Denver Needs Election Day Poll Workers   Two thousand citizens are needed to work at the polls on Election Day. You can help!  Please sign up. Need more information on voting in Denver? Visit the Denver Elections Division website.

DPS ANNOUNCES REFORM PLAN Saturday, October 11, 2008 | 39 ° Mist   Plans unveiled for school closures, creation of new school programs   Some parents, students and teachers in the Denver Public School system are facing an uncertain academic future.  DPS officials on Monday announced plans to close eight elementary schools;  as many as five schools will change their academic programs.  The decision comes after several months of review by A+, the civic organization created to help reform schools in the Denver area.    The schools target for closure are all elementary schools.  They are Del Pueblo, Smedley, Remington, Whiteman, Fallis, Mitchell, Wyman and Hallet.  Students from Del Pueblo elementary will be reassigned to Greenlee; Smedley and Remington students will go to Horace Mann; Whiteman & Fallis students will be assigned to a reorganized Place Bridge School; students from Mitchell & Wyman will go to Cole; and students from Hallet will be assigned to Smith and Stedman elementary schools.   About 340 teachers and 3,000 students are affected by the decision. Schools where the programs will change are Place, Horace Mann, and Kunsmiller Middle Schools, Gilpin K-8, and Cole ECE-8.  Place Middle School will close and reopen as Place Bridge School for early childhood education through 8th grade.  It will be a new magnet school focusing on English language learners.  The existing program at Gilpin will phase out and a new Gilpin Community Montessori ECE-8 will phase-in.  Cole will re-open as a new ECE through 8th grade.  Horace Mann Middle School will close, then reopen as a new ECE through 8, with looping model grade configuration.  The existing academic program at Kunsmiller Middle School will continue until current students complete 8th grade.  At that time a new Kunsmiller Arts Academy will be created.   District officials say closing the schools will save $3.5 million, which will be used to improve education for students affected by the closures, provide additional resources to underperforming schools, and create funding opportunities for new schools and new programs.   The A+ committee says closing buildings is one of many steps needed to restore the district’s financial health.    More information about Denver Public School reforms can be found at www.dpsk12.org/district_reform.  Or call the reform hotline at 720-423-2300. Posted on Monday, October 01, 2007 Posted by mhelms  Contributed by mhelms Return

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Announcements Non-Profits Can Raise Cash as Poll Workers In an innovative effort to meet the need for Election Day poll workers, nonprofit organizations can organize their volunteers to work the polls and donate their fees as a fund-raiser for the organization. Only 2 Free Public Art Tours Remain This Year! Two Saturdays left to explore the City’s public art program. Don't miss out on these free tours - one in October, one in November. Sign up now!  Read more for details.   Energy Assistance Applications Accepted Applications are now being accepted for the Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP). The maximum benefit has been increased for the upcoming season to help families pay their energy bills this upcoming winter.  2008 One Book, One Denver Picked Mayor Hickenlooper has unveiled the 2008 One Book, One Denver selection. Dashiell Hammett’s Classic "The Thin Man" will be at the center of community-wide activities and events through October. Build a Better Denver Citizens can follow progress on neighborhood bond projects. Visit the Better Denver website focusing to learn about capital maintenance, health and safety, transportation, libraries and cultural facilities and parks and recreation infrastructure. More Announcements      1