Two big developments came out of Denver Public Schools this week. The board censured one of its members John Youngquist, an esteemed former East High principal. And Superintendent Alex Marrero, rumored to be leaving DPS for another job, apparently won’t be leaving after all.

Thursday’s 5-1 censure vote capped a kangaroo court targeting Youngquist since earlier this year. A six-figure investigation, initiated at Marrero’s behest, chased specious allegations of mistreatment and racial bias against staff.

The report leveled anonymous grievances about how Youngquist has pressed for data, demanded transparency and asked deeper questions. But it concluded those actions were “consistent with what he views to be his mission as a board member.”

We call that his job.

As cited by The Gazette, the findings against Youngquist include that he apparently feels the district’s 79% graduation rate is “not good enough.” Evidently, he’s not supposed to see it that way. He also didn’t clap when Marrero was named superintendent of the year. We are not making that up.

Frankly, we, too, are still scratching our heads wondering how Marrero won that recognition.

The investigation didn’t prove deliberate bias, but anonymous witnesses and Marrero’s objections were apparently enough for a censure.

Youngquist was mild-mannered and composed throughout Thursday’s meeting, and he abstained from voting. It was a refreshing contrast to the last time a board member was censured in 2021, when Auon’tai Anderson reacted belligerently and was the sole no vote in a 6-1 censure.

Now that the show trial staged against Youngquist is behind us, we urge the incoming board members who won their seats in the Nov. 4 election to move past internal squabbles and unite to hold the district — and the superintendent — accountable.

Perhaps they’ll seek accountability in different ways than Youngquist has chosen. It’s up to them. But however they do it, they must do it.

With two-thirds of DPS students in grades K-8 failing to meet basic math standards, and 58% unable to read and write at grade level, the era of leaders failing DPS students must end.

Which brings us to the second development. The Gazette reported that Marrero was one of two finalists to run Chicago’s beleaguered school district. Now, after days of speculation that he might bolt from DPS, it appears he’ll be staying put after all. He’s even said as much.

We’re relieved for the children of Chicago. If only Denver’s kids could be so lucky.

Marrero remains under a $346,529 contract the board extended in May, making it harder to fire him “without cause.”

Yet Marrero’s job performance is deeply lacking. The board’s fall evaluation gave him just 73.5 points out of 100. That’s a C — and he still missed his 75% target.

The district recently received a 57.6% accreditation score from the Colorado Department of Education — barely enough to enter “green” territory, but still an F.

Meanwhile, DPS has suffered a collapse of transparency. The board has held illegal or questionable executive sessions and extended Marrero’s contract in a way experts find legally dubious. And the district often tries to keep information from the public and the press.

Denver’s students and teachers deserve better than constant mediocrity. The public likewise deserves transparent and focused leadership.

We hope the incoming board will serve as constructive voices to hold Marrero accountable. As they start afresh with a new agenda, their first task must be to clean house of any improprieties that fall short of their standards and expectations. 

It’s time to set things straight in DPS. We wish them well.