Community plans walkout to save DPS school from closing

DENVER (KDVR) — Parents and teachers at the Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design are having a walkout on Friday.

The school is one of seven on the chopping block from Denver Public School's latest closure announcement.

Parents and teachers said they’ve been attempting to talk about the low enrollment issue for years. Now, they’re making their voices heard during a planned walkout on Friday.

Organizers said students, parents and staff pushed to change leadership at the school last spring, along with pleas for the district to assist in enrollment and retention.

Now, in a last-ditch effort, they’re asking DPS to consider moving the Denver Center for International Studies Baker and the Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design under the same roof.

The Denver Center for International Studies Baker is also up for restructuring.

“Due to poor leadership by the administration and a lack of follow-through from the school district, this one-of-a-kind school is on the potential closure list,” organizers said in a press release.

Students will be walking out and marching from the Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design at 14th Avenue and Clarkson Street to the DPS Administration Building at 1860 Lincoln St.

Organizers said the Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design houses a large population of students with neurodiverse needs and has a large population of LGBTQ students.

The school also offers students the opportunity to co-enroll in college so they can get college credit.

Organizers are hoping the superintendent and the school board will accept the alternative. The walkout is set to start at 9:30 a.m.