Mike Johnston Wants to Remake the Denver School Board
Mayor Blasts Denver School Board for Ongoing Turmoil and Infighting: Calls for New Faces to Restore Stability and Success
The city's Mayor, Mike Johnston, has set his sights on the Denver school board in a fiery statement last week, criticizing their ongoing infighting and tumultuous behavior. In an unprecedented move, the mayor has also endorsed three challengers in the upcoming election, calling for new faces to replace the current board and restore stability to the district.
Johnston, a former principal and parent within Denver Public Schools, expressed his frustration with the board's behavior, stating that "we need a functioning board to have a successful city." He also specifically mentioned the impact on the district's superintendent, teachers, and principals, saying that the turmoil "makes it hard for [the superintendent] to do his job" and creates challenges for those on the front lines of education.
The mayor's endorsements for three challengers ahead of Tuesday's election have been met with controversy, as they have been prominently featured by a dark-money campaign organization known as Better Leaders, Stronger Schools. The organization has been using Johnston’s photo and support to boost the campaigns of Kimberlee Sia in District 1, Marlene De La Rosa in District 5, and John Youngquist for the citywide seat.
READ MORE:
DENVER SCHOOL BOARD CONSIDERS QUADRUPLING MEMBERS' PAY TO $33,000
DPS QUESTIONABLE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH TROUBLED BOARD MEMBER
COLORADO PUBLIC SCHOOLS HIT SHOCKING RECORD NUMBER OF SUSPENSIONS
However, the mayor has also voiced his disapproval of the tactics being used by the campaign organization, particularly in a controversial mailer attacking candidate Kwame Spearman. According to Johnston, the mailer was "outside the bounds of what was reasonable in a school board race" and he immediately demanded that it be stopped when he saw it.
With the election just hours away, it remains to be seen whether the mayor's endorsements will be enough to bring about change and restore stability to the Denver school board.