Between the fear and alarm caused by a federal government in disarray and the budget challenges facing the State of Colorado, this is a highly uncertain time for public education in our state.
Under such circumstances, it can be helpful to hear directly from people in leadership positions. For that reason, the African Leadership Group held a forum Feb. 27 with the superintendents of Aurora Public Schools and the Cherry Creek School District.
Both Michael Giles Jr. of Aurora and Chris Smith of Cherry Creek offered blunt assessments of the challenges faced by their districts. But they also reassured the packed house at ALG headquarters that they are doing everything in their power to mitigate those challenges.
And they called on parents and the community at-large to rally to their cause.
Smith said his district is potentially facing millions of dollars of cuts in state funding. This, combined with President Donald J. Trump’s executive orders that mandate gutting all diversity, equity and inclusion practices, pose enormous challenges.
One student approached him recently and asked “How can you look me in the face and tell me you’re going to take my future away from me?” Smith recalled. He said he was grateful for the pointed query. “It has to be students and parents asking these questions, not superintendents, because they (state officials) aren’t listening to us anymore,” Smith said.
Giles said the harsh language emanating from Washington D.C. has been unsettling for everyone. “Times are crazy right now. With all rhetoric how do I make sense of it all and assure you as a parent that your child is safe, welcome, and will still be educated?” he said. “It is a tough row to navigate.”
But the two superintendents stressed that students and families are, in fact, safe in and around their schools. They also said the work of raising the bar and educating all students continues apace.
“I have been calming staff at our schools over the past two months,” Smith said. “The focus for me is getting resources and information into the hands of teachers and our community liaisons, because that is who our parents trust.”
Giles seconded that sentiment. “Our community liaisons are providing information to our families about their rights and resources available to them,” he said. “There has been a lot of noise about ICE (federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement) coming into schools. You cannot walk into any school and demand information on a child or a family. This includes law enforcement.”
Both men stressed that they will not buckle under federal demands to eliminate DEI practices.
“Education is under attack, especially when it comes to creating inclusive environments for all students,” Giles said. “If there are any questions about what we mean by diversity, equity and inclusion, don’t believe the hype and the rhetoric but come and talk to us. We have no problem sharing what we mean by those terms and what that work looks like.”
But standing up to the federal bullying will put a bullseye on the district, and for that reason, Giles said, everyone needs to rally round.
“I need your voices when the attack comes, and believe me, the attack is coming,” he said.
