After much deliberation, polling, debating and verbal jousting - a verdict has been reached: Byers Jr. High will remain an educational institution.

The Denver Public Schools (DPS) board of education advisers voted last week to allow DSST (Denver School of Science and Technology) to move into the vacant Byers Junior High School.  DSST works as a magnet school to attract families of students into neighborhoods with the promise of quality education.  

Byers has been boarded up since 2004 after their latest tenant - Denver School of the Arts - moved to a new location.  At the time no demand was needed to institute another school in it’s place.  With budget shortfalls Denver Public Schools has debated selling the property to land developers - which meant the school would most likely be turned into a housing development.

A development, many critics and residents state, which would not bring families to the area or increase the tax base.  

There is still much work to be done, however, before DSST can set up shop in the facility.  DPS estimates upwards of $10 million in renovations will need to be done to Byers to bring the building up to code. A worthwhile investment, many residents think, as a quality educational insitution will surely improve the neighborhood.