Denver School Board Considers Superintendent Contract Extension Amid Criticism

Denver, CO – The Denver school board is negotiating a contract extension for Superintendent Alex Marrero, an effort officials say is crucial for stable leadership during uncertain times in K-12 education. However, the discussions have faced backlash for their lack of transparency.

The board plans to bring these talks into the public eye during their meeting on Thursday afternoon. While specific details about the proposed contract changes are limited, board members are contemplating removing the superintendent’s bonus, a move Marrero supports. “There’s been some pain points in that contract that, quite frankly, I never wanted… particularly the bonus,” Marrero said in a recent interview.

Marrero, who has been with Denver Public Schools (DPS) since 2021, earns a base salary of $346,529 and was set to have his contract expire in June 2026. Some community members are questioning the decision to negotiate a contract extension a year before its expiration, calling it an “intentional move to subvert the will of the voters” ahead of the November elections.

A letter from Latino community leaders, city council members, and state legislators addressed the school board’s discussions, characterizing the contract extension as “premature.” The group urged the board to hold off on any contract revisions until they can evaluate Marrero’s impact on student performance.

“The community deserves the opportunity to review and discuss the results of such an evaluation before any decisions about contract extensions are made,” the letter read. Notable signatories included former Denver Mayor Federico Peña and City Council President Amanda Sandoval.

Community tension has risen due to a long-standing divide between educational reform advocates and DPS leadership, especially after effort modifications in the school board since it gained new members in 2019. As the upcoming elections approach, four board positions are set to change, adding to the urgency of the situation.

Michael Teague, a spokesperson for the advocacy group Denver Families, critiqued the board’s actions, stating, “This is pure politics and should concern our entire community.”

Marrero has indicated that he was approached by the board in January regarding discussions about his contract. Board member Xóchitl “Sochi” Gaytán mentioned the need for stable leadership as part of the talks. Marrero must decide by September whether to notify the board of his contract’s expiration, after which the board has until January 1 to extend or let it end.

Despite the controversy, Marrero remains confident in his accomplishments, claiming he improved graduation rates to nearly 80% last year, the highest level for the district. “You cannot tell me this district is not better than where it was,” he asserted.

The school board recently faced public backlash over the contract discussions, leading to the cancellation of a closed-door meeting after there was no motion to enter executive session. The superintendent’s contract extension remains a hot topic as community members continue to voice concerns.