Hundreds of Denver School of the Arts students walk out of class in response to proposed layoffs
On Monday, dozens of Denver School of the Arts students walked out of class in response to proposed layoffs. The proposed layoffs are part of the Collaborative School Committee's recommendations for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.
The committee is made up of family, staff and community and is mandated by Colorado law for all schools.
"I got angry. I got really angry. And I am not only angry, I am scared," said Hayden Ferrandino, a sophomore at DSA who helped organize the walkout.
Ferrandino said the pending layoffs have torn the school apart.
"We saw teachers tear up in classrooms," Ferrandino said.
DSA students organized the walkout and compiled a list of concerns. Some of those include claims that DSA's administration "created a hostile work environment" that pitted teachers against each other.
"We saw our teachers tear up in classrooms. We saw teachers who had just been told that they were considered to be fired, or being fired and have to go pick up and teach. And that breaks every student's heart," said student Hayden Ferrandio.
The group also claims DSA is out of compliance with the CSC by not following the bylaws and guidance of the committee.
The students also claim DSA administration has not shared information about the budget and has a lack of transparency. They want more transparency from the administration and want teachers to be treated fairly.
DPS announced the layoffs would impact more than just DSA, but not every school would see cuts. The district said the cuts would be based on enrollment at each school.
"This is something that occurs every single year in school districts across the country," said Scott Pribble, spokesperson for the district. "These are not easy cuts for anybody involved. (The district has) to do this every year to make sure they are fiscally responsible for the taxpayers in the city."
Erin Kachline has been a parent of a DSA student for more than eight years. She attended the walkout in support of teachers and the students, like her daughter, who are standing with them.
"The teachers are what makes DSA a great place," Kachline said.
Kachline accused the district of not handling the pending layoffs properly, adding that her graduating daughter was hoping to stand in solidarity with the teachers who she has grown to love.
"I feel like she is doing this for the younger students," Kachline said. "She has so much respect for her teachers and wanted to let them know she supports them."
Ferrandino said she was hoping the organized walkout would result in the district retaining staff.
"(Potential layoffs) breaks every student's heart. At DSA we have a unique environment where we form close bonds with our teachers due to the arts," Ferrandino said. "When you harm those teachers who foster those amazing environments, when you hurt the students by removing the teachers they trust and love, that is why this matters."
Denver Public Schools said all non-probationary teachers and staff released during the layoffs will be guaranteed a position within the district in the next school year and released the following statement:
Each spring, every school in Denver Public Schools has the difficult task of taking the amount of money that is being provided to them and determining the best way to educate and support their students while being fiscally responsible to the citizens of Denver. Oftentimes, that can lead to difficult decisions of making cuts to the staff and operations. Schools work with internal committees and Central Office partners during this process.
Non-probationary staff members who lose their position due to a Reduction in Building (RIB) are guaranteed a position somewhere within the district for the 2024-2025 school year. They also have the opportunity to apply for and accept a position of their choosing within DPS or another school district.
We support and respect our students' right to protest. DPS personnel were on site to ensure that students were safe during this time.