'Can't place a price on our community': Students, parents speak at DPS public comment session

DENVER (KDVR) — The Denver Public Schools Board of Education hosted a public comment session on Monday night about the plan to close or restructure 10 schools. 

This week, the superintendent is hosting meetings with school communities ahead of Thursday’s vote. The district said the decision to close or restructure is due to low enrollment and high costs to keep the buildings functioning.

During Monday's public comment session, the board estimated that they spoke to 500 families, students and staff during the daytime session, as well as about 170 during the evening session. 

Students, parents plea to keep schools open

Many students and parents took to the microphone with some passionate statements to board members. Here are some of their testimonies:

What will happen to the students and families who live there? Will they be forgotten? Will they slip through the cracks of the school system? Because we refuse to allow these, these amazing schools and programs to thrive. I have been taught to see injustice in my environment and advocate where I see fit. Right now as I look at this room and as I look at the walkouts and the community engagement nights that we have had, and I look at your table, I see complete inequity to our students and families, and it seems like a deliberate attack on the west side community."   Nayeli, a high school student at the Denver Center for International Studies

You can't place a price on our community. We shouldn't have to justify our existence, but our community has shown up in droves to do it anyway to support the amazing DCIS community. The school board says it cares about the students' voices, so prove it and listen to ours. Our school is not something to be merged; merging our school would destroy it. It would destroy its international programming. Our school deserves better. Our school is irreplaceable and above all, our school is loved.”   Kenna, a senior student at the Denver Center for International Studies

I have been a student at Palmer since I was three years old. All of my friends attended Palmer, and we have been in the same school together for six years now. We have the best teacher and the best school. Our school is like a big family. Please don't make me go to another school without my friends for fourth and fifth grade. Please don't close. Palmer. I love Palmer." Quinn, a third grader at Palmer Elementary

Also, the new proposed enrollment zones would destroy the very essence of neighborhood schools and could perpetuate declining enrollment. How you ask? Most of the schools in our proposed new enrollment zone feel that they were intentionally left out of the conversation and they are against this solution and they could just leave DPS altogether. Also, busing kids is not the solution. Chronic absenteeism will rise with busing. Families without reliable transportation also face challenges in how to get to their kids' schools. They won’t get to volunteer or attend any of their kids/events.”  Diana, a Palmer Elementary parent

DPS said in a previous statement that it encourages young voices to speak up. 

The board will vote on Thursday, Nov. 21.