Shared campuses proposed for Denver schools

November 7, 2:01 AMDenver Community Issues ExaminerRichard Taylor

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 According to Denver Public Schools, middle and high schools are only 60-70% full. Considering operating and maintenance costs, an empty seat in a school costs the district approximately $1,500 per year. Multiply that by a few hundred empty seats and you're talking real money.

Denver Public Schools has come up with an idea to solve the problem by sharing its campuses with other schools. The schools will function separately with their own faculty and classrooms and will share common areas such as cafeterias, libraries, gymnasiums and athletic fields. DPS call this "right-sizing" making full and effective uses of existing school facilities. The Denver School Board will establish the criteria for what types of charter schools may share facilities with existing schools.

Ethan Hemming, the deputy director of DPS's New Schools Office, gave a presentation of the shared campus proposal before a group of parents, students and residents at Rishel Middle school, 451 S. Tejon Street, on November 6. Hemming made a Power Point presentation and then took questions for over an hour specifically about the Rishel campus. Rishel was build for 1,100 students and current enrollment according to Principal Sylvia Bookhart is 500. That makes 600 empty seats, but Hemming said that would make the school a bit cramped, but 400 to 500 seats could be made available for another school.

Rich Barrett, the director of the KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy, would love to have those seats. KIPP is a charter middle school that is located next to Rishel, 375 S. Tejon Street, and Barrett has plans to start a high school in Rishel's available space.

Barrett soon will know if he can proceed with his plans. More public meetings are scheduled for November 13 at the schools considered for shared campuses, including Rishel. The Denver School Board will have a public comment session on November 17 and will make its decision on November 20.