NWNMSN believes Skinner can be a strong, integrated, socioeconomically diverse neighborhood middle school that provides a place for all kids, including those who are already achieving at or above grade level.
We don't want a white, affluent "silo" school or a separated track. We value the diversity of our community and want our kids to go to a school that reflects the socioeconomic, ethnic and racial mix of the neighborhood. But we do expect a quality education for all students—one that advances students below grade level while offering advanced academic courses for those who are ready.
The Good News. Skinner is doing a good job of improving academic achievement of students lagging below grade level, as growth scores indicate. Skinner students are well behaved, on task and respectful. Higher-achieving students in 7th and 8th grades can take more advanced "honors" language arts and math offerings.
The Not-So-Good News. Many of the highest-achieving kids in NW Denver are commuting across town to the east side for quality middle schools rather than choosing Skinner, leaving a population of only about 320 students at Skinner who are collectively 65% below proficient on the CSAP. Furthermore, the "honors" level classes at Skinner are not consistent with other DPS honors classes.
The Opportunity. Hundreds of parents have told us they will commit to send their kids to Skinner IF they can be guaranteed a quality program. We have asked DPS to supplement the existing efforts at Skinner to meet the needs of higher achievers as thoroughly as they are meeting the needs of mid- to low-range achievers.
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History of NW Neighborhood Middle Schools NOW (through Dec. 1, 2009)
- Sep. 29, 2009
Denver Plan presentation: DPS Superintendant Tom Boasberg presents the 2009 Denver Plan to the community (at North High), exhorting parents to “make us raise the bar for your kids.”
- Oct. 1-16, 2009
The newly formed NW Neighborhood Middle Schools NOW group sends out letters and emails encouraging people to attend the upcoming NW regional meeting.
- Oct. 17, 2009
Regional meeting: DPS holds a NW regional meeting to discuss "low-performing schools" and “turnaround strategies.” NW Denver Middle Schools NOW group presents at the meeting, citing statistics showing that mid- to high-achieving kids coming out of NW elementary schools are leaving the quadrant for middle school. NWNMSN parents ask DPS to hold meetings at NW elementary schools to hear what NW parents are looking for in middle schools. DPS agrees.
- Oct. 17-Nov. 1
NWNMSN sends letters and emails to parents at Sandoval and Edison and other community email groups, with our Middle School Fact Sheet informing them of the elementary school meetings and encouraging them to attend and let their opinions be heard.
- Oct. 26-Nov. 3
NW Elementary school meetings on middle school: A series of eight meetings are held at NW elementary schools. At the Sandoval meeting on Nov. 2, NWNMSN parents from Sandoval speak about the need for options in NW Denver for kids leaving Sandoval at or above grade level. Many other Sandoval parents express frustration over the current options available, particularly at the difficulty of getting into the popular specialized programs at DCIS and DSA. There are many common expressions of desire for an integrated neighborhood school that offers options for accelerated learners AND below-grade level learners, as well as enrichment electives such as music, art and foreign languages. The Edison meeting on Nov. 3 resonates with a similar demand for an integrated, non-HGT program that kids don’t have to test into but that provides offerings across the spectrum. Many parents expressed interest in Skinner, and Skinner principal Nicole Veltze gave a presentation about Skinner.
NWNMSN circulates a petition ("Request for an accelerated or honors program integrated into a NW middle school, 10-31-09") at these meetings at Sandoval and Edison and in just a few days gathers 170 signatures from parents who support “a strong, integrated, socioeconomically diverse neighborhood middle school that provides a place for kids who are already achieving at or above grade level.”
DPS representatives at the Sandoval and Edison meetings agree to present the information and the community desires expressed at the meetings to DPS administration, including Superintendent Boasberg, who will then present the information to the DPS board.
- Nov. 5
NWNMSN presents petitionwith 170 signatures to Tracy Dorland, instructional superintendent, and again asks that she verbally deliver to DPS administration what transpired at the Edison and Sandoval meetings.
- Nov. 9
DPS recommends turnaround strategies to board. For NW these include two new West Denver Prep schools, each to serve 300 kids. One will be located at Lake and another, for one year only, at the Emerson St. building on 29thand Zuni. In addition, the Lake IB program will be divided into two academies, one beginning with just 6thgrade and growing by year and the second, for 7thand 8thgraders, to be phased out after two years.
In presenting turnaround strategies to board, Superintendent Boasberg also presents a summary of the NW elementary school meetings: "NW –Input from Elementary School Parents." Unfortunately, that summary mischaracterizes those meetings to some extent, citing parents’ desire for HGT options that were, in fact, never voiced at the meetings.
- Nov. 11
NWNMSN meets with Nicole Veltze, who describes the impact on Skinner’s enrollment of the many K-8 schools that have been added within 1.25 miles of Skinner since 2003, and says that the second WDP at Emerson will further impact Skinner’s enrollment. NWNMSN discusses with Principal Veltze a proposed Skinner reinvestment strategy, one that will continue the excellent work she is doing and school culture and climate she has cultivated at Skinner with added accelerated options for kids who are at or above grade level.
- Nov. 12
NWNMSN meets with Tom Boasbergto discuss its desire for a strong neighborhood middle school. NWNMSN presents Boasberg with data showing performance drop-off from elementary to middle schools in NW Denver and how mid- to high-achieving kids are consistently leaving the district for middle school. We also explain to him that West Denver Prep, while very effective at bringing kids up to grade level, is not a viable option for many of our kids who are already at grade level, as the longer school day and academic year, rigidity of the program, emphasis on basic skills and lack of enrichment is not what we are looking for in a middle school. NWNMSN presents Boasberg with a defined Skinner Reinvestment Strategy describing how Skinner could become a school that is competitive with others in the district where mid- to high-achieving middle schoolers enroll. Boasberg says what the group is asking for makes sense and recommends that we seek grant support to fund our reinvestment strategy.
- Nov. 16 & 19
NWNMSN speaks at DPS Board Meetings to make our case for a strong neighborhood middle school. NWNMSN presents School Board members with data showing that previously approved school alternatives in the neighborhood (Centennial K-8, Bryant Webster K-8, DATA, Cesar Chavez Academy) have siphoned off more than 300 from Skinner’s student population over the last five years, leaving the school with 320 students and an increased percentage of free and reduced lunch families (90%). We urge the Board to introduce only one charter for 2010-2011 school year to help stabilize Skinner’s enrollment.
- November
NWNMSN meets privately with individual School Board members to make our case, with supporting data, for a strong neighborhood middle school, and continues to set up these meetings to ensure votes that consider quadrant-wide feeder pattern enrollment and consistency. - Nov. 30
DPS Board votes on a number of "turnaround strategies" throughout the district, to become effective in the beginning of the 2010-11 academic year. For the Northwest part of the city, the strategies include the following: The Lake facility will become a shared campus with West Denver Prep School #3, beginning with sixth grade students only; a new Lake IB program, with a new principal, will begin with 6th graders only; current Lake 6th and 7th graders will continue at Lake next year, with a new principal; and there will be a common boundary for both the Lake IB and West Denver Prep programs, with families able to choose which program they want their child to attend.
In addition, the DPS administration recommended, and the board voted, to defer the decision on the placement of West Denver Prep #4 for 30 days. WDP#4 had been slated to open at the Emerson St. building, on 29th and Zuni, in 2010, and after one year to move to North High School. Both Emerson and North are located within the Skinner boundary area. - Dec. 9
NW Middle Schools Now launches website, with request for supporters to sign Petition for Reinvestment in and Support of Skinner Middle School.
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