Campus Violence Headlines Compel School Board Change

by Valley Gadfly | Jul 20, 2023 | Main Articles

Scandal Ridden Anderson Drops School Board ­Reelection Bid; DPS Releases Final Safety Plan Bringing Armed Police Back

by Glen Richardson

Anderson Bids Adieu: School Board VP Auon’tai Anderson is dropping his reelection bid. April poll showed just 9% planned to vote for Anderson. Photo: Denver Gazette

Baldermann Bid: Board’s Scott Baldermann, who proposed bringing police back, is seeking reelection. Elected in 2019, he represents District 1. Photo: Baldermann Website

Shootings, safety, and a bungling-inept school board pulled news of violence on Den­ver’s school campuses onto the front page of the nation’s largest mailed ­circulation newspaper, The Wall Street Journal.

The article by a trio of Dow Jones report­ers — with a two-thirds page jump and five photos — recounted the 2020 Denver School Board removal of 17 Denver Police Officers from 18 middle and high schools, followed by this April’s East High campus shootings. The June 27th article detailed East’s student march to the Capitol, and the plea by East High teachers for the School Board, “to do something.” The Journal then recounts the harshly written reply by School Board Vice President Auon’tai Anderson, “School police aren’t coming back to East or any ­campus.”

The article also quoted School Superintendent Alex Marrero, and Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas, concluding with the School Board’s decision one-week later to re­turn police to campuses.

Reckless Results

The article didn’t, however, reveal that the school board meeting was closed to the public and press. A violation of the Colorado Open Meetings Law, it was yet another ex­ample of the board’s recklessness. Not as foolish, however, as the board’s decision to

kick cops off campuses while keeping high-risk kids in class.

Cops On Campus: Denver police encircled East High after two administrators were shot by a student. U.S. News & World Report’s Best High Schools Rankings lists East 18th within Colorado. Photo: Andrew Miller, New York Times

Chronicle readers will recall that the East High student shooter was already on probation for a prior gun charge, and was being frisked for weapons when he shot the two administrators.

Equally alarming, neither the School Board or the Denver Public School system have any idea how many kids like the East High shooter will return to class with criminal records when fall classes begin August 22. Neither tracks them.

Lightning Bolt Leaving

With Denver police beginning to restore security in DPS schools, Vice President An­­derson is dropping his reelection bid, brightening the beginning of the fall school term this month.

A lightning rod criticized for infighting, his exit will create a sudden, meaningful change to the board’s dynamics. He was a part of the historic 2019 school board flip, backed by the teacher’s union. A poll taken in April revealed that just 9% planned to vote for Anderson. More than half said it was “time for someone new.”

Parents and teachers are optimistic that new members will restore credibility to the DPS Board. The two announced candidates seeking Anderson’s spot suggest the change will rebuild and restore reliability and inte­grity. They are: East High grad Kwame Spear­man, who ran for mayor, and is CEO of Tattered Cover, who says he would focus on school safety and educational excellence; and Security Consultant Paul Ballenger, a Denver father who served in the military, and is concerned about school safety. Former East High principal John Youngquist re­portedly is considering a run, but hasn’t yet decided.

Election Update

Two board members, Charmaine Lindsay and Scott Baldermann, are up for reelection. Lindsay — representing District 5 — was ap­pointed to fill a vacancy in 2022. When ap­pointed Lindsay said she wouldn’t seek another term.

Baldermann — who represents District 1 and was elected in 2019 — is running for reelection. He proposed and ­supported bringing police officers back to Denver schools. The change, opposed by

Student Scare: Shootings and lockdowns on and off campuses at Denver public schools have created fear, frustrations, and calls for sweeping change. Photo: Wandy Cross, Associated Press

Anderson, won by a 4-3 vote. Baldermann supports smaller class sizes, flexibility, and backing for teachers.

Credit for bringing police officers back to schools in Denver was driven by parents who mobilized after the shootings. Remember, East High student Luis Garcia, 16, was also shot near the East campus back in February.

Reelection In 2025

The four other school board members will be up for reelection in November 2025. Xóchitl Gaytán ­ who represents District 2 ­ is the current board president. She was elected in 2021.

The other board members, Olson, Quattlebaum, and Esserman, were the trio that most often allowed Anderson’s antics to con­­­stantly slide, according to critics, by repeatedly offering excuses encouraging Anderson’s shifty, scheming behavior.

Scott Esserman is an at-large member elected in 2021; Carrie Olson represents Dis­­trict 3 and was elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2021; and Michelle Quattlebaum represents District 4 and was elected in 2021.

Final Safety Plan

DPS’s final school safety plan has armed police officers returning to Denver schools.

