On Nov. 3, 2020 Denver voters overwhelmingly approved bond and mill funding measures for students in Denver Public Schools, agreeing to invest $795 million in bond funding to build and improve schools and a $32 million mill levy for annual operating dollars to increase student and staff support.
Maintenance: $208 million to update and maintain existing DPS facilities.
Capacity: $65 million to address ongoing capacity needs, including new schools in growing parts of Denver.
Cooling: $128.5 millionfor air conditioning in 24 of DPS’s hottest school buildings.
Montbello Campus: $130 million would be invested in a rebuild or remodel of the former Montbello High School.
Technology: $65 million for expanded student access to Chromebooks and at-home internet, and increased school safety measures.
School-determined funds: $31.7 million in flexible funding would be distributed to 135 buildings serving 74,000 students for investments in key learning spaces such as classrooms, cafeterias, playgrounds, libraries, gyms and auditoriums.
Debt Free Schools (Mill Levy):
Compensation: $15 million allocated for DPS employees, including an increase in minimum wage to $14.77 per hour and cost of living increases for teachers.
Mental health: a $3 million investment to increase school counselor and psychologist services, providing much-needed support to students.
Nursing: A $4 million investment in nursing services, with the goal of increasing the number of schools with a full-time nurse on staff.
Special education services: A $2 million investment in some of DPS’ most vulnerable students to increase supports and services within special education programs, including more paraprofessionals and speech language pathologists.
See here for a school-by-school overview of what communities can expect to see in the coming months and years, and check back at bond.dspk12.org for updates as DPS begins to implement these initiatives.
