Announcements

Stapleton Background

The Denver Public Schools is working with Forest City (Stapleton’s main developer), the City of Denver, and the Stapleton community to address the capacity issues in the community’s elementary schools, which as of fall 2010 will likely not have enough seats for the burgeoning early-elementary enrollment in the neighborhood.

Background on Stapleton Development
Development at Stapleton began approximately 10 years ago, with Forest City named as the master developer, and it included residential and commercial development, as well as significant public works. Under the terms of the development, the funding for those public works -- roads, parks, and schools – is to come from tax revenue generated within the development.

Stapleton plans call for four elementary schools and one middle school to be built and funded through these tax dollars in order to meet the needs of Stapleton families. As part of these plans, Forest City/Stapleton agreed to donate the land for these five schools (up to 45 acres), and the first two traditional DPS schools (Westerly Creek and William Roberts) have been developed under this structure. Because the agreement underlying the Stapleton development calls for the schools to be built with these development-generated tax dollars, recent DPS bond measures have not included requests for construction of additional elementary or middle schools in Stapleton. The Denver Urban Renewal Authority has recently indicated, however, that, due to the severe economic recession, there is currently not sufficient tax revenue available to support the construction of a third DPS school in Stapleton.

The Capacity Problem
Current projections forecast a substantial increase in school-age children in the community over the next several years. Westerly Creek and William Roberts are expected to be near capacity during this current school year, with significant shortfalls in available student capacity projected in 2010 (150-250 students), 2011 (300-500 students) and 2012 (500-750 students). Both near/mid-term solutions (2010 and 2011) and longer-term (2011+) solutions are needed to ensure school capacity is available to serve these students and families. Based upon current projections, DPS believes a new school is needed to serve this community by 2012 at the latest and preferably by 2011.

Working to Find a Solution
DPS is deeply concerned the shortage of school capacity in Stapleton. District officials are currently working with the developer, the city, and members of the Stapleton community to identify and evaluate options to address short-term capacity needs in 2010 and 2011.

Concurrently, DPS is working with representatives from Forest City/Stapleton, the city of Denver, DURA, the Stapleton Foundation and the Park Creek Metro District to discuss options on securing funding for the construction of a third school and addressing long-term needs. There is an urgent need to evaluate alternatives, recognizing that time will be required to design and construct a school once funding is available. We estimate that the development of the school is likely to take 18-24 months.

Concurrent activities including working with Forest City/Stapleton to identify and secure a site for a new school are also underway to minimize development time once funding issues are addressed.
We welcome community leadership and participation on these issues and we will continue working hard with the developer, the City, and the Stapleton families to find a solution to the capacity and funding challenges so that the community and its schools can continue to thrive.

For more information about The Stapleton Initiative, please send email to:  StapletonInitiative@dpsk12.org

Smaller Group Community Meetings and Focus Groups with Stapleton residents have been arranged.  View schedule of Focus Groups.

 "Save the Date"
September 15, 2009
Stapleton Town Hall Meeting

In an effort to ensure ongoing transparency and inclusion throughout this process, a list of your Frequently Asked Questions and Proposed Solutions will be updated regularly.    

Additional Stapleton Background Materials:

Summer 2009 - Stapleton Community Meeting (August 5, 2009)

• A copy of the meeting agenda
• The Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA) presentation
• The DPS data presentation on Stapleton schools
• The Survey Results from the Stapleton residents online survey conducted by The Stapleton Foundation and Denver Public Schools
• A Summary from the August 5, 2009 community meeting

DPS appointed a "Project Lead" and "Project Support" for The Stapleton Initiative (August 12, 2009)

• Ethan Hemming, Executive Deputy Director, Office of School Reform and Innovation is responsible for the evaluation of potential solutions
• Yana Smith, Senior Associate, Office of School Reform and Innovation is responsible for communication and community engagement

Stapleton Principal and Teacher Engagement Meeting to discuss potential solutions was held on (August 18, 2009)

• A copy of the meeting agenda