Community Calls for Action: Save Wyatt Academy
A critical public comment session is set to take place at Wyatt Academy, located at 3620 Franklin St, Denver, CO 80205, on Thursday, February 8th, 2024, at 4:00 PM. This meeting emerges at a pivotal moment for the community, as concerns over the proposed merger between Wyatt Academy and University Prep (U-Prep) have sparked significant mistrust among community members, educators, and families.
The community will demand accountability and transparency from the Wyatt Academy School Board, University Prep School Board, and their Executive Director David Singer. It is crucial to highlight that this session is exclusively focused on the matters concerning Wyatt Academy and should not be confused with the Denver Public Schools Board of Education’s public comment session.
Recent revelations, obtained through the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) and direct dialogues with district officials, have shed light on a disconcerting scenario. It has been discovered that the decision to potentially merge Wyatt Academy with U-Prep was made without the knowledge of the Denver Public Schools Board, Superintendent Marrero, the Wyatt community, educators, or students.. Documents reveal an intention to keep the district from getting involved in ways that might jeopardize the merger or affect the transfer of assets, circumventing a process that might have led to different decisions under a new board’s guidance. Here is a direct quote on the concerns about a keeping the school open “With a longer runway to the ultimate closure of the school, there is more opportunity for the district to get involved in ways that affect the agreement (i.e. doing more to recruit students to traditional district schools or interfering with asset transfer efforts.”
Source Page 4: CORA Obtained Documents from Jan. 29th, 2024.
In documents revealed through the Colorado Open Records Act, the Wyatt Academy School Board admitted that the school possesses robust financial reserves. Despite this strong financial standing, the Board expressed reluctance to engage in future fundraising efforts, particularly in light of anticipated turnover among its members. A direct quote from these documents underscores this sentiment: “The Wyatt board, which is relatively small, anticipates attrition in the near-term. Should Wyatt opt against pursuing a merger, our board will be compelled to undertake considerable efforts in the upcoming years, especially in areas of leadership and fundraising.”
Additionally, it has come to light that the Wyatt School Board has not yet voted on a resolution to surrender its charter contract. Consequently, until such a vote takes place, the school remains operational. We believe that families should continue to choose Wyatt Academy for their children’s education, ensuring that enrollment numbers are not adversely affected by the School Board’s lack of clear guidance.
On February 2nd, the Denver Public Schools General Counsel sent an email challenging the legality of the MOU signed on January 29th, 2024 to the lawyers representing Wyatt Academy School Board and University Prep stating the following “ A transfer of assets prior to school closure to another charter school violates state law and your current charter contract.”
Source: CORA Obtained Documents — Feb. 2nd, 2024
The community stands united in its demand for the Wyatt Academy School Board not to surrender the charter contract. Furthermore, there is a call for the resignation of board members who have navigated this situation in a manner that the community deems unethical. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) between U-Prep and Wyatt Academy is under scrutiny, with concerns that it could be deemed illegal, reflecting poorly on the governance and decision-making processes that have led to this point.
Finally, the community is exploring all legal options against the Wyatt Academy Board, University Prep Board, and David Singer in both their personal and professional capacities.
Community Demands:
1. No Surrender of Charter Contract: Wyatt Academy must retain its independence and ability to serve its students and community without being absorbed under questionable circumstances.
2. Resignation of Board Members: In light of the unethical handling of the merger discussions and the lack of transparency, the community is calling for the immediate resignation of the current board members. This should start with the resignation of the Board Chair and Vice Chair as they have been the culprits of this merger.
3. Legal Review of the MOU: The memorandum of understanding between U-Prep and Wyatt Academy must be subjected to a thorough legal examination to ensure its legality and the ethical standing of all actions taken thus far.
The upcoming school board meeting is not just a procedural event; it is a moment for the community to stand together, demanding the respect, transparency, and ethical governance that the students, families, and community members of Wyatt Academy rightfully deserve.
We urge all members of the press and the public to join us in this crucial time to ensure that our voices are heard, and meaningful action is taken to protect the future of education in our community. Your support and presence are vital as we strive for a just and accountable resolution to this pressing issue.
Notes:
Memorandum of Understanding with U-Prep:
Emails:
