Denver Public Schools, facing a projected $21 million shortfall in next year’s budget, is eliminating 157 jobs in its central office. Many of the positions are educator coaches who travel to schools to help teachers become better at their jobs.
"We’re projected to continue receiving less state funding per pupil for our next year than we did seven years ago -- and back then our state was already near the bottom nationally," said district spokesperson Will Jones.
There’s also less money for at-risk students whose families are leaving the city because of high housing costs.
Jones says while the cut represents 6 percent of the central office budget, the district is adding 50 positions to high-needs schools. Those hires will assume the role of coaching teachers.
The district did not say how many employees work at its central office.
