Tag: Education
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Cherry Creek School Board fires former superintendent’s wife from top HR role
The Cherry Creek School Board today announced the termination of Brenda Smith, the district’s chief human resource officer. She’s the wife of former Superintendent Chris Smith, who abruptly resigned in January during his annual review. Brenda Smith’s termination marks the latest upheaval for a district that has faced months of leadership turmoil and controversy. “In…
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Colorado legislators ask voters to forfeit thousands in TABOR refunds, redirect money to school spending
A Democratic‑backed proposal to direct money to K‑12 schools using Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights dollars is headed to the ballot, setting up a major debate over taxpayer refunds and long‑term education funding. If voters approve it, the average Coloradan would forfeit more than $7,000 in TABOR refunds over the next decade. Senate Bill 135 includes…
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DPS asks judge to dismiss racketeering lawsuit over COP financing
Denver Public Schools asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit alleging a racketeering scheme through the district’s use of a widely-used lease-finance structure. “The new complaint has many of the same defects as the claims asserted in Mamas I, including that Plaintiff lacks standing, that the COCCA claim is barred by the Colorado Governmental Immunity…
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Denver schools project $28.6M gap over four years, signals future closures
Denver Public Schools is projecting a $28.6 million funding gap over the next four years, while district leaders warn more school closures are likely if enrollment decline further. The district’s $1.5 billion proposed budget for next school year outlines a series of financial pressures — declining enrollment, uncertain state funding and rising costs — that…
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Denver snowstorm forces first metro school closures in over a year
A May snowstorm forced schools across the metro Denver area to close Wednesday — the first snow day of the school year. Most districts said their last snow day was Nov. 8, 2024, when the first major storm of the season that year dumped nearly 3 feet of snow across large sections of the Front…
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Snow Day in May: Denver-area schools announce Wednesday closures
Several Denver-area schools have announced closings and delayed starts on Wednesday after a potent spring storm dropped snow on Colorado’s Front Range from Colorado Springs to Wyoming. Denver Public Schools announced that all schools and administrative offices will be closed Wednesday due to severe weather. Parents and students will receive the alert from the district…
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Sheridan school board approves teachers’ contract, ending historic strike
The Sheridan teachers strike that languished through much of the month is officially over. The Sheridan School District Board of Education unanimously voted Tuesday to accept the union contract. “It has been a long road to get to today,” Sheridan Educators Association President Kate Biester said in a statement to The Denver Gazette after this…
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Transgender woman files complaint after she was denied entry to Colorado university class
A transgender woman has filed a Title IX complaint after allegedly being denied entry into a Colorado Mesa University tech class, and the Colorado Civil Rights Division has set a date for mediation in the case. In November 2025, Tammy Powers moved from San Francisco to Grand Junction and at the urging of her son…
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Cherry Creek School Board member resigns after ‘racialized remarks,’ district says
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include a response from former board member Terry Bates, which was received after publication. Cherry Creek School Board Member Terry Bates resigned after making “racialized remarks,” the district announced Friday. District officials did not disclose what the remarks were. “When a member’s actions fall short of board…
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DPS board advances bell-to-bell cellphone ban, approves “Safe Zones” policy
The Denver Public Schools Board of Education unanimously voted on Thursday to create a bell-to-bell cellphone ban for students, advancing the measure for adoption before the July 1 state mandate. The ban drew wide support from the community committee tasked with creating a policy, with 100% of members agreeing there should be no smartphones, watches,…