East High parents just received this: Campus Messenger by Infinite Campus Dear Parents and Families: As part of the community conversations that Denver Public Schools has organized over the past several weeks regarding potential approaches to improve Manual High School, there has been some discussion about the possibility of a new partnership between East and Manual high schools. I wanted to take this opportunity to give you some background on the partnership idea and encourage you to attend Tuesday?s meeting at East, where you will have an opportunity to give us your input. But first I want to be clear that we are in the very early stages of discussion. No decisions have been made about a possible partnership between the two schools, and the superintendent has stated firmly that no decisions or recommendations to the Board of Education will be made for at least a year, giving our community plenty of time to discuss possible alternatives and their pros and cons. There are many difficult and challenging issues to discuss, and we need time in both the East and Manual communities to talk about different options and their potential strengths and weaknesses. This means that current East students, as well as current 7th- and 8th-graders who live in the East boundary would not be impacted by any of the plans being discussed. As you may know, East and Manual have a significant history together. For many years in the 1980s and ?90s the schools partnered in an East-Manual complex. That partnership ended in the 1990s, but during the time I have been at East, the question has frequently resurfaced about whether the two schools should revive it or explore a new type of partnership. When the Manual community started talking a few months ago about potential changes at their campus, I suggested that we explore again the idea of an East-Manual partnership. I feel the idea is worth considering because it has the potential to extend the quality educational programs at East to more students and to create new and improved opportunities for East students. While we certainly have significant growth areas at East, I am proud of the quality of education we offer our students, and the quality and diversity of our programs is among the finest in the state. I also respect the proud legacy of Manual and the deep loyalty in the Manual community to their school. After a number of discussions with faculty, students, and parents here at East, I worked closely with Don Roy, the principal of Manual, and Jamie Lofaro, the principal of PREP, to put on the table for discussion a possible approach to a new East-Manual Partnership. The proposal that we put together would combine the East and Manual 9th grades into a single 9th grade academy that would be run by and be part of East and would be located on the Manual campus. With Manual?s 9th grade class this fall projected to have fewer than 80 students and with more Manual boundary 9th grade students already enrolled at East for this fall than at Manual, such a combination would increase East?s 9th grade enrollment by about 10% (assuming we continue to admit the current number of choice students). Under this approach, Manual High School would become a rigorous, 10th-12th grade Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) high school open to students from both the Manual and East boundaries. The East campus would serve as a comprehensive 10th-12th-grade high school, serving students from both the East and Manual neighborhoods. 10th-12th grade students at both East and Manual would have the ability to take classes at each campus, as was formerly the case with the East-Manual Complex. I want to emphasize this is only a preliminary idea for discussion, and no decisions will be made for at least another year. While I have had the opportunity to discuss possible opportunities over the last several months with parents, teachers, and students at East, it?s time now for the conversations to expand to the whole community. And the 9th-grade academy/STEM partnership is only one option. I encourage you to come to the May 27 meeting, which will be held at 6 p.m. at East, with an open mind and a willingness to share your thoughts on the merits of a potential East-Manual partnership, in whatever form that may take. This will be one of many discussions that I anticipate we will have as a community in the months to come. Thank you, and I hope to see you on Tuesday. Andy Mendelsberg Principal, East High School
Posted on: Fri, 23 May 2014 23:19:48 +0000
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