Updated: 6:31 AM Apr 30, 2010

Penry and King lash out at Denver Superintendent's move over immigration reform
Two lawmakers from Grand Junction are upset over what they're calling a politically-motivated move by the Superintendent of Denver's Public Schools regardingArizona's immigration reform bill.
Posted: 5:22 AM Apr 30, 2010

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DENVER, (KKCO) - A Colorado school district is banning all business travel to Arizona in protest of the state's new immigration law.

The Supertintendent of Denver Public Schools, Tom Boasberg, anncounced a district-wide ban on work-related travel to Arizona.

Superintendent Boasberg says the decision is in direct protest of the new immigration law which requires police to check the citizenship status if they have a "reasonable suspicion" that the person may be in the country illegally.

It's not known if any trips were planned to Arizona or how much the district spends on travel to the state.

According to KUSA in Denver, Colorado Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry (R-Grand Junction) blasted the DPS decision in a written statement:

"Last year, just 52.7 percent of DPS high school students graduated on time, and over half of DPS students who do manage to go on to college end up having to take at least one remedial class," Penry wrote. "Instead of imposing politically-motivated travels bans, perhaps Mr. Boasberg ought to focus on improving a school system that fails far too many kids each and every day."

Rep. Steve King (R-Mesa County) agreed and says DPS is focusing on the wrong things.

"Rather than making political statements I would rather the Denver Public School District focus on educating our kids," King said. "I wonder how political statements and these type of theatrics benefits our children. And if it doesn't we need to focus that attention back on our kids rather than the theatrics saying look at how progressive we are, look at us. We're going to be the first in the nation that does that. I would rather see the Denver Public School district focus on the kids in the Denver Public School district, no matter what color they are and help them be successful in our state."


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