Hispanic group wants new DPS super search

DENVER—A leading Hispanic group says the city school district board has picked an inadequate candidate to be the new schools superintendent and is calling for a renewed search.

Denver’s Hispanic Chamber of Commerce issued the call as the Denver Public Schools board appeared poised to hire Chip Zullinger, who has little experience in districts with large Hispanic populations.

“They’ve painted themselves into a corner in settling for less than a quality candidate,” chamber chairman Scott Flores said.

“We’re asking them to go back to the drawing board,” Flores said. “If it takes three to four months, so be it.”

Zullinger is expected to be named to lead the 69,000-student district. He was one of four finalists selected by the school board this month after a search.

Zullinger is currently on paid administrative leave from the Charleston, S.C., school district, where most of the students are black and few are Hispanic.

His lack of experience with bilingual education and Hispanic students has drawn fire from some in the Hispanic community who say he is the wrong choice for a district that is about 49 percent Hispanic.

The district is set to implement a new bilingual program this fall.

Since Denver newspapers reported that Zullinger was the favorite, several Hispanic organizations have spoken out against him and urged the district to renew its search.

Rita Montero, the only Hispanic school board member, has said she will not vote for Zullinger. But she said her concerns center more on his record in Charleston, where he clashed with a new school board.

Flores said that if the search resumes, the Hispanic chamber wants more input – possibly including a role in developing criteria for a new superintendent.

“I want someone with vast experience in bilingual education and dealing with Latino issues,” Flores said. “I would prefer a Latino to be that person.”

But Denver school board president Sue Edwards said the public has had ample opportunity to chime in, and that the decision is in the board’s hands.

“We’ve listened to all the voices from the community,” Edwards said. “It’s our responsibility to select a superintendent who will best lead this district. And that’s what we’re in the process of doing.”

One of the four finalists, Eugene Gutierrez of Fort Worth, Texas, is Hispanic. He is retired, and was a financial specialist with little educational experience.

Zullinger said this week that he would reach out and listen to the Hispanic community and to all the other ethnic groups that make up the district.

“Having high expectations for children and their ability to be successful cuts across racial lines and communities,” he said. “I want to listen, and I want them to know I’m there to help and assist them.”

The school board has been negotiating with Zullinger on a contract. The seven-member emerged from a meeting Wednesday without making an announcement.

Former DPS Superintendent Irv Moskowitz stepped down last month.



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