Denver Public Schools has informed its central administration office that all “non-essential staff” will be required to work in the district’s schools in the event of a strike — and could face disciplinary action, including termination, if they refuse to cross the picket line.

A memo from DPS Superintendent Susana Cordova this week alerted central office workers that all non-essential district operations at the central office will be suspended until a strike is resolved, and everyone will be expected to work in schools, whether that be in substitute teaching roles, working on lunch duty or being a hall monitor.

“While this expectation may feel uncomfortable to some, we believe this is about putting Students First and we will ask DPS central office team members to help in ensuring all of our students are safe and supported,” Cordova wrote in the memo.

In a separate email reviewed by The Denver Post, Caroline Hughes, DPS director of educational technology and library services, instructs central administration staff who work with teachers or librarians, or who have or used to have teaching degrees, to fill out a form to get the substitute teaching process started.

“Per guidance from senior leadership, ‘All central school support members with teaching experience will be expected to serve as temporary guest teachers,’ ” Hughes wrote. She added: “I must also communicate that ‘any team member refusing to support in schools may face corrective action, including and up to termination.’ ”

Anna Alejo, a district spokeswoman, confirmed that “non-essential staff are expected to support in schools in the event of a strike and could face corrective action if they do not.”

A “minimal number” of central office employees who are needed to keep the district operating, such as those involved in payroll and security, would be notified by their supervisor to continue their roles in the event of a strike, Cordova wrote in her memo to staff.

Those with an active teaching or administrative license were told to support in classrooms. Central office employees have the option to obtain a guest teaching license paid for by the district or do non-instructional work like helping serve students lunch and patrolling the hallways.

“We ask that those with school-facing instructional roles, such as curriculum specialists or ELA partners, obtain their guest teaching license,” Cordova wrote.

Any vacation leave or personal leave requested beginning Tuesday through the strike period will not be granted, she added, unless for extenuating circumstances.

“Extenuating circumstances may include leave to care for the employee’s child who is also a DPS students whose school was authorized to close by the superintendent,” Cordova wrote. “Sick leave is to be used for an employee’s own illness, illness of an immediate family member or the death of a family member. Please note, your supervisor may request a doctor’s certificate regarding leave due to illness during the strike.”

Cordova wrote in the memo that she understands employees will have “a variety of feelings around these circumstances — from eagerness to apprehension to confusion.”

“For many of us, this is a time unlike any other, and it’s more important than ever to remember what brought us all here in the first place and to lean into our Shared Core Value of Students First,” she wrote. “Thank you in advance for your support through these difficult times.”

Tay Anderson, a restorative practice coordinator at Denver’s North High School, said people from central administration are upset by the mandate.

“They are upset because they’re being forced to do something that’s against their will and that’s not their job,” Anderson said. “Some of those people have never been in a classroom. Some have been removed from the classroom for years. I don’t think it’s OK whatsoever to tell your employees you’re either going to go into a school or you’re going to be fired. We can’t be a district that proclaims school choice and then doesn’t give our employees a choice.”

The district apologized Thursday night for a letter that a racial justice organization said intimidated immigrant teachers who are considering striking that said educators working under visas could be reported to immigration for walking out.

DPS spokesman Will Jones called the letter “an incorrect communication.”

Denver teachers will not walk out of their classrooms Monday, according to state union official Mike Wetzel. DPS Superintendent Susana Cordova asked for the state to get involved in the strike, which postpones the walkout until the union responds to that intervention request, and state officials decide whether to get involved.

Gov. Jared Polis said earlier in the week that he has not yet decided whether to intervene. State intervention could postpone the strike up to 180 days.

“We see it unlikely the strike could start anytime next week,” Wetzel said.

District officials already have begun a hunt for substitute teachers as the impending strike looms, targeting furloughed workers who are out of their jobs because of the government shutdown and letting job candidates know the district will be reimbursing associated paperwork and licensing fees and “expediting everything.”