GPHC October 2013

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Volume 52, Issue No. 10

A Greater Park Hill Community Hill, Inc. Publication

October 2013

NE School Board Candidates School Board candidates respond to GPHN questionnaire in advance of October 10 GPHC/NEPHC forum By Lynn Kalinauskas GPHC Education Chair

In preparation for the Candidate Forum co-hosted by GPHC and the Northeast Park Hill Coalition, we asked each candidate to answer the following questions. The Forum will be held on Thursday, October 10th at District 2 Police Station, 3921 N Holly St., from 6:00 to 8:30PM. Park Hill voters will be asked to choose one candidate to represent District 4 and one At-Large candidate representing the City of Denver.

What experience do you have with DPS that prompted your school board run? Roger Kilgore (District 4) DPS has evolved into a top-down bureaucracy where closing struggling schools is the preferred (and most blunt) tool. In fact, these schools have struggled because DPS has neglected them. For example, Smiley has had five Principals in six years and was subjected to a co-location of a charter middle school (that is also closing) in the building. When Smiley parents and staff wanted to develop an IB program, the administration proved to be a barrier. I am running because Smiley is not an isolated case. We must do better for our kids and hold the administration accountable. Landri Taylor (District 4) After competing with 24 other candidates to fill the vacancy of Dr. Nate Easley, I was appointed in March to complete Dr. Easley’s term. Prior to this appointment and as CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan Denver, I joined many parents and community leaders to transform and turnaround the schools in the Montbello and Green Valley Ranch neighborhoods. This effort resulted in providing high-performing school options for far northeast Denver neighborhoods. I also was a co-chair of the Greater Park Hill/Stapleton community process charged with finding educational solutions for our growing communities. Michael Kiley (At-Large) In 2009, I became involved with the revitalization of Skinner Middle School. I was a part of the leadership that rallied hundreds of parents to compel DPS to provide the resources and programs that Skinner needed to thrive. I have also been involved with the Choose North NOW group working with North High School. My passion for quality schools for all children is why I am running for Denver School Board At-Large. Barbara O’Brien (At-Large) I have been deeply involved in education in Colorado since 1990. From my past work as president of the Colorado Children’s Campaign to my current position as president of Get Smart Schools, I have advocated and supported education policies that will

People lined up around the block at 1790 Forest Parkway to view the handcrafted woodwork and Art Deco detailing within the Ruderman home during the 35th Annual Park Hill Home Tour & Street Fair, organized by Roberta Locke and Kate Sultan, on Sunday, September 22. A full review of the event will be available in the November issue of the Greater Park Hill News.

Joan Poston (At-Large) I have extensive experience with DPS as a parent and staff member. I worked five years as a reading and writing paraprofessional at Bradley and Southmoor Elementary Schools. I was on PTA’s, PTOs, and I was a member of the District School Accountability Committee (SIAC) where I had experience interacting with the administration (both Bennet and Boasberg) and the School Board. I was the SIAC representative on the DPS Calendar Committee and member of the paraprofessional union. I have worked with various committees on the SIAC and have been part of the evaluation of charter school applications and evaluations.

The GPHC Annual Meeting is Oct 3 All Park Hill neighbors and GPHC members are invited to attend the Greater Park Hill Community’s Annual Meeting, which will be held on Thursday, October 3rd from 6:30 to 8:30pm, and hosted by the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd, in the Leprino Family Atrium (entry for the event will be via the West doors, facing city park). Light appetizers will be provided. Bridget Coughlin, Vice President of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, will provide the keynote speech. The celebratory event includes the presentation of the Babbs Community Service Award and the election of eight new board members, including representatives of Districts 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 and three of the six At-Large seats. To represent a district, you must live within the boundaries of the district. All board members must be active members of the GPHC. This is a great opportunity to meet your neighbors! RSVP as soon as possible to director@greaterparkhill.org or 303-388-0918. Membership dues can be paid online, by mail or at the annual meeting.

What experiences do you bring to the position? Roger Kilgore (District 4) I am currently the Co-chair of the School Improvement and Accountability Council, SIAC, which advises the school board on new schools, budget and finance matters, improvement strategies, and accountability plans. I also serve on the Bond Oversight Committee working to hold DPS accountable for the bond money approved by the voters. I previously served as co-chair of the facilities maintenance subcommittee of the Citizen’s Advisory Planning Committee, which helped formulate the 2012 bond and mill levy proposal. I have also volunteered in our DPS schools and have worked with at-risk urban youth dating back 30 years.

On the Statewide Ballot A review of the tax increases proposed this November By Erin Vanderberg Editor

Two statewide measures will be on the November 5, 2013 ballot: Amendment 66 and Proposition AA. Both measures involve legislation that passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor, but which include taxes that cannot be imposed without voter approval, pursuant to the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). The 2013 State Ballot Information Booklet produced by the Legislative Council of the General Assembly, otherwise known as the Colorado Blue Book, was used as the source of information for this article.

Landri Taylor (District 4) I bring more than 20 years of experience as a parent and volunteer in DPS schools. My daughters attended DPS schools (John Ameese Elementary, Hill Middle School, MLK, Jr. Middle School and Montbello High School). Like so many DPS parents, I’ve served on various school committees from PTA to high school prom committee. Most recently, I served as co-chair of the Far Northeast Neighborhood Outreach Committee responsible for turning around the low-performing schools of Montbello and Green Valley Ranch. Parents and kids now have better educational options in far northeast Denver.

Amendment 66: Funding for Public Schools Amendment 66 would modify how the state funds public preschool through 12th grade education If passed, Amendment 66 would establish a constitutional minimum funding level of 43 percent of state income, sales and excise tax revenues to be annually deposited into the State Education Fund and used only for public education. It would also create a twotiered individual income tax rate of 5.0 percent on the first $75,000 of taxable income and 5.9 percent on income earned above that

Michael Kiley (At-Large) I have been an active parent in DPS since 2009. I have worked with the community on school issues and I bring knowledge

The 6th Annual Alley Art Contest Winners

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The Floods and Their Effect on NE Denver Watersheds

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Inside This Issue

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October 2013

help our children grow and succeed while holding teachers and leaders to the highest standards. As Lt. Governor, I chaired the Colorado P-20 Education Coordinating Council, provided expert advice and legislative advocacy that resulted in laws to revise content standards from preschool through high school, created a Council on Educator Effectiveness, and created Colorado’s first full-day kindergarten program.

threshold – which is up from the existing flat individual income tax rate of 4.63 percent. The measure would implement Senate Bill 13-213, co-sponsored by Park Hill’s State Senator Michael Johnston, passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor, which rewrites the state’s public school finance formula. Under the bill, the per pupil dollar allotment is adjusted to place emphasis on preschool and kindergarten students as well as students eligible for free- or reduced-price lunches and English language learners. The bill also changes the way student enrollment is calculated, by using an average daily enrollment instead of a point-in-time survey taken in October. Under the bill, school principals will have more budgetary control and periodic studies of student achievement as well as publicly-available, school-specific accounting of administrative and teacher expenses will be required. Proponents of the measure say that it is an innovative solution to address public school problems. They say it is an investment in Colorado’s economy and a safeguard against budget shortfalls for education. They say the transparency mechanisms required under the measure will provide a better tool to track and compare school performance. The Secretary of State’s office lists the registered continued on page 12

On Tap This November: Craft Beer Comes to Park Hill

Next GPHC Meeting Thursday, November 7th at 6:30pm 2823 Fairfax St., Denver

This newspaper is made possible through the support of our advertisers and members. If you are not already a member, please consider joining the Greater Park Hill Community, Inc.


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