In split vote, Denver school board approves closure of Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy

The Denver school board approved the closure of Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy at the end of the school year in a 4-2 vote on Thursday. The high school, modeled after historically Black colleges and universities, had only 24 students this year. Board members Monica Hunter and John Youngquist were the only two to vote against the closure.

Hunter, a former teacher and union representative, asked for a delay until a teachers' concession agreement was finalized. Superintendent Alex Marrero stated that the district had completed negotiations, saying they had agreed to pay teachers $1,000 and protect international teachers with work visas. Marrero also mentioned that other teacher requests, like giving non-tenured staff paid days off for job interviews, were rejected.

He noted that the decision was "precedent setting" and that more school closures might be on the horizon due to declining enrollment in Denver Public Schools. The school's challenges, including a unique set of problems, likely contributed to its rapid decline. Youngquist expressed regret about the situation and believed the district should have intervened earlier when schools faced difficulties.

Robert F. Smith, named after a DPS alumnus, opened in 2021 without a boundary, leading to a surge in enrollment in its first year. However, incorrect address listings and a move to a less supportive part of the city in 2023 resulted in a significant drop in enrollment.