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District Accountability Committee

The DAC is a community-led group of parents, educators and other community leaders who are appointed by the DPS school board and provide recommendations to DPS. As required by state law, the DAC advises DPS and acts as a Collaborative School Committee/School Accountability Committee but at the district level. Information about DAC meetings can be found here.

DAC Description

By state law and DPS policy, the DAC must:

  • Do its best to represent the diversity and backgrounds of the students and families through its members.
  • Have representatives from all the different regions of DPS.
  • Include a charter school parent and someone who understands charter schools.
  • Include parents, teachers, school leaders, business people and other community members. 

According to state law and DPS policy, the DAC provides advice on these topics:

  • How the district spends money in its budget
  • The DPS Unified Improvement Plan (a plan DPS gives to the state showing how they plan to improve DPS schools)
  • Charter school applications (and sometimes charter school renewals)
  • Family engagement
  • Use of assessment tools to measure student academic growth
  • District content standards
  • The district safe school plan and the district conduct and discipline code

The DAC also studies additional district issues and provides feedback to the district as a result.  More information on the DAC responsibilities can be found in the DAC Handbook.  As a district-wide advisory committee, the DAC does not focus on school-based or region-based issues.

Budget Subcommittee

This subcommittee reviews the district budget and provides a report to DAC and the Board of Education with written recommendations regarding spending considerations and fiscal responsibility.

Family and Community Engagement Subcommittee

This subcommittee works to align the charge to Board of Education policy KB as well as the powers and duties outlined in the Colorado Revised Statutes: “To increase the level of parent engagement in the school district and in the public schools of the school district, especially the engagement of parents of students in the populations described in section 22-11-301 (3).”

Great Schools Subcommittee

This subcommittee reviews new and renewal charter school applications, interviews applicants, presents a report to DAC for approval and makes recommendations to the Board of Education.

Performance Subcommittee

This subcommittee reviews the District Unified Improvement Plan and provides a report to DAC and the Board of Education with written recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the plan and the planning process.

Periodically, the DAC members will feel strongly enough about a topic or issue and unite to share their voice and perspective with the district.

  • SUPERINTENDENT SEARCHES:
    • In November 2018, the DAC encouraged the district to broaden its Superintendent Search via this resolution.
    • In February 2021, the DAC voiced its support for the search firm chosen by the district via this letter.
  • SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS: In January 2019, the DAC weighed in on the teacher strike via this resolution.
  • TECH SUPPORT: In December 2020, the DAC urged the district to more fully support the digital needs of students during pandemic via this resolution.
  • SCHOOL PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK:
    • In January 2020, the DAC encouraged the district to alter its SPF through this resolution.
    • In June 2020, the DAC issued a resolution in support of the Reimagining the SPF Committee recommendations.
  • STAFF SURVEY: In December 2021, the DAC conducted a school-based staff survey to better understand the challenges facing educators. You can find the results here.
  • HEALTHY START TIMES: In May 2022, in partnership with the Black Family Advisory Council, the DAC sent a letter to DPS expressing our concerns.
  • DECLINING ENROLLMENT: In December 2022, the DAC issued a statement on Declining Enrollment.
  • SCHOOL SAFETY: In April 2023, the DAC issued a statement on school safety.

The DAC accepts applications each spring.  When the application is active, you will find the link to apply here.

We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of background and expertise. We are a group of individuals who are invested in DPS and who come together to focus on community, concern, and collaboration.

To contact the DAC, send an email to denverdac@gmail.com.

DAC Membership

Headshot of Committee Chair

Karen Mortimer
Committee Chair
DenverDAC@gmail.com

Rose Martinez
Committee Co-Chair

Christopher Diedrich
Committee Secretary

  • Lori Abapo
  • Val Ameluxen
  • Sharon Battle
  • Beth Bevilacqua
  • Ankit Bishnoi
  • Nycole Bradshaw
  • Anthony Bryant
  • Malik Burton
  • Esther Castillo-Lerma
  • Christina Castro
  • Claire Colangelo
  • Lisa Davis
  • Lorena Desantos-Bautista
  • Chris Diedrich
  • Shelby Floria
  • Thelma Fuentes de Behnke
  • Haruka Fushimi
  • Robert Giron
  • Jennifer Holladay
  • Cary Hoste
  • Lorelei Jackson
  • Patrick Jiner
  • Chris Lee
  • Rose Martinez
  • Lisa McDonald
  • Karen Mortimer
  • Elizabeth Munoz
  • Molly O’Connor
  • Moises Pacheco-Lewingdon
  • Sonya Palafox
  • Erin Phelan
  • Cassidy Proctor
  • Laura Rodriguez
  • Cara Shannon
  • Alicia Sierra
  • Noah Stout
  • Taylor Tellez
  • Lynne Tran-Donnally
  • Angela Tzul

Amanda Bouche
720-423-3259
amanda_bouche@dpsk12.org

Lumiere Bukasa
720-423-2536
lumiere_sidonie@dpsk12.org

Meetings & Agendas

DAC meetings are open to the public and you can find information about DAC meetings here.

Agendas and minutes linked below are available in all of the DPS consent decree languages and will be made available each month after minutes are approved and translation is completed.

Meetings will be held virtually on Zoom from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm unless otherwise noted.

September 21, 2021 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语) Zoom
October 19, 2021 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语) Zoom
November 16, 2021 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语) Zoom
December 14, 2021 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语) Zoom
January 25, 2022 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语) Zoom
February 22, 2022 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语) Zoom
March Special Meeting

March 8th, 2022

Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语)
March 22, 2022 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语) Zoom
April Special Meeting

April 19th, 2022

Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语)
April 26, 2022 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语) Zoom
May 17, 2022 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语) Zoom

DAC meetings are open to the public and are from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. and are at Manual High School this year.  Agendas and minutes linked below are available in all of the DPS consent decree languages and will be made available each month after minutes are approved and translation is completed.

 

Aug. 23, 2022 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语)
Sept. 20, 2022 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语)
Oct. 18, 2022 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语)
Nov. 15, 2022 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语)
Dec. 13, 2022 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语)
Jan. 17, 2023 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语)
Feb. 28, 2023 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语)
March 21, 2023 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français, 汉语)
April 11, 2023 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语)
May 16, 2023 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语)

For the 2023-2024 school year, DAC meetings will be from 5:30-7:30 pm at Manual High School in the 2nd floor library.

Meetings are open to the public and the entrance to use is the McAuliffe at Manual entrance.

Agendas and minutes linked below are available in all of the DPS consent decree languages and will be made available each month after minutes are approved and translation is completed.

August 22, 2023 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语)
September 19, 2023 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语)
October 17, 2023 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français汉语)
November 14, 2023 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français, 汉语)
December 12, 2023 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français, 汉语)
January 16, 2024 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français, 汉语)
February 20, 2024 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français, 汉语)
March 19, 2024 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français, 汉语)
April 16, 2024 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français, 汉语)
May 21, 2024 Agenda / Minutes (Español, العربية, Tiếng Việt, Soomaali, አማርኛ, नेपाली, Français, 汉语)