Rowe, Butkovich tackle testing during southeast Denver school board debate
Denver school board candidate Kristi Butkovich and incumbent Anne Rowe wait for a televised debate to begin Tuesday. ( Photo by Nicholas Garcia )
Denver school board member Anne Rowe and opponent Kristi Butkovich sparred in a debate Monday over the purpose of standardized tests, the role of charter schools and other issues that highlighted stark differences in philosophy.
Rowe, who has been the chief architect on a number of policy shifts in Denver Public Schools during her four years on the school board, also defended the district’s use of broad enrollment zones to drive integration in schools.
“I believe if we think about these zones and bring communities together we can increase the integration in our schools,” Rowe said.
Meanwhile Butkovich, a staunch critic of Denver Superintendent Tom Boasberg, said the district needs to do more to improve traditional neighborhood schools and parent engagement.
“If we have a quality school in every neighborhood … there’s no need for choice,” Butkovich said.
The first of three school board debates co-sponsored by A+ Denver, Denver Decides and Chalkbeat highlighted the differing policy stances and styles separating the candidates voters in southeast Denver can elect to represent them on the school board.
The debate was moderated by Chalkbeat Colorado Bureau Chief Eric Gorski.
Rowe and Butkovich agreed that standardized tests should be limited.
However, Rowe argued that the annual standardized testing required by the state and federal government was a parental right.
“This is an equity issue,” Rowe said. “Parents have a right to know how their schools are performing for their kids.”
Butkovich, in perhaps the most heated moment of the debate, countered that the results from those tests only line the pockets of test-making companies.
“I could not disagree with Mrs. Rowe more,” she said. “Standardized tests are useless. They are useless. It pits schools against schools. We have to stop color-coding our schools. We have to stop tying our teacher assessments to test scores.”
In another tense moment, Butkovich claimed Denver officials didn’t do enough to rein in low-performing charter schools. She said the officials act quickly to close district-run Rowe, Butkovich tackle testing during southeast Denver school board debate | Chalkbeat: