Denver Public Schools’ Board of Education hired an outside attorney last month to investigate racial discrimination allegations levied by Superintendent Alex Marrero against Director John Youngquist.
The school board hired David D. Powell Jr. with the Denver firm Garnett Powell Maximon Barlow and Farbes to conduct the investigation, according to a contract obtained by The Denver Post via an open records request.
Board President Carrie Olson said in May that directors planned to investigate Marrero’s allegations that Youngquist discriminated against employees of color. The contract shows that the investigation is now underway.
“Due to the nature of the complaint and the parties involved, it cannot be investigated internally,” Olson said in a statement Wednesday.
Youngquist said in an interview that he welcomed the investigation, but wished it had occurred before Marrero’s allegations were publicized.
“I’m glad that there will be an external investigation,” he said. “…A deep, impartial, fair investigation is necessary and important, and that is something that looks like is going to be happening.”
The board hired Powell to conduct the investigation on June 26. Any work by the firm’s partners will be billed to the board at an hourly rate of $425, according to the contract.
The hourly fee for any work on the investigation by the firm’s associates and paralegals is $375 and $200, respectively, according to the contract.
Powell declined to comment for this story.
Marrero sent an email to Olson in April asking the board to censure — or formally rebuke — Youngquist. He accused the school board member of hostile behavior toward staff, especially employees of color.
“Mr. Youngquist has repeatedly engaged in belittling, dismissive and condescending behavior toward district staff, especially employees of color,” Marrero wrote at the time.
He also accused Youngquist of wanting his job and actively working against the district.
The last time a DPS board censured a member was in 2021 after an outside investigation found Auon’tai Anderson had flirted online with a teenage student and made intimidating social media posts. The school board does not have the authority to remove a member.
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