Melanie Asmar

Melanie Asmar

Bureau Chief, Chalkbeat Colorado

Melanie Asmar covers Denver Public Schools. Write her at masmar@chalkbeat.org.

The Denver teachers union is asking Denver Public Schools to negotiate a special agreement for the teachers who would lose their jobs if schools close.

Denver Public Schools said any closed schools would be repurposed with input from the community — and not sold.

Estudiantes abandonaron sus clases el viernes y marcharon hacia la oficina central de las Escuelas Públicas de Denver.

They described the proposed closures as “illogical,” “unethical,” “half-baked,” “discriminatory,” and “classist.”

Students walked out of class Friday and marched to Denver Public Schools headquarters, where they chanted, “Keep your hands! Off our school!”

The $975 million bond ask was the largest in the district’s history.

Superintendent Alex Marrero has recommended closing 10 schools due to declining enrollment.

Amendment 80 proposed to enshrine school choice in the Colorado Constitution.