Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and former Mayor Federico Peña weighed into education politics Monday with a statement sharply criticizing the Denver school board for “undermining” outgoing Superintendent Susana Cordova, who recently announced her resignation. The mayors said the board should abdicate what is arguably its most important duty — hiring a superintendent — and let […]
teacher strike
Posted inCOVID, Education, News, Politics and Government
“No one predicted a pandemic”: Denver to ask teachers to give up some raises secured by strike
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat, a nonprofit news organization covering public education. Sign up for their newsletters here: ckbe.at/newsletters Faced with a $65 million budget shortfall, the Denver school district plans to ask teachers to forgo some of the pay raises guaranteed by a hard-won union contract. On Tuesday, Denver Public Schools sent […]
Posted inEducation, News
With a 15.7% average pay increase post-strike, more Denver teachers returned to work
Far more Denver teachers returned to the classroom this fall than in previous years, a retention boost that district officials attribute to pay increases won after a teacher strike last year. But because veteran teachers tend to make more money than new hires, the higher retention means the district is paying more in teacher salaries than it […]
Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government
Many Colorado teachers willing to walk out to protest school funding, union survey finds
Colorado’s largest teachers union says most of its members are prepared to participate in walk-outs if the state does not significantly increase education funding and teacher pay. In its first Colorado State of Education report, the Colorado Education Association laid out a number of legislative priorities for 2020 based on a member survey and a 13-stop […]
Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government
Why the Denver school board “flipped” toward reform and what might happen next
Carried by momentum from February’s teachers strike and a broader backlash against the status quo, candidates opposed to the policies that made Denver Public Schools a national exemplar for education reform now control the school board for the first time. Instead of five members backed by pro-reform organizations and two backed by the teachers union, […]
Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government
Teachers in Park County end strike without pay raises or a contract
By Erica Meltzer, Chalkbeat Colorado Teachers in the Park County Re-2 district based in Fairplay are returning to work Thursday with neither the professional agreement nor the pay raises they sought when they started their strike on Oct. 14. This marks the end of the longest teacher strike in Colorado in decades and the first in recent […]
Posted inEducation, News
Park County teacher strike enters its second week, even as classes resume
By Erica Meltzer, Chalkbeat Colorado A teacher strike in Colorado’s high country is entering its second week with no sign of how or when the labor dispute will be resolved and even as classes resume in the district. Teachers in Park County went on strike Oct. 14. Roughly 40 teachers serve some 600 students in […]
Posted inEducation
Teachers’ strike continues for second day in Park County
FAIRPLAY — Classes are canceled for a second day in a central Colorado district because of a strike by teachers. Teachers in the Park County School District RE-2 were picketing again Tuesday over wages and other issues. District officials have offered a $2,000 raise. A member of the South Park Education Association, Doug Freeman, told KOA-AM that […]
Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government
Park County teachers plan to strike Monday after negotiations break down
By Erica Meltzer, Chalkbeat Colorado Teachers in the Park County school district are poised to strike Monday after negotiations with the district failed to yield an agreement. If members of the South Park Education Association walk off the job, it will be the third teacher strike in Colorado in less than 18 months. This is the latest […]
Posted inEducation, Energy, Health, Politics and Government
At 100-day mark, Gov. Jared Polis evaluates his campaign promises and toughest moments
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis reaches the 100-day mark of his administration Thursday with plenty to celebrate, even if he didn’t deliver on one of his top campaign promises. This week, the Democrat’s top agenda item — a measure to provide state-funded, full-day kindergarten — won a key victory, and other legislation he supports is advancing […]