The final version made public July 1st by Denver School Superintendent Alex Mar­rero, returns officers to the same 13 large high schools — including East High School ­— where police were re-stationed this spring. The district is still considering school resource officers or SRO’s at secondary schools.

Unlike previous policy, Marrero will now have the power to remove officers who do not follow best practices. Denver’s Police De­partment will be required to monitor ci­tations and arrests, requiring “corrective action” if citations disproportionately affect marginalized groups. Initial plan details do not specify the number of officers at each school or their exact responsibilities.

Seeking Common Roles

During the plan’s development (July 1 was third-final), Marrero has pursued a collaborative approach with the Denver Police Department. The final version has the DPD developing strategies and standards, though that likely hinges on the mayoral transition.

The superintendent has constantly indicated that guns and violence are not just a DPS problem but a “city problem.” With little or no consequences, Denver has been dealing with both since his arrival, he says. ­Swiftly adding, “And I’m sure before that.” DPS hopes a new memo of understanding can be developed between Mayor-elect Mike Johnston and DPD Chief Ron Thomas, albeit thus far Johnston has remained unresponsive.

The plan calls for added security support when conducting student searches, plus a safety audit of school building. A weapons detection system plan will be considered following “extensive community engagement.” Finally, the plan provides for three mental health screenings of students during the school year.  

Cirque Du Solei ­KOOZA ­Under The Big Top In ­Denver Through August 13

by Mark Smiley | Jul 20, 2023 | Main Articles

Fans Claim Best Cirque ­Production To Come To Denver In Years

by Mark Smiley

The equipment is as simple as it gets — eight chairs and a pedestal — but in this act, the artist uses them to create a 23–foot tower on which to perform a balancing act that displays the human body at the very peak of condition and muscular control. Photo Credit: Matt Beard & Bernard Letendre

Cirque du Soleil’s production ­KOOZA is under the big top at Denver’s Ball Arena through August 13, 2023. KOOZA had its world premiere in April 2007 in Mon­tréal, Canada, and has since play­ed in over 66 cities in 22 countries, including Denver in 2009. KOOZA has performed in front of eight million spectators since its creation. The big top in Ball Arena’s parking lot has a seating capacity of 2,600 which makes for an intimate show without a bad seat in the house.

KOOZA is packed with interesting characters, daring acrobatics, clowns, lavish costuming (by Marie Chantale Vaillancourt, Cirque du Soleil), colorful sets, and a powerful live score that complimented the show wonderfully. The music of KOOZA demonstrates the spirit of the live show with its themes of human connection and fun in a world of duality.

With a stream of uplifting songs with time­less influences where forms and styles intertwine, the music of KOOZA is inspired by the sounds of western pop culture, from 1970s funk to full orchestral arrangements. It also draws heavily on traditional Indian music. There are six KOOZA musicians who play live music during each performance: trumpet, trombone, bass, drums, percussion, saxophone, electric guitar, and keyboard. There are also two singers who sing live during each performance.

KOOZA’s 1,600-pound Wheel of Death rotates at high speeds, powered only by the two artists who leap and counter-rotate in a display of fearless acrobatics and teamwork. Like the High Wire, the Wheel of Death is positioned diagonally, stage left to stage right, in order to break with the usual symmetry and bring the action as close as possible to the audience. Photo Credit: Matt Beard & Bernard Letendre

KOOZA is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil that combines two circus traditions — acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of human performance, presented in a colorful way that emphasizes bold slapstick humor. The audience had plenty to observe as the action never stopped through its two hour and 10 minute performance.

“KOOZA is about human connection and the world of duality, good and bad,” says the show’s writer and director David Shiner. “The tone is fun and funny, light and open. The show doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it’s very much about ideas, too. As it evolves, we are exploring concepts such as fear, identity, recognition and power.”

The name KOOZA is inspired by the San­skrit word “koza,” which means “box,” “chest,” or “treasure,” and was chosen because one of the underlying concepts of the production is the idea of a “circus in a box.”

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit cirquedusoleil.com/kooza.

A twist on the classic unicycle number introduces a passenger to the action. Two per­­form­ers create a pas de deux in constant motion around the stage with a combination of balance, acrobatic control, physical strength, choreographic grace, and a spirit of partnership. Photo Credit: Matt Beard & Bernard Letendre

Young performers work in unison to bring a new approach to the art of contortion. What sets this number apart are the artists’ innovations in movements and position, their speed, and the way they work as a team to create a tableaux of sculptural beauty. Photo Credit: Matt Beard & Bernard Letendre

With the ability to fly, spin, and swing in all directions, the flowing dynamics of the aerialist’s motion is juxtaposed against the high acrobatics performed in this silk act. The versatility of the artist allows her to own the space and soar into aerial feats while continuously building the excitement to its climax. Photo Credit: Matt Beard & Bernard Letendre