Denver’s school board voted Thursday, 4‑2, to shut down the Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy when the current school year ends. The decision follows a steep drop in enrollment – the school now serves just 24 students – and a district assessment that the program can no longer be funded on a per‑student basis.
Board split and key arguments
Board Vice President Monica Hunter and member John Youngquist cast the two dissenting votes. Hunter, a former Denver teacher and current union representative, urged the board to pause the vote until a negotiated agreement could address teacher concessions. She specifically asked for two paid days off for non‑tenured teachers to interview for other positions.
Youngquist described the closure as “heartbreaking,” arguing that the district should have intervened earlier when the school began to struggle, rather than allowing the situation to deteriorate to the point of closure.
Superintendent’s rationale
Superintendent Alex Marrero said the district had completed negotiations with the school’s teachers. He noted a verbal agreement that includes a $1,000 payment to teachers and protections for international teachers holding work visas. Marrero added that other requests – such as the paid‑day‑off provision – were rejected.
“The rationale is this is precedent setting,” Marrero explained, “and potentially we have some more school consolidations coming, and it would not behoove us to honor those indefinitely.” He emphasized that declining enrollment across Denver Public Schools is prompting a broader review of school viability, and he expects additional closures may be recommended.
Background of the academy
Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy opened in 2021 as a community‑driven high school modeled after historically Black colleges and universities. The school was founded by a group of Black parents and local sports coaches in far‑northeast Denver and initially operated with open enrollment, meaning any student could apply.
In its first year, the district mistakenly listed the school’s address, which founders say disadvantaged the program. Enrollment grew in 2022, but a 2023 relocation to a different part of the city caused a sharp decline. The move was opposed by parents and founders, who argued the school needed to remain in the northeast area where it had the strongest support.
The academy also experienced leadership turnover. The founding principal departed, and parent‑founder Brandon Pryor sued the district after being barred from school grounds, ultimately winning his case.
Financial realities
Denver Public Schools funds schools on a per‑student basis. With only 24 students, the district determined that the academy had become financially unsustainable. Marrero indicated that the $1,000 teacher payment and visa protections were the district’s final concessions.
While the closure is a loss for the community that created the school, officials argue the decision aligns with fiscal responsibility and the need to allocate limited resources to schools serving larger student populations.
What’s next?
The board’s vote sets a timeline for the academy’s final semester. Parents and community members who supported the school are encouraged to stay engaged with the district as it evaluates other schools facing similar enrollment challenges. The board will continue to consider proposals for consolidations and resource allocation in upcoming meetings.
Original reporting: Denverite — read the source article.
