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SPEAKOUT: Charter school hurt by news accounts

By Carolyn R. Jones

Published May 20, 2008 at 8 p.m.

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I am disappointed and disheartened by the considerable inaccuracies of recent newspaper accounts regarding the Challenges, Choices and Images Charter School.

Information regarding the manner in which employees are screened and hired has been sensationalized, information regarding loans to a tax-exempt independent child development center which owns a portion of the building in which the school is housed was inaccurate and misleading, and allegations that student grades had been tampered with have been false and hurtful.

As a matter of policy, all CCI employees are screened in accordance with Denver Public Schools policy, which requires criminal background information obtained from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for positions, including volunteer positions, in which the applicant might have contact with students/children. CCI relied on DPS to provide accurate background information that would allow CCI, in conjunction with applicable legal advice, to properly evaluate the employment potential of each applicant. All of CCI's staff has been cleared for hire through DPS and CBI background checks.

The news accounts disingenuously imply that CCI was in the wrong to hire certain individuals with misdemeanor convictions on their CBI records. DPS specifically states to applicants that a criminal conviction is not an automatic bar to employment. In fact, DPS' background checks are undertaken to determine "if there is any information on record indicating the applicant has been convicted of a crime involving unlawful sexual behavior or unlawful behavior involving children." As none of these individuals had any such criminal records, they were cleared for employment according to policy and applicable legal advice.

DPS policy does not mandate background checks for nonstaff individuals who will not have any contact with students/children on school property. Accordingly, day laborers, who were hired only in support of our relocation efforts, would never have been in contact with any students on school property and, in accordance with policy, were not subjected to background checks.

In order to aid CCI's evaluation of Charles A. Hopkins' suitability for a nighttime janitorial position that would afford absolutely no contact with students, Hopkins consented to a policy-mandated CBI check. The results did not disqualify him from that position and, in accordance with applicable legal advice, Hopkins was offered the position. Unfortunately, Hopkins experienced substance abuse problems that substantially affected his employment and was immediately terminated.

The allegations that funds were commingled are false. Separate bank accounts and books have always been maintained for the daycare center (CCI Inc.) and the CCI Charter School. Through a CCI board resolution approved in June 2007, short-term loans were authorized to the daycare center and a promissory note was entered into to secure repayment.

News accounts also allege that grades were changed to improve students' chances of winning scholarships to college. These false allegations are extremely hurtful and disheartening, particularly as many of our students are dedicated young men and women who have worked extremely hard to achieve the grades and test scores necessary to enter college as the first of their family.

Challenges, Choice and Images undertakes to educate and provide an additional opportunity for achievement to those students who have found it difficult to succeed and get along in a traditional public school. Fully 95 percent of our students are African-Americans who, in many cases, come from economically disadvantaged settings with less-than-ideal family structures.

It should not be surprising that CCI reaches beyond the conventional pool of teacher/administrator applicants in order to attend to the needs of its unique student body. To use unsubstantiated allegations, incomplete information and conjecture to disparage a school that finds and employs creative ways and unconventional means to assist students deserving of a second opportunity undermines the very foundations of both journalism and education in this country.

Carolyn R. Jones, Ph.D., is the principal of Denver's Challenges, Choices and Images Charter School.

Comments

  • May 21, 2008

    10:31 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    zoomama writes:

    Mr. Bropous: I am saddened by your comments---it is very apparent that you have no knowledge of how ccompassionate Dr. Jones is. (and let's please give her the respect she deserves and refer to her as DR.) Dr. Jones and her school stand for integrety. She has always carried herself with authoity and strength! She believes in giving every one a chance including students and employees. Her compassion to help others runs deep, and has been known to give employees time off to grieve even when they loose a pet!! She understands the human spirit and understands everyone has a story to tell and everyone's story is seasoned by their experiences in life!! The articles clearly state that she went through the proper proceedures to hire her staff and she would never put children in harms way!!

    It sure seems to me, Mr. Bropous that you have an ax to grind with CCI!!! You have a comment following every article about this school!!! Really now---let's lay it on the line and let us know what your issue is about CCI!!! This white girl wants to know if you have a problem with black people?

  • May 21, 2008

    12:53 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    CCI_Staff writes:

    For all of you out there reading these blogs, I am here to say--I have had ENOUGH!!! As Mr. Bropous stated in his last entry "The appearance of impropriety..." Didn't your mother's every teach you--you can't always believe what you read?!?!

    I am here to say to all of you out there, that I received my pay check from CCI and it DID NOT bounce!! This alligation is down right FALSE and who ever it is that is feeding this kind of misinformation to the press is certainly someone who has a bone to pick with CCI and/or Dr. Jones.

    I am also very curious, Mr. Bropous, on how you obtained the information you have. You wondered how the $18 million was spent on this school---how do you know it was that much---I believe the amount the press reported we had was more like $39 million. I also wonder why you are so very convinsed that Dr. Jones gave half a million to her sister? Do you even know who her sister? If you did you would know that she does not own the day care! It sure seems like you have more inaccurate information about CCI than the general public---ARE YOU THE MOLE?????

  • May 21, 2008

    4:32 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    CCI_Staff writes:

    Thank you Mr. Bropous, your comments certainly show your brilliance. Just to let you know I never said I was a teacher at CCI--there are many position within a school and you just assumed I was a teacher, and you know what they say about people that assume!! (Just to let you know-it would be more than one mother as I was refering to all the people who were reading the blog!)

    I re-read the link you provided and it seems to me you have a very active imagination. All that article states is that Dr. Jones and her sister where co-founders of CCI. They both invested time and money into the school.

    By the way Mr. Bropous--please stop with the hateful comments about people's writing abilities. Being the educated man you claim to be, you can certainly understand that when someone is writing something with the passion this brings about, it is difficult to maintain proper grammar. You have demonstrated this fact a few times in your writings so let us not stoop to this level, shall we! Oh, and one last thing---it does not show you in the best of light, when you lower yourself to such a childish level as to call others names. Let's try to keep this on an adult level and not go there!

    I find it interesting that you have the time in your days to sit and make so many comments about every single article that has been written about CCI. It sure makes a person wonder who you are, Brother Poor Us. Nice screen name.

  • May 21, 2008

    9:09 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Sweetpickle writes:

    We often get what we deserve.

  • May 24, 2008

    8:18 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    brown4436 writes:

    I agree with forward69

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