Update: Redrawing Denver Public Schools Boundaries
📚 Background
Denver Public Schools is beginning the process of evaluating potential changes to school boundaries and zones for all schools in the district, including possibly Slavens. These changes will be determined by October 2026 and go into effect in the 2027-2028 school year. At this stage, DPS is soliciting community input. All readers of this newsletter are members of the community and are encouraged to participate!
📢 Latest Update
The Slavens Collaborative School Committee met with Directory Kimberlee Sia on Tuesday May, 19th. This was not an open forum, but Director Sia addressed a number of preselected questions that covered a range of community concerns about the process. Many thanks to the Slavens administration and CSC for holding an excellent meeting! Key takeaways from the discussion include:
The district is not presently planning to get rid of all elementary boundaries and create zones across the district, as some said they had heard. However, a zone is always an option for a specific locale.
There are no draft maps or plans available for review, based on what she has been told by the district.
Other nearby schools are operating at similar capacities to Slavens for both K-5 and Middle School. Because zones are used to distribute students more evenly across schools, this means a zone in our area would be unlikely to provide any benefit and would increase transportation complexity.
She seemed somewhat unfamiliar with the precise mechanics that make Slavens function as a K-8 school, namely that despite being 100% choice, the previous year’s 5th graders have top priority for middle school.
She has gotten a lot of feedback about the DPS survey (see previous email and below) being leading and difficult to respond to.
She believes that any proposed maps or planning information must go back in front of the community to get feedback as the process proceeds.
The best way to make your voice heard on this subject is to email the entire School Board at [email protected] with your thoughts on the future of boundaries and choice. She and other members read the emails and track pro and con sentiment closely.
✅ Next Steps
If you are interested in providing input into this redrawing process, please consider taking the following steps.
🔘 Complete the Survey
Despite its imperfections, it is important for everyone to complete the survey as best they can. Responses are anonymous. Make an effort to explain your thoughts on boundaries, zones, and choice as they relate to Slavens, rather than simply accept the limitations offered by some of the questions. You may fill out this survey multiple times, if necessary.
🗓️ Attend the Virtual Community Events
Thursday, May 21 at 5 p.m. (virtual) - Session Zoom Link
Friday, May 22 at 7:30 a.m. (virtual) - Session Zoom Link
📧 Email the Board of Education
Director Sia had suggestions for reaching out to the board on this subject:
Let the board know what you love about Slavens, how it works, and how it functions as a part of the Wellshire community. Why is Slavens a great K-8? What does it mean to be a neighborhood K-8? Why should it stay that way?
Be kind! She suggested that the best emails are ones that are kind and show respect for the process.
Did you email the board? Are you interested in sharing what you wrote and possibly coordinating on future messaging? Reply to this email or email [email protected]!
Upcoming Association Events
🇺🇸 4th of July Bike Parade - Saturday, July 4, 2026 at 10 AM @ Slavens
Cover your ride with festive decoration and join us at the field at Slavens School for a bike/scoot/walk around the neighborhood behind a fire truck! Plan to arrive at least a few minutes early for goodies and to line up! Due to drought conditions, the fire department will not spray the field this year. Let us know if you have an alternate idea for post-parade fun by replying to this email!
🗓️ Annual Meeting - Fall 2026
Details to come. Must be a paid Member to vote. Please consider paying your dues in advance if you live in the Membership area.
🥚 Easter Egg Hunt - Spring 2026
Join us on the field and playgrounds at Slavens School for a chance to hunt for eggs and visit with your neighbors! Details to come.
Interested in volunteering at these events or have ideas for new ones? Help is always welcome. Reply to this email or email us at [email protected]!
Updates from Slavens School
☀️ Summer at Slavens
The last day of school is May 29th. This is a half day. Be on the lookout for lots of activity on campus this summer:
Work is underway to replace the sprinkler system around the property. Work will continue through the summer. At times different parts of the field or playground will be closed. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to improve our fields and facilities for everyone to enjoy!
Slavens will host more camps than usual this summer. Please keep an eye out for children during drop-off and pick-up times throughout the summer.
🚸 Become a Crossing Guard!
Do you want to help keep our students safe while making a positive impact on the Slavens community? We are looking for volunteers or paid crossing guards to assist with student safety during arrival and dismissal. This is a great way to get involved, help children keep safe, and even earn a little extra money.
If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about this opportunity, please reach out to Darcie Forde at [email protected]. Your help makes a difference!
Let’s Communicate! If you have concerns, compliments, or other thoughts about Slavens, the Association can share those with the school. Reply to this email or email us at [email protected]!
Apply for a Free Tree!
Do you have room for a new tree? Being A Smart Ash means planting new trees to help grow and expand Denver’s beloved urban canopy.
