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DPS makes plans for Nov. bond issue

Decision not final, dollar amount yet to be determined

By Nancy Mitchell, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published June 20, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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CORRECTION: This story should have said a citizens' committee studying a bond issue in Denver Public Schools is considering a proposal to sell Emily Griffith Opportunity School and build a new school on property adjacent to West High School.

Denver Public Schools is poised to ask voters to approve its first bond issue in five years this November, but some details need to be hammered out.

Details such as, should the city school district ask for $300 million or go for broke at $600 million?

"We're not assuming a $600 million bond issue, but that's the sum total" of the identified need, Bill Mosher told DPS board members. He is co-chairman of the citizens committee exploring the bond question.

The board approved a resolution Thursday to notify the Denver Elections Commission that the district plans to participate in the fall election, a decision required to secure a spot on the ballot.

'Critical' needs identified

The board did not approve a specific question or dollar amount - that's expected in August - and its members still can decide not to proceed. But after exploring bond issues in 2006 and 2007 and opting to put them off, that appears unlikely.

"I think the board is very interested in pursuing a bond," said board President Theresa Pena. "And the questions are, what's the right amount, over what time period and what projects are included?"

Mosher, a developer and principal at Trammell Crow Co., said that the citizens group has met weekly since May 14. They've identified about $300 million in "critical and significant" maintenance needs and about $300 million in new projects.

He listed the three top-dollar items being considered:

* A new elementary-middle school and a new high school on a shared campus in Green Valley Ranch, a rapidly growing neighborhood in far northeast Denver. It's the only area in DPS now seeing significant growth.

* Selling the downtown buildings at 12th and Welton streets now occupied by the Emily Griffith Opportunity School and building a new school on property adjacent to nearby West High School.

* More than $50 million in renovations to historic North High School and its campus, including linking with nearby Valdez Elementary school to create a site in northwest Denver for students from kindergarten through graduation.

Critical maintenance needs include repairs to comply with health and safety codes and replacing boilers and roofs, "things that could actually shut a school down," said Kelly Leid, head of the Foundation for Educational Excellence and a member of the citizens group.

Those needs don't include adding air-conditioning at any schools.

Empty chairs abound

Velma Rose, DPS' chief finance officer, said that the current school bond tax bill is $102.91 per year for a median-priced home in Denver, which city officials say is worth $230,900.

If the district keeps a bond issue at $268 million or below, that tax bill would not increase, Rose said. Go above that amount and the bill would rise.

DPS closed eight schools after the school year ended last month, a move that will eliminate 3,000 empty classroom seats.

But the district, hit by "white flight" through much of the 1970s and '80s and largely stagnant enrollment since then, still is struggling with 25,000 more empty chairs.

So the only new capacity being discussed would be the schools located "at the front door of Green Valley Ranch," Leid said. Developers there sold 150 homes this past year and are projected to continue at that rate over the next eight years.

mitchelln@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5245

Big-dollar projects under consideration

EMILY GRIFFITH OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL/WEST

* One proposal calls for selling the Emily Griffith Opportunity School at 12th and Welton and building a new school on property adjacent to nearby West High School. West, a few blocks south of Emily Griffith, is among DPS' emptiest high schools after students in the Denver Center for International Studies program left for their own building.

NORTH HIGH SCHOOL/VALDEZ ELEMENTARY

* Major renovations at North High School have been talked about for years. One proposal, with a price tag of about $50 million, would renovate the historic school and link its campus with nearby Valdez Elementary, now in the process of becoming a school serving preschool through grade eight. The single site in northwest Denver would then contain a center focused on global learning for students from preschool through high school graduation.

NEW SCHOOLS IN GREEN VALLEY RANCH

* Rapid growth in the city's far northeast neighborhoods of Montbello and adjacent Green Valley Ranch have school and community leaders concerned about future crowding. The area is now served by a single comprehensive high school, Montbello, and by Martin Luther King Jr. Early College, which includes a smaller high school program. The two schools under consideration would serve about 750 students from preschool through grade eight in one building and about 450 high school students in another.

Comments

  • June 20, 2008

    3:04 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    LOUIE writes:

    The key phrase is directly under the title of this article,"...dollar amount yet to be dertermined...". Sounds like a finacial sinkhole; this sales pitch is seriously flawed, or the author of the article has opposition to the deal.

  • June 20, 2008

    4:32 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    rj1967 writes:

    I'll never vote for schools to get more money. I live in Adams 12 and they already get 40% of my property taxes. Half these kids don't speak English.

