Parents and teachers reacted with shock, concern and some relief Thursday to Denver Public Schools' recommendations that five schools share space with new programs next fall.

The biggest surprise was the news that the existing program at Rishel Middle School in southwest Denver would be phased out as part of the plan, while two new programs would move in.

Teachers say they were shocked by the decision since closure had not been publicly discussed as an option. More than 50 parents attending a community meeting at the school expressed disbelief.

"It's not fair; we love it here," a girl in the audience told Pat Slaughter, the DPS administrator who presided at the meeting.

"I know it's hard for you," Slaughter told them.

Superintendent Michael Bennet is recommending space-sharing for schools that have empty seats. Denver's middle and high schools, on average, are 66 percent full.

"When you look at the number of middle school seats that are going into southwest Denver if these recommendations go through, it doesn't seem to us the program at Rishel would withstand" the new competition, Bennet said.

He said the school has been struggling academically for some time. Rishel was on DPS' closure list last year but was pulled off.

At Smiley Middle School in northeast Denver, parents learned that a charter school serving grades six through 12 would be moving in next fall.

Pamela Marsh, co-president of the Smiley PTSA, said parents are worried about the possible competition with Smiley's own new International Baccalaureate program, which itself is just getting off the ground.

But, she added, "I think the hardest part about this for parents was . . . that a decision was made without input from the community," echoing concerns raised at other schools.

Worried about impact

Marsh and other parents have been working for more than a year to strengthen Smiley's instructional program and to build interest in the school. They worry about the impact of a second school, operated by Envision Colorado based on a model successful in California.

"I think it's unclear to many of us what the Envision school is going to look like," Marsh said. "Certainly there would be concerns about the competition."

"I do think co-location can work," she added. "There are some parents who do not feel that it can work."

Helen Garcia, a parent at West High School who had been outspoken against space-sharing at her school, said after Thursday's meeting that it might work.

An Edison charter middle school is proposed at West, which relieved some parents who were concerned an elementary might be placed there.

"By listening to some of the programs that Edison does have, I do believe that both schools can learn and it will be for the better on both sides and all the parents do agree on that," Garcia said.

Denver school board members will vote Nov. 20 on the recommendations. It was clear Thursday that at least two board members have serious concerns.

Board divided

Jeanne Kaplan and Arturo Jimenez said they were unhappy with the amount of community input sought by district staff in making the recommendations.

Jimenez asked if the board was being asked to vote the entire plan up or down. If so, he said, "I would have to say no," and Kaplan nodded.

Other board members urged that they take action.

"The vote needs to be about how this is going to benefit the kids and not the problems the adults are throwing up," said Michelle Moss, referring to grumblings by some principals and teachers. "What's right for the kids in my opinion is moving forward."

mitchelln@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5245. Staff writer Jerd Smith contributed to this report.

CLOSURE PLAN, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DPS

Denver Public Schools leaders on Thursday made these recommendations to school board members, who are expected to vote on the plan Nov. 20:

RISHEL MIDDLE SCHOOL

*Existing program: School will phase out gradually, starting with sixth-graders being sent elsewhere in fall 2009. Current sixth- and seventh-graders can continue at the school through eighth grade.

*New programs: A charter high school run by the Knowledge Is Power Program will move in fall 2009, starting with ninth-graders. A math-science academy for elementary students run with the Denver teachers union will move in fall 2009, starting with grades K-3.

SMILEY MIDDLE SCHOOL

*Existing program: Smiley's new schoolwide and academically rigorous International Baccalaureate candidate program will continue.

*New program: A middle-high school run by Envision Colorado, targeting students who would be the first in their families to go to college, will open in fall 2009 with grades six and nine.

KUNSMILLER MIDDLE SCHOOL

*Existing program: The school's ongoing conversion to an arts academy for kindergarten through grade 12 will continue.

*New program A second campus of West Denver Preparatory Charter Middle School will open in fall 2009.

WEST HIGH SCHOOL

*Existing program School's science, technology, engineering and math focus will continue.

*New program A charter middle school run by Edison, which also runs the district's Omar D. Blair and Wyatt-Edison schools, will open in fall 2009 with grades six, seven and eight.

MANUAL HIGH SCHOOL

*Existing program: The school's fledgling small high school, now serving grades 9 and 10, will continue to grow through grade 12.

*New program: A program serving students ages 18 to 21 who have dropped out will move into three classrooms in fall '09.

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