Denver Parks & Recreation wants to help you plant a tree! If you have room in the public right-of-way adjacent to your property, you may even be eligible to have a free tree planted for you! Apply for a free tree!
MY Denver Card: Your Library and Recreation Card All In One
Youth, ages 5–18, can have a key to the city with a MY Denver Card in hand! Youth will get free access to recreation centers, swimming pools and various cultural facilities where they can participate in healthy, safe and fun activities afterschool, during school and summer breaks, and on the weekends. Learn more about the MY Denver Card.
2026 AAPI CULTURE FEST x civic center NIGHT MARKET
Join the Community Celebration for Wellshire!
Join us on June 5, 2026, to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of Wellshire Golf Course. Tickets are still available for our evening community celebration, and include live music, food, and historical programming from 5-8pm. Buy celebration tickets now.
Pride in the City
Juneteenth Parade
Summer Scamper 5K For All
The fourth annual High Line Canal Summer Scamper, 5K for All, is happening the evening of Wednesday, June 24, along the High Line Canal at Bible Park in Denver.
Before the 5K, join us for pre-race yoga and enjoy a free 200m Ditch Dash for kids 8 and under (no registration required for the Ditch Dash). Then scamper along the Canal – whether that’s running, walking or strolling – with a smile on your face, and celebrate post-race at the Canal Summer Fest with food, drinks and live music. There will also be summer nature-themed fun for all ages. Register today here!
University Hills Farmers Market
Check out the University Hills farmers market in South Denver on Saturdays from 9am-1pm from May through October 31. You'll find all kinds of freshness -- produce, food and beverage as well as handmade wellness and crafts plus live music.
Make Your Voice Heard!
🏀 Help Guide the Future of Recreation Centers!
For over a century, Denver's recreation centers have been where life happens. Our facilities need to adjust to keep pace with the city's energy, diversity and creativity. What should guide our investment of the next 20 to 30 years? Join us to share your priorities for Denver's Recreation Centers and Pools! For this phase, we are offering two in-person options and one virtual option to learn more and weigh in.
Can't make it to an upcoming meeting? Visit the project webpage to learn more and keep an eye out for the virtual survey launching May 27.
Under Construction
🦺 S. Colorado Boulevard and E. Yale Avenue Project
What: Denver Water’s contractor, Concrete Works of Colorado, will be starting a vault improvement project. As parts of Denver Water’s system reach the end of their useful life, they are prioritized for repairs or replacement to ensure you receive a continuous supply of high-quality water.
When: Work wrap up before summer 2026.
Where: The southwest corner of South Colorado Boulevard and East Yale Avenue.
If neighbors have questions about the project, they should contact Denver Water Customer Care at 303-893-2444. An interactive project map can be found at denverwater.org/Construction
Project Work Zone
🚧 Highline Canal Trail at S. Ash St. Project
What: Denver Water’s contractor, Concrete Works of Colorado, will be starting a vault improvement project. As parts of Denver Water’s system reach the end of their useful life, they are prioritized for repairs or replacement to ensure you receive a continuous supply of high-quality water.
Where: Primarily in the greenbelt along the Highline Canal Trail at South Ash Street.
If neighbors have questions about the project, they should contact Denver Water Customer Care at 303-893-2444. An interactive project map can be found at denverwater.org/Construction.
Project Work Zone
🚶Denver's Sidewalk Implementation Plan
The Sidewalk Implementation Plan will detail the path forward for building and upgrading sidewalks across the city in both the short term and the long term. The purpose of the plan is to:
Create a prioritization framework for delivering sidewalks in a way that meets the City’s and the public’s transportation goals.
Create work plans for sidewalk construction, reconstruction, and repair across the city with a more detailed focus on what will be constructed in the next 6 years.
Establish a long-term road map for a successful program that delivers new and improved sidewalks to Denver into the future.
The Sidewalk Implementation Plan is kicking off now, with three main phases of development through the end of 2026: documenting the state of Denver’s sidewalk network today, developing an understanding of the work and resources needed to reach network build-out, and determining the path of action that connects where we are today and a fully completed sidewalk network in Denver.
To stay informed as the project evolves, sign up for project updates here.
If you have questions or comments about the Sidewalk Implementation Plan, please send them to [email protected] or leave a voicemail on our project hotline at 720-337-6380.
Join the SHCA!
We can’t do it without you! Find this email useful? Enjoy attending our events? Want to see us do even more? Please consider joining the SHCA and paying your annual dues if you live in the neighborhood. If you don’t, please consider a contribution anyway! All are welcome at our public events.
Did you receive this email from a friend? Join our mailing list.