  • June 20, 2008

    5:48 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mike846 writes:

    The voters of Denver have a chance to send a clear message to the failing school system. Vote DOWN any increase in your taxes until the schools make a full accounting of where their money is going now and take concrete steps to impliment English immersion to give the kids a better chance to assimilate and succeed, and not one dime to the teachers, either until reforms are implimented. They want $600 million, but trust me, you'll see only the "feel good", "for the kids" part of it. Be smart, be tough, Vote NO on any increase. Mike

  • June 20, 2008

    7:19 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Denver1212 writes:

    I wonder what are the plans for the building that previously housed Gove Junior High School, on Colorado Blvd? Could this building be used for DPS administration? Seems so wasteful to see this huge structure going unused.
    Furthermore, could some of the money go towards a little air conditioning for the older schools, unless one has been in these schools one has no idea how hot it is inside these old structures in August, September, and May. The students and teachers really suffer, and so does I might add, the student's ability to learn.
    You have to hand it to DPS, they are trying so hard, they will come through this rocky time.

  • June 20, 2008

    8:05 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    cableboy764 writes:

    Having worked for the school district for several years and seeing how previous bond money was spent, let me sum it up this way. Bond money will be used for construction projects and remodels even though they are shutting down other schools. These projects wont be built by local builders, they be farmed out to contractors from other states. And good employees will lose their jobs because of work that will need to be done by these "licenced contractors". DPS already recieves about 60% of all residential property taxes collected by the city and that amount is determined by DPS itself!! If DPS needs money they can sell some of the many, many properties that the district owns in town. Stop throwing your money away Denver until the district can prove that they can actually run the district in a cost efficient manner. The money never makes it to the people that need it the most. It just goes to some bureaucrats pet projects. I've seen it first hand.

  • June 20, 2008

    8:23 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Cowboy63 writes:

    Froward69 writes: "A well Funded Public educational system, produces fewer republicans."

    Actually, you could say a bloated failure of an over-funded public education system is a by-product of too many democrats.

    Weed out the illegals feasting on American tax dollars in our public schools and you won't need another $600 million.

    What is Hickenlooper's plan on that?

  • June 20, 2008

    8:27 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    vudumom writes:

    You know there is a major problem when they want to pour 50 million into renovating a school, when they could easily spend less then half that and build a brand new low maintenance and planet friendly state of the art school. That would make too much common sense, right?
    They are asking for a minimum of 300 million in which a whopping 50 million of that goes to one school? The red flags are everywhere on this issue.

  • June 20, 2008

    8:29 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Scott writes:

    The only way I ever vote for more money for a school district (I'm in Adams County #1) is when the politicians lay out a complete detailed plan of where the money is going to go. No plan, "No" vote; yes plan, I'll consider a "Yes" vote.

    steel & Cowboy63, Disregard froward69. Just more oral flatulence from it. ;-)

    Scott

  • June 20, 2008

    9:19 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    temurlan writes:

    I am in agreement with most of these posts.

    Steel, as to the "A well Funded Public educational system, produces fewer republicans." crack, here is your proof. Proof of the exact opposite. Filled with actual facts. Great read.

    Makers and Takers by Peter Schweizer:

    "The American left prides itself on being superior to conservatives: more generous, less materialistic, more tolerant, more intellectual, and more selfless. For years scholars have constructed—and the media has pushed—elaborate theories designed to demonstrate that conservatives suffer from a host of personality defects and character flaws. According to these supposedly unbiased studies, conservatives are mean-spirited, greedy, selfish malcontents with authoritarian tendencies. Far from the belief of a few cranks, prominent liberals from John Kenneth Galbraith to Hillary Clinton have succumbed to these prejudices. But what do the facts show?

    Peter Schweizer has dug deep—through tax documents, scholarly data, primary opinion research surveys, and private records—and has discovered that these claims are a myth. Indeed, he shows that many of these claims actually apply more to liberals than conservatives. Much as he did in his bestseller Do as I Say (Not as I Do), he brings to light never-before-revealed facts that will upset conventional wisdom.

    Conservatives such as Ronald Reagan and Robert Bork have long argued that liberal policies promote social decay. Schweizer, using the latest data and research, exposes how, in general:

    * Liberals are more self-centered than conservatives.
    * Conservatives are more generous and charitable than liberals.
    * Liberals are more envious and less hardworking than conservatives.
    * Conservatives value truth more than liberals, and are less prone to cheating and lying.
    * Liberals are more angry than conservatives.
    * Conservatives are actually more knowledgeable than liberals.
    * Liberals are more dissatisfied and unhappy than conservatives.

    Schweizer argues that the failure lies in modern liberal ideas, which foster a self-centered, “if it feels good do it” attitude that leads liberals to outsource their responsibilities to the government and focus instead on themselves and their own desires."

  • June 20, 2008

    9:28 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Cowboy63 writes:

    steel writes: "Get rid of the illegals and DPS will be able to close more than half of the schools. Not to mention the savings in fuel by parking the majority of the school buses, because they wouldn't be needed to transport all of the anchor babies."

    Pop quiz: How many of the DPS board members' kids actually attend DPS?

