Denver school board seeks new meeting to discuss — and possibly take action on — Alex Marrero’s employment

Tensions remain high at Denver Public Schools as a school board member pushes for a new meeting to address the future of Superintendent Alex Marrero. Director Monica Hunter is calling for a session next week to discuss potential board action, marking the second time in two weeks that the district’s leadership has been the subject of such a request.

The board is currently divided on the path forward. While Director Hunter maintains that a majority of the seven-member board supports meeting to deliberate on district leadership, board President Xóchitl Gaytán disputes this. Gaytán stated that she does not see enough support among directors to justify calling a special meeting at this time.

This follows a lengthy four-hour meeting held this past Monday where the board discussed the superintendent's contract and performance behind closed doors. No changes to the superintendent's status were announced after that discussion. The relationship between the board and Marrero has been strained by disagreements over governance, specifically regarding the boundaries of the board's authority in daily operations.

Additional scrutiny has come from board members questioning the superintendent’s long-term commitment to the district. These concerns arose after Marrero applied for positions in other cities earlier this summer and last year. While he did not secure those roles, the applications have fueled ongoing friction.

Superintendent Marrero has been with the district since 2021. His current contract runs through 2028 and mandates a 90-day notice period before any public vote on termination without cause. Any move to remove him would carry significant financial implications for the district, including a full year of salary and benefits as outlined in his existing agreement.