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3 days ago
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Former Pueblo D60 board president expresses concerns about new charter school proposal
A former president of the Pueblo School District 60 Board of Education has expressed concerns about plans for a new charter school to occupy the campus of the recently closed Chavez Huerta K-12 Preparatory Academy. Former Pueblo D60 Board President Barb Clementi spoke about the charter school — proposed by Steven Varela and the Pueblo Choice Schools board — in a July 24 conversation with the Chieftain and during the public comment portion of a June 24 Pueblo D60 board meeting. In the June 24 meeting, Varela and Pueblo Choice Schools board member James Salazar approached the Pueblo D60 Board of Education with a request to waive the state's 18-month application timeline for charter schools in order to open the school in time for the beginning of the 2025-26 school year. A waiver also would be needed to open the school for the 2026-27 school year. "My concerns are many," Clementi told the Chieftain on July 24. "To begin with, you can't stand up a school in 90 days... anybody who knows anything about education knows that a school is way more than a building with some people in it that you invite kids to." In addition to her concerns about the short timeline for opening the school, Clementi questioned Varela and Pueblo Choice Schools' decision to work with ACCEL Schools as an external manager. ACCEL Schools is a for-profit organization operating over 70 charter schools across the United States. "I do not want a for-profit charter school in Pueblo," she told the Chieftain. "It takes money away from our kids. It's that simple." During her June 24 public comment to Pueblo D60 board members, Clementi also noted the charter proposal was supported by current board director Brian Cisneros, who is married to Varela's wife's cousin. She expressed concerns about the possibility of "personal agendas" playing a role in the closure of Chavez Huerta and the subsequent pitch for a new charter school in its place. Cisneros was one of three Pueblo D60 board members to deny Chavez Huerta permission to seek authorization outside Pueblo D60 on April 28. This board decision, along with a unanimous Jan. 28 decision not to renew Chavez Huerta's contract with Pueblo D60, laid the groundwork for Chavez Huerta's closure. Clementi, whose background includes teaching writing, said that emails she obtained through the Colorado Open Records Act from Varela and Cisneros contained similarities in "tone, tenor and phraseology" to a letter written by Brad Miller — an attorney and school choice advocate who has worked with Chavez Huerta and the ACCEL-managed Banning Lewis Academy in Colorado Springs. "I'm back again to ask what personal agendas are at play on this board," Clementi said on June 24. "What special consideration is being given and to whom? I am told that Mr. Cisneros and Mr. Varela are related. I don't know, but is there a conflict of interest here? Is any applicant being given preference?" Cisneros, Varela deny 'personal agendas' are at play In a July 21 conversation with the Chieftain, Cisneros acknowledged that he and Varela were relatives through marriage. However, he said he did not see their family ties as a conflict of interest and that he does not "stand to gain any personal benefit." "We're not direct blood... we're related through marriage — no more than any other school board directors that have relations in District 60 administration and top school leadership positions as well," Cisneros said. Cisneros told the Chieftain he is open to hearing from anyone interested in adding educational options to the district — especially at the former Chavez Huerta site. "When this interest came forward, I was really open to hearing what they had to say and what their plans would be and what they can do to fill the entry facilities that are going to be there now," he said. Varela also acknowledged his familial relation to Cisneros in a July 24 conversation with the Chieftain while referencing other family relationships in Pueblo D60, like Board Director Dennis Maes being the father-in-law of Assistant Superintendent Ted Johnson, and Board Director Bill Thiebaut being the father of Minnequa Elementary School Principal Katie Harshman and Pueblo Central High School Soccer Coach T.J. Thiebaut. "We're Pueblo, we are all related, right?" Varela said. "Somehow, we are all cousins." Varela also took exception to public comments made by Clementi about his and Cisneros' emails bearing similarities to a letter written by Miller. He alleged the comments were "prejudice" toward him and Cisneros in assuming that the two Hispanic males were not "smart enough" to write something on their own. Clementi told the Chieftain her comment had nothing to do with either man's ethnicity. She maintains that the writing submitted by the two men was similar to that of Miller. When contacted by the Chieftain, Miller said he was in no way involved with drafting the letter in question and currently has no affiliation with Varela's charter school proposal. Varela also told the Chieftain on July 24 that he and the Pueblo Choice School board were finishing up a charter school application and expected to have it completed by July 25. He added that the goal remains to open the school in September 2025 or the start of the 2026-27 school year at the latest. However, Varela said he also expects Thiebaut and Maes will "really push hard against" granting the prospective charter school a waiver. Both Maes and Theibaut spoke against granting a waiver to open the school early at the June 24 meeting. "For the sake of the children, I would suggest that you line up with whatever charter schools want to be a part of this and, as bad as it is, come to us in February… and let us do our work. You do your work, and let us try to figure this out in a timely way that the statute anticipates," Thiebaut said on June 24. Maes told the Chieftain on July 21 that it "certainly looks suspicious" that the same three board directors — Cisneros, Board Vice President Kathy DeNiro and Board President Susan Pannunzio — who support a "fast track" for Varela's charter school proposal also voted against granting Chavez Huerta permission to seek outside authorization. The Chieftain reached out to all five members of the Pueblo D60 board to inquire about their opinions on Varela and Pueblo Choice Schools' charter school proposal, but Cisneros and Maes were the only board directors who agreed to speak with the Chieftain. Theibaut contacted the Chieftain via email to say he was unable to respond to a questionnaire by the newspaper's deadline, but also said that his opinions were stated at the June 24 meeting. In an email, ACCEL Schools Communications Vice President Courtney Harritt said ACCEL is a for-profit organization "committed to expanding access to high-quality public school options — especially in communities that have historically been underserved or are facing disruption." "Our highest motivation is serving children who need support the most," she wrote. "We have a proven track record of opening schools quickly and helping families maintain stability during periods of uncertainty. We were honored to be approached about this opportunity and would be proud to serve the West Pueblo community with the same urgency, care, and commitment we bring to all of our partnerships." 'Legacies of Courage': Meet the 5 vets receiving Pueblo Latino Veterans 'Legacies of Courage' awards in 2025 Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@ Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Former Pueblo D60 board president concerned about charter proposal Solve the daily Crossword
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3 days ago
- Politics
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Pueblo D60 board tables Varela's proposal to fast-track new West Side charter school
The Pueblo School District 60 Board of Education voted 3-2 on Aug. 12 to remove an agenda item that could have eventually allowed Stephen Varela and Pueblo Choice Schools to open a new west side charter in 2026. A prospective charter school is required by state statute to submit an application to a local school board 18 months prior to opening. However, the quashed Aug. 12 agenda item asked the Pueblo D60 board to consider allowing Pueblo Choice Schools to apply before Oct. 1, 2025, and open in the fall of 2026. Kathy DeNiro, Dennis Maes and Bill Thiebaut were the three Pueblo D60 board directors to vote in favor of removing the agenda item on Aug. 12. The motion to remove was made by Maes and seconded by Thiebaut. "One has to ponder the urgency for fast-tracking this particular venture," Maes said on Aug. 12. "The decision to authorize charter school status is of great importance and should be given the time the statute contemplates to reach such a decision." Efforts to bring a new charter school to the west side follow the June 30 closing of the Chavez Huerta K-12 Preparatory Academy. Varela and others with Pueblo Choice Schools have advocated for a new school on the former Chavez Huerta site that would offer programs like baile folklorico, Chicano studies, a dual-immersion language program and early college. However, the charter school idea has been scrutinized by others — including former Pueblo D60 Board Presidents Barb Clementi and Tommy Farrell — who questioned Pueblo Choice Schools' desire to make an exception to the 18-month application deadlines, the planned involvement of for-profit ACCEL Schools, and the political motives of Pueblo Choice Schools. Farrell, who is campaigning this year to return to the Pueblo D60 board, released a statement on Aug. 7 opposing fast-tracking the charter school application for Pueblo Choice Schools. In his statement, Farrell said that the 18-month timeline ensures "careful review," that Pueblo D60 should be wary of for-profit models, that political ties should not influence board decisions, and that all students deserve "a quality education." "I share the concern for students in Pueblo's west side," his statement reads. "They deserve strong, stable, high-quality schools. But that outcome will not be achieved through rushed decisions or questionable partnerships. Real equity requires sustained investment in proven, community-rooted public education." Varela told the Chieftain on Aug. 13 that he and Pueblo Choice Schools were "not quite upset" by the board's decision. He also said that Pueblo Choice Schools is going to "keep pushing forward." "We're really excited to see something go into that area, the west side, and we think it's going to be a great opportunity for kids over there," Varela said. "We want to have continuity of education and support the educational mission." Pueblo D60 and Pueblo Transit: Pueblo D60 teams up with Pueblo Transit to help address alarming absenteeism Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@ Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Why the Pueblo D60 board nixed charter school discussion on Aug. 12 Solve the daily Crossword
