Denver school board hires outside law firm to represent it in superintendent contract, employment matters

The Denver school board has decided to hire the law firm Holland & Knight to represent the board and superintendent Alex Marrero in legal matters related to the superintendent's contract and performance evaluation. The vote came during a tense period for both Marrero and the school board, who recently met privately to discuss their working relationship.

Holland & Knight, a firm with locations nationwide including Denver, will handle the legal representation. A contract has not yet been finalized, but the board believes the cost is below the $250,000 threshold that would require a competitive bidding process. The board voted unanimously to hire the firm without a formal discussion.

This decision follows a proposal by board member Kimberlee Sia in June 2025, which aimed to prevent conflicts of interest in the superintendent's contract and evaluation process. Sia's proposal suggested each party should hire its own external attorney, but was modified to pass the slimmed-down version in October. Board President Xóchitl Gaytán, the sole dissenter, expressed concerns about displacing existing staff members, including Marrero, who is also a person of color.

Marrero has expressed concerns about the arrangement, stating that it could create perceptions of retaliation and complicate governance responsibilities. The superintendent and the board have pledged to continue working together despite the tense relationship.