Unfortunately, some Denver public schools must be closed.

We take no joy in closing the elementary schools in our beloved neighborhood. This may mean upheaval for students, parents, teachers and staff, but students benefit enough from the economies of scale of a full-fledged, fully funded school that we can see no other path forward for a district with a declining student population.

Director Alex Marrero announced this week, he would release the list of schools scheduled for closure at the next School Board work session on November 7.

Marrero and the board plan to hold several meetings at each of the closed schools between Nov. 7 and when the board is scheduled to vote to close the schools on Nov. 21 at 4:30 p.m.

Parents, teachers and principals can give public comments on the proposal on Nov. 18, giving people just 10 days after receiving the proposed school closure list to hold a special public hearing.

Marrero is expected to release the draft proposal on Monday, Nov. 4, so Denverites have time to contact their board members before the Nov. 7 task force. Council members will ask better questions, consider more alternative suggestions and, in general, make the kind of detailed changes that will make any plan much better during the work session.

Because we know schools must close, we hope those facing displacement will focus on how to minimize the impact on their families, schools, and work lives.

There are many things the district can do, such as asking parents about their preferred reunion location: Where should their new home school be?

As we’ve said before, the district is expected to prioritize displaced students in the school choice lottery that opens in January. Parents of students from closed schools who choose a school other than the one in their neighborhood – for the next two school years – should have a better chance of securing an empty place at the school of their choice.

The district’s most popular schools often fill up quickly with students who are guaranteed admission because they live in the school zone, leaving only a handful of spots available for the lottery in each grade. Providing displaced students with first access to these seats is a small way to offset the impact of the closure.

The problem with this solution is transportation. Not all parents are able to drive a long distance to the school of their choice, and the district does not offer transportation unless a student is assigned to a particular school.