Denver Public Schools reform vote needs reform

Tonight, the Denver Public Schools board will consider a range of reform issues involving low-performing schools and much more. But the agenda calls for the outgoing board, including three members who’ll be attending their last meeting, to vote on the proposals, leaving incoming representatives, three of them newbies, to either…

Denver Blogs: Haven’t you pregnant ladies ever heard of condoms?

We call this feature “Denver Blogs” for a reason. Check out these blogs from Denver. The Colorado Independent’s Kate Redding reports that the insurance lobby is promising to fight any legislation “that would force insurers to offer individual plans that would cover maternity care.” Celibate good times, come on! David…

Do Denver Public Schools’ turnaround plans deserve an A?

Denver Public Schools officials have suggested a series of plans to “turn around” the city’s six lowest-performing schools. But before they approve the changes, they want to hear from the public. The Board of Education will hear public comment on the recommendations at meetings tonight and Thursday night from 7…

Denver Blogs: Broncos chalk-talk a good game

No need to fear the local blogosphere. Following a massive breakdown of this Monday’s Broncos-Steelers contest, Mile High Report’s Steve Nichols predicts: “Denver wins (fingers crossed and nervous as Hell).” Right there with you, Steve. Alan Gottlieb at Education News Colorado says that a bad decision or two by Denver’s…

Education cuts could be even more damaging than advertised

At 4:30 p.m., Governor Bill Ritter has scheduled a news conference to talk about the rest of his budget proposal for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, following his Monday submission of digits relating to the Public Health and Environment, Agriculture and Transportation departments. And according to a piece in this morning’s…

Why rich college kids can sell dope and you can’t

In the long-foundering, ever-festering war on drugs, there’s just about zero truth to the idea of zero tolerance. As anyone who’s studied the prison population can figure out, certain groups dealing in illegal drugs can be targeted for harsh punishment, while other groups trafficking in the same drugs are all…

Flu-related absences rising at Fairview Elementary, Knapp Elementary

Denver Public Schools spokesman Michael Vaughn has come through with the names of more DPS facilities seeing big absences due to the flu, be it H1N1/swine flu or the seasonal variety, along with specific percentages. He’d previously mentioned Columbian Elementary School, at 2925 W. 40th Avenue: Attendance there is at…

Which Denver schools have the most swine-flu absences?

It seemed like a simple question: Which facilities in the Denver Public School system are experiencing the most H1N1-related absences? But in the day-plus since being asked that question by yours truly, DPS spokesman Michael Vaughn has mostly provided big picture info rather than specifics. He says he knows Columbian…

Allegedly pervy prof Vance Fulkerson and UNC part ways

Former theater professor Vance Fulkerson, who’s been charged with multiple sexual exploitation counts related to a video system reportedly located in his bathroom, has officially resigned from the University of Northern Colorado — and UNC spokesman Nate Haas doesn’t sound upset about that. “His resignation was effective September 25. He’s…

Denver Public Schools boss puts teachers on notice

Last night, Denver Public Schools superintendent Tom Boasberg gave his first-ever “State of the Schools” speech at North High School to a not-quite-SRO “crowd” of about 75 people — a total that even DPS chief communications officer Michael Vaughn can’t make sound impressive. “It was a decent turnout,” he offers,…

Denver Public School teachers really give back

The White House wants us to believe that the economy is on the mend, but teachers in the Denver Public School system aren’t buying it. Why else would they agree to a midstream contract revision that reduces a 4.15 percent cost-of-living increase to 2.5 percent, with a 1.65 percent bump…

Boulder teaches union talks tough to members, softer to the media

In “Strike Door Opens in Boulder Teacher Dispute,” Melissa Tingley, head of the Boulder Valley Education Association union, tells Denver Post reporter Jeremy Meyer that the filing of a formal notice to strike was mainly procedural. “It’s to keep all our options open,” she said. “There is obviously not a…

CU study: Your shower may be trying to kill you

Oh, great — another modern convenience that could be speeding us toward an early grave. Who knew that a shower without Norman Bates might be just as potentially lethal as one with him? According to a just-released study overseen by CU-Boulder prof Norman Pace, 30 percent of showerheads tested in…