CENTENNIAL, Colo. — Students, teachers, and parents packed the Arapahoe High School(AHS) theater Thursday night for a special meeting with the Board of Education for Littleton Public Schools.
The topic of the meeting was school leadership, climate, and culture at Arapahoe High School, which some say have eroded in recent years. Some came to the meeting to criticize the district, while many others were there to defend it.
There have been eight suicides in the Arapahoe community since the 2013 shooting death of Claire Davis inside the school. This year, two teachers have been arrested and accused of sexually assaulting students.
A group called the Arapahoe High School Community Coalition released a survey last week which states that most people who responded are concerned about the school's culture and the current administration.
"I mean we've had so many suicides. High school is obviously a very stressful time for these students, a lot of changes," said Carrie O'Byrne, who has children at the high school and is a graduate, herself. "I think that's just where I am seeing a lack of heart."
"I'm really hoping with the survey and everything that the board will analyze this and make Arapahoe better," O'Byrne said.
Thursday night, a member of the community coalition shared the survey findings and other concerns with the board.
"We’re actually just a group of parents, a lot of them are educators and alumni who have serious concerns about the climate here at Arapahoe High School," said Jessica Roe.
She said coalition members have met with school administrators before.
"Collectively we have all come to the same conclusion: unfortunately, no matter the amount of receiving our concerns, the responses – if any responses – have been inadequate or unsatisfactory."
"Our concerns include students who do not feel supported, who are not receiving the help they needed. Parents reaching out to the district leadership team without any resolution," Roe continued.
AHS senior Maggie Coan believes the survey is biased just like the Coalition is against Principal Natalie Pramenko.
"Personally, it's been a very hard year for me and her door has been wide open anytime that I need to talk," Coan said. "I think the administration has done a wonderful job and I support them 100 percent."
Coan also spoke at the meeting Thursday night.
"There’s no denying that Arapahoe has had a difficult year," she told the school board. "I have lived through that difficult year. I made it through this year thanks to the support of my family, classmates, teachers and administration. Let me make one thing clear: I lost two of my best friends thanks to a mental illness, not due to an administration."
Other students shared similar opinions. Many defended their principal, Mrs. Pramenko.
"I just want to make it clear that there is no administrator that I've ever had more positive interactions with than Natalie Pramenko at AHS," said senior Paul Gordon.
"This is a scary time. Sending your child to high school is scary, but it's not Mrs. Pramenko’s fault that these tragedies have happened in our community. Frankly, it's not anybody in the administration’s fault," he added.
Teachers and parents also spoke in defense of Pramenko and the district. The meeting lasted late into the night.
The school board has a formal meeting scheduled for May 9.
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