. 17 and leave a message that you wish to speak about Stapleton boundaries. Time will be limited to three minutes.
On Tuesday, Nov. 19, DPS will hold another round of community meetings at schools and on Thursday Nov. 21 the Board will vote on the DPS elementary boundary proposal.
This DPS proposal for a change to Stapleton’s open boundary policy for elementary schools does not affect or change the shared boundary policy for middle schools.
A majority of the people at the Izzy B meeting also expressed displeasure about DPS dictating these changes.
I hope Stapleton unites and tells DPS that we want a say in how our schools are run. Especially considering how DPS tends to screw things up when they recommend (dictate) changes.