Superintendent Alex Marrero recommended Thursday that Denver Public Schools permanently close or restructure 10 schools so that Colorado’s largest district can stave off the “crisis” that looms as K-12 enrollment continues declining statewide. Marrero’s recommendation, which was presented during a meeting of the Board of Education, had been highly anticipated by families and educators ever since the superintendent last tried to close schools two years ago. “This has been an incredibly daunting task,” Marrero told the board Thursday evening. Closure conversations were reignited earlier this year after the board — which was in the past reluctant to shutter schools — passed a consolidation policy that paved the way for Marrero to once again recommend closures as falling enrollment reduces the district’s state funding. Under Marrero’s new plan, DPS would permanently close five elementary schools — Castro, Columbian, Palmer, Schmitt and International Academy of Denver at Harrington — and two secondary schools: West Middle and Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design. Another three schools — DCIS Baker 6-12, Dora Moore ECE-8 School and Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy — would be restructured so they serve fewer grades, and, therefore, fewer children. If approved by the school board in two weeks, the closures and restructuring will affect 1,844 students and 267 employees.