DPS ponders post-Bennet scenario

By Nancy Mitchell, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 3, 2009 at 12:05 a.m.

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If the political musical chairs fall into place in such a way that will land Michael Bennet in the U.S. Senate, two of the three top spots in Denver Public Schools will be vacant.

DPS has been without a chief academic officer since the September departure of Jaime Aquino. If Bennet leaves the superintendent's seat, that leaves only Chief Operating Officer Tom Boasberg in a top job.

Boasberg is also, by several accounts, the person expected to be tapped to take Bennet's seat.

"I think that continuity is really critical," said School Board President Theresa Pena. "We would look very seriously at any internal candidate."

Pena has called a board meeting for 5 p.m. today, three hours after Gov. Bill Ritter is expected to announce he is appointing Bennet to the Senate seat.

Several board members said they've had informal conversations about a possible successor for Bennet, who also was on the short list to become U.S. secretary of Education under Barack Obama.

But Pena said there is no formal succession plan, and board members will talk today about whether to appoint a temporary replacement and whether they should launch a national search.

That may be complicated by elections next fall, when two board members will be up for re-election and two must leave the board due to term limits. A new board majority could be elected.

Boasberg, a lawyer who specialized in multimillion-dollar corporate mergers and acquisitions, joined DPS in 2007 and is a popular administrator. He has taken the lead on tough issues such as the district's pension debt.

He did not return calls seeking comment Friday. DPS administrators return Monday from winter break.

"I love Tom Boasberg," said board Vice President Michelle Moss.

Like Pena, Moss said the district needs stability and continuity. Prior to Bennet and his predecessor, Jerry Wartgow, DPS endured several turnovers at the top.

"We will stay the course, and we will continue the reforms we've started," Moss said. "We cannot change again."

Alexander Ooms, founding board member of West Denver Preparatory Charter School and a blogger at www.ednewscolorado.org, called Bennet's departure "a real gut-punch for education reform in Denver."

"I would love to see Boasberg" in Bennet's job, Ooms added, but "can't imagine he would stay."

There is concern that Boasberg, who was recruited by Bennet, might leave. Moss, though, said fewer DPS staff members are expected to go with Bennet than if he had been named secretary of Education.

"It's certainly smart to have someone internal to ease the transition and to continue the good work that's happening in the district," said Jessica Buckley, a teacher at Harrington Elementary in north Denver.

As a leader with Metro Organizations for People, an advocacy group for low-income communities, Buckley has worked with Boasberg on changing the DPS budget.

"He's certainly a good businessman and easy to work with," she said. "The tricky thing is, as far as him as superintendent, it's hard to know. It's a super tough job."

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