Future of Chavez Huerta called into question by scathing Pueblo D60 report

Chavez Huerta K-12 Preparatory Academy faces an uncertain future after a Pueblo School District 60 report found significant problems with its academic performance, financial transparency and previous leadership.

Colorado school districts have been required to conduct annual evaluations of their charter schools since 2013. Tom Weston, Pueblo D60’s charter school liaison, presented the annual report on Chavez Huerta during a Feb. 9 work session.

“If academic performance of a charter is not on a trajectory toward improvement, the authorizer must determine if the school should continue to be allowed to operate,” the report states. “As will be demonstrated by the data that follows in the academic achievement section, CHPA’s progress is not sufficient.”

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School Performance Framework scores from the Colorado Department of Education indicate that Chavez Huerta’s academic performance has steadily declined since 2016.

In 2016, the school had a 53.4% framework score, earning a "performance" rating. The following year, performance framework scores dropped to an "improvement" rating and have stayed there since. Chavez Huerta’s framework score in 2022 was 46.3%.

Chavez Huerta consists of Cesar Chavez Academy elementary school, Ersilia Cruz Middle School and Dolores Huerta Preparatory High School. However, the three schools are not recognized as separate entities under CDE’s framework.

If Chavez Huerta were to be separated into three school codes, 2017, 2018 and 2019 performance scores would give Cesar Chavez Academy a "turnaround" rating — the lowest rating a school can receive. However, performance scores would have improved to a "priority improvement" rating in 2022, according to the report.

Ersilia Cruz Middle School would receive "turnaround" ratings for 2017 and 2018, but would receive an "improvement" rating in 2022. Dolores Huerta Preparatory High School would receive "performance" ratings from 2017 to 2019, but would have declined to an "improvement" rating in 2022. School Performance Framework scores were not recorded by CDE in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to School Performance Framework scores, Pueblo D60 cites growth data, achievement data, iReady assessment scores and Northwest Evaluation Association scores in its report.

“(Chavez Huerta) is not meeting academic achievement expectations at any level,” the report said. “All students and subgroups are below State achievement expectations in both (English Language Arts) and Math.”

After referring to Chavez Huerta’s academic achievement progress as “not sufficient," Pueblo D60’s report said the school’s financial transparency is at “an unacceptable level.”

A failure to disclose leadership modifications, multiple instances of missing financial reporting deadlines, issues with finance staffing and errors in trial balance reporting were among Pueblo D60’s fiscal concerns cited in the report.

“(Chavez Huerta’s) failure to submit a trial balance and a clean, completed audit has caused the District to request an extension for two consecutive years, something that has never before had to be done,” the report said.

Prior leadership controversies led to 'angst in the community' and 'contentious board meetings'

While the annual report said Chavez Huerta’s current leadership and board governance has recently improved, it also referenced numerous controversies associated with leadership in prior months.

“The first issue that polarized the community came in the form of a scheduling error that allowed the Republican party of Pueblo to reserve (Chavez Huerta) for a large gathering, pushing out a long-time basketball fundraiser sponsored by the basketball coach at (Chavez Huerta). This caused major angst in the community and several contentious board meetings,” the report said.

The report mentions there were calls for the resignations of a newly appointed CEO and board president during following board meetings. While not mentioned by name in the report, CEO Hal Stevens and Board President Stephen Varela heard multiple calls for their resignation from staff and community members at an Aug. 12, 2022 board meeting.

Both Stevens and Varela have since resigned from their offices at Chavez Huerta. Varela currently occupies a seat on the State Board of Education.

“This report and evaluation is not a criticism of the CHPA community or the staff. The passion of the community and their support for the school is without question," the report said. "Their desire that the school be successful is equally strong. The current board and leadership appear to be genuinely committed to restoring CHPA both financially and academically."

Despite positive changes in leadership, the “continued operation” of the school remains in question, the report said.

“If (Chavez Huerta) is to survive, leadership, in the form of an exceptionally competent CEO and CFO, will be paramount, along with a committed board of directors whose agenda is solely focused on the students and families of (Chavez Huerta),” the report said. “The last part is in place. The other elements are to be determined.”

Former CEO Richard Duran was appointed Interim CEO following Stevens’ resignation. The school will appoint a permanent CEO following the current academic year.

Duran and Chavez Huerta board members respond

At the Feb. 9 work session, Duran said that Chavez Huerta was not given a fair opportunity to review the district’s annual report before it was presented.

Historically, the Chavez Huerta board was able to check annual reports for “errors of fact” and make comments, but that was not the case this year, Duran said. He also said that the school struggled to meet a deadline for an audit due to a loss of finance personnel and contended that the academic achievement portion of the report did not tell the full story.

“I would argue that we have made progress when we jump from elementary, from turnaround to priority improvement,” he said. “Going through those big steps are significant… middle school, we went from priority improvement to improvement. That's another jump that has not been recognized.”

Chavez Huerta board member Steven Trujillo, board member Don Ortega and chief academic officer Kelly Cox also commented during the Feb. 9 session.

“Our board is a unified seven-member board that has now come together, realizing what we have come through as an institution, the history of our institution, the types of programs that we offer to this community, and has dedicated themselves to immersing in all areas of the school for a more positive tomorrow,” Trujillo said.

Following the work session, the Pueblo D60 board entered into executive session to discuss “legal remedies and possible corrective actions” to address Chavez Huerta’s failure to meet financial reporting requirements, according to a statement read by Pueblo D60 Board President Tommy Farrell.

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached by email at JBartolo@gannett.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Future of Chavez Huerta called into question by scathing D60 report