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The next EdEquity Corner is
Wednesday, June 8th from 5-7 pm.
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RECAP: In May we welcomed Colorado State Board of Education Member Lisa Escarcega. We discussed how the state board's decisions impact schools at the nighborhood level and how she engages with her constituents.Thank you Lisa for sharing your thoughts with us!
COMING UP: EdEquity Corner will be an in-person celebration in June! Join us for an informal gathering at Sexy Pizza, 2846 Fairfax Street, on June 8 from 5-7pm. We will meet on the patio and provide free pizzas until they run out. Your children are welcome! Let's celebrate the conclusion of another pandemic school year and recharge our batteries for continuing the fight for equity in Park Hill next year.
RSVP to info@phnee.org
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Understanding School Funding:
Context is What Matters
Head over to the PHNEE blog for Erin Pier's important insights on school funding. She explains why context is critical to understanding why the state’s and our district’s current system of student-based budgeting leads to inequities. Here's an excerpt:
"...While the per pupil funding for students at Park Hill Elementary is less than the other neighborhood schools, the annual public budget is ultimately the largest because of the number of students enrolled. While an initial response might be, “well of course, there are more students to educate at Park Hill,” the truth is that larger class sizes don’t cost thousands more to educate. For example, a class of 18 vs. 28 costs a school the same to run: one teacher, one section of specials, a minimal difference for the nurse or secretary. Yet, the classroom with more students would receive $55k more in funding. Multiply that by several classrooms in the building, and schools with the same functional costs, end up with vastly different resources. An additional consideration is the needs of the students in these classrooms. Looking at the neighborhood data above, there is a striking difference in socio-economic status among each of the neighborhood schools. Within Park Hill Elementary’s 721 students, 15 percent qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch or FRL (a common measure of students living in poverty). By comparison 84% of Hallett’s students qualify for FRL, 87% of Smith’s students qualify for FRL, 56% of Stedman’s and 29% of Odyssey’s....[t]he more students in poverty in a classroom, the more resources a teacher will need in order to fully support them. For example, they may need more physical materials (paper, pens, calculators), more student support (social workers, psychologists, paraprofessionals), and increased differentiated instruction. While the state and district attempt to increase equity by providing some additional funding to schools based on FRL numbers, PTA fundraising in more affluent schools can upset the balance even further."
Erin Pier is a mother of three, Stedman parent, and school psychologist at AUL Denver. She is an active member of the Park Hill Neighbors For Equity In Education.
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Don't miss the Summer Passport Program!
Park Hill Neighbors for Equity in Education (PHNEE) is ready to launch the second annual Summer Passport Program! This project provides a way for families to learn more about the Greater Park Hill neighborhood and its rich history through a FREE, fun, family-friendly, COVID-safe activity for kids, parents, grandparents, and community members.
It's easy to participate! For more information and to download a passport, click HERE. You can also pick up passports from the PHNEE office or the locations listed below. On the passport, you will find a map of key landmarks in GPH and activities that can be accomplished at each location. The map includes every elementary school and library in our neighborhood as well as a number of local businesses. Pick a location, walk, bike, or scoot on over, and perform the activity described on the passport or get a small prize from a participating business. You can then “stamp” your passport and move on to the next stop.
The program runs from June 4 - August 15 so you have plenty of time to get to each stop. When you have completed the passport you can take a picture of it and email it to info@phnee.org or drop it off at the PHNEE office at 1961 Holly St. If you visit all 5 schools, both libraries, and at least 3 businesses you will be entered into a drawing for Grand Prizes including tickets to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, gift certificates from Sexy Pizza and School of Breaking, a day pass to Elitch’s and much more!
You can pick up passports NOW at: City Donuts, Park Hill Community Bookstore, Sexy Pizza, My King's, DANG, Esther's, Art Garage, Mighty Movement, Nestman Orthodontics, Pauline Robinson Library, and Park Hill Library. If passports run out at these locations, after June 4, you can pick one up at the PHNEE office at 1961 Holly Street. WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!
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This Denver 360 In-Depth article discusses inequities in access to summer programming, and includes several different educator and parent perspectives on what students need to thrive over summer break.
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Meet the 5 applicants to fill a seat on the Denver school board
This Chalkbeat article gives an overview of the 5 applicants who want to represent Northwest Denver on the school board: Julie Bañuelos, Leonard Darnell, David Diaz, Adeel Khan, and Charmaine Lindsay. They answered questions at a community forum on topics such as school choice, school funding, and gentrification.
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DPS support staff such as food service workers, paraprofessionals, and custodians are struggling financially with their current wages of $15.87 an hour. Many must rely on social services for themselves and their families and are unable to afford to live in Denver. Negotiations with the district have led to arguments about what constitutes a "livable wage".
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