As you know, DPS and the teachers’ union, Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA), have been working to reach an agreement on how to best compensate our teachers. However, we have not yet been able to reach an agreement, and Governor Polis announced that the Department of Labor will not intervene in the ongoing negotiations between DPS and the DCTA. DPS is continuing to work with DCTA to come to an agreement in the coming days.
In the event that an agreement is not reached, a teacher strike could begin as soon as Monday, Feb. 11th.
- If a teacher strike occurs, Southmoor will be open and operating on our regular schedule with the exception of ECE classes, which will be canceled for the duration of the strike. If you are an ECE family, more information will be shared directly with you; as a reminder, you will not be charged tuition for any days that classes are canceled due to a strike. Learn more at teacherstrike.dpsk12.org
- School-based services for students in grades K-12 will be provided, including school meals, transportation and Discovery Link before- and after school programs.
- During the teacher strike, some teachers may not report to work in our schools; however, DPS staff will be at each campus to make sure students are safe during the school day. Students in grades K-12 should attend school as usual.
- Please confirm your contact information is up-to-date. You may do this by logging in to Parent Portal or contacting our front office. This will allow us to notify you quickly of any changes.
- Please ensure your child’s medication list is up-to-date. Please do this by contacting our front office at 720-424-3930. If necessary, the district will provide certified nursing services to administer medication.
- Our attendance policy on excused and unexcused absences will remain the same. If you wish to excuse your child from school, you must notify the school or the absence will be unexcused.
For more information and to access Family Resource Guides on preparing for a strike, please visit dpsk12.org/teacher-strike. You may also call our Family Helpline at 720-423-3054 Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Help is available in many languages.
Finally, a note about safety during a strike. Feelings may be running high and we may see picketing or other protest activity outside our school. I have worked with the DPS Safety Team to create a plan to ensure our building remains accessible in the event of such activity.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Sarina Compoz
Principal