    They want another $600 million of your money to "fix" schools they wouldn't send their own kids to.

  • June 20, 2008

    10:02 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Hambone writes:

    As a past teacher in DPS I encourage a "NO" vote on this issue. The school system is completely bogged down with curriculum mandates for Spanish speakers and a student population performing far below acceptable levels.

    As to board members not sending their children to Denver schools, either would I. If you don't get your kid into a select few such as School of the Arts or Stapleton, better start saving for private school.

  • June 20, 2008

    10:23 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Cowboy63 writes:

    Hambone and steel speak the truth.

    Failing, overcrowded and broke schools are another uncomfortable by-product of unchecked illegal immigration. Our worthless and weak city leadership refuses to even acknowledge the issue, much less do anything about it.

    You can bet that after the initial $600 million they will be calling for more.

    Hambone is absolutely correct. I know a few teachers and none of them send their own kids to the very schools they themselves teach at. I don't blame them one bit.

  • June 20, 2008

    11:16 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jacka writes:

    $300 million in maintenace? It sounds like an operational or expense item, but I just bet the tax hike will be permenant.

    Prediction #1: When this doesn't fly it will be spun into the kill TABOR program.

    Prediction #2: DPS PR maven will need to address...where is all the cash from the closed schools, haven't sold them yet, what are they waiting for, etc????

    Prediction #3: Follow TOD model. Why aren't these DPS schools like the neighboorhood magnats, capstone landmarks that people want to live near because of their park like settings? Because we need more cash to redevelop them and implement that model.

    Vote YES for DPS to create the green and homeless accessable live/work space, create centers for family lifestyles in the urban setting, your regional demonstration site for the new energy economy.

  • June 20, 2008

    11:34 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    mmm58 writes:

    I am in agreement with Denverbusinessman. He states:

    DPS receives hundreds of millions from taxpayer's every year YET the system is a mockery of administrative ineptitude.

    Hinkenlooper and Bennett... their motto is 'SPEND, SPEND AND SPEND EVEN MORE of the TAXPAYER'S MONEY'.

    I am a school district employee! They really just need the money so that they can politically justify their relationship and add even more top management positions! They forget that employees and community should have buy-in to their "vision" and they certainly should be thinking about kids, not future political careers and looking good nationwide when they haven't done anything to deserve any of it. OK HICK...YOU SAY BENNETT IS THE BEST, BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW??? Back when there were 2 minority women...who HAD MUCH MORE EXPERIENCE and would have put this all together by now.

    All the changes only cause more confusion and grief! Things take time, and buy-in from staffs, students and communites. You just keep forcing things at people and when they don't like it, you hire new ones. So many changes at the same time! How stupid do you think we are?????? Wow! I sure want to spend more of my $$$ on that crap!!

  • June 20, 2008

    11:35 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    mmm58 writes:

    This is an easy one. JUST SAY NO!

  • June 20, 2008

    12:11 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    cdmdenver writes:

    TAX RITTER APPEALS RULING!

    Maybe people have forgot about
    "Tax Ritter" and his recent attempt
    to defraud Colorado Taxpayers of
    $118 Million this year, 1.7 Billion
    SHORT TERM!

    Tax Ritter purported to keep
    $118 Million for "Colorado Schools"
    the TRUTH is he put it in the
    "General Fund".

    Everything in the name of
    Colorado School Children, lies,
    fraud, illegal actions by a
    Tax Ritter, former District
    Attorney, who knows the laws
    but still tries to put one
    over on Colorado Citizens NO NO NO NO!!!
    Tax for education rejected

    Judge tosses law to raise $1.7 billion; appeal is expected
    A law expected to raise $1.7 billion for Colorado schools over the next 11 years is unconstitutional because it gives the state more tax revenue without required approval from voters, a judge ruled Friday.

    READ MORE http://www.i2i.org/main/page.php?page...

  • June 20, 2008

    1:42 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    BetterEducated writes:

    Anybody who vote to give this evil local entity more money has a screw loose.
    This entity is unregulated by any state or federal governance and should have been shut down a long time ago. Cableboy is right: the people who work at DPS (or used to, anyway) know best where the taxpayer money goes -- directly into the pockets of overpaid higher-ups who haven't seen a kid in years and couldn't care less about the schools.
    Whoever suggested that the Board members and admins put their OWN kids into their local, non-special, DPS school was right on. The media should do us a favor and report how many of these people know better than to put their OWN precious offspring into the schools they're supposed to be regulating.
    Want the taxpayers to give ya more money, DPS? PUT YOUR OWN PRECIOUS KIDS INTO YOUR SCHOOLS. Then voters might think about it. As it is: sorry, too many broken promises, too many new supers who were going to Make It Better, too many ugly stories that turned out to be altogether true.
    The business of ruining lives -- nobody does it better than DPS.