With his time on the board winding down, The Denver Gazette sat down for a wide-ranging interview with Denver Public Schools Vice President Auon’tai Anderson, a politician many consider to be the most divisive headline maker in the city, to discuss his tenure and what’s next.

The 25-year-old has been at the center of many of the district’s controversies – from the return of armed police to campuses to the alleged seclusion room at McAuliffe International School.

Indeed, the board has for months endured withering public criticism for a series of missteps that included school closures, failure to protect students and administrators from gun violence and the termination of McAuliffe’s popular principal. Anderson was often the most visible member in these controversies.  

Notably, Anderson co-authored the 2020 policy that kicked out cops from campuses and then, amid public pressure, changed his mind. Recording from an illegal closed-door meeting of board members showed him leading the charge to allow officers back into schools, saying, at one point, that, “in one hour, we are supposed to go out and face every camera in America … CNN is here, the Today Show is here, Good Morning America is here.”

He’s also had his share of personal controversy.

Two years into his term, the board censured Anderson following a sexual misconduct investigation, which did not substantiate the most serious allegation against him.

The investigation, however, found Anderson had flirted with a 16-year-old student on social media and made intimidating social media posts during the investigation.

Anderson has an ongoing defamation claim against two of the women who claimed he committed sexual assault.

In what will likely be his final interview as an at-large member of the board of education, Anderson tackled a variety of subjects from what he believes are the board’s greatest accomplishments in his four years to advice for the new set of members slated to be sworn in on Nov. 28.

Here are six takeaways from the interview:

Accomplishments

Anderson rattled off what he believes to be the board’s accomplishments during his tenure:

? Unanimous support for a resolution supporting LGBTQ+ students.

? Removing armed police from schools to address what he and others call over-policing concerns, claiming the presence of police perpetuates the “school-to-prison pipeline.” Anderson later changed his mind when a student shot two school administrators at East High in March. 

? Passing the “Know Justice Know Peace” resolution, which sought, among other things, to include in the district’s curriculum the contributions of Black, Indigenous and Latino communities.

? Increasing the minimum wage for paraprofessionals to $20 an hour.

? Expanding the unions to include school-based administrators.

“And the list continues to go on,” Anderson said. “So, we’ve done a lot of good work.”

Policy governance

The board uses what’s called “policy governance” in its decision making, which represents a shift for district leadership.

Put simply, a policy governance model establishes the responsibilities and the relationship between the superintendent and board of education. In theory, the new model allows the board to focus on advancing its vision for the district.

Adopted in the fall of 2021, the new system was unanimously approved by the board in the wake of complaints by city officials – including former Denver Mayor Michael Hancock – that the dysfunctional board had undermined outgoing Superintendent Susana Cordova, according to Chalkbeat Colorado.

Anderson, who voted for the policy governance framework, called the model a failure.

“I think policy governance has what’s led to our disagreements as board members,” Anderson said.

Anderson added: “I don’t think that the experiment worked.”

Drama

The drama on the school board is no secret.

Over six months starting last year, the district spent more than $35,000 to pay therapists and conflict coaches to help board members resolve disputes with each other.

Directors have often clashed on the best way to govern Colorado’s largest school district.

For example, in the aftermath of the March 22 shooting at East High School – when directors were still wrestling with the community response – Board President Xóchitl Gaytán attempted to censure Anderson for disclosing information discussed in a closed meeting.

Anderson downplayed the personality clashes.

The way Anderson sees it, the therapy for the board actually helped members get along better.

“I think it should be the norm,” Anderson said.

“I hope the board of education reevaluates this.”

No regrets

Does Anderson have any “should have’s” or “could have’s” from his four years on the board?

Nope.

“I believe everything happens for a reason,” Anderson said. “And I think every decision that I’ve made – even if I don’t agree with it now – I would say that it has shaped me into the person who I am and has always made me a better person.”

Next steps

The district has grappled with declining student enrollment for the past decade. It’s among a district’s top concern because fewer students means less money.

Lower birth rates, skyrocketing home costs and gentrification are the biggest factors driving enrollment declines in Denver.

Hard choices are coming, Anderson said.

While the board shuttered three low-enrollment schools in the spring, it sidestepped a more painful proposal to close 10.

“There will have to be closures in the near future,” Anderson said.

Anderson predicted that to remain whole, the district may have to close six to 10 more schools.

‘Be unapologetic’

Having lost a bid for a school board seat in 2017 and going on to win as a 21-year-old in 2019 – making him among the youngest elected in Colorado – Anderson knows a thing or two about running a campaign.

After four tumultuous years on a board that pulls, according to local polls, a 30% approval rating among Denver voters, Anderson has some advice for the political newbies elected to board earlier this month: stay true to yourself.

“Be unapologetic,” Anderson said.