Unfortunately, some Denver public schools have to be closed.

We are not happy to close beloved neighborhood elementary schools. It may mean upheaval for students, parents, teachers and staff, but students benefit enough from the economies of scale of a fully funded full school that we can see no other way forward for a district with a declining student population.

Superintendent Alex Marrero announced this week, will release the list of schools scheduled to close at the next Board of Education work session on Nov. 7.

Marrero and the board plan to hold several meetings at each of the closing schools between Nov. 7 and when the board is scheduled to vote on closing the schools on Nov. 21 at 4:30 p.m.

Parents, teachers and principals can make their public comments on the proposal Nov. 18, giving people just 10 days after they receive the proposed school closing list to organize for the special public hearing.

Marrero is expected to release the draft proposal on Monday, Nov. 4, so Denverites have time to address their council members before the Nov. 7 task force. Board members will ask better questions, consider more alternative suggestions, and generally make the kind of detailed changes that will make any plan that much better during the work session.

Because we know schools must close, we hope those facing displacement will focus on how to minimize the impact on their family, school and work lives.

There are many things the district can do, such as polling parents about their preferred consolidation location – where should their new home school be?

As I’ve said before, the district should give displaced students priority preference during the school choice lottery that opens in January. Parents of children from closing schools who choose a school other than neighborhood schools – for the next two school years – should have a better chance of getting a free place in the school of their choice.

The district’s most popular schools fill up quickly with students who are guaranteed admission because they live in the school’s catchment area, leaving only a few lottery spots available in each class. Giving displaced students admission to those places is a small way to offset the impact of the closure.

The problem with this solution is shipping. Not all parents are able to drive a long distance to a school of choice, and the district does not provide transportation unless a student is zoned to a particular